The Boat-wreck by Rabindranath Tagore

Author:Rabindranath Tagore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Published: 2017-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

39

When Hemnalini emerged from her room the next morning, she found Annada-babu sitting quietly on a canvas deckchair that he had drawn up to the window. The room did not have much furniture. There was a bed, a cupboard in a corner, a framed photograph of Annada-babu’s wife – now faded to a shadow – on one wall, and, on the opposite wall, a piece of silk embroidery made by her. The few objets d’art that used to adorn the cupboard when his wife was alive were still in the same place.

Standing behind her father, Hemnalini ran her soft fingers through her father’s hair on the pretext of plucking out a few grey strands, and said, ‘Let’s have a cup of tea quickly, Baba. Then I’ll listen to stories of the old days from you in your room – I can’t tell you how much I love listening to them.’

Annada-babu had become so sensitive to Hemnalini these days that it took him a moment to understand her reason for hurrying him. Akshay would appear at their table soon; it was to avoid his company that Hem was trying to finish their cup of tea quickly and take refuge in the privacy of his room. It pained him to think that his daughter was constantly fearful, as a doe is of the hunter.

Downstairs, he discovered that the kettle had not yet been put on. He flew into a temper, while the servant tried to explain in vain that it was well before the usual hour for their cup of tea. Annada-babu announced his conviction that the servants had all turned into lazy creatures and that other servants would have to be appointed to awaken them.

The servant brought the hot water quickly. Instead of lingering over his cup of tea to the accompaniment of conversation, as he was wont to do, Annada-babu busied himself in emptying his cup as quickly as possible. ‘Are you in a hurry to go somewhere, Baba?’ asked Hemnalini in surprise.

‘Not at all,’ said Annada-babu. ‘Drinking your tea quickly on a cold day warms the body.’

But before his body could warm up, Jogendra entered along with Akshay, who was dressed with particular care today. He held a silver-headed cane, while a watch and chain were visible on his breast. In his right hand was a book covered in brown paper. Instead of taking his usual place at the table, Akshay drew up a chair not very far from Hemnalini. Smiling, he said, ‘Your clock is running fast today.’

Hemnalini neither glanced at him nor responded. Annada-babu said, ‘Come upstairs, Hem. My warm clothes need to be put out in the sun.’

Jogendra said, ‘The sun isn’t running away, Baba, what’s the hurry? Pour Akshay a cup of tea first, Hem. I need one too, but guests first.’

Smiling, Akshay said, ‘Have you seen such sacrifice in the line of duty? A second Sir Philip Sydney.’

Without paying the slightest attention to him, Hemnalini poured two cups of tea, handing one to Jogendra and pushing the other in Akshay’s direction before turning to Annada-babu.

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