The Home and the World

Every year, Nikhil sends 6,000 rupees to his sister as a reverence offering. This year, it has not yet reached the bank, but sits in a safe in a dressing room near their master bedroom. Bimala opens the safe and removes twenty rolls of money. The coins are heavy in her sari. She feels shame; she has robbed her house and her country.

In the morning, she sees Rani, who asks if she has heard the news. A band of robbers sent a message threatening to loot the treasury. Bimala can barely hold onto the money, it is so heavy. She is desperate to turn it over to Sandip. She is surprised to find herself angry with Sandip, and men in general, who think nothing of breaking apart a woman’s life for their own progress. Sandip sends for her.

When Bimala sees him, he is rude, demanding the money. She wants to throw the coins into his face. She drops them onto the floor. Sandip and Amulya think they are mere paper rolls, but when they see the coins, they realize how much money she has stolen. Sandip approaches, and she shoves him away, thinking he is going to hit her. He stumbles, and his head hits the marble table. He falls, unconscious. When he recovers, he counts the money and tells her it is 6,000 rupees. Amulya says they only needed 3,500, and begs Sandip to return the other 2,500. Bimala says she will never touch it again. As she returns to her room, Bimala thinks that the only thing she ever wants is unceasing praise, and Sandip.

Bimala is uncomfortable sitting with Nikhil, but she does not want to be too far from him. Rani enters during breakfast and asks if he has sent the money to her bank yet. She keeps looking at Bimala, and Bimala thinks she may suspect something. She asks why all of Rani’s suspicions are reserved for her. Bimala says Rani should keep all of Bimala’s jewels as security, in case Bimala ever decides to rob her. Rani laughs and refuses.

Bimala goes to the sitting room and sends for Amulya. Sandip comes with him. She says she wants to speak to Amulya alone. She gives him her jewelry box and tells him to sell whatever is in it for 6,000 rupees, quickly, even though the contents are worth at least 40,000. Amulya admits that he has argued with Sandip; he felt ashamed after taking money from her. But since the money is for the use of the patriots, Amulya must make his peace with it, or so he tells himself.

Sandip enters the room. She sends Amulya away saying she no longer has time to talk to him. Amulya leaves, and Sandip asks what was in the box the boy was carrying. Bimala realizes that stealing from her husband to give the money to Sandip has made Sandip look cheap to her.

Nikhil enters the room with a warning for Sandip. He says the Muslims are agitating against him and may attack Sandip at any moment. Sandip is to leave immediately, or Nikhil’s estate might be in danger as well. He leaves in a show of arrogant indifference.