Her mother looked at her with frightened eyes and said, ‘Beti, why are you uttering such inauspicious words? Fear has taken over your heart. Whatever had to happen has happened. Now will God be after your life?’
‘Yes, I feel so.’
‘Why, why do you feel so?’
‘I don’t know why. Something in my mind tells me that I’ll be visited again by the calamity. Often I see nightmares. At night, I feel that some creature resembling a snake is circling my bed. I keep silent because of fear and don’t tell anyone anything.’
Her mother thought it was all an illusion. The marriage date was fixed. It was not only an effort to rehabilitate Tilottama but a shining example of social reform. Teams of social reformers began to arrive from distant places. The marriage was held according to the Vedic custom. The guests described the incident in glowing terms. Newspapers carried accounts. Everyone praised Jagdish Chandra’s moral courage. On the third day, it was the hour for the bride’s departure. All preparations were made for the security of the bridegroom’s party. Electric lights illuminated the place so well that it seemed as though it was day and not night. Even the ants crawling on earth could be seen. Screen walls were erected around the shamiana. There was no way for insects and creepy-crawlies to come in, but fate is all-powerful. It was four in the morning. The constellations of stars were disappearing from the sky. Preparations began for the parting of the bride. On the one side, the music of the shehnai was playing and on the other, one could hear the sound of lamentation. But there were no tears in Tilottama’s eyes. Time was delicate because she wanted to leave the house by any means. A sword was hanging over her head. There was no pleasure in crying and hugging her friends. It is no surprise that a creature with a burning boil will prefer the house of a surgeon rather than walking in the garden.
People awakened the groom. The music started. He went to sit in the palanquin so that the bride could be taken away. He had just put one of his feet inside the shoe when he pulled it back with a shriek. It seemed as though his foot had stepped on fire. He saw a black snake coming out of the shoe and crawling away; it vanished in no time. The groom sighed and sat up. Darkness enveloped his eyes.
In an instant, the news spread within the community. The medicines had been kept handy. Several people who knew the mantra to ward off snakebite had been called. The medicines were administered. Charms and incantations were tried, but nothing could stand up to fate. Probably death had come in the form of a snake. When Tilottama heard it she was stunned. Terribly upset, she ran towards the janwasa, where the marriage party was staying. She didn’t have the sense to wrap a shawl over her body. She wanted to kiss the feet of her husband that would fulfil her status as a woman. The women of the family tried to stop her. Her mother also tried to reason with her. But Jagdish Chandra said, ‘Let her go. Let her see her husband. Let her desire be fulfilled.’ In this sorrowful state, she reached the janwasa, but the person who could have provided her solace was gasping for breath and was going to die. There was unbearable pain and despair in those half-closed eyes.4
The account of this strange incident spread far and wide. The positivists were surprised at the happenings. The spiritualists nodded their heads knowingly as though they were omniscient. Jagdish Chandra had tried his fate. It was proven that his daughter was fated to remain a widow. The naag began to be worshipped ceremonially twice a year. A special transformation took place in Tilottama’s nature. Her days of fun and frolic were replaced by devotion and the worship of gods. This is the last resort of frustrated creatures.
After three years, Dayaram, a professor at Dacca University, revived the memory of this event. He was a veterinarian. He had studied the behaviour of snakes closely and wanted to unravel this mystery. He sent a proposal of marriage to Jagdish Chandra, who didn’t give a clear answer. Dayaram tried to persuade him saying that he had undertaken this resolve in the interest of scientific research. He wanted to fight this poisonous naag. ‘Even if he bites a hundred times, nothing will happen to me. On the contrary, he’ll die after biting me. Even if he injects poison into me through his bites, I’ve got such antidotes that would neutralize his poison in an instant. Don’t worry about me. I’m immune to poison.’ Jagdish Chandra couldn’t find any more excuses. Of course, he made efforts that the marriage could be organized in Dacca. He arrived there with his relatives a week before the wedding. While departing from home he searched the boxes and beds thoroughly lest the snake lay hidden somewhere. The marriage was solemnized at the auspicious hour. Tilottama felt unsettled. Her face was losing colour every moment, but the rituals went on uninterrupted. Tilottama went to her husband’s house. Jagdish Chandra returned home, but was mortally worried about what was going to happen.
Tilottama’s nature underwent a strange transformation. She’d talk amiably with others, enjoy her meals, go to the theatre and participate in social gatherings. On such occasions, she behaved normally with Professor Dayaram and was even affectionate. She took care of his comforts. She wouldn’t do anything contrary to his wishes.
