He found his life unbearable and regretted his bold decision. He had trapped himself in the situation unwittingly. He suspected that there was definitely some supernatural force at play. He was not superstitious, but where intellect and reasoning fail, people turn superstitious because of helplessness.
Day by day, his condition became such that he was frightened of Tilottama. Her deranged and distorted facial expressions didn’t leave his mind. He was afraid that she’d kill him some day. Who knew when she’d be possessed by this madness? This thought would not leave him in peace. Hypnotism, electric shock and other procedures were tried on her. He had great hope in hypnotism, but when this also failed, he was terribly disappointed.5
One day, Professor Dayaram had gone to attend a science conference. It was midnight when he returned. It was the monsoon season and the servants were asleep. He went to Tilottama’s bedroom to ask where his food was kept. He had just stepped in when he saw a huge, dreadful black snake sitting on her bed. The professor stepped back quietly. He went to his room, gulped some medicine and returned with a pistol to Tilottama’s bedroom. He was sure that this was his old enemy. After a long time, he had found out where Tilottama lived. But why was he so attached to her? He sat on her bedside and looked like a piece of rope. What was this mystery? He had heard and read curious stories about snakes, but never heard or seen one that was quite like this. When he returned to the room suitably armed, there was no sign of the snake. Yes, Tilottama looked like one possessed. She was sitting and looking towards the door with fiery eyes. Her eyes were spitting flames. The heat could be felt two yards away. She looked totally insane. The moment she saw Dayaram, she pounced on him like lightning. She didn’t strike him with her hands but tried to bite him. She held him tightly by his neck. Dayaram tried with all his might to free his neck, but Tilottama’s grip was coiling like a snake. Moreover, he was apprehensive that if she bit him she could die. The medicine he had taken a little while ago was more fatal than the snake’s poison. In this situation, a desperate thought came to his mind. Was this life really worthwhile? He had to bear the responsibilities of the household, but there was no trace of happiness. On top of it, his life was at risk. What sort of illusion was this? Was the snake some spirit that came to her and transformed her in this way? It was said that in such a condition whatever injury is inflicted on the patient goes to the spirit. He had seen such cases among people of the lower castes. While he was debating this he felt suffocated. Tilottama’s hands were tightening around his neck like a rope. He started looking here and there helplessly. He couldn’t see any means to save his life. Suffocated, his body went limp and his feet trembled. Suddenly Tilottama leaned towards his arms. Dayaram froze. Death was dancing before his eyes. He said in his heart, ‘She is not my wife now but a terrible poisonous snake. Her bite will be fatal.’ His confidence in the medicine waned. If a mouse goes berserk and bites someone it becomes fatal. O God! What a terrible transformation! She looked like a veritable cobra. Dayaram wanted to put an end to his suffering by any means. He was overwhelmed by a sense of desperation. Tilottama, her tongue protruding, was repeatedly hissing and pouncing on him. All of a sudden, she said in a shrill voice, ‘Fool, how dare you love this beautiful woman?’ Saying this, she ran to bite him. Dayaram lost patience, straightened his left hand and fired a shot at Tilottama’s chest. It didn’t have any effect on Tilottama. Her embrace tightened. Her eyes began to spit fire. Dayaram shot a second round. This hit home. Tilottama’s grip loosened. In a moment her hands were dangling, her head came low and she fell down on the ground.
Then appeared a scene, the likes of which could not be found even in books like Alif Laila and Chandrakanta. There, near the bed, was lying a huge black snake in the throes of death. Streams of blood were flowing from its face and belly.
Dayaram couldn’t believe his eyes. What strange occurrence was this? What was the actual matter? Whom should he ask? Solving this puzzle had become the duty of his life. He pierced the snake with a stick and brought it to the courtyard. It was lifeless. He put it inside a box and closed it. He wanted to stuff it and hang it on the veranda. No one had seen such a big gehuan snake that belonged to the cobra family.
Then he went to Tilottama. He was mortally afraid to step inside the room. Of course, he found some solace in the thought
