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By SRI SURESH CHANDRA CHAKRAVARTY
(Rendered by the Author from his Bengali original)

Once upon a time the man was very foolish and absurdly egoistic. So he used to consider and treat the woman as his slave. He put iron chains round her frail ankles and in such a way that they might not hamper her in doing household work but prevented her from running away from his home.

And the woman鈥搒he too, as if agreeing with the man鈥檚 sentiment, used to live like a slave. Who could say what was in her mind? But she used to go quietly about the house and placidly do the household work. She kept his home neat and clean and at the close of the day, after lighting the evening lamp, she prayed to all the gods to keep his home from harm鈥檚 way She prepared his food, made his drink and gathered flowers for his worship. And the man in his absurd egoism used to take everything for granted and in tremendous self-complacency thought鈥撯�淎h! she does so much for me because she can鈥檛 do without me.鈥�

When the Creator saw the working of the man鈥檚 said to Himself 鈥淣ow let us enjoy a bit of fun.鈥�

So one day when the man was out hunting, He, the Creator, took away the woman and hid her beyond His ken.

That day when the man came home, tired and hungry and thirsty, he found that nothing was kept ready against his coming鈥搉o food for his hunger, no drink for his thirst, and no flowers for his worship鈥搕here was none to administer to his want and comfort. He was beside himself with anger. He jumped about like a helpless pampered child, tore his hair in rage and shouted hoarse, calling the woman. But she did not appear.

Instead, appeared the Creator before him and very innocently asked鈥撯�淲hat is the matter?鈥�

鈥淢atter?鈥� exploded the man, 鈥淲here is that accursed woman? It was she who was doing everything for me鈥搒he prepared food for my hunger, got ready my drink and gathered flowers for my worship.鈥�

鈥淚s that all?鈥� enquired the Creator. 鈥淵es,鈥� said the man, and, somewhat puzzled, asked鈥撯�淭hen what else?鈥�

The Creator did not reply to his query but said鈥撯�淎ll right, you will get everything ready for you鈥揻ood for your hunger, drink for you thirst and flowers for your worship.鈥�

Thereafter, through, the intervention of the Creator, by some unseen power the man began to get everything read for him鈥搕he food for his hunger, the drink for his thirst and the flowers for his worship. But the woman did not come .

So day after day, punctual to the very minute, the man got whatever he required.

But something was amiss鈥搒omething very subtle, something unexplainable was not there, was lost altogether. Now the food was only food, the drink was only drink and the flowers were only flowers. As if the food had lost its flavour, the drink its coolness and the flowers their fragrance. The whole business seemed to him to be a mockery arranged by some impish intelligence鈥揳 cruel heartless machine-moved clock-work and, by thunder!, how atrocious! how unbearable!

That day the man came from his day鈥檚 labour tired and jaded. He found everything ready as usual鈥搕he food for his hunger, the drink for his thirst and the flowers for his worship. They all seemed to be mocking at him with a silent cruel mockery. All on a sudden a maddening frenzy took possession of his soul. Tears of anger burst forth from his eyes. He kicked away the food, poured out the drink and trampled on it, and had a devil鈥檚 dance over the flowers kept for his gods. He began to shout and roar like a giant in helpless rage.

The Creator appeared before him and asked鈥撯�漌hat is the matter again?

鈥淢atter? the man exploded like a barrel of dynamite, 鈥淢atter? Who wants all this heartless mockery? Take it away鈥揳nd give me my woman.鈥�

The Creator smiled and gave him the woman.

That day the man took off the iron chains from her feet and put golden bangles on her arms and a necklace of pearls round her neck, and, clasping her to his heart, choked with emotion, said鈥撯�淭hou art no slave, thou鈥搕hou art the song, the enchantment that fills the emptiness of my universe.鈥�