The Home and the World

It is the day of the trip to Calcutta. Nikhil thinks of his love for Bimala, and of all the sorrow he has brought to her life. Rani appears and teases him for all the boxes of books that he is taking with them. He tells her that he will visit now and then, but has no plans to return permanently. When he visits Rani’s room, he sees that she has also packed and thinks that she is going with them. He thinks about their relationship and how much he has depended on her at times.

Khema tells them that the inspector has arrived with a prisoner. After taking a bath, he sees Bimala sitting, waiting for him. She says she needs to talk, but can wait until after he has finished with the inspector. When he goes downstairs, Amulya is the prisoner. The inspector gives the 6,000 rupees to Nikhil and says that Amulya claims to have found them under a bush. Under these suspicious circumstances, the inspector thought it best to tell Nikhil of Amulya’s claims. He agrees to leave Amulya with Nikhil and leaves.

Amulya tells Nikhil that he took the money. With a mask over his face and a pistol in each hand, he committed the robbery and shot the guard in the leg. Nikhil wants to know why the robbery was necessary. Amulya asks that he call Bimala to them. He prostrates himself at her feet and thanks her, saying that his task is done. Feeling unneeded, Nikhil leaves in confusion.

He goes to Rani and asks that she accompany him to her room. He plans on opening the safe. When they get there, the key is missing. Rani says he should get through dinner and then they will figure it out. He is disturbed. Bimala has never taken a key without asking him. After dinner, Bimala admits to taking the key and says she has already spent the money from the safe. Nikhil can tell that there is a connection between what she is saying and the stolen 6,000, but he knows he will never ask her to explain. He holds her hand as she begins to cry.

Bimala no longer fears anything and looks forward to the trip to Calcutta. She watches Nikhil packing and is urging him to get some rest when a servant announces that Sandip is there. They go to see him together. Sandip lays the coins that she stole on the table in front of them. He says he has finally developed a conscience and must return the money to Bimala to repay the debt of his soul. He leaves, saying he is going to take a train in twenty-five minutes to avoid the Muslims who are threatening to kill him.

Bengal is engulfed in riots. Chandranath enters and says that the Muslims are looting Harish Kundu’s treasury and committing violent acts against the women of the house. Nikhil says he will go and mounts a horse, leaving without a weapon. No one is able to stop him. That night, doctors return bearing a body on a litter. It is Nikhil, who has suffered a severe head wound and may not live. Amulya was shot in the heart and died.