The spell cast by her malice was broken.
CHAPTER XIII
Debendra Babu in Trouble.
One chilly morning in February a Mohammadan neighbour of Nalini's
named Sadhu Sheikh burst into his parlour crying, "Chota Babu, Chota
Babu (lit. 'little babu,' used for younger brother, to distinguish
him from the elder, styled 'bara babu'), Siraji is dying!"
"Who is she?" asked Nalini looking up from a law book which he was
studying.
"Surely you know my sister, Chota Babu?"
"Yes, of course, what's the matter with her?"
"She has been ill for three days, with excruciating internal pains;
what am I to do, Babuji?"
"Who is treating her?" asked Nalini.
"Abdullah has been giving her the usual remedies."
"Why, he is a peasant and knows nothing of medicine. You should not
have called him in."
"Sir, we are poor folk. Abdullah is very clever and his fee is a
mere trifle."
"What drugs has he been administering?"
"Homopotik (homoeopathic), they are called."
"Now you had better return home at once to find out how she is
progressing. Let me know if she grows worse and I will send Hriday
Doctor. Don't trouble about his fees; I will pay them myself. Why
did you not come to me earlier?"
Sadhu muttered some words, which Nalini could not distinguish, and
left the room hurriedly.
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