FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

FILMINDIA April 1942 heart like a tide as she embraced him. Then sne turned a little and saw Sadhu Ramdas in the splendour of his young manhood; and felt as if her very scul went out to him in a rapture ol gratitude. "Sadhuji", she said, "I can find no words to thank you, who have given me a gift beyond price or praise. Nor could any reward in the world be great enough. Henceforth my life is dedicated to your service. Take it, and do with it as you will. I will abjure the world and live here in this lonely spot, asking no more than that I may serve the Gods and be allowed to help you in your noble work of healing." "Devi, you could not", Ramdas said gently. "Delicate flowers cannot blossom in the snowy mountain wilds. Return to your home; and, if you will, let charity to the poor be your thanks-offering. For myself, as long as I live I shall not forget that you made that offer." His clean-eyed gaze rested on her face with deeper tenderness than he knew; rested there until her lips parted a little, and her cheeks glowed; and Nagar Chand watching smiled; for he had not forgotten his own youth, and he knew the dawn of young love when he saw it. "But your great gift should not be wasted in this remote spot, Sadhuji, he said. "I have been happy here", said Ramdas simply. "That knowledge is no small thing", said Nagar Chand. "In the towns— in Bombay, say— you could do a thousand times more good with it because you would then be within reach of even the poorest, who cannot afford to travel this long difficult way in quest of you. Come with us, and you shall be as the son I have always longed for; and I will give you an Ashram where you can start to restore sight to hundreds instead of to the fortunate few alone." The eyes of Sadhu Ramdas lit up. with the fire of the devotee. Nagar Chand looked at his daughter. "Ask him il he will come, Meenaxi," ho said. Meenaxi still dazed and rapturous with the miracle that had befallen her, turned to the young Sadhu with an eager imploring face, "Will you?" she said and gave him both her hands. He and she stood for a long moment gazing deeply into each other's eyes. In that moment he came to his resolve "I will", he said. RAMDAS IN THE CITY The Ram Ashram in Bombay, where young Ramdas, the healer of eyes, performed his amazing cures, was far-famed, and Meenaxi now Ramdas's wife was his right hand in that noble work. She had never seen before in her life; she had never dreamed that such happiness could be. Nagar Chand lavished gifts upon them. All this was nothing new to Meenaxi; she had been brought up as befitted a rich man's child. To Sadhu Ramdas, fresh from his mountain remoteness, his austere and frugal life, it was all novel and rather wonderful. He found it more and more pleasant as the weeks and the months went by. He who had shrunk from fame now found it forced upon him. At first he tried consistently to avoid it. After a while he tried less; before very long he ceased to try at all. The world having set out to spoil him looked like succeeding. Above all, he had to reckon with the inevitable flattery of women, who admired him less for his work than for his notable looks, and did not hesitate to let him see it. It went to his head, rather badly; so that presently his name began to be bandied about in company with those of several ladies better known for their charms than for their virtue; and the scandal reached the ears of Nagar Chand, who promptly 66