________________
one way or another. Being Adharchandra's neighbour, he had also been kind to him and had helped him on many occasions. When an epidemic of plague had broken out in the village, Adharchandra was also afflicted by it. At that time, Adharchandra's family had behaved in a selfish manner and had forsaken him to fend for himself. It was Ramatanubabu who had nursed him for twenty hours and had proved his humanitarian nature by even paying for his medicines, thereby saving his life. Adharchandra's family returned only when he had recovered completely. Despite this, the envious and ungrateful Adharchandra was trying his best to disgrace Ramatanubabu.
However, nature has its own system of operating. Even after witnessing this debacle, people still considered Ramatanubabu to be innocent and virtuous and Adharchandra appeared to be guilty and wicked. A person even recognized the woman as a vagabond from a neighbouring village. She was renowned for her immoral way of life. Even the rogues were identified. People saved Ramatanubabu and were so angry with Adharchandra and his colleagues that they attacked him.
Soft-hearted Ramatanubabu could not bear to see this. He intervened, requested everyone with folded hands and barely managed to save Adharchandra and his two accomplices. On being recognized, the wicked woman had escaped. Two persons went to a police station located in a village two miles away and informed the police about the incident. The Chief Police Officer investigated the matter and arrested Adharchandra and his colleagues. Everyone was willing to be a witness. The woman was also found and
129