RAWALPINDI-KASARAGOD 473
To this she said: "Please do not abandon me. I have no
place and no refuge except yon. Permit me to follow yow
wherever you go."
"No, no. Do not think of doing so," Ramdas replied.
In a rising emotion she waylaid him, appealed again
and insisted upon his giving the word. He yielded and
agreed. They reached Chandrashekarrao's house. Thus
ended the memorable events of this night.
As was natural, the household were shocked to hear of
the dreadful situation through which Ramdas and Krishna
Bai had passed at the ashram. The fall on the water pot had
caused permanent injury to the lower end of Krishna Bai's
spinal cord. In spite of the excruciating pain, she was
patient and cheerful as if nothing had happened to her.
His resolution was made that he should leave Kasaragod
the very next day. The night passed. By the earliest train
on the following day he and Krishna Bai with Chandra-
shekarrao came to Hosdrng. In Hosdrug there were
some mothers who were keenly anxious to have him at
their house for some days. To fulfil their long cherished
desire, on alighting at the Kanhangad station he directed
his steps straight to their house. The party was received by
the kind mothers with great joy. His future plans were
unsettled.