DATARBAI GOT UP VERY CAREFULLY WHEN SHE REALISED THAT HER DAUGHTERS WERE SLEEPING SOUNDLY. SHE TOOK OUT SUBHATAI`S LETTER. SHE TRIED TO GET MORE LIGHT FROM THE LANTERN BY PULLING OUT ITS WICK A BIT. SHE WANTED TO ANSWER THE LETTER BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. SHE WAS WONDERING HOW TO WRITE AND MOREOVER, WHAT TO WRITE. SHE TOOK THE PEN IN HER HAND. SHE DIPPED THE NIB IN THE INK-BOTTLE. THE BLANK PAPER WAS LOOKING AT HER EXPECTEDLY, THE INK WAS GETTING DRIED UP.SHE WAS JUST OBSERVING THE DARK CORNERS ONE BY ONE, BLANKLY, WEARILY.
मुली झोपल्या आहेत असे पाहून दातारबाई हलकेच उठल्या. दिवा मोठा करून त्यांनी सुभाताईचे पत्र काढले. त्या पत्राला उत्तर लिहिण्यासाठी त्या बसल्या; पण काय उत्तर लिहावे ते त्यांना समजेना. शाईत बुडवलेला टाक त्यांच्या हातात होता. समोर कोरा कागद होता. टाकावर शाई वाळत होती. आणि दातारबाई कोपया कोपयातला काळोख निरखीत शून्यपणे, कोरड्या डोळ्यांनी समोर बघत होत्या.