Scene 9

(Dighiriya Hill, Jesidih. Five crack revolutionaries: Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Ullaskar Dutt, Nolini Kanta Gupta, Prafulla Kumar Chakravarti and Bibhuti Bhusan Sarker. Nolini Kanta, who has carried a live bomb all the way in a handkerchief, passes it to Prafulla. The latter takes his position behind a steep rock facing a slope. Ullaskar stands at his side. Barin and Bibhuti take their positions on two sides. Nolini is some way afar on a tree to command a full view. From Prafulla’s hands the missile flies towards the slope. It was expected to explode after touching the ground. But its passage through the air causes a deafening explosion scattering splinters. A cheerful voice comes from the tree: “Successful! Successful!” Next moment there is sombre silence. The bright faces darken. All assemble round the prostrate figure of Prafulla. His skull is broken, issuing grey matter.)

BARIN: All’s over. No hope left.

(Any form of cremation, burial or covering up the body is quite out of the question.)

The first casuality in our first battle. Let it remain as it is. Our next step is our immediate return.

(Young Nolini’s grief breaks the silence.)

NOLINI. Five we came. Four we go.

BARIN: (Snapping back at Nolini) Nolini, no sentimentality, please.