2 November

On our way to the playground I said to Nolini-da: "Since you are still suffering from your cough, would you please try Sudhir-da's medicine?"

He burst into laughter. "Sudhir is my dear and real friend, but I cannot take him as my doctor."

At the playground Nolini-da said: "Today I shall read out to you two things; two, because they are short. One is a continuation of my previous reminiscences; the other one I won't tell you about right now."

After he had read out the first one he said: "You are all familiar with the concept of 'Hymns to the Light' but you will be surprised to learn why I am writing 'Hymns to the Darkness'." He also read out his English translations of Rabindranath's Bengali songs and of some Bengali poems by modern writers.

On our way back from the playground he asked me and Rajen-da our opinion. Rajen-da said: "Excellent!"

I said to him: "I have learnt something new: at times there is a real need for darkness."

He said: "At times darkness is nothing but a future preparation for a brighter light."