by Premchand
The Thakur said with a complaining voice, ‘Don’t you believe me even now?’
‘Bees fly away after collecting the flower’s nectar.’
‘And don’t the moths burn and get reduced to ashes?’
‘How should I trust you?’
‘Have I ever disobeyed you?’
‘You must be thinking that you’ll be able to snare Tulia with a colourful sari and a couple of trinkets. I’m not that naive.’
Tulia had figured out the inner motives of the Thakur. He kept staring at her face in wonderment.
Tulia said again, ‘A man always arranges for a dwelling place before leaving his house.’
The Thakur said happily, ‘Come and be the mistress of my house. I’ve told you countless times.’
Tulia looked from the corner of her eyes and said, ‘Today I’ll live like the mistress, and tomorrow I’ll not have the status of even a concubine, that’s what you mean?’
‘Do as you please. I’m your slave.’
‘You give me your word of honour?’
‘Indeed. Not once, but a thousand times.’
‘Then you won’t leave me?’
‘Only an impotent person reneges on his word of honour.’
‘Well, then make over half of your property in my name.’
The Thakur was ready to give her a cottage, a couple of bighas of land and some jewellery and clothes, but he didn’t have the heart to make over half of his property in her name. Tomorrow, if she is displeased with him for any reason, then he’d have to wash his hands off the property. Who could rely on such a woman? He couldn’t have imagined that Tulia would subject his love to such a severe test. He was furious. This daughter of a tanner considers herself an apsara! My love for her was simply an infatuation for her beauty. It’s not the kind of love for which one can sacrifice one’s own self and everything else.
He frowned and said, ‘I knew that you were in love with my property, not me.’
Tulia wriggled herself out and replied, ‘Didn’t I know that you were in love with my beauty and youth, not with me?’
‘You think love is bought and sold in the market?’
‘Yes, I do. For you, love is a game for a couple of days. For me, it’s the question of my life. When I’m giving you whatever I have, I want to extract its price. If you’d really loved me, you would have made over your entire property in my name. Will I carry the property with me? But I could see your real intentions. In a way, this is good. God forbid, a time comes when you’ve to stretch your hands before me—good days are never permanent for anyone; if ever such a time comes and you come to me, I’ll show you how large a woman’s heart is.’
Tulia left the place, annoyed. But she was not in despair, neither had she lost her heart. Whatever happened was part of her well-thought-out plan. She had no doubt about what was going to happen.
5
The Thakur had saved his property but at too great a cost. He lost the peace of his heart. It was as though nothing was left in his life. His property lay before his eyes while Tulia resided in his heart. Every day, she had appeared before him and had hurled shafts at his heart with her looks. She had been a concrete reality then. But the Tulia who was sitting in his heart now was a dream that was even more intoxicating and poignant than the truth.
Sometimes Tulia appeared like the flash of a dream and would vanish like the dream itself. Girdhar always looked out for an opportunity to share the anguish of his heart with her. But Tulia avoided even his shadow. Girdhar could now realize that she was more important than his property. He now felt angry at his stinginess. What did it matter if the property was in her name or his? It was such a trivial matter. Tulia wanted this to be done so that in case I betrayed her, she wouldn’t be helpless. Without her, I’m a worthless slave, so how can I be disloyal to her? I yearn for a glance, a word from her. How can I betray her? If I could see her alone, I would’ve said to her, ‘Tulia, whatever I have is yours. I’ll write whatever documents you want me to write. I’m ashamed of my fault. The natural weakness that a human being has for property made me say the words I said to you. This customary greed for money is standing between you and me. But now, I’ve realized that whatever gives joy in life is the most valuable object. If poverty and renunciation bring happiness, they should be the most coveted objects for which a man can sacrifice his land and property. Even today, there are such worthy sons of the soil who have renounced the world and its comforts, and have made jungles their abode. I couldn’t understand such a simple thing. I was really unfortunate!’
6
One day, Tulia sent a message to the Thakur: ‘I’m sick. Come and visit me. Who knows whether I will survive or not?’
The Thakur hadn’t seen Tulia for many days. Many a time, he would hover around her doorstep but he hadn’t seen her. However, now that he had received the message, it was as if he had fallen down a mountainside. It must have been ten in the night. He didn’t even listen to the whole thing and ran towards her house. His heart pounded and his head spun. Tulia is sick! Oh God, what’ll happen! Why don’t you make me sick? I’m ready to die in her place. The trees on both the sides loomed menacingly and seemed to chase him like two messengers of death. A voice issued intermittently from his throat—steeped in desire and pain. Tulia is sick.
His Tulia had sent for him. She had called for this thankless, vile and wretched assassin, saying, ‘Come and visit me. Who knows whether I will survive or not?’ If you won’t survive, Tulia, then even I won’t live long. Alas! I won’t. I’ll die beating my head on the wall. Our pyres will be prepared together then and our funeral rites will be carried out simultaneously.
He further hastened his steps. Today, he’ll lay everything that belongs to him at Tulia’s feet. Tulia considers him unfaithful. Today, he’ll show her how to keep the faith. If he wasn’t faithful while living, he’ll be so after his death. Whatever he wasn’t able to do in this short span of his life, he’ll do it for countless epochs. His love will become a legend and will be known in every house.
A doubt crossed his mind. ‘Will you be able to renounce the illusion of life?’ He beat his chest forcefully and shouted, ‘For whom is this illusion of life? Moreover, my life is the very same—that of the one who is sick. Let me see, how death takes away life, leaving the body behind.’
He entered Tulia’s house with his heart pounding and his legs shaking. Tulia was lying listlessly on her cot, wrapped in a sheet. In the dim light of the lantern, it seemed as if her pallid face was resting in the lap of death.
He put his head at her feet and said with a voice suppressed by tears, ‘Tulia, this wretched one is lying at your feet. Won’t you open your eyes?’
Tulia opened her eyes, cast a pitiful glance at him, and said, groaning, ‘You’re Girdhar Singh, aren’t you? Have you come? Now, I’ll die in peace. My heart was impatient to see you if only for the last time . Forgive me for what I ever said and never cry for me. What is this corporeal frame worth, Girdhar? Eventually, it’ll merge with the earth. But I’ll never leave your side. Like a shadow, I’ll be with you forever. You won’t be able to see or hear me, but Tulia will always remain with you. Girdhar, don’t blame yourself because of me! Don’t even mention my name before anyone. Yes, do sprinkle water on my pyre at least once. This will mitigate the fire burning in my heart.’
Girdhar started crying bitterly. Had there been a dagger in his hand, he would’ve pierced his heart at that very instant and died before her while writhing in pain.
Tulia took a deep breath and said again, ‘I won’t survive, Girdhar. Will you agree if I make a request?’
Girdhar beat his chest and said, ‘My dead body will be carried out with yours, Tulia. What’ll I do living now? And if at all I should live, how should I do so? You are my life, Tulia.’
He felt as though Tulia smiled.
‘Oh, no, no. Don’t be so stupid. You have a family and kids; look after them. If you truly love me, then don’t do any such thing that may reveal t
his love, even slightly. Don’t malign Tulia’s name after her death.’
Girdhar cried and said, ‘As you wish.’
‘I just have a request for you.’
‘I’ll only live now to carry out your orders. This will be the sole mission of my life.’
‘My only request is that you treat your bhabhi with the same respect and honour that she was accorded before Bansi Singh’s death. Give her the share of the property that belongs to her—that is, half the property.’
‘But she has been at her parents’ house for the last three months and had said that she won’t return ever.’
‘Girdhar, you did wrong, very wrong. Now, I can understand why I would have nightmares. If you want me to recover, then have the documents read and signed as quickly as possible and leave it at my place. This stark dishonesty of yours has proved fatal for me. Now I know why Bansi Singh would repeatedly give me these dreams. I have no other disease. It’s only Bansi Singh who is troubling me. That’s it, go now. You won’t find me alive if you delay. Bansi Singh is punishing me for your unjust deeds.’
Girdhar said in an undertone, ‘But how can the documents be read and signed at night, Tulia? Where will I find the stamp paper? Who’ll write out the documents? Where are the witnesses?’
‘Girdhar, my life will be saved even if you’ll get the documents read and signed by tomorrow evening. Bansi Singh is after me. He’s the one who’s been troubling me because he knows that you love me. I’m dying only because of your love. You won’t find Tulia alive if you delay.’
‘I’ll go for now, Tulia. Your command is the topmost in my mind. You wouldn’t have been reduced to this condition if you’d told me about this earlier. But it shouldn’t happen that I may not be able to see you and my heart’s longing will remain unfulfilled.’
‘Oh no, no. Have faith. I won’t die till tomorrow evening.’
Girdhar set out from there right at that moment and covered a distance of twenty-five miles—all during the night. He reached the town at daybreak, consulted the lawyers and made over half of the property in the name of his brother’s wife. He got the property registered on stamp paper and before the evening lights were lit, he returned and stood before Tulia, trembling between hope and despair. He looked harassed and totally exhausted. It seemed as though he hadn’t taken any food or water throughout the day. It was ten in the night. In those days, there were neither railways nor lorries. He had to trudge through fifteen kos of distance. He was so exhausted that every step felt like crossing a mountain. But he was afraid that if he did the slightest delay, then there would be a disaster.
Tulia asked happily, ‘Have you returned, Girdhar? Is the job done?’
Girdhar placed the papers before her and said, ‘Yes, Tula, I’ve done the job. But now even after all this if you don’t get around, then I’ll also die with you. I don’t care if people make fun of me or they weep. I swear on you that I haven’t taken even a drop of water.’
Tulia sat up and placed the paper near her headrest. She said, ‘Now I’m much better. By morning, I’ll be perfectly all right. I’ll not forget your good act till I die. But a few moments ago, I had dozed off for a while and I dreamt that Bansi Singh was standing near my bed and telling me, “Tulia, you are a married woman. Your husband is sitting a thousand kos away from you but taking your name constantly. If he wanted, he could’ve married again. But he’s waiting for you, and will do so for ever. If you betray him, then I’ll become your enemy and rest only after taking your life. If you want your own good, then stay on the right path. I’ll spell your ruin the day you betray him.”
‘Saying this, he glared at me with bloodshot eyes and left.’ Girdhar looked at Tulia’s face on which he could see a spiritual glow. It seemed as though a veil was lifted from his eyes and he could realize the intent of the entire plan. He touched Tulia’s feet with the highest regard and kissed them. ‘I can understand now, Tulia, that you are a goddess.’
Translated from the Hindi by Shailendra Kumar Singh
Sati
1
Mulia’s husband, Kallu, comes nowhere close to her in good looks. Then why is it that Mulia is happy and satisfied but Kallu anxious and doubtful?
Mulia has a cowrie shell that nobody would care about. But Kallu has a gem that could have hundreds of buyers. He is especially cautious of his cousin Raja. He is handsome, a playboy, a glib talker who knows how to charm women. So Kallu does not allow Mulia to go out of the house. He cannot tolerate anybody eyeing her. He now works hard day in and day out to provide Mulia the comforts she deserves. He wonders what merit he might have gained in his previous birth to have the good fortune of a wife like her in this birth. He is willing to sacrifice himself for her. He gets distraught if Mulia has so much as a headache. Mulia too feels the same for him. She yearns for him like a fish caught in a net until he comes back from work. There are so many young men in the village who try to flirt with her. But she considers her ugly Kallu far better than any of them.
One day Raja said, ‘Bhabhi, my brother is not worthy of you.’
Mulia said, ‘He was destined to be my husband, so how could I have found you?’
When he heard this, Raja thought that he had finally got the opportunity to impress Mulia. He said, ‘Destiny faltered there.’
Mulia smiled and said, ‘Well! If it did, then surely it will rectify its mistake.’
Raja was speechless.
2
Kallu brought a cotton sari for Mulia on the festival of Teej. He wanted to buy a nice sari for her, but did not have enough money for it, and the shopkeeper refused to give it on credit. Raja too wanted to test his fate. He brought a beautiful chundari for Mulia.
Mulia said, ‘I have already got a sari.’
Raja said, ‘I have seen it. That is why I got this for you. That sari is not worth your beauty. Bhaiya gets economical in such matters. He just buys the cheapest stuff available.’
Mulia subtly mocked him, ‘Why don’t you make him understand this?’
But Raja felt flattered. Drunk on arrogance, he replied, ‘An old parrot cannot be made to learn.’
‘I like my cotton sari.’
‘Wear this chundari once, it will look wonderful on you.’
‘If one is happy wearing coarse cotton, why would a beautiful chundari attract her? Had your bhaiya liked the chundari, he would have got one for me himself.’
‘Do not show this to him.’
Mulia was amazed. ‘Should I take it without even asking him?’
‘Why do you need to ask? Wear it in his absence, when he goes out to work. I could see you then.’
Mulia laughed aloud and said, ‘That is never going to happen, Devarji. He will get very angry if he sees it. You take it away.’
Raja pleaded with her, ‘If you do not accept this, I will poison myself.’
Mulia put the sari in the alcove and said, ‘All right, happy now?’
Raja held her by her finger and said, ‘Bhaiya is not here now, wear it!’
Mulia went inside and wore the chundari. She looked as beautiful and radiant as a flower.
Raja held out his hands to her. ‘I feel like running away with you.’
Mulia teased him saying, ‘You know what will happen to your brother after that?’ She shut the door on Raja’s face. He felt as if somebody had snatched the plate from his hands right after serving the choicest delicacies.
3
Mulia wanted to show the chundari to Kallu but could not muster the courage to do it. She was afraid of his reaction. Why did she take the chundari? She was angry with herself. However, she justified her decision immediately—Raja would feel bad if she didn’t. She had worn the chundari for only a moment. It was not an issue, it only made Raja feel good.
Something was gnawing at her heart. Why did she take the chundari? Was she cheating on Kallu? She was upset by the very thought of it. She tried to calm herself—this could not be cheating. She had not said anything to Raja. There was nothing wrong w
ith laughing with someone if it made him happy. She had not crossed her limits.
Kallu asked her later in the day, ‘What did Raju come for today?’
Mulia shivered with fear. She gave an excuse for Raju’s presence—he had come to ask for tobacco.
Kallu knitted his brows and said, ‘Don’t let him enter the house. He is not a good man.’
‘I told him there was no tobacco at home. So he went away.’
Kallu said heatedly this time, ‘Why are you lying? He did not come for tobacco.’
‘What else then?’
‘Whatever it was, it was not for tobacco. He knows I do not have tobacco at home. In fact, I went to his house to ask for it.’
Mulia went pale with fear. The colour drained from her cheeks. She lowered her head and said, ‘How would I have known his intentions?’
It was Teej today and all worshippers were to remain awake through the night. Mulia too was preparing for the puja, but not very enthusiastically. She went about it mechanically.
She was anxious, as if her face had been blackened. She had fallen in the eyes of Kallu. Her life had no meaning now. It was anchorless. She thought—Why did God give me such beauty? Had I been ugly, Raja would never have approached me. I would not have seen this day. Had I been unattractive and dark-complexioned, I would have been happier and at ease. My heart would not have been so restless. Those who want to encash their beauty flourish from it. Here, my beauty has destroyed everything.
She fell asleep thinking these thoughts. She dreamt that Kallu had died and Raja was forcibly entering the house for her. An old woman had come from somewhere and was asking Mulia—‘Why did you kill Kallu?’ Mulia was saying while crying—‘Mother, I have not killed him.’ The old woman said—‘Yes! You did not kill him with a knife and dagger. But you were not loyal to your husband and so he died.’
Mulia opened her eyes suddenly, waking up from the dream. Kallu was asleep in the courtyard. She started crying and ran to him. Apprehensive, Kallu asked her, ‘Mula! Why are you crying? Are you afraid? Don’t worry, I am awake.’
