by Premchand
Shyam said impatiently, ‘Even if you stand behind the shutters, any man can clearly see you.’
‘I didn’t know that. Now I won’t open the window at all.’
‘Yes, what’s the use? Don’t let Munnu come inside,’ he pleaded.
Devi turned her head and asked, ‘But who will clean the bathroom?’
Shyam said, ‘Well, he can come but don’t talk to him much. A new theatre has come to town today. Let’s go and watch it. I’ve heard that the actors are quite good.’
At this moment, Sharda came running with a box of sweets. Devi asked her, ‘Hey, who gave you these sweets?’
‘Raja Bhaiya gave them to me. He says that he will buy me new toys,’ responded Sharda.
Shyam asked her, ‘Who is Raja Bhaiya?’
Sharda replied coolly, ‘The same man who just passed by.’
‘Is that man tall and dusky?’ Shyam hissed.
‘Yes, yes! That’s him. Can I go to his house every day?’ Sharda asked excitedly.
Devi asked, ‘Did you go to his house?’
Sharda said with a sudden grin, ‘He lifted me in his arms and took me to his place.’
Shyam snapped, ‘Don’t you play on the road downstairs. You will come under a car someday. Don’t you see, so many cars speed past!’
‘Raja Bhaiya says that he will take me for a ride in his car to get some fresh air.’
‘What do you do all day long? Can’t you keep an eye on your own girl?’ Shyam asked hotly.
Devi snapped at him, ‘A girl this big cannot be kept locked in a trunk.’
‘You are quick when it comes to answering back. Why don’t you admit that you don’t find the time because you keep talking all the while?’
‘Whom do I talk to?’ Devi looked at him scornfully. ‘There aren’t even any neighbours around.’
‘But there is Munnu,’ hissed Shyam.
Devi bit her lip and said, ‘Is Munnu my relative that I will sit and talk to him? He’s a poor man who cries about his fate. What am I supposed to say? I can’t chide him.’
‘Anyway, prepare the food, the performance will start at nine o’clock. It’s seven already,’ said Shyam.
‘You go and watch it,’ she announced. ‘I won’t go.’
‘You were the one who kept telling me for months that you wanted to watch the play. Now what’s wrong?’ cried Shyam. ‘Have you taken a vow that you will oppose whatever I say?’
Devi replied weakly, ‘I don’t know why you think this way. I do everything according to your wishes. If I go, you will end up spending more money and then say that your expenses have increased and badger me no end. That’s why I said it. If you want me to come, then I can. Who doesn’t like to watch a play?’
At nine o’clock, Shyamkishore, along with Devi and Sharda, left for the theatre in a tonga. They had barely started when another tonga appeared from behind. Raza was in it. And next to him—yes, Munnu the sweeper who used to clean Babu Sahib’s house was seated next to him. Devi lowered her head on seeing them. She was shocked to see that Raza and Munnu were such good friends that Raza took him in his tonga for a ride. Sharda saw Raza and cried at once, ‘Babuji, look, that’s Raja Bhaiya coming.’ She clapped her hands and called out excitedly, ‘Raja Bhaiya, look here, we are going to watch a play.’
Raza smiled, and Babu Sahib boiled with rage. He thought that these nasty people were here to follow him. There was definitely some secret understanding between the two. Otherwise why would Raza bring Munnu along? To put them off their pursuit, he said to his tonga driver, ‘Be quick, we are getting late.’ The tonga picked up speed. Raza’s tonga also started racing ahead. When Babu Sahib asked the tonga driver to slow down, Raza too slowed down. Finally, Babu Sahib said in exasperation, ‘Take the tonga towards the cantonment, we won’t go to the theatre.’
The tonga driver looked at him questioningly and turned the tonga. Raza too took a turn. Babu Sahib was so filled with rage that he was about to challenge Raza, but he feared picking up a fight which would attract an unnecessary crowd and could turn serious. He controlled himself. He got irritated with himself for having chosen to watch the play. He had no clue that these devils would follow him. I will get rid of Munnu tomorrow itself, he thought. Raza’s tonga turned in a different direction after going a certain distance, and Babu Sahib’s anger slowly subsided, but it was too late to go to the theatre now. They rode back home from the cantonment.
Devi reached upstairs and hissed irritatedly, ‘The tonga driver earned two rupees for nothing!’
Shyamkishore gave her a bloodshot stare and exclaimed, ‘Talk to Munnu some more, enjoy looking at Raza from the window. What exactly are you up to?’
Devi raised her voice angrily, ‘Aren’t you ashamed to say such things? You are insulting me unnecessarily, this won’t be good for you. I don’t even consider anyone equal to the dirt on your feet, then who the hell is that sweeper? You think I am so low?’
Shyam replied curtly, ‘No, I don’t consider you so, but I do think you’re a fool. You should never have entertained this rogue at all. Now do you see what a rascal he is, or do you still have your doubts?’
Devi muttered under her breath, ‘I will get rid of him tomorrow itself.’
Munshiji lay down with an unsettled mind. He was in his office all day long. How could he know what Devi did behind his back? He knew that Devi was a devoted wife, but he also knew that women have a habit of showing off their beauty. Devi must be appearing at the window all decked up, and these scoundrels in the colony must be getting ideas in their heart of hearts. It was beyond him to stop this business. These rogues are clever at seduction. God forbid that their eyes fall upon the brides and daughters of respectable families! How to get rid of them?
After giving it careful thought, he decided to leave that house. He couldn’t think of anything else. He asked Devi, ‘So tell me, should we leave this house? I fear that they will sully my name if we stay amidst these rogues.’
Devi spoke in a challenging tone, ‘As you wish!’
Shyam asked her again, ‘You only tell me the way out.’
Devi sputtered, ‘What can I say? I don’t think we need to leave the house even if there were to be a lakh of such scoundrels, let alone one or two. Is one supposed to leave his house because of a few barking dogs?’
‘Sometimes, the dogs can bite too,’ Shyam warned her.
Devi didn’t respond to this remark. She was afraid that arguing over this would arouse her husband’s suspicion further. He was anyway suspicious by nature; who knows what he might think of her answer!
Shyam Babu left that house three days after the incident.
One day, a month after shifting into the new house, Munnu, with a bandage around his head, came limping with a stick and called out. Devi recognized his voice, but did not reproach him. She opened the door. She was yearning to hear some news about her old house. Munnu came inside and said, ‘Madam, ever since you’ve left that house, I swear, not once have I gone there. I feel like crying when I see that house. I wish I could come to this colony. I keep roaming here and there like a madman, Madam, I don’t feel like doing anything. I keep thinking of you all the time. Who will look after me the way you did? This house is quite small.’
Devi replied firmly, ‘We had to leave that house because of you.’
Munnu exclaimed in shock, ‘Because of me? What did I do, Madam?’
‘You were the one who was following us with Raza in the tonga. Anyone would be suspicious of such a man,’ groaned Devi.
Munnu feigned pulling himself together and said, ‘Oh, Madam, do not speak of that night. Raza Miyan had to meet a lawyer. He stays in the cantonment. He asked me to accompany him. His horse-wrangler had gone somewhere. Out of regard, we couldn’t overtake you. You call him a scoundrel, but there isn’t a kinder man in the entire colony. He prays five times a day, Madam, fasts for all thirty days. He has his wife and children at home. He dare not misbehave with anyone.’
‘A
nyway, must be. Why is your head bandaged?’
Munnu cried in an aggrieved tone, ‘Don’t ask me about it, Madam! My blood boils with rage when I hear people saying anything bad about you. The confectioner who stays next door was saying, “Babuji has yet to give me some money.” I said, “He is not the sort of person who will keep your money with him.” That’s it, Madam. On that note, he picked up a fight with me. I was cleaning the drain beneath the shop. He came down and kicked me hard. I fell flat on the road. I got hurt, but I abused him so much that he will remember it for the rest of his life. The wound is healing now, Madam.’
Devi cried anxiously, ‘Ram Ram! Why did you pick a fight for nothing? It was a simple matter. You should have said, “If he owes you money, then why don’t you go and ask for it.” We are in the same town; it’s not like we have fled the country.’
‘Madam, I cannot stand anyone speaking against you. I don’t care if he is the owner of his house, how do I care?’ Munnu said resolutely. ‘Even if he is a moneylender, he must be so in his own house. As if we eat from his share.’
Devi asked him, ‘Has someone moved into that house yet?’
Munnu burst out in agony, ‘Many people came to see the house, Madam, but a house in which you have stayed, how can someone else live there? We have told them to keep away from the house. Raza has not touched food and water ever since you’ve left, Madam. He cries thinking of your daughter. But why would you think of poor people like us?’
‘Why wouldn’t I? Am I not a human being?’ Devi gave him a pitying look. ‘Even animals don’t eat for three to four days after leaving their old habitat. Take this money, go and buy something from the bazaar to eat, you must be hungry.’
Munnu said eagerly, ‘With your blessings, there is no shortage of food. A person’s heart is all that matters, Madam! Money has nothing to do with it. We eat because you feed us. Your temperament is such that a man can slave away without taking a penny from you. I will take your leave now, Madam. Sir must be on his way. He’ll say, “The rascal has come here too.”’
‘He will take time to come,’ responded Devi.
Munnu said quickly, ‘Oh, I forgot to tell you this. Raza Miyan has given these toys for the little girl. I got so engrossed in the conversation that I totally forgot. Where is she?’
‘She isn’t back from school yet, but what was the need to send so many toys? Oh, what has Raza done! He should have sent toys worth two or three rupees if he wanted to. This doll alone must be worth at least four rupees. These toys are worth thirty to thirty-five rupees.’
‘How would I know, Madam? I have never bought any toys. Even if there’re worth thirty-five rupees, it’s not a huge amount for him. He earns a daily profit of fifty rupees from his shop, Madam!’
‘No, take them back, please,’ Devi protested. ‘What will she do with so many toys? Let me just keep this doll.’
Munnu tried cajoling her, ‘Madam, Raza Miyan will be disappointed. He won’t spare me. He’s a very sentimental man, Madam. He becomes restless when his wife leaves for her hometown for even a day or two.’
All at once, Sharda returned from school and pounced on the toys as soon as she saw them. Devi scolded her and hissed, ‘What are you doing? Take the doll, what will you do with all others?’
Sharda could not contain her joy. ‘I will take all of them. I will keep the doll in the car and take her for a ride. The dog will run after them. I will cook for my doll in these utensils. Where did all this come from, Amma? Tell me.’
‘They haven’t come from anywhere. I had asked for them just to have a look. You choose any one of them,’ Devi said drily.
‘I will take all of them, Amma, please take all of them,’ pleaded Sharda. ‘Who has brought them, Amma?’
Devi raised her voice, ‘Munnu, you take the toys and leave! Let the doll remain.’
Sharda continued to lament, ‘Where have you brought these from, Munnu, tell me!’
‘Your Raja Bhaiya has sent them for you,’ said Munnu.
Sharda was overcome with joy. ‘Raja Bhaiya has sent them. Oh! (dances) Raja Bhaiya is very nice. I will show these to my friends tomorrow. No one has such toys.’
Devi said to Munnu, ‘All right, Munnu, you go now. Tell Raza Miyan not to send any more toys again.’
After Munnu left, Devi called Sharda, ‘Come, child, let me put the toys away. If Babuji sees them he will get annoyed about you taking these toys from Raza Miyan. He will break and throw all of them away. Don’t ever mention the toys to him.’
‘Yes, Amma, keep them away. Babuji will destroy them,’ Sharda said rather sadly.
Devi alerted her again, ‘Don’t ever let him know that Raja Bhaiya sent these toys, otherwise Babuji will hit Raja Bhaiya and will also box your ears. He will say that this girl keeps begging for toys from everyone.’
Sharda repeated, ‘Yes, Amma, keep them away. Babuji will break them.’
By then, Babu Shyamkishore came back from the office. He had a frown on his face. As soon as he entered, he howled, ‘That rogue Munnu has started coming to this colony as well? I saw him today. Did he come here too?’
Devi said hesitantly, ‘Well, yes.’
Shyam’s face was distorted with anger, ‘And you let him in? Didn’t I ask you not to let him step inside the house again?’
‘He started knocking on the door, what was I supposed to do?’ said Devi.
‘That rascal must have come with him too?’ Shyam snapped.
‘There was no one with him!’ she said.
Shyam gave her a questioning glance. ‘You did not tell him not to come here again, did you?’
‘I didn’t think of this. And why will he come here again?’ she said meekly.
Shyam reminded her, ‘For the same reason he came today. Why are you hell-bent on ruining my reputation?’
Devi spoke with attitude, rather annoyed, ‘Don’t you give me this nonsense, understand? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for speaking such filth? You had said something similar before. Today you’re saying it again. If I hear this for the third time, it won’t be good. I am warning you. You think I’m a whore?’
‘I don’t want him to come to my house,’ protested Shyam.
Devi retorted, ‘Then why don’t you tell him yourself ? Do I stop you?’
Shyam hissed, ‘Why don’t you tell him?’
She could not bring herself to ignore this remark. ‘Are you ashamed to tell him yourself ?’
Shyam said, ‘It is pointless for me to tell him. Even if I ask him not to come, he will keep coming unless you ask him to stop.’
Devi bit her lip and said, ‘All right, what is the harm if he keeps coming? Sweepers go to everyone’s house.’
‘If I see Munnu here again, it won’t be good for you, I’ve warned you.’
Saying this, Shyamkishore went downstairs. Devi stood there, benumbed. She was hurt after facing this accusation, disgrace and mistrust. She began to cry. The thing which had hurt her most was the fact that her husband considered her so lowly and salacious. He was suspecting her of something that even a whore wouldn’t do.
The moment Shyamkishore entered the house, Sharda collected her toys and ran off lest he destroy them. She went downstairs and started looking for a place to hide them. She was in this quandary when one of her friends came to the courtyard. Sharda was impatient to show off her toys. She could not overcome this temptation. Babuji went upstairs, he will not come down so soon. Till then, why not show the toys to my friend? She called out to her friend and both of them got so engrossed in looking at the new toys that they didn’t realize when Shyamkishore came downstairs. As soon as Shyamkishore saw the toys, he went to Sharda and asked, ‘Where did you get these toys?’
Sharda choked at once. She started trembling with fear and couldn’t utter a word.
Shyamkishore blustered and asked her again, ‘Why don’t you speak, who gave you these toys?’
Sharda started crying. Cajoling her, Shyamkishore said, ‘Don’t cry, I won’t b
eat you. I am just asking you, where did you get these pretty toys?’
When he assured her thus three or four times, Sharda gained some courage. She told him the entire story. Catastrophe! It would have been better had Sharda stayed mum. In fact, way better if she had turned mute. Devi could have cooked up a story to avoid this situation, but who could avert the inevitable? Every inch of Shyamkishore was on fire. Leaving the toys behind, he went upstairs and, holding Devi by her shoulders, asked her, ‘Do you want to stay in this house or not? Tell me clearly.’
Devi was still standing and sobbing. Hearing this ruthless question, her tears simply vanished. Fearing a new menace, she forgot about the previous accusations. It was like a patient running away from his sickbed upon seeing a slayer’s sword. She looked at Shyamkishore with fear-stricken eyes, but couldn’t say anything. Every mute cell of her body was asking him, ‘What is the meaning of this question?’
Shyamkishore asked again, ‘You clearly let me know what you want. If you’re tired of living with me, then you are free to go. I don’t want to imprison you. You don’t have to lie to me or cheat on me. I am ready to dismiss you happily. If you have decided something, then so have I. You cannot live in this house any more; you don’t deserve to live here.’
Devi gained control of her voice and said, ‘What has happened to you these days that you keep spitting venom all the time? If you’re tired of me, then poison me. Why do you have to incinerate me? Talking to a sweeper was not that great a crime. When he called out, I went and opened the door. Had I known that this small thing would be blown out of proportion, I would have asked him to go back from afar.’
Shyam cried wildly, ‘I wish I could pull out your tongue from your mouth. It began with talking, then communicating through gestures, and now the gifts have also started coming. Now what else is left?’
Devi called out weakly, ‘Why are you behaving so ruthlessly? You won’t get anything by taking the life of a helpless woman.’
‘Am I lying?’ asked Shyam.
Devi said, ‘Yes, you are.’
Shyam burst out, ‘Where did these toys come from?’
