‘The John Day Company New York“i. CHAPTER 1 JOMETIMES at night T think that my husband S is with me agcin, coming gently through the sits, and we are tranquil together. T ing.gomes, the wavering grey turns to gold, there is axirring within as the sleepers awake, and he softly departs ‘One by one they eome out into the early morning sunshine, my son, my dauohter, and Puli the child 1 clang to wbo was not ming, and he no longer a child, Pali ie with me becmce T tempted him out of my desperition I lured him avay from his sol to mine, ‘Yer T have no fears now: what is done is done, there an be no repning. “Are you happy with me?” I sti to him yesterday—ieing sure of the answer. He nodded, ‘ot hesitating, but a tele impatient. An old woman's fcibles. A need for comfort. ‘Bue Lam comforted mort when I looe at his hands. He has no fingers only stubs, since what hus been taken ‘an never be given back, but they are clean and sound. Where the sores were there is new pink puckered flash; his limbs are untouched. Kenny and Selvam between tem have kept my promise to him. 9Ta the datance when it isa fine dey ard my sight i not too dim, Ian st the building where my son works. He and Kenny,the yourg and the old. A ge building, sprucead whites it only mony has buf but meas hopes tn pitys as Tknow who have seen grow brik by brick and yearby year. ‘My three sbters were married long befoce I was Stants firs lig wedding which lasted for many days plenty of gifts and fasts, ciamond earings, gold aeck- face belted the daugheer of the village heasmaa, Padmini next, and she too made a good match and was rrried fitting’, wking jenels and dowry with her; but when it came to Thinigum, only relations from out own village came tothe wedding and not from the sur- reundang cistrits as they had done befor, and the only Jewel she Yad was a diamond nose-screw “What for you,” my mother would sy, tking my face in her hands my lst-bora, my baby? Four done SO” esis too much for a man to bear” I shall haves grand wedding?” T would say. “Such thie eversbady wll remember when all elie iss dream forgotten” (L had heard this phrase ina storyteller’ tale) “Fors not iy father bead of the village?” [knew tht pleased my mother, for she would st onze eugh, afd lose her look cof worry. Once then I repeated ths, my eldest brothe ‘overheard me, and he said sharply, “Don's speak Be 2 foo, the headian is 0 longer of consequence. There isthe Collector, who comes to these villages once a yea, and to him i the power, and to thove he appoint not tothe headman.” ‘This was the frst time I had ever beard that my % father was of m0 cnsequence. Tt was as if» prop on hich [Teaned had ben roughly kicked away, and felt frightened and refused t believe him. But of couse he sees right, and by the time I came to womanhood evea Thad to acenowledge that is prestige was much dinin- ished. Perhaps that was why they could not find me 2 ich husband, and marred me t a saat facmer who ‘was poor in everything but in love ard care for my his ‘wife, whom he wok at the age of elve, Our relatives, Thon, murmtated that the match vas telow me; my mother henelf was ot happy, but I was without beauty and without dery and it was the bes she could do. “A oor match,” they said, and not alvays quely. How Tile they knew, any of them! A wom, they ayy lays remenbers her wedding sight, Well maybe ther do, bt for me there are other tights I prefer to remember, wectr, fille, when 1 ‘ent o my husband matird in mind st wel in D035, tot asa pine and nwa child a T id on that fist night. And when ke relgies ceremonies had been om pleted, we left, my husband and I How well I remem- br the day and the naden sickness that overcame me when the moment for departre came! My mother in the doorway, ao tas in er ees but her fre bloted with ther wight. My father sting litle in front her wating to se ussafly on our ay, My husband, Seed already on be blocs crt with the fn run Fall, Pe ere ee apes oe te eto found myself ako siting in the ert, in faery, with downcast eyes. Then te ert began t0 nav, lurching4 the bullecks got wkwardly into ehythm and T was sick. Such a disgrace for me. ... How shall ever live it down? T remember thinking. I hall never forget.» LT havew’e forgorten, but the memory is not sour. My husband soothed and calmed me. “Ie a thing that might happen to anybody,” he sid. Do not fret. Come dry your eyesand St up here beside me.” $I éid, and sfter a while 1 felt better, the ears Jefe my eyes and died on my lashes, For six hours we rods on and on along the dusty oud, passing several villiges.on the way to ours, which was a good distance away. Halfway there we stopped. and ate a mal: boiled ree, dbal,* vegetables and curds. A whole coconut apiece to, in which my husband nicked. a hole with his seythe for me oo that I might dak the clear milk, Then he anyoked the bollocks and led them to the small pool of water nezr which we bad stopped, giving them cach a handful of hay. Poor beats, they?” TN dusty. .? We rested half hour before resuming ou jure: ‘The arimals, refreshed, began stepping jayntity agin, tossing their heads and janaling the bells that hung from their red-painted horas. The aie\was full of the soand of tells, and of birds, sparrows and bultuls mainly, and sometimes the ery ofan eagle, but when we passed 2 grove, green and leafy, I could hear mynahs and parrots It'was very warm, ard, unused to so long. a joltieg, 1 fell asleep. ‘Thien ther tt defi in hoya tha end of he bok. It was my husband who woke me—my husbaad, whom I will call here Nathan, for that was his name, although inal the years of our marriage I never called im that, for it not mest for a woman to address her Jnusband except 2s “husband.” “We are home,” he ered. Wake up! Look” T woke} I Josked. A mud hut, thatched, small, set reir a paddy field, with two o° three similir huts nearby. Across the doorway a garland of mango leaves, -ymbol of happiness and good fortune, dey now and rattling in the breeze. “Tass our home,” my husband said. “Come, 1 will shot you.” T got outof the eat, stiff and with a eramp in one lege We went in: two rooms one a sort of storehouse for ‘grin, the cther for everything ele. A third had been ‘begun but vas unfinished, the mud walls were not more than hulf a foot high. “will be better when it is finished,” he said. T nodded; 1 wanted to ery. This mud hut, nothing but ‘mad and thatch, was my home. My lnecs gave, frst the cramped one, then the other, nd I sank down. Nathan's face filled vith concern as he came to hold me. “ee nothing,” Laid I ara Grodno more. I will be allright in 2 minute.” ‘He said, “Perhaps you are frightened at living bere slone—but in s few years we can meve—maybe even buy house euch as your fathers. You would like that?” “There was something in his voee, a plesding, a look fn his face such as a dog hss when you are about to ice ie 8No,” Tssid, “I am not frightened. Tt suits me quite swell live here” He did not reply at once but went into the gramry and ame cut with a handful of paddy. Such harvests as thi” he said, sliding the gens about in his hand, “and you shall not waat for anything, beloved.” Then he went out to get the tin tunk end after a while I followed. Sometimes now I can see quite larly the veils rent and for a few seconds| see blue skies ard tender tres, then it clows on me aguin and one more Tam back in a word of my oven, which darkens Hele with each pasing day. Yet not alone; forthe faces of thae T ave loved things that have been—shapes, forms, image— ace always before me; and sometines they are 0 vivid that truly I amot Sy whether I see them or sot whether the vel is lifted to allow me the sight, op whether itis only my mind that sees. Today, for i> stanct, I could se the brook that ran sear our paddy field va clerly that 1 fle Thad but to oop 36 Teel ‘water wet on my hands Yet that brook belongs to a fart of my life that i fninke. asa bride cBonly « weck ‘when I frst followed i t lok for a stable place for ry woching. I walked for nesrly an hourbefore 1 found 2 wide treh of water and a sandy beach, wih boulders sezttcrd about. I put my bundle down, untied i and pur the clothes in. The water was clear but not swift running —te linen didnot flat to far oF to quickly amy from my lands. Ituced my sri up sove my Jkness and stood in the river, scrubbing the clothes 4 eS agunst a large fat stone and using just a Title of the ‘washing powder my mother had given mes good suff, with 2 clean sweet smell and much pover in it. When [had finished, 1 caried the clothes beyond the beach and laid them on the grasy bank to dry inthe sun. Just then I aw Kali, wile of our neighbour, coning towards me, and with her nere two women I had not seen before, All carried bundles of washing on their hheads, and two.tad children at their hips and the third was expeding, They alled out when they saw me, and came dein, 2 little shy, since they scemed to know each other so wells but before long T came to know them swelltso, these three women who lived nearest to te, aid whose lives were so closely woven with mine. Kali, Wig and plump, with ample hips and thrusting breasts, whose husband worked the next feld to ours; Janaki, married tothe village shopkeeper, with her homely face and sagging figure, for she had borne her husband several children; and Kunthi, youngest of the three, small and narrow, moving gracefully despite her bur- den. “dts her frst” said Kali, jovially, “but by no means her last, for as you see her husband has not wasted any time!” Ste laughed loudly. Janaki frowned at her. Chup waman! Do you not see these are young gis?” “And what of i? Ace they not given in marrage? ‘Kunthi is already bearing, and this newcomer—it will ‘notbe long, Men areall the same” saw Kunthishrug with a slight didains Janaki was ‘quits Peshaps they loth kacw the futity of trying to 5restrain Kali, She meacwhile was addressing herself to Youare Rukmsni, are you not? Wie ofthe farmer Nathan. The whole village has been curious about you —teaven knows viny, one woman is Bike another. The fuss your hushand made! Why, for wecks he was as brite at a bamboo befre it burst into flame! He buile Your hu with his own hand>—yes, he would not even hase my hustand to hel.” “Built i?” T said. didnot know—he didnot tell Oh, yes! Every bit of it himself, and neglecting the land sometimes do it v0 that Svaji had often to Chie him, akhough he is a neod man for a Zenindari agent.” He had made oar heme Himself, aed Thad fl only fear to live ini. About a month later, when we were no longer strangers, I told im of what I had learnt. <> You bil thi form” Lei t him. Why dd ou not tll me?” “Who bas been talking t yout” be asked ot a swering my question. Kali. She told me a long time agéwhen I fint swont to whore the brook widens near the riven” “She fan old chatesbox end should have her mouth stitched? ‘What for! Tam gled she told me. Should I not be proad thar you have kale this house with your own bands? He camidered "ou are not a child any mote,” he “6 suid at ast, “You have grown fast since the day we were married, and that not so loag.ago. While the sun shines on you and the fields are green and beautiful to the eye, and your husband sees beauty fn you whict no one has seen before, and you have a good store of grain lsid away for hard times, a roof ‘over you and a swout stirring in your body, what more can a woman ask'for? My heart sang and my feet ws Tight as1 went about my work, getting up 2t sunrise and ‘oing t sleep content. Peace and quiet were ours. How well Lecall it how grateful I am that not all the clamoitr which invaded our lives later could cubdue the memory or sll the longing for it. Rather, it has Stengeiened it: had there not been what has bees, 1 ‘might never have known how Messed we were, True, ‘my hushand did not own the land he tilled, as my father Ihad dones yet tho posabilay was there that he aight ‘one day do xo. We owned cur ovn ploughing hullocts; ‘we kopt a mulch goat. From exch harvest we saved, end haad guany sacks full of the husked rice stored away in ‘our small stone-lined granary. There was food ia pleaty for twe people aad we ate well: rice for morning and ‘evening meals; dahl; sometimes a exonut grated fine and cooked in milk arc sugar: sometimes a wheatcake, fred in butter ard melting in the mouth. ‘Once or twice a week I would go to the village to buy sugary ghee and vegetables calling on the way ‘home st Durgen the milkman’s to get curds, for our _geat was runing dry and there was not always enough ‘milk to make my own. I liked going to the village snd ”meeting its people, for they were a friendly lot and rest of them ansious to kelp if they could, I got to know them all very quickly: Old Granny, who lived on what she made by selling peanuts and guavas; Ham rman, the generel merchant; Perumal, hubend of ‘Jazaki, who kept the only shop; and Biswas, the money- lender. Sometimes Janaki or Kali vould eome to sce how I was getting on, but not often, for they were kept busy looking after husband and children. As for Kunth, very soon she was umble to do anything for herself, for she was. thin, sight gir, and we had to go in turns to bay Her provisions and to help her with the work in ‘the home. Kunthi was diferent from the other women, auister, more reserved, and for all that ve tried to be at ease with her there was a barrier which we could not surmount. Especially high against me it stood, strange and forbidding, although why this should be I onuld not thine, frally putting it down to my imagiation. fields: dams of clay tobe built to ensure proper irrigation ofthe paddy terraces; the previous year's stubble to be Iifted, rushes aad weeds to be destroyed, then the trarsplaning. All this meant stooping, and Nathan would rot hear of it. ‘With the leisure T now had T took up writing agein Te was my father who taught me to read and writ, People sid he did it because be wanted his children to bbe one cut above the rest; perhaps so, but Iam certain that he also knew that i would be a solac to me in affliction, a joy amid tranquillty. So he taught his sx cillren, myself the youngest by ten year, with the patience he brought to all things. “Practise hard,” he would say, watering me busy with slate and penal. “For who knows what dowry there vill be for you when you are realy!” And I, with only the thistedovnof childish core upon me, would listen lightly and tae ‘up my pencil again. “What use,” my mother suid, “that a girl should be learned! Much good will it do her when she has lsty sons and 2 husband to look after. Lock at me, am I any worse that Feansot ell my mame, 20 long aa T kaow it? Isnct my house clean and sect, ae not my children wel fed and eared for?” My father laughed and sid, “Indeed they are,” and did not pursue the matters nor id he give up his teaching. Whea my child is ready, 1 thought now, 1 will ‘teach him too; and I practised harder than ever lest my fingers shoukd loe their skill. When Janik, recovered from her sickness, came to se me, she marvelled that null writes but Kali why had come toc, was corful cf the strange symbols which had no meaning for her and dismissed i sa ible of pregnancy You will forgt all about such nonsense: when your. child is born” she sai. “Besides, there will be ofers and your hands wll be full, Look at me, do Ihave one spare minute to myself?” “Flow isi then.” T asked forgetting myself, “that you are here now—yes, and I have seen you in the village too—iF you have « much to-deupy you? As for my children, itis for them that T practice writing and reading, so that Ican teach them when the time is ripe.” ‘Kali sniffed, but she was good-natured and did not take offence. ‘Nathin used to come and sit beside me when 1 was wring. The firs time he came to see what I was up t, he sat in silence with bis brows drawn together ard meeting; but after some watching he went away, ard when he ume back his face was clear ‘rig well? he said, stroking my hair. “You are dlever, Ruku, ss T have aid before” 1 think ie cet him a good deal to ay what he did, and he never varied his attinde once. That was typical of my husband: when he had worked thiags out for himself he would follow his conclusions at whatever Cost to himselfI am sure it could not have been easy for him to sc his wife more leamed than he himself was, for Nathan alas could not even write his names yet not once did he assert his rights and forbid me my plebdire = lemer men might have done. [Now tha I did nt work i the fields I spent most af sny time tending my small garden: the beaes, the brinjals the chillies and the purmpkin vine which bd been the frst to grow under my hand. And their grown to me was corstan! woxler—from the tine the seed nd the first green shots broke through, to the time whes the young bads and Fruit bagan to form. 1 as young anc fanciful then, and it seemed to me not that hey grew as Idi, unconsciously, but that cach of the dey, bard pellets Thelin. my palm had within ie the very scretof if itself curled tghly within, under leaf ter proteciveleaf for safekeeping, fragile, vanisn- ing with the fist touch or sight. With cach tender seedling that unfured its small green leaf to my eager gaze, my exckemest would rise and mousty winged, wondrous, 3Yow will et wed to it Nathan std. “After many sonings and harvestings you will not notice these things” There have been many sowings and harvest ings, but the wonder has not departed. ‘T'was tying the bean tendrils tothe wire fence I had buite when Taw a quiver in the leaves of the parnp- kins. The fruit is ripening, I thought the birds are already here. Or perhaps mice. Leaving the beans 1 ‘went to look, stooping to part the leaves with my hand. ‘Why did sor the snake strike at once? ‘Was the cobra surprised into stillness that 2 human should dare to touch it? My hands recoiled from the coldness of serpent fleshy my nals clawed at my palsy the leaves I had parted moved beck to cover it Far 2 moment my legs remained stifly planted beside the ‘purpts then the blood came racing to my limbs again, and T rin from the spot sreeching with fear and not looking behind me. \ ‘Nathan came rushing to me, almost knocking sie ‘over, caught and shook me. What is it what sit?” he stouted roughly: A saake,? T whispsred, bereft of voi al breath. “A cobra. I touched it?” He looked at me asf I were mad Go in and stay thete,” be said. T wanted only to fall at his feet in my terror, to beg him not to eave me alone, bat he was staring st me unrelenting. At lst 1 went, cowed, but withthe waters of ranierececing. “The snake had not stirred)” Nathan ssid as he come back, He fac uti to picses ith his seythe and buried the remains s that I should not be upset. * ‘Yet you have lived long enough to Iearn to dire- gard them,” he sid. “Are they not found everywhere tee stakes, water snakes and land snakes? ‘You only need to be careful and they pass you by.” “True” I said, shamefaced yet rallying. “But i is one thing to 12 a snake and another to touch it T have never touched one before.” ‘Nor again,” Nathan said, grinning. “T have never seen you fy se fat a0 you da, child and all” lowered my eyes, bashed. I was getting very awk- ward in fy movements. I realised I must have locked like acwater buffalo, unaivg i euch a frenay. “Never mind,” said Nathan gently “Tt will sooe be He was right. Whether from fright, othe running, my baby was born a few diys later, a month to0 ‘on Duhealthy fr all dat, Kali came assoon as she knew, and the midwife some hours later but in good time t9 deliver the eld. They plas i¢in ms arms when Thad recovered ltl from the birt in sifence.T uncovered the small form, besuiful, strong, but quite plsia, is body. Ttursed sway and, desite myself, the tears ame, teas of weakness and disappointment; for what woman waste a girl for hor first-born? Thay taoke the eld from me. Kali aid: “Never mind, There will be many ter ‘on You have plenty of time.” Tis « eagy to be comforting whex your own wikhes 5have come tre. Kali had three sons already, she could alferd te sympathise. Wher Tres all the help Kali gave me with my fine child, Lam ashamed that I ever lad such thoughts: my only excse is chat thoughts come of their own accord although afterwards we can chase them away. As T hud Gore for Kunth, so Kali di for me—but much more: sweeping and ceasing, washing and coking. She even took pains to water the garden, and one morning I sv her tencing the pumpkin vine, which was overladen with blessom. In that moment a cold horror ame on re aguia: my hands grew clammy, and 1 could feel cone more the terpent touch. Tshricked at her then, and she came runing, her face Frightened at che wild” nes in my wie. Whatever is wrong?” she gusped, ruming to my side, The baby had awakened and was eying loudly, 50. that she had 10 yell I was a plewsed to see her wholes” Teauld ace speak fr relief At Ist I tld her, hal, about the cobra, and, rather ashamed by now of makita such a fus, [exaggerated 2 litle, making th shake enormous of its kind, aed the danger more deadly than iehad been ‘Women can sometimes be more socthing than mi 0 tow Kali "Poor thing,” she sid. "No wonder you are erred. Anyone would be, But itis a pty your hhusand killed the snake, since ccbras are sacred” “She a foo,” Nathan sid contemptunuly when ted hie. “What would sbe have me do—worhip it while t dug ts fangs in my wife? Go sow—forget it” think I did although once or twice when I aw the 26 % thickoess of the pumpkin vines I wondered nervously ‘what night le concealed there; and then I would ake 1p kife and shovel clesr sway the tangles but when Tedrew naar and ssw the broad glosy leives and carling green tendrils 1 could not bring myself te do and now T am glad T did not, for tat sime vine yielded to me rshly, pumpkin after pumpkin of a size fad colowe that T never svt eleewhere, We calcd ove daughter Iraraddy, after one of the great river of Asia, for of all things water was most recoil tous; but itwas too long 2 name forthe tiny Tisbing ae was, nd son she tesa Tr Nathan ab first pid scan: attention to her: he had waned a son “es continue Bis ne and walle beside him on the lnc, sot a puling infine who would take with her @ dowry and leave rothing but a memory behind; but soon she stopped being poling infant, and when at the age of ten menths she called him “Apa,” which means fater, ‘he begin to takes lively ineerex in ber. ‘She was 2 fair cil, lovely and dimpled, with sft, seaming hr. Ido not krow where she got her looks: rot from me, nor from Nathan, bot there it waey and sot only we but ather people noticed and remarked on it myself did not krow how Leould have preced so beautfl a child, and 1 was proud of her and glad, even ‘when people pretended to dihelieve thit I could be her mnther, Here ia marvel indeed” they would sayy and make comparisons with ordinary parests who some- times tore a chid of matchless brilliance; oF with @ devout couple who had broughe forth a wretch. 2preferred to think the plsin have their rewards, and ‘this was mine, She is Thke you" Nathan would say to me as he surveyed her, but he was the orly one who thought so. Before long she was crawling all over the place, following her father into the fields, tailing me a T eat about my work, and very soon she began to valk. “You must noe allow itso early;” Kali said to me ‘ominously, “or her Jeps will bend lice hoops.” And at first Tlstened to her and whenever I saw Tra trying to stand up or walk, I would rush forward and pick her up; but soon there was no stopping her. T should have been atit the whole time otherwise, and I had other things t da. Sowing timo was at hand, and 1 was out all day with Nathan planting the paddy in the drained ficlis. Corn had to be sown too, the land was ready. ‘My husband ploughed it, teadving the plough bedind the te bollocks while I came behind, strewing the’ seat ether side and sprinkling the earth over fx the basket at my hip. 7 When that was done, it was time for our hit to be thtched. Le had stood up well to sun and vind, but after the monsocn rains several small pitches showed ‘wear and it was ss well to get thingsclane in good time. Nathan eut francs from the eoconut palm that grew by ‘our hutand dried them for me, together we twisted the flee and bound the palms, shaping them to the roof ‘and strenathening the whole with cly. Ire was 20 trouble at all. She would si happily playing by herself in the an, chuckling at ehe birds oF at anything else she could se, including her fond 8 parents; ori it was hot and she grew fretful T would hhang a doth from a branch and put er init, and she would go w slecp withow any further bother. My mother, especially, grew very fond of her and ame to see us often, although it meant travelling several hours ina bullose carts which is very tiring. when one ism lorger young, Sometimes I would go to see ry parents, but seldom, sine there was so much t0 be done in my owe homes and my mother, knowing this, did not repeaich me for the long intervals between my 9CHAPTER IIL TA) 0 20 worry they sui “Yon wil be potting lines are aieady there and they are slene abou shat. Kali std and T knew she was thinking of her ova brood. Kunth said it and in her ejes Jay the kenowledge of her own chilleen. Janaki said, morssely, she wished it could tappen to Hers a child each year was no fus. Only Nathan did not say it to me, for he ‘was worried too, and knew better. We didnot tales stout i, it was always with us a chill far tae La ya to be our only child. Y ‘My mother, whenever I pid her a visit, would ake me accompany her toa temple, and together We would prayand pray before the deity, imploring for help until we were giddy. Bue the Geds have otter things to da: they cannct attend to the pleas of every suppliant who dares to rise his cares to heaven. And so the years rolled by and still we had only one child, and that « daughter. Whoa Ira wan nearing sis ay mother was oficted with consumption, and was soon so feste that she could ‘ot rse fram herbed. Yet in the mide of her pain she # could still think of me, and one dry she beckoned me tear and phosd in mp had « small otone lingam, smb of Feri. ‘Wear i? she ad. “You will yo ber many sons see them, and what the dying sce wll come to pass. be ened eis iso ilesion “Rew eas,” std, “You wil recover” She did not—ro one expected she woul—bt she lingered fora long ime. In her lst months my father sent for the ge coctor who a stl inthe vilge. Nolody knew where he came from or who psd him, tut there he was, and people spoke well of him thosgh fe wba forigner, As for my father, be wenld have ‘in the Devil himself to ste my mather any offend him. Yet he had a love for children; mine were 1 Title st, which we coult not afford for ourselves, of” alvays eager © see him, making grest fus of him td thisthe handed toKeney, oping lw an keping’S? when he came, and he for lis part would alfer chem her exes down, : patiently, often bringing with him half a coconut or ORG septs tesurr 1a ped eae ade made of mute and rolled into balls with jgeery, should know her duties to # guest. which the children loved. Once be came when T vas Kenny took the bow! from her with a sable. suckling Selvam, my youngest son, who had tumed Toni 5 ged ook GF we tee tee tires, and sw that my breasts were sore where the laying his hand for a moment on her head. She did not ‘child’s mouth had been. raise her eyes, but her face kindled, ard T'was pleased “The boy is Jong past weaning?” he ssid frowning. too that he should notice my child. le spoke to each of “Why do yeu fore i?” the other in tum until Murugan, my third son, eame “We had to sell our goat” I sid. “can no longer bouncing in leading his father by the hand. afford to buy mill, but while my son is young and needs “You have heard ne tell of Kenny often enough,” it Twill give iro him? Laid, "This is be, end to may futor's howwe?* S> Thereafter he brought me Tile cow's mille when aun I sti, and left the other ssi te could, or sent ie with one of the children frm the 8 0‘illage, who were always glad to help him, for he had 4 way of atracting childrens there was ever + tr09p following him abost, ‘As before, he cme and went mysteriously, [ knew little teyond the fict that he worked amoug the people ‘of the tannery, treating and healing their bodies during Jong hours and then geing to his lone dwelling; but ‘when be lef the village, for days or years at a time, aobody knew where he went oe what he dd, and whea he rotemed he was more tacura than ever and nome dared ask. CHAPTER VI pst fourteen her macrige could be delayed no Toayersfor is wellknown with what sped eligible young mee are snapped up; at ie was, most girls af her age wae already married or at leat bevothed. The ‘hte of go-between was not exy to make: Kali was the {nearest to hand and the obviogs one, but she was gar~ rulous and slf-opisionated: rejection of the young tan she selected would involve a tedious equate, Besides, she had sons of her own and might well casder them suitable hunt, which 1 certainly ould no, for they ‘owned no land. O14 Granny, onthe other hand, would be the ideal go-berween: she was old and experienced, Inew very well what to look for and never lacked pa- tence; but for some yeas now I had not waded with ler and she might with every justfition refuse to act forme. But im the endl it wast her 1 went, “A dowry of one hundeed rupees)"I said. “A maiden ‘ike a dower, Do your best for me aad I shall be ever in your debt, This I ask you,” I sid, locking staight st her, “although Biswas takes my praduce and for You there has been noting.” I KEPT fra along as T ould tut when she was 51 bear you no grudge, Rukmani” she repbed. ‘Times are hard and we must do what we ean for cur selves and our children. I will do my best.” ‘Thereafter sever 2 week wear by but she brought news of this boy or that and she and I and Nathan spent long hours trying to assess their relative meri. At last we found one wo semed to full ou requirements: Ihe was young and well favoured, the only son of his {ather from stom he would one day inherit « good por tion of land, "They will eect large dowry,” Tid regretfully. One hundred rupees will not win soxk « hushand, we have 20 more.” “She is endowed with bexuty,” Old Granny sa ‘will makeup far stall dewry-in this ease” She sas right, Within & month the preliminacies ‘were completed the day was fied. Ta accepted our choice with her usual doclitys if che fretted at the nt Se ig asedie ence ares oo ee oe ‘quently T would be able to visit her, snd, althoog oe dh Gis eect eaves epee fara home ly ome ten villages sar, I agied er nots yor wl pau witht ging hae Ber we Getic tne ‘Bates, you will ot want ne°W often 1 i “Thi home, yur bse ar all you have know 9 Eka whet You kos Yr’ evil tenes ud foe ov ees ya wl oti es She madd ight malig po coment, yt Tao howto she must be by the mine parting. My 2 spit ached with pity for her, 1 longed tobe abet confor her, to conv her hat na few month’ time ‘her new home would be the most significant part of her lif the rest only = preparation «but tefore this joy tc-come the arc of paring te anelince of br asing anew life among erangee, he stain of the fly ays of marines and besa T knew tis tbe swords would not come Wedding. dey. Wace from the village came 16 ‘asst, Janaki, Kelpmany I hardly knew. We went with Tra th rive when she ws freshly bathed pet cnt a nyo edn folds made her look more leader than ste te her lea. darkened her cys with olf the years fellamay mores she was 0 pully ging T could hardly believe she was t be married, Stoiy. BO The wedagrnen eed i prt ie mai four friends, the priets. The drummer arrived and squstted outside awaiting permission to begins the fid- ler joined him. There should have ben other musi cians flutista harmonium player, but we could not sfod thee. Nachan would have sothing we could not pay for, No debs he insisted, no debts, But T grudged {ra nothing: hac I not saved from the ay of her birth 0 that she should marry well? Now I brought out the stores I hed put by month afser month—rige and dha and ghee, jas of cil, betel leaf, areca aus, chewing eee 1 didi’t know you had so much,” sid Nothan in snsvemert. 3And if you had there would be little enough? T said witha wink at the women, “for men are like ctl dren and must grab what chey se dd not wait for hi retort, hearing only the laughter that grosted his aly, but went out to ep tothe drum mer, Arjun, my elest sor, ws sitting next to the many cautiously tapping the drum with three fingers as he ad been shown. ‘There is plenty of foad inside,” Td to him, “Go land eat while there i still some lee “can eatno mare,” he replied. “I have bees Feasting all dey” [Nevertheless he had made provision forthe morrow: Teswin his pa bundle baleine with foods sugar wrap and butter had soaked though the cloth patil. ‘Join your brothers)” I said hoisting him up. “The drummer ip going to he busy.” He ran of, clinging tightly to his bundle, The wed- Ss Ee ding music begun. Bride ard grou were sting unenlly ie by ee Tl ety reed ca shite lowers in her si wery ple Thy id ot het cach other, About them were packed some foun fen people—the hut could old no mare. The ‘emainer toute on palm Inve he bap had le lected “What a got math” every a. ech fe boy, such a beautiful girl, too good to be true.” It was, ined OL Granny pcs shes Sees en ‘tho had Brought the fo pts togethers her rept thon a a mitchmaher woald be higher than ever. We onc ef cal lnk iotothe fue. “ Sothey were muried. As the light faded tro youths appeared bearing a palanquin for the newly marsed ‘couple, owered it atthe entrance co the hut for them to sep ints. Now that ic was time to go, Ira looked scared, she hesitate alte before entering’ at alrexdy 4 doven willing bands fad lifted her in. The crowd, full of good feeling, replete with food and drunk with the music vicariously exited, presed round, eagely thrusting over their heads garland sfter garland of Aowers; the cacehwas spatered with pets. Tn che mide of the cAish Nathan and I, Nathan holding out hic ans Tran Inlesing, she with ck head bent low to reélve it Then the palanquin was lifted up, the ers closed in, the musicians ok their places, lowed on foot behind, relatives, friends, well” cishers and hangers-on. Sever children ad adéed ‘themselves to the companys they came after, jigznay about in high glee, noisy and excited: a long, ragged tallend tothe proseion ‘Pat the felds, through the winding treet of the vil- age we wea, the bobbing palamuin ahead of us. Until ‘we came at last to where, at a decoraus disance, the Dullec cart write to take them away. “Then it was all over, the bustle, the laughter the cise. The wedding guests departed. The throng ‘malted, Alver a while we walked back together to ove ‘hut, Our cen, tired out, were humped together aslep, the youngest clutching # sugary confecion in one sticky fist. Bits of food lay everywhere. I swept the door clean and srewed i with leaves. The walls showed oracks ind ods of mad had fallen where people tad bumped ssagainst them, but these left fr patching in the morn- ig. The wsed plsitsin leaves I stacked in one heap— they would do for che bollocks The stars were pale in the greving night before I lay down base my husband. ‘Not to sleep but to think. For the fest time sce her birth, Ira no longer slope under our ea ~ > f 36 CHAPTER VI ATURE Qi wild sntmal that yo Save N teria @© work for you. So long as you are igi and walk wary wit sought and are, long ll t give you it sicy bt lok say for a8 inane hes or forgetful a i has you by the 7a al been given ia marrage nthe month of June ‘hich s the propitious season for wedding, and what ih te preparing for iy and he Hlessens Ut ack fold ofme inthe is days after her departure, sting srt done to make cur hu weatherproof orto cre the Tin fom ending. That yar she monsoon broke early wich an evil ens suck as mone eauld emer be fore. 1 rained hard so lng aa so laces that the thoughe ofa period of norain provoked «mild wonder 1 was a9 If nothing had ever been But mn and be seater plesy found evry ble in the Hatched root 1 com iny dripping ono the already damp floor If te had not lon high ground che very walls would fave melted in that mobture. I braight out #8 many ‘sand pan 2s Thad and we lid them about to catch 37‘he drip, but son there were mre Teaks than we had vessels... Fortunately, I had id in a stock of fire- rood for I's wedding, and the few sicks that re- tained served af leat to cok ow tee) and while the fice burn, hissing atthe water in the woot, we huddled round trying to get dry. At firs the children were cheer- fal eaough=—they had not known such things before, and the lskes and rivults that formed outside gave them endless delight, but Nathan and I watched with heavy hears while the waters roe and rose and the tender green of the pacdy fcld sank under and was los. “it isa bad season,” Nathan atid sombrely. “The rains have desteyed mach of our works there wil be Fu eating done this yar” ‘At his words, Arjun broke into doleful sobs aad is brother, Tham followed suit, They were old enough to understand, but the others, who werent, Durst into tears ton for by now they were crimped and cat of. Ihumoue with siting erouched on the damp floor, and Bunge since there was litle to ex, for mest of the had gone to make the wedding feast, and the new sa- son's harvesting lay outsde ungithered ind rotting. T hushed them as best I could, throwing a reproschful lance at my hussand for his curcless word but he was Snnoticing, ane in hatred and helpleion, ‘As night came on—the eighth night ofthe mossoon —the winds increased, whining and howling around out hou a if seeking vo pluck it from dhe car. Taos fe vas datk—the wick, bursig init shallow saucse of ol, threw only a dim wavering light—but ouside the land 8 sfimmere sometimes pale and sometimes vivid nthe Ecker of lighting. Tomes miinght the form wes a jn wort. Lightning kept clawing athe sky lmastcon- fiousy, thunder shook the cath, I shivered ap T Jooked—forT could not sleep, and even a prayer ame wih difialy “le caro ln Nathan tid, The storm will sate ty the moring” Even ashe ope astra of Iighming threw iself down at he earthy here wi ueinendous ap of thun- derand when I yaavered my shriaking cys I saw that fur coon pal had bees suck. That, tn he rm td claimed for fs own In the morning everything was alm. Even the aia ad stopped. After the fury ofthe night before, an un- ‘eatural stillness lay on the land. I went out 20 sec if any- sO'thing could be saved of the vegeubles, but the shoots 6 sad vines were tattered and broken, tore from their supports and bruised they did net show much sign of surviving. The corn field was lost. Our paddy fle lay ‘eneath a placid Ike on which the children were already sling bis of word. ‘Many of our ruighboor fared much worse Uhtr wo dad, Several were homeles, and ofa group of men who sheltered under a tree wien the storm began six had ‘een killed by lightning. ‘Kal's out had been completely destroyed in the last ‘nal fury of the oem. ‘Toe roof had been blown away bodily, the mud walls had crumbled. “At lest it szod until the worst was over,” sid 9Kali to me, “and by God's graze we were all spared” She looked worm oy inthe many year I had oi her I ad never sen her so deflated She had come to su froin pl eaves wo thatch the new hu her Band was uilings bit I culd only’ oin tothe hace ened its hen bite of and hanging by afew res from the withered tum “We mist thatch ur roof before the sigh” Tid The ans may come again, We ned ice too.” Nathan nodded. “We may be able to buy palm Jeaves inthe willage—alo ice” Hie went tothe granary in corner of which the small loth bundle of our sings lay buried Te ac Been heavy on when we were newly mart now the faded rag in which twas ad wae too big and the ends flapped lovely over the knot, Nathan untied it and counted ou welve ropes, “One willbe enough” T sid. Let us go. “wl take two, We cn always pt tbl” $ In the village the storm had left dsaster and soln tion worse than nour own doorstep, Uprooted sprawled their branches in ghastly fashion over strbets ic fr hoes Aatering them and the fais of ape and women indiscriminately. Sticks and stones lay setered Tily in angry confi, The amery «Mts es Ind cement had held i together dete the raging indss but che worker huts of mare Hey sons tion, had been demolished. The thatch had been ripped. from some, where others sod there was now enly heap of mud with thir owner? ponesons seeding them ia Kind of pits decoration. The comrgatede fo iron shacks in which some of the men lived were no more: here aod there we could se the ion sets in tmespecedplacer—nsspended from tre tps or blown and embedded onto the walls of houses si et sande ing There was water everywhere the gutters were overlong into the strcta Dead dogy, crs and rat luttered the roadside, or floated starkly on the waters ‘vith blown ditended belli, People mere moving about amid this deeructon, picking out a rag here, 2 bundle there, hugging tho things that they WOght tobe thers moving balngly and with a ind of despair about them. People we knew tame and pbc 10 win Tow oie, gesturing hope Iealy “1 “0 We turned back, the two rupess unspent. Oar chile A dren came uning out to ect thi aces bright wth hope “The shops are closed or destroyed,” I said. “Go in- side. Iwill et you rome gel presently.” This facs faded the ro younger ones gan crying fialesly from hunger and disappointment. Thad no ‘words to comfort them. ‘At dus the drums of calamity began ther grave, throbbing thythm came clearly through the night, throughout the night cach beat, cach eto, echoing the tight impotence of our human endeavour 1 Intened. Teould not sleep. Inthe sound of the dears T under stood a vst pervading doom, but inthe expectant si @ go)” T sid, Its no good; we will come tadences beween, my on ater Ismed larger, more comequer and more hurl ‘We veatured out agin when the waters had subsided a litle, ting with us as before two rupees. This time things were somewhat betters the streets were clear, huts ‘were going up everywhere. My spzits ros. To Hanuman first for rice” sid Nathan, excited, “Te gruel we have Leen svallowing has been almost plain water these lst few days.” T.quickened my steps: my stomach began heaving at the thought of food. “Hanarsan wos staning inthe doorway of his shon. ‘He shook his head wien he saw us. You have come for tce,” he aid. They all come for rice. T have none ‘toll, only enough for my wife and children.” “And yet youare a merchant whodealsin rice!™ And what if so? Are yox not grower of i” Why then do you come to me? TET have ice 1 do not chooegs toll semows but I have tldyou, Thave sone? sc Sve a for ny aie. We mil py or we tye ies here the money." "Noy ee butt + ehey say Soran oe To Biswas. “We come for rice. 1 er sour ae “Tro rupees? How much do you thick you an buy wth two pees? “We thought” “Never mind what you thought! Ts hisno ime of searcig? Can you buy sce anywhere else? ArT ot eae 6 tied to charge more for tht? Too locks Twill It yor have and that is charity.” “eis very lle for evo rupees” ‘Take itor leave it I can get deuble at sum from the tannes, bat beeaue 1 know you” We tet we give up the silver vis. Now bere song If for the tating, ules we se a ape of ‘fromthe fen that remainin the granary. 1 pue the se im my mari tucethe presi Ind se eutely ina the wait. We tra bud. Oa the outsirs ofthe vile ths Kenny. His fice rim and one, his eyes are buring in ie pli face. He sees us and cones up "Ye oo are starving, I uppore? ‘Lisp the rll at my wait—ehe grim ive at my We bave a ite roe—it will Int ws uni ines are m, " Bee ‘Times are better, times are better,” he shout, ‘Times will not be beter for many months, Meanwhile ‘you will suffer and dic, you neck sfferin fool. Why do you keep this ehasly silence? Why do you rot dee mand—cy out for help—do something? There is noth- ing in ch county, oh God, there ® nothing!” ‘We shrink from his violence. What ean we do—what cas he mean? The maa is raving. We go on our way. The prddly was completely destroyed; there would ‘be no rie unl the aexe harvesting, Meanwhile, we lived on what remained of our slted fish, routs and leaves, the fruit of tho prickly peat, and ot the plan 6tains from our tree, At lst the time came forthe rice terraces tobe drained and goe ready for the net sow ing. Nathan tole me of it with cheer in bis voise and told he childron, pleauraby, forthe Fok were Full of fish chat would feed us for maay a dey. Then we waited, ‘spirit lifting, eve eparking, bellies painfl with antist= the day. Nathaa went to break the dns asd L with him an with me our cildeer, suken-eyed, nosy so they had not been for musy dupe at the thought of the fest, cxrying nets and baskets. First one hoe, then another, no bigger thana Singer's width, und the water eroded the ses and the outlets grew large enough for two fits to go chrough, Against chem we held our net fect firm and braced inthe mad while the water rosked sovay, and the fish came tabling ito them. Whea me ‘rater was all gong thers they were caught in the meshes and among the paddy, shoals of them Ieaping madly, ‘wet and silver ard good to look upon. We gathered them with fying fingers and greedy hears and them anay in erumph, with «glow at leat as bight a5 ‘the aunon those shining seals. Thea we came a gth- sed op whit reesined ofthe paddy and gook away to thresh and wow. Late that night we were sill at sky cleasing he fh, hlling the iz, separating the ai rom the husk. ‘When had done therice yield was mesgre—no mere than bro mvasurer™al hat mas let of the yeas har vest an the year’ boar. Weate, fading it dliicalt o beeve we did so. The ood food lay rib, if uneasy, in ovr sarved bellies. 4 s Already the children were looking etter, and at the fight of theie fac, ail pinched but contnty « great ‘weight lifted from me. Today we would ea and tomor- rom; ard for many weeks while the grain luted. Thea there was the fish cleaned, dried and salted awey, and tefore that mas gone we should earn tome more money T would plast more vegetables... such dreans, de- lightfl, orderly, acafying, bt ofthe stall of dreams, write And cep, woh sley + «dep and ove. sd sound a» 1 fd nce known for many sights Cet pe eps Fue ald te ek fds ak scales and dying sl RGCHAPTER VIII LUNTHD'S two ebdest wns were among the fret K in the village to start work atthe tannery, and between them they brought home more an a man’s mages. “You ee exid Kunth The tanncry isa bon tot Have [not sid so since it began? We are no longer a village ether, buts groving own. Does it not do you good just to think of i?” “Indeed no” sid I, or its even as I sid, and our roney buys les ard lest As for living ina towa—if town ths why, there fs nething I would fy fram SO sonner if 1 could go back to the sweet quit of villages life Now iisall nase and crowd everywbere, and yle ‘young hooligans idling inthe street and dirty bupaara At unouth eave andy mar this of ntier but schemes only fr his mony.” “Words and. word” sid Kunth Stupid words No won they ell ts senseless peant wornsns but 1am not and never willbe. There is no earth in my breeting” “Lf there were you would be the better for it” sai 1 wrathfully, Yor then your values would te true.” Kunthi only shrugged her delicate shoulders and left 6 Ss & tu She pent lot her time making unnecessary r= pps ino the town whee, wth her god looks aed rvostive fay she cool be sr of adirat, and ore, om the yong men. At first the women sid t fe the men si they were jelous then men oo bee {on sore and remark on it and Wonder why her hecond did othing. “Now i wre ini lac? they std but they had ordinary wives aot oma wi fn sin bmnty Im erste ilo thm bendes ich, he was i ll man. Lee har a) ad Jen She colloy nd ie esiouqaly at here ould ben ep of mex” Tegel beth sper tnd tr bop fex(Sing tine no her husbands sop had bo doing a em is toga it ner ert shopkeepers whom the exsy money to be had. fom the ‘aaners had crawn to the new town. ‘A few day after our conversation the shop finally closed down, Nobedy asked: “Where do you go from bere)” Phey did sot say, “What isto bexome of us?” ‘We waited, and one day they came to bid us firewell, carying theis posessions, with ther children trailing behind, all but the eles, whom the tannery hed chimed. Then they were goae, and the shopkeepers ‘were glad that there was les competition, and te ‘worker who moved into thee hut was pleased to have a rof over his head, and we remenbered them for a Foie fsa Tre gat Te was m grat epramling growth, this tannery. It (grew aad flourished and spread. Net a month went by 7bet somebody's nd as eallowed up, anther bail ing appeared. Night and chy the tanaing went Doe ‘thousands of skins goat, calf lizard and srakeskins— ‘ard tod them away again tanned, dyed and Snisted. Ie ‘seemed impossible that markets could ke found fer such ‘quatiées—or that so many animals exsted—but so ‘was, incredibly. “The offcals of the tannery tad increased as well, Apart from the white man we had first scen—who ‘owned the tannery and lived by himself—there were scene nine oe tan Mustiona under him. They fora 3 Tile colony of their own, Biving midway berwern the teown and open county in brick cottages vith white. washed was and reéstled roof. ‘The men worked hind, some of them until ie at night, che women— well, they were 2 queer lot, and their way of fife was ‘uit different fram ous, What they cid i their houses do not know, for they employed servants to do the: <> ‘works but they stayed mostly indoors, or if they went fut at all they went veiled ia bourke. Te war their gal sion, was told: they would not appear before any than Dat thei husband Sonetinc when Toaughe ut of a figure in voluminous draperies swishing.trough the steetsunder a blzing sun, or of 2 face peering through window or shuter, I felt desperately sorry for them, deprived of the ordinary pleasures of knowirg warm sun and cool breeze upon their flesh, of walkirg out light and fre, or of mixing with mea and working beside hem. “They have their compensations,” Kali std deily, & “eis an easy fe, with no worry fr the next meal and plenty alway a hand. I weld gladly wear a bourka fn wale veled for the rest of my life i Tt, would Besure of uch things” Bee a yur poapa? I aids “not freer. Who could endure sucha fering of sunlight and fr ai ‘they dat You chater ie api of monkey” sid Kal hus tan “with le sew What oe fo ak of ‘exchange? ado forth! Tir lie is thers and yous is yours rather change nor exchanges pone? ‘Once, and once only, I scaly sar ont of those vromeny io. Twas ting = few vegeubles to market, Frew hes betoctg me to ae chon. en, ttle non the door wer done the woman threw off rv he ttter to adect what he mented. Hr fae ‘ws very pls the bons small and fine, Her ees were ale to, Lxtows light brown matching her akbar. She tok what she wanted and paidme. Her fingers fir ard sender, were ade with jeweled rng any ene of ‘elch would have fed us for a year. She safe at me eT went out then quickly Iowered the vel agin about her face Tnever went tere pain, There war something aout thoe ned dors ant shutered window that ttrck ely ot ny ued on I we ope kate the dy and the enfetred sight ofthe aun.CHAPTER IX Case seeds in them. Each time it fell, fine red dust rose up, a ‘squirted the tears into my eyes, so that every few min~ See So Peper chen ae eee a es Thad seen her only once since her matthige, and since Se es Se ; & ee ee oe rcs a pone Dee ee oe rok ere oe Ant eer ee act reat leer ler ae Tnalence rakncleat ny fr. Led erupt, Shimmy eet pont tact Te Eon ire oeed cently Hr buted od ily te. “Come? Imi sgn tend vt frat. You fercerelic tag ar" Matec lin? heat “Tied w Gast, De icetiey ec leer ame 5 gears eerie tear woman” a eect meee tg a Bee earn hove ned oe er eid “Shh ok Sern thor fsx Wooming who cn sy she wl om eter tote Decne Not fest Fk Tie i oe 5 dent ame hing” Ratan si Hes ust, ees cre i bo ee paces Nee peat emg I eal "Nor pnt lke you, elon” peg es ecto er oe ket eee ieee Bi fetes i ch td oo cael or kc fhe ws loyal te sam and hopeless fad Be eee fell Blo oback a as Tent Bet :“Leave me alose, Mother. Ihave sten ths coming fers long time. Tae reality & much exer to bear than the imaginings. At least now there is no more fear, no mre necesity for lies and concealment.” “There should never have been,” I sid. “Are we not ‘your parents) Did you think we would blame you for What isnot your fault?” “There are others,” she replied. “Neighbours, women and Ta file, « woman who cansot even bake le.” ‘All this Thad gone through—the torment the ams jy. Now the whale dredful tory was repeating elf, sod i was my daughter this ime. “Hush,” I said. “We are all in God's hands, and He is mereful” My thougits went to Kenny. Hecanbelp, I thoughts surely he ean do something. My cushed sprit revved: aie, i Saas Acetate be Oo About tis time Arjun wasin his early teens. He tall for his age and older than his years. I had him the litde I kaew of reading and writings ao¥ he cauld have taught me and most other peoplé-in the ‘enn. 1 do not know how he did it, for pb ould nat ford to send him to shool oF to buy im books. Yet be always halo hook or two by Histp shout which Ie ‘erew vague fT asked questions, and spent many hours writing on scrape of paper he collected, or every whem Ihe had none, on the hare cath, Secrely I was glad, for I sw my father in himy although sometimes my husband worried that he showed 1o indination for the land; but wien one day he told me be was going t0 n Ss work inthe tannery 1 was acutely dismayed. It seemed ewes gong tobe ncther the oa thing ner the ates, either land nor etry which mas t lan hin ‘You are young” atenpred to dssuace Bim, "Be- sides you are not ofthe eat of tanners, What will our selatons sy" “1 dot eh ad do notcare. The impor tancthingis toe.” How feartles ae the young! One would have ‘thought fom hes wads we Ra purpesly saved him, ‘whos infact of wht there wash alas at the inat share afte tusnd. “Sop Fad, we do ot do enough for yo. These arg ne words from an eliest sn. They do not make 500d hearing” Peron do everything you cans” he sid Ie isnot nova Tass Sr cE hinges sad Tam ted of sesing iy brothers hungry. Thee is never enough especially tine re came olive with am” “You would grucge your own sixer a mouthful” ied, “tho eas alf what f give Aer so Bat You bo}s can have the more!” “The more reson forme fo earn rejoined Arjus. 1 do no grudge ford to her ort you, Ham only com cerned thet cho is ite” "He was right of ourse. The harvests hid been very oor shop pics were higher than rer. “Well? 1 si “Go if you mast, You speak like « aman alhaugh you are a oid sill But T donot know wheter you ca obtin werk atthe ener. Peele sy they have all te laour they want” 2“Kunthi’s son will help mej” he replied. “He has prose 1 did not want to be indebted to Kunthiy or to hee son, She was so different from us, sly and secretive, ‘with a faintly contemptuous air about her which in her ‘son was turned almost to insolence. Hle had inherited ther looks too, and the knowledge of it Jay in his bold eyes. A handsome, swaggering youth, not for my son, “There is no need to go through him,” T said with determination, “1 will ask Kenny to help you. White mea have power.” “Indeed they have,” be said bitterly. “Over me sand events, and expecially over women. “What do you mean?” I said to him. “Speak with a pin tongue er not ac all” ‘He looked at me obliquely with darkening eyes, but ‘wold say no more, A few days later he began workis and before long Thambi, my second son, had joined him. The two of them had teen very close to ead other from their earliest years, and it was not stréige that Thambi should follow his brother. Nathaa and T both tied to disuade him, but without agjil. My Fhushand eepecally had been looking forward the day when they woald jin him in working onthe lads but ‘Thambi only shock his head, “If it were your land, or mine,” he said, “I would ‘work with you gladly. Dut whit profit « labour for another and get so little in return? Far better to turn away frum such injustice” Nathan said not a word. There was a crushed look bout him which spoke of the deep hurt he had suf= ” atthe tnnery, fered more than any words could have done. He hed Aya ecradw owe hn cvs lady crongh he yom there bad been the hope, growing finer with exch Yar, eh ch, that one day he would fe able to ll eee ports fad be eee Now cre ome ee ea meee os ees re ‘Thumbs had found the rele words of ay. ‘Yet they were good son, considerate of ts patent sith oes, say veg us fir share of thir eae free. With Gi money we legen one aesin to Fve tel. nthe gary, une fr so lone, Tord amy TEA tag coy meen otis coe ‘powiel ciliee Hither, alm all we grew od Bey terete te adie ee ee ee ee ee ally pleased that 1 had not been foreed. to sel all Ie te rey lca ge SP bel sen pai oiled ri, desing ghee snd salt ee ne cae ee oe eget 2 cil render even plain soe palatable. I was atle lst o tht oer hut ai, stanly, Wh or thre bindings of leaves For the first Gime in yrs Thought clothes for the older cher, ws for my ‘elf and altough he proteted I tought for my bs Tact hot which he tay needa shee te other tes ia rags and burcly covered his lois. Both he ond Thad the garment we had worn at cir daughters ‘marvag, bu thee we never though of wearing: what- ‘ever hardships our day-to-day living might have, we ‘ere determined ott dingrae our sons on the day of te elo %CHAPTER x PEPAVALL, she Fesival of Lights ap- proached. Iisa festival mainly forthe ei Areny tut of course creryore whe can taco part T twisted cotton into wicks, sonked them in oil Sd placed them in mud ser ready © be Ht at night, To the children T handed out two annas apiece, to be spent on fireworks. 1 had never been able to do so before—in previous years ve had contented our- selves with watching ther people's fireworks, or with igang don tthe bonfire inthe village, ad even now <> Pelt qualms aboue wasting money on sich quidly spent plasuress but their rapturous faces my misgivings It is only once, I thought, 2 memory. ‘As it grew dark we lit the tapers and wicks and cenircle our dwellng with light. A feathery treeze ‘wa stirving, weting the flames leaping and ducing, their reflections in the black glistening ol eavorting too, Inthe town and inthe houses nearby, hundreds of small beacons were begnaing t Hash; now and then & rorket would tear into the skys break and pour out its riches like predous jewel into the darkres. AS the night went on, the crackle and spit of exploding fre- 6 & works increased. The children had bought boxes of eal- cured matches and etringo of patthas and a few pice worth of cackers like small nuts, which split in two swith « loud bang amid a abower of sparks when Kt. ‘The last were the mest popular—the boys pranced ound shrieking with Inughterand throwing theerader= about everywhere, yet dey were ninble enough to skip fut of Kara's way. All execpt Selvam, the youngest. He stood asafe distance away, legs apart and obviously ready to ray holding a sick of sugar ane nearly 49 tall a himlf, vhich he had bought instead of fire~ Seka “Go 'and play,” I said to hi. “Deepavali cmes bt age yest end this the et tee we have bought fGreworks. Do not lose the opportunity.” £741 am ales? he sid frankly, his small face sei= ‘Afice we had cteny and rather well, and there were to crackers left and the oil inthe saucers had zun dey, wwe walked to che wows. Selvam refused to cane. He was a stubborn child; I knew i was useles t try 9 permude him, Ira stiyed behind toy saying she pre~ ferred to say with him. T think che was glad of the cane he provid for since her return she had mot cared to be seen about, and of course there weald he a large crow in the row. Villagers from all round, like ts, were converging towards the bonfire t bel theres already smcke wiaps were curling towards the louis, torches were beginning to are. The small of oil was everywhere, hesty and pungent, esting the sens, ‘Our steps quickened. Quicker ard quicker, greedy, "‘wanting to encompass everything, t0 miss not one iota oF pleasure. Thon as happens even in the brighter mo ment, I remembered Jonaki. Last year she had come swith uy ae ander children. This year who Kew — or cared? The black thought momentarily doused the glow within mey theny angered and indignast, 1 dhwst the intruder avay, chasing it, banishing it... tied of loom reaching despesately for perfection of delight, ‘which can surely never be. ‘There was ¢ great aise everywhere. Men, women tnd children from the tansery and the fields had come fut, many of them in new clothes such a5 we too had ddorned, the girls and worsen with lowers ia their hair and glats bangles 2 their wrists and silver rings on their toct; ané those who could afford it wore aver golsu claped round their ankles and studded belts around ther waits. In the centre of the town the bonfice was begining to smoulder. For many weeks the clildren had been. <> collecting firewood, rags, leaves and brushwood, and the resuk was huge pile like an enormous ant int which the lames ate freely, hissing and ering ee pet ees eee til-soaked rags thae people threw in. oS In the throng I lost Nathan and the bs oF pechaps they last meat any rate we got sepstated—L pushed ‘my way chrough the crush, this way and that, nobody ining sn inch, in my efforts to find them; and in the tend I hud to ive up. Before long, in the heat and texstement, I forgot them. Drums had begun to beat, the fire was bling Bercely, great long orarge tongues 8 onsuning the fuel and thrusting upwards and some- times outmards «iF to engulf the watchers. Aa each searching flame licked round, the crowd leaned away from ie gravpy straightening = the wind and the Hames changed direction; so that there was a constary sway- Ing movement lite the waving of river grass, The thea vas intense—facesgleamed ruddy i the feligh, ‘ene oF ewo women had Gran ther sis acrom dir oe “Lespings rac t0 imax, then the srength takes from fury, 1 qoitening, Slowiy, one by on, the fames [ewe up thee cobur aad dreppedy unsil at lst there ‘were aohe left—only 2 glowing heap, asher-edgel. ‘The dhunbests ded to a murmur. The scent of ja sive flowers mingled with the fumes of camphor 2rd pil, and a new smell, that of todayy which several of the men had been drinking—many to excess, for they were lurching about load-meuthed and more than = Ginarly merry. [locked abeut for my family and at Jost aw my hustand. He seamed wo have goue mad. “He hid one son seated on his shoulders and one son at exth hip, and was bounding about en the fringss of the crowd to the peril of my children andthe amue- rent of the people. 1 fought my way to him. “Have you taken leave of your venses?” I cried out above the in, “Nos only of my cares,” he shouted gaily, apering bout with the children clinging deligmtedly to him. “Do you aot feel joy in the air?” ‘He sounded so light of heare 1 ould not help sme ing. »1 fel nothing” 1 sid, ging upto him, “Perhaps itis ee ody that maker the feeling” “Not + drop)” he sid, coming up to me, “Smell” “You are too tall—I cannot)” 1 replied. Lift her py” samebady yelled, anda dozen voles repeated the ey: “Lift her up life her vp!” My husband lacked at me soles. “L wil,” te ss, and dropping Hs sors he sized me and eng me igh upy in fone of all chow people. Several of the tran rere lnighiag at im iadulgenty, the children sree tering with plu “Whatever wll they sayy” sid my face Yaring abe lesme down again. “Ac our age nol You ought to be ashamed” Filey and sid yes it vas & necessary precutig thutshe dal not look a me and she showed no ent som. I was geting more aad more worried abies she moped about dull of hair and eye, a5 if B swect- ns of life had departed—a indeed it hg fr 4 woran ‘who is abandoned by her Besband Kany was working inthe small bldg they had pt up nar the tannery. T ould sc him wheeever the ‘oor opesed to let someone aut. There was along Ene fof men waitings 1 squated some distance away. The day wore on. ‘The sun had set, the glow oF twilight wre touched wah darknes, before he came out. He & & looked grim and tired, his eyes were burning, there was ana ofr Inpraotalervy about him that dete imyel I sive. "Wo more tonight” he ai ily to the ambled amen, and expping down from the rerancth be strode So Trl tes ered copes then 1 follrre Hie mas walking quickly with long strides, I tad te eee pede eee sheet oy footseps and mated fr me to come up, rowing so that I began to fel afi “sid no site tonight. Tid you nt hear me? De you thing Tn ade ron?” ‘SL wah ll Gay? | ganped, 1 mest ee you. My Ins wil be tack soon and then Feannot come” His frown deepened. He sid coldly, “You people il never learn. Ie pitiful to se your folsinen” tis for my daughtr I come)” Tai, “She ennot teary she bat I wns” “You wil be ameter even before she "he replied srt glinmer of a sale, fori sems you have no aise.” “It & 99” T sid, “U would i were cherwbe and she in my condition, for she much afied since ber Fsbnd has no we fr hen” “Why oid the not cme then” Re sald, ber eed? Te would have been more semble” There wis on eles this es and a our twist tif in exspernion Sieeget oP Vtech aegis owt a Srey motes sept have ty aL, %forcing me to lok 2 km and Tse he was laughing. “Lam sony I frightened you,” he id “You sould ro ac ikea timid all at your age. As for your deugh- fer, I will do what I can—but remenber, no prom: He eure and was gone. Isat dowa to thnk, and to collect my wits When at lat Trove to go fll moon vss shining, goklen ind enormous, very low in the sy. Bats went swooping silently iy- Tepe eo the nate row fotpat, clear and white in the moonlight wale ing suifly and atsorted in my thoughts. T heard a0 foatstep, only a wie alling my name fom the shadows. I stoped, my heat ting out vildly at my breast, and then T awit was Keath Sanding where the pth forked with the mooalght scaring fll down on her “Yeu sated me” Tad Td nc expect? “That Tean sy" she aid coly coming tomar oS te ea ep ie bees < “Ne ater than yours” I repli not liking bes 98, 1 have my reasons” OF cours,” she id sly, derision ing ie, We all have reason “Mine ace not the ame as yours id with cone tempt, sorvoring har, She erm sal) sly 5: lee that T smel the rose petals in her ay, saw the paint en her mouth. “Meaning?” “Peat we lve ifrendy, Hs casa 6 my mo snore. Let re pas.” & She stood squarely in my path. “1 would not have thought i,” she sid dowly, Shad I not sen for my- self” “Taoughe whut? I said, “Seen what?” “That you have 59 mich pasion in your body” she ssid insole, that you sek asstagenent chus. Your Iusbaad would give much to kiow where you have een tonight” sw het mouth forming these wore, her eyes hal hooded and mocking, then T saw her fice suddenly lose to mite addi not realise 1 hed thrown mycelé at her until Pel her body a my grip. An overutelin- ing rage posesed me, T kept Shaking her furiously, T epuld not stop. Her slender body was no match for amine. I saw her head fall tack, the thin sa she wore “Hlipped from her shoulders. Then I saw that it was not tied at the waist hut below the navel, ke a trumpets and that she wat mked below. Saidabuood paste smeared her swelling hips under her treats were dark ‘sited shadows which gave them semuovs depth, the Apples were tipped with red. Treleasa her. She stood thee before me panting, vith her hair shaken loose and coling about her shoul den. ‘Guard your tongue,” I aid, “rit willbe the worse for you.” ‘She sid nothing fora mement, whi she rearranged her garments, recovering herself a lites then once agsin that maddening, imuling hal-onile curved her lips.“And for you,” she said, with knives in ber voice, “nd for your preious husband.” With thar she was gone. went alone (0 summon ray daughters husband. Take her bucky” 1 said. "There i nothing wrong ‘with her now, she will bear you many sons yet” “1 would,” he replied, with a hint ef sorrow in his eyes for ske was a good wife t me, and a eonely, ‘oe, but I have waited long and now I have taken another woman.” 1 ent avay. Ira was waiting, exgernes shising from her “You must not blame hinmy” said, “He bas taken another worn.” ‘She said nota vord. I repeated what I had said, for se seared aot to understand, but she only looked at Ie with story eyes "Thereafter her ways became even more strange. S gent ling hours out in the countey by hers, spe Title, vithdrew completely into he-elf and went aFbut her tasks wich 2 chill hopelessness thar daunted! me. 1No one could seein her now the warm lovely creature ste had beer, except sometines when Selvam came t0 Ihr, perching on her lap ant coaving a tile from her fer she always had a special love for him. As my preg nney advanced she turned completely away from me. ‘Sometimes Isaw ber looking at me with brooding, re sentfl ever, and despite myself T could not help wom dering if hatred lay behind her glance. ‘Then at lat my child was born, «nicely formed boy, % smaller than the others hal heen but of course Twas Older now. We nicknamed im Rs, which meas tiny, and bing happy, untoutlsome bby everybody tok pleasre in his arial. None more vo than Irt: the teamforntion in hee wa astorshing asi was inex- Pllle. 1 had feared abe night dite the cl but tow i wa if he were ber wn. She lot her dreary ti, ter face became acted, the bloc of youth came back to er. “Our dughin i erelf agin” sid Nathan tome “1 tave heard er eclling likes bin.” She ie bap withthe eile” T replied, but 1 do sot know wat to Secome offer inthe fare.” “Always worrying)” he chided. “Ie is not a mercy thatshe i young agua, sould one aot be grateful?” Cle was a man and did not understand. How could DS sep wetieg Wott rec wie er, Whe “D would lock after her when we were gone aad the boys ‘were maried with files ter om? With a dowry its perhaps posible she might macry again without it no man would lok at hey no longer a virgin and reputedly tarren 'No one had been more upset about the outeome of nas mariage than Old Granny. tras she who had arreged the match, and though falling in health she ‘Bough it her duty'o come to me. She hal agedcon- Sideably since the last time Lhd ser ber. She walled Slowly, pausing before each step to gather rengih for the nether hands lept up 3 light, shuddering move- ‘men like the nervous futer of «eon 2 flower, | 7 %o faa of yours o the gil or her hesband' 1 ”