Jhingur and Harihar finished their conversation. The plot was hatched. The method, time and sequence of action were decided. Jhingur wasn’t walking back—he was strutting! He’d already killed his enemy—there was no way Buddhu could escape now.5
The following day, on his way to work, Jhingur stopped by Buddhu’s house. Buddhu asked him, ‘Aren’t you working today?’
‘I’m on my way, but I came to request you to allow my calf to graze with your sheep. The poor thing remains tied up to the post the whole day. There’s neither grass nor fodder. What do I feed him?’
‘Brother, I don’t keep cows and buffaloes. You know the tanners, they’re all murderers. That Harihar killed two of my cows, I don’t know what he fed them. Since then I’ve taken a vow not to keep cattle any more. But yours is just a calf, no one will harm her. Bring her over whenever you want.’
Then he began to show Jhingur the articles he had bought for the house-warming. Ghee, sugar, flour and vegetables were all on display. They were now waiting for the Satyanarayan katha. Jhingur’s eyes popped out. He had never seen such an array of goods before, nor had he seen anyone organizing such an event. When he returned home after work the first thing he did was to take his calf over to Buddhu’s house. That night the Satyanarayan katha was held and a feast offered to the Brahmins. Through the night the Brahmins were treated with great honour and hospitality. Buddhu had no time to even go and see his flock of sheep. He had only had a meal in the morning (he didn’t find time to eat at night). Suddenly, a man came to him and said, ‘Buddhu, you’re sitting here while your calf is lying dead among the sheep. My good fellow, you didn’t even take the rope off its neck.’
Buddhu felt as though he’d been hit by someone. Jhingur, who was there, broke out in a wail, ‘Oh God, my calf? I want to see her! Look, I never tied her with a rope. I brought her over and left her with the flock of sheep. Then I went back home. When did you tie her with a rope, Buddhu?’
‘God knows, I haven’t even seen any rope! I haven’t had time to watch my own flock since morning.’
‘If you didn’t, then who else would’ve put the rope around her neck? You must have done it and forgotten.’
One of the Brahmins remarked, ‘But it’s lying dead in your flock. People are going to say that the calf died because of Buddhu’s negligence, no matter who tied the rope.’
Just then Harihar appeared on the scene and said, ‘I saw him tying the calf last night among his sheep.’
Buddhu asked, ‘Me?’
‘You had your stick over your shoulder and you were tying up the calf!’
‘And you call yourself an honest fellow, don’t you? You really saw me tying up the calf?’
‘Why are you getting so annoyed, brother? If you want to say you didn’t tie her up, so be it!’
The Brahmin said menacingly, ‘We will have to come to a decision about it. A cow has been slaughtered, and it must be atoned. Do you think it’s a joke?’
Jhingur remarked, ‘‘Maharaj, the killing was not intentional.’
‘What difference does it make? This is slaughter. How else does one slaughter a cow?’
‘That’s right. Tying and untying cows is a risky act.’
‘The scriptures designate it as the greatest sin one can commit. Killing a cow is no less than killing a Brahmin.’
‘Correct. The cow is a sacred animal. That’s why we respect her. She’s our mother. But, Maharaj, a mistake has been made. Find a way for the poor fellow to come out of this without much loss.’
Buddhu stood listening to how easily he was being charged with murder. He understood that this was Jhingur’s ploy. But no one was going to listen to him even if he swore a million times that he hadn’t tied the calf. They’d say he was doing it to avoid atonement.
The Brahmin God also stood to benefit from such atonement. He was not going to pass up such an opportunity. The outcome was that the charge of cow slaughter was slapped on Buddhu. The Brahmin who had been incensed with Buddhu got an opportunity to extract his revenge. The atonement involved three months of begging in public, then a pilgrimage to the seven holy sites, feeding five hundred Brahmins and giving a gift of five cows. Buddhu was stunned as he listened to the verdict. He began to howl. Seeing his condition the period of begging was reduced to two months. No other concession was granted. There was no scope for appeal, no one to complain to. The poor fellow had to accept the punishment. Buddhu left his sheep in God’s care. His children were young. And what could his wife do on her own? The poor fellow wandered from one door to another. Hiding his face, he’d beg for alms, saying, ‘I’ve been
