‘You are casting aspersions on a holy man. First, that poor man was as old as my father, and second, he never raised his eyes or stared at any one of us.’
‘Of course, only gods were gathered at that place. Anyway, you spent the night there. What happened on the second day?’
‘I stayed there the second day as well. A volunteer took the women around to the most important holy spots of the city to offer salutations. We all had lunch upon our return in the afternoon.’
‘Oh, so you went visiting and sightseeing there as well and faced no problems. You must have played music and sung songs after lunch?’
‘No, no music or songs, but each one had a sad story to tell. When the fair wound up in the evening two volunteers took us all to the railway station.’
‘But you returned today, after seven days, and that too all alone.’
‘An unfortunate incident took place at the station.’
‘Yes, yes, that I completely understand. What was the unfortunate accident?’
‘Just as the volunteer was going to get the tickets a man approached him and said, “There’s a gentleman staying here at the Gopinath Dharmashala whose wife has got lost. He has a noble name—a tall, fair and handsome man who lives in Lucknow in Jhabai Tila.” He described you so well that I believed him. I stepped forward and said, “Do you know this gentleman?” He laughed and replied, “If I didn’t know him why would I wander about looking for you? Your child is hoarse with crying.” The women started saying, “Go now, your husband must be very worried.” The volunteer asked him a few questions and then handed me over to him. How was I to know that I had fallen into the trap of a monster? My heart was overjoyed at the thought of seeing Basu again, that I would behold you once more. Perhaps it was this excitement which made me careless.’
‘So you went off with that man? Who was he?’
‘I can’t say, must have been a pimp.’
‘Did it not occur to you to tell him to go and fetch me?’
‘When bad days strike, the mind stops working.’
‘Someone is coming.’
‘I’ll hide in the bathroom.’
‘Come, Bhabhi, why haven’t you gone to sleep yet? It must be ten already.’
Bhabhi: ‘I really wanted to see Basudev, brother. Has he gone off to sleep?’
‘Yes, he just cried himself to sleep.’
‘Did you find out anything about Maryada? But even if you did, what use will it be? A woman who has left her home is like a horse that has bolted from its stable. You cannot trust either.’
‘Why did I even take her for that holy bath!’
‘Strange twists, brother, strange. I’ll take your leave now.’
Maryada: (Coming out.) ‘Nothing strange about it; this is a trick. Under the guise of caring for Basudev, you wish to take over my household.’
‘Don’t talk rubbish! Where did the pimp take you?’
‘My lord, do not ask me this. I am too ashamed to speak about it.’
‘Well, you should have felt greater shame in coming here.’
‘With the Supreme Lord as my witness I swear that I did not let him touch me.’
‘Can you describe him?’
‘A short, dark-skinned man. Wearing a long kurta.’
‘Did he have an amulet around his neck?’
‘Yes, he did.’
‘He was the sweeper of the dharmashala. I had told him about your disappearance. That scoundrel used the information to lure you.’
‘He seemed like a Brahmin to me.’
‘No, he was a scavenger. Did he take you to his house?’
‘Yes, he put me on a tonga and took me to a small house in a narrow lane and said, “Sit here, your husband will come soon.” It was then that I realized I had been duped. I started crying. The man left after a while and an old woman arrived to try and tempt me with various offers. I spent that entire night weeping. The next day they both tried to make me understand that I could die crying but no one would come to help me. You have lost one home, they said. But we will give you another, a better one where you will eat the best food and become rich. When I realized that there was no way for me to get away from there, I decided to use my wiles.’
‘I have heard enough. Let me accept what you are saying, that you protected your womanhood. But my heart loathes you. You can now never be to me what you were in the past. This house no longer has a place for you.’
‘My husband, do not do this injustice to me, I remain the same wife to you. Just think, what will become of me?’
‘I have thought of everything and taken a decision. I have been thinking about this for the last six days. You know very well that I do not fear what the society thinks. I have already discarded the notions of untouchability, bid farewell to the gods and goddesses, but it is impossible for me to accept a woman who has been looked upon by strange eyes and who has wandered about God knows where and in what state for seven days. If this is injustice, then God be my witness, I am not to blame.’
‘Do you not pity my helplessness at all?’
‘Where there is disgust, how can there be pity? I am still ready to look after your daily needs. As long as I live you will not want for food or clothing. But you cannot be my wife.’
‘I would not look upon the face of my child had I been touched by another.’
‘Your spending even a moment alone with another man is enough to destroy your chastity. This is a unique relationship. If it exists then it is for several lifetimes, but if it breaks then that happens in a moment. You tell me, if a Muslim person forced me to partake of his leftovers, would you accept me?’
‘That . . . that . .
