The death of one’s wife in old age is equivalent to the collapse of the roof during the rainy season. There’s no hope of repair.
With Mangala’s death Chaubeyji’s life became irregular and somewhat disorganized. He stopped socializing or meeting with people. For days on end he would not go to court. Even if he went, it was after much persuasion. He lost his taste for food. Seeing his condition, Vindheshwari’s heart pined and she tried her utmost to keep his attention diverted. She read stories from the Puranas for him and coaxed him to eat with persistence and pleading. She herself never ate until he did.
In the summer she would sit at the foot of his bed and fanned him till late at night. Unless he fell asleep, she never went to bed. If at all he complained of a headache, she promptly poured oil over his head. And if he felt thirsty at night, she came rushing to give him water. Slowly, Mangala faded into a mere joyful memory for Chaubeyji.
One day Chaubeyji gave away all of Mangala’s jewels to Binni. That was Mangala’s last request. Binni was overwhelmed. That day she groomed herself. When Chaubeyji came back from the court that day, she stood blushing and smiling in front of him laden with jewels.
Chaubeyji stared at her with thirsty eyes. A new kind of emotion was budding in his mind for Vindheshwari. When Mangala was alive, she had reinforced the father–daughter relationship. Now Mangala was not there. Therefore, with the passing of days, that emotion faded away. In Mangala’s presence Binni had been a girl. In Mangala’s absence she was a beautiful young lady. But the pure-hearted Binni did not have the slightest inkling about bhaiya’s change of emotions. For her he was the same father figure. She was inexperienced in the ways of men. In a woman’s character, through certain circumstances the feeling of motherhood grows stronger. Then there comes a time, when in the eyes of a woman, a man becomes equivalent to her son. There is no trace of sensual enjoyment in her mind. But men never have any such feelings. Their sensual organs may become inactive but their lust for carnal pleasure possibly grows stronger. A man is never set free from his desires; rather with the passage of time his lust gets fiercer like the heat of the last phase of summer. To satisfy himself he is ready to seek the aid of vulgar means. When young, a man does not stoop so low. His character is endowed with a greater sense of propriety, which loathes resorting to despicable means. He can barge into somebody’s house, but he won’t give in to clandestine means.
Chaubeyji ogled at Binni with lustful eyes and then embarrassed at his own lack of restraint he lowered his eyes. Binni did not understand its import.
Chaubeyji said, ‘Seeing you, I am reminded of the days when Mangala first came here after our marriage. She looked exactly like you; the same fair complexion, the same happy face, the same soft cheeks, the same coyness in those eyes. That picture is still framed in my heart, it can never be erased. God has granted back my Mangala to me in your incarnation.’
Binni asked, ‘Shall I bring some refreshment for you?’
‘Bring it later, sit with me now, I am very dejected. You’ve helped me forget my sorrow. In reality you’ve infused life in me, or else I did not have the hope to carry on after Mangala. You have given me another life. I don’t know what will happen to me after you’re gone.’
‘After I’ve gone where? I’m not leaving you and going anywhere.’
‘Why, the day of your wedding is approaching. You’ll have to leave.’
‘What’s the hurry?’
‘Why not? The world will mock us.’
‘Let them mock. I’ll stay here to serve you.’
‘No, Binni, why should you suffer because of me! I’m unfortunate, I have to live out my days, either smilingly or mournfully. Smiling has vanished from my fate. You have taken care of me for so many days, is this any less a favour! I know after you leave there will be nobody to look after me, this house will be ruined and I’ll have to run away from here. But what is there to do, it’s a necessity. I can’t live here a moment without you. Mangala’s empty place had been taken by you, now who will fill your vacant space?’
‘Can’t we wait this year at least? I can’t leave you in this condition and go.’
‘Is it in our hands? Those people will insist, and we will be compelled to do as they say.’
‘If they coax you to hurry then you should tell them that it won’t be possible. Let them do whatever they want. Are we subject to their will?’
‘Those people have already started persisting.’
‘Why don’t you tell them off?’
‘When it has to be done why should I wait? This pain and separation has to happen one day. Why should I dump the burden of my adversity on your head?’
‘If I don’t stand by you in this calamity, then who will?’5
For many days an intense war raged on in Chaubeyji’s mind. He could no longer see Binni through the eyes of a father. Binni was now Mangala’s sister and hence his sister-in-law. If the world at large mocks me, let it; but my life will be spent in joy. His thoughts had never been so lively. His body began to feel the vigour of youth once again.
He thought, I considered Binni to be my daughter, but she is not my daughter. But how does it make a difference anyway? Who knows, it may be God’s will. Otherwise, why would Binni come here at all? He must have decreed this alliance under this pretext. His leela is beyond cognition.
Chaubeyji told the bridegroom’s father that because of some unforeseen reasons the wedding wouldn’t take place this year.
Vindheshwari also did not know about the conspiracies being hatched. She was happy that
