The Complete Short Stories

rise to disparities. The passion for theatre was soon followed by cinema. Then came mesmerism and hypnotism! New records for the gramophone were also ordered. She had acquired a taste for music. If there was a cause for celebration within the community, Jogeshwari and Kailashi made it a point not to miss that. Kailashi was literally obsessed with these things. While walking, she always hummed something or the other. Even when she talked to others, it was all about cinema and theatre. She had lost touch with the material world and the only thing that mattered now was the world of fantasy. She even lost her capacity to sympathize with others. A new lack of restraint characterized her behaviour even as she became quite arrogant about her good taste. She would unreservedly boast before her friends, ‘People here are a foolish lot. They’ll never be able to appreciate movies. Only the ones in the West can. There, entertainment is as important as the air that one breathes. And that is why they remain so happy as if they don’t have a care in the world. Here no one has a taste for it. Even those whom God has blessed with the wherewithal retire to their beds by evening. Her friends would listen to all this and praise her even more. In a bid to ridicule them, Kailashi herself would become a subject of ridicule.

Panditji assembled the girls of the neighbourhood and the pathshala was soon up and running. He arranged for all kinds of pictures and toys. He also taught the girls alongside Kailash Kumari. The students, on their part, would regularly attend the classes. Here, studying was more like a pastime. Within a few days, the pathshala gained popularity and even girls from the other localities began flocking to the place.

Extract translated from the Hindi by Shailendra Kumar Singh

A Home for an Orphan

First published in Hindi as ‘Grihdaah’ in Sree Sharada (June 1923), and later included in Mansarovar 6 (1946). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Purification

First published in Urdu as ‘Shuddhi’ in June, 1923, and later included in Khwab-o Khayal (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11. It is available in Hindi, transliterated from the Urdu, in Solah Aprapya Kahaniyan (1981) with the same title.

Autobiography

First published in Hindi as ‘Aap Beeti’ in Madhuri (July 1923), and later included in Mansarovar 6 (1946). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

The Ornaments

First published in Hindi as ‘Abhushan’ in Madhuri (August 1923), and later included in Mansarovar 6 (1946). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Revenge

First published in Urdu as ‘Intiqaam’ in Zamana (October 1923), and included later in Prem Chaleesi 2 (1930). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001). In Hindi, it is available in Gupt Dhan 2 (1962) as ‘Pratishod’.

Trickery

First published in Hindi with the title ‘Kaushal’ in the monthly Chand (August 1923) and subsequently in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it is included in Prem Chaleesi (1930) with the title ‘Chakma’.

Satyagraha

First published in Hindi as ‘Satyagrah’ in Madhuri (December 1923), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu it was included in Khaak-e-Parwana (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

The Roaming Monkey

First published in Hindi as ‘Sailani Bandar’ in Madhuri (January 1924), and later included in Gupt Dhan 2 (1962). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

The Prophet’s Justice

First published in Hindi with the title ‘Nabi ka Niti Nirvaah’ in Saraswati (March 1924), and later included in Gupt Dhan 2 (1962) with the same title, and in Mansarovar 2 (1936) with the title ‘Nyay’. Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Sudden Downfall

First published in Hindi with the title ‘Vajrapat’ in Madhuri (March 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in the collection Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Road to Salvation

First published in Hindi as ‘Mukti Marg’ in the monthly Vishal Bharat (April 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929) as ‘Raah-e Najaat’. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Money for Deliverance

First published in Hindi as ‘Muktidhan’ in Madhuri (May, 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 2 (1936). Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Forgiveness

Published in Urdu as ‘Wa’fu’ in Zamana (June 1924), and later included in Prem Chaleesi (1930). In Hindi, it is available with the title ‘Kshama’ in Mansarovar 3 (1938).

The Lashes of Good Fortune

First published in Hindi as ‘Saubhagya ke Kodey’ in Prabha (June 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included as ‘Nekbakhti ke Tazianey’ in Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Banishment

First published in Hindi as ‘Niraswan’ in Chand (June 1924), later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in Prem Chaleesi (1930) as ‘Abhagin’. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Despair

First published in Hindi as ‘Nerashya’ in Chand (July 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Ghost

First published in Hindi as ‘Bhoot’ in Madhuri (August 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 4 (1939). In Urdu, it was included in the volume Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929) with the same title. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

By a Whisker!

First published in Hindi as ‘Ik Aanch ki Kasar’ in Chand (August 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).

Initiation

First published in Hindi as ‘Deeksha’ in Madhuri (September, 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in the collection Firdaus-e