Sant Bilas said, ‘My college is opening on 15 January.’
Hari Bilas asked, ‘How much money do you need?’
‘At least two hundred and fifty rupees because we will have to pay the fees for six months right now.’
Hari Bilas shrugged his shoulders. ‘Do you really need so much? I am a bit short of money these days.’
‘You know my habits. I live as modestly as possible. It will not be possible to do with less. Apart from the fees I also need a suit. I don’t have any good suits.’
‘My dear, forget about the suit for the moment. As soon as I get the means I will think of it. But yes, I will arrange for fees and boarding. There is no way out, whether you study or not.’
‘I do not want to burden you unnecessarily. If you can’t procure the money I will find a solution, but there can be no cuts in my estimate.’
‘It is a bad habit of yours that you flare up so easily. You see my circumstances, but even that is not enough to open your eyes. I do not know whether I will be able to pay off all the creditors even after all the furniture has been sold.’
‘If you wish that I also should leave the college I will not object.’
Hari Bilas was enraged. ‘Very well, have your name cancelled! I see that you are becoming a slave to your necessities. Today not only in India but in Europe as well, enlightened people are more and more inclined towards simple living. From educated people one now expects dedication and service, not pomp and display. Lawyers no longer command respect in society. People grow more and more suspicious of them, and indeed this class does not deserve any better. In accordance with common practice, I wanted to have you trained in this profession, but now I see its drawbacks. Thanks to this profession it has become so expensive to get justice in a court of law that it is almost unaffordable for the common people. When two hundred or four hundred or even up to one thousand rupees is charged for one hearing, then it is obvious that this is no remuneration for time and labour, but just the cost for those people’s greed and selfishness. A profession which is based on human meanness and weakness cannot bring any good to society. I will not force you. If you choose a more legitimate profession than law I would be happy.’
Sant Bilas did not answer. He left with a frown on his face.
Hari Bilas asked Sri Bilas, ‘Are you preparing for the examinations?’
‘What is the use of this kind of education which only aims at getting rich when you say that nowadays nobody respects the wealthy? Please take me also out of school. I want to profit from participating in your work. I would like to take up farming. After all if you live in the village you will definitely have us work in the fields. Let me do this work! I will practise agriculture according to new experiences and principles. In my spare time I will teach the boys of the village and will learn from you.’
In the meantime Sumitra had also come. Hari Bilas looked at her and said, ‘You see, Sri Bilas has put an end to your worries. You were wondering what would happen. Now you can go to the village and live there peacefully. Store your grains in big jars and remember Lord Rama!’8
On the third day Hari Bilas arrived in his village. The house was in disrepair. It was surrounded by grass on all sides. The villagers had thrown heaps of manure and garbage in front of the door. Hari Bilas had not come to the house for years. He felt a kind of disgust while entering the house. He had become accustomed to living in clean bungalows. Shiv Bilas unloaded their luggage and began to sweep the doorway clean. Hari Bilas’s eldest daughter Anjani started to sweep inside the house. For some time Sri Bilas stood there watching them. Then he took a basket and began to remove the garbage. Sant Bilas had not come with them. He had somehow talked his mother into giving him money and had gone to Allahabad.
As soon as the news of Hari Bilas’s resignation spread, people started to come from here and there to inquire after his health. Hari Bilas was sitting outside on a broken bedstead in a depressed mood thinking about how to retrieve the ancestral property. Sumitra was standing inside wondering how to get rid of the heaps of dung and garbage. When they used to come to the village before, the villagers regarded them with amazed envy and looked at their possessions as if they were items in a museum. They didn’t have the courage to talk to them. But now everything was gone. Neither did the boys show any arrogance, nor did the Deputy Sahib and Sumitra talk in a patronizing tone. The people felt some sympathy for them. The women began to help Anjani with the cleaning. Some men relieved Shiv Bilas of the broom and Sri Bilas of the basket. They were both covered in sweat and were thinking that however noble hard labour may be theoretically regarded in the world, in reality it was not so pleasant. Pandit Ram Bharose told Hari Bilas, ‘Brother, it is good that you resigned. You were moving around from district to district. Now you will stay put in your house. The house was about to collapse. Now it will be settled again.’
Sheikh Idu said, ‘Employment, may it be high or low, after all, is employment. Why should you be anybody’s servant when God has given you everything!’
The watchman Gobar added, ‘But it was such a high post!’
Kurmi Bhoju said, ‘The post was high, no doubt, but it meant to cut many
