Mansion by Bhisham Sahni

Author:Bhisham Sahni [Sahni, Bhisham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789385890673
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2016-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

That day, after his afternoon siesta, Raja Amirchand was strolling on the roof of his palace when he noticed small whirlwinds of dust rising on the road that led into town through Waterway of the Sardars. A lot of people seemed to be making their way towards the Palace of Mirrors. The raja was surprised. Who are these people? Has the firangi sent yet another detachment of soldiers? Is it a gang of marauders?

But just a few moments later the angrakhas and flamboyant turbans of the riders became visible. The raja’s astonishment grew. Who could these people be? Why are they headed here? Are they my subjects?

The raja had not yet fully emerged from the incident earlier that day. The firangi company had passed him by without saluting him. His princely pride had been slighted. He knew he’d done the right thing by forbidding his noblemen from going to meet the firangi.

But his heart grew restive. These approaching horses didn’t bode well. He hurried down the stairs. When they arrive, they should find me seated on my throne.

It was his noblemen and the rich of town who walked in through the palace gates. One look at them and the raja knew they had submitted to the firangi. Betrayers of their own salt! They went behind their raja’s back to grovel before the firangi! But then his heart plucked up at the thought that the firangi must have spurned them and sent them packing, and so they’d returned to their king. One who can’t be true to his king can never be true to the firangi. The firangi would have told them, ‘Go and first get a letter of authority from your king. I don’t know you people.’ That’s exactly what he must’ve said to them. That’s why they’ve come running back. What were they thinking, going the way they went, begging for land! They have no shame, no pride! They don’t know that a ruler will only listen to another ruler. Who are they, that they’ll be heard? Look at the long faces they’re pulling; look how they’re returning.

‘Come in, come in,’ the raja called out, beckoning with his hand. The men, who had all gathered outside, on the platform, streamed in.

‘Come in, come in. I’m not going to reprimand you. Had you asked me, I would’ve explained things to you. A ruler will never do anything without first consulting the other ruler.’

The toadies regarded each other out of the corner of their eyes. They hesitated for a moment, but then they started pulling out the rolls of white sheets tied up with red ribbon from under their angrakhas.

‘What are these?’ the raja asked in a hollow voice.

‘They are certificates, my lord.’

‘Certificates for what?’

‘Sahib Bahadur has granted me two villages.’

‘Two villages? You’ve received two villages? Which ones?’

‘Sayedpur and Noorpur, my lord.’

‘But these villages are part of my kingdom. Who does that bastard think he is, parcelling out pieces of my kingdom?’ the raja was screaming.

His eyes took in the certificates in the hands of each of his noblemen.

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