The Co-Wife & other Stories by Ruth Vanita

Author:Ruth Vanita [Premchand]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9788184757309
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2012-05-16T04:00:00+00:00

6

Soon after Rajia’s departure Ramu had realized that the soul of his house had gone, and however much he tried, however hard he worked, he could not reanimate it. Dasi was pretty, pleasure-loving, and slovenly. When the first intoxication wore off, quarrels began. The fields began to yield less, and whatever income came in was foolishly spent. He had to take loans. Anxiety and grief played havoc with his health. At first, he ignored his condition. What else could he do? There was no money in the house. Treatment by quacks resulted in the illness taking root, and he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for ten or twelve days. He was lying in bed, moaning, and waiting for death.

He had now reached the stage when one cares nothing for the future and dwells in the past, like a vehicle that finds the way ahead blocked and starts moving backward. He kept thinking of Rajia, crying, and cursing Dasi, ‘It is because of you that I threw her out of the house. It was not just she but Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, who left the house. I know if I call her she’ll come running even today, but what right have I to call her? If she would only come and forgive me, I would die happily. I have no other wish.’

Suddenly, Rajia appeared, put her hand on his forehead, and said, ‘How are you feeling? I heard about it only today.’

Ramu looked at her with tears in his eyes, but could not speak. He folded his hands in salutation to her, and his eyes rolled backward in his head.

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