A Winter's Night and Other Stories Read online

  Halku took a long puff and began speaking to his dog once again, ‘The cold doesn’t go away when you smoke; it is just that it takes your mind off the chill for a while.’

  Jabra looked at him with love-filled eyes.

  ‘Get through this night somehow. Tomorrow, I shall lay out some straw for you and you can sleep more comfortably.’

  Jabra put his paws on Halku’s knees and brought his face close to his master’s. Halku could feel his warm breath in the cold air.

  Halku finished his pipe and lay down once again. This time he was determined to ignore the cold and go to sleep. Within a minute, he could feel his heart pounding and his body getting chilled. He tossed and turned but the cold seemed to have grabbed his chest like some evil spirit and refused to let go.

  When he could bear it no longer, he picked up Jabra, and patting him gently, put him to sleep in his lap. The dog smelt awful but, holding Jabra in his lap, Halku felt a sense of well being he hadn’t known for a long time. Jabra probably thought he was in heaven, warm and loved by his master. Simple and loving Halku was not at all bothered by the smell coming out of the dog’s body. He would have shown the same spontaneous affection to a friend or a brother. He no longer felt defeated by the back-breaking poverty that forced him to live this life. At this moment, it seemed as though his friendship with Jabra had opened all the doors of his mind and heart.

  Suddenly, Jabra’s ears pricked up at some sound. The sense of companionship with his master had filled him with a new alertness. He jumped to his feet and began to bark excitedly. Halku tried to get him back under the shelter, but he wouldn’t get back. Instead, he began to run excitedly around the field. He would return to his master for a minute, then race off again. A strong sense of duty made him forget everything else.

  III

  An hour passed. Sharp gusts of wind increased the cold. Halku sat up. He put his head between his knees and clasped himself tightly. He felt frozen, as if his veins carried ice instead of blood. He peered into the sky to see how much was left of the night. The Great Bear had not climbed even half way up the sky. Daylight would break when it reached exactly over his head. There were still many hours to go.

  There was a mango orchard beside Halku’s field. In winter, its ground was covered with dead, fallen leaves. Halku thought of going there, gathering the dry leaves to make a big fire and warming himself beside it. If someone were to see him gathering leaves at night, they would leave him alone thinking he was a ghost! And by now, he was too cold to be scared of any wild animals that might lie hidden in the fields.

  Halku pulled some pulse stalks from a neighbouring field, made a broom and walked towards the mango grove holding a burning dung cake to show the way. Jabra ran towards him and started wagging his tail.

  Halku said, ‘I can’t stand it any more, Jabra. Let’s gather some leaves and start a fire. When we have warmed up nicely, we shall come back to our field and go to sleep. There is still a long way to go before dawn.’

  Jabra let out a soft growl of agreement and ran ahead.

  It was pitch dark in the mango orchard. In the darkness, the wind trampled mercilessly over the fallen leaves. Dew dripped from the tree trunks like falling tears.

  Suddenly, a gust of wind carried the smell of henna flowers. Halku cried out, ‘What a lovely smell, Jabra! Can you smell it, too?’

  Jabra had found a bone lying on the ground and was far too busy licking it to answer.

  Halku put the burning dung cake on the ground and began to gather dead leaves. His hands trembled, his bare feet felt numb but he went on making a heap of leaves. He wanted to burn the cold to ashes in the bonfire he was preparing.

  Soon, he had a blazing fire going. Its flames rose higher and higher to lick the overhanging branches and leap away. In the flickering light of the leaping, dancing flames, the huge mango trees seemed to balance the black night on their tops. In that infinite ocean of darkness, the light from Halku’s fire tossed and trembled like a small boat.

  Halku sat warming himself before the fire. He took off his shawl and tucked it under his arm, then stretched his feet as though challenging the cold: Do the worst you can now! Having conquered the great power of the cold, he could not help but be pleased with himself.

  He asked Jabra, ‘So, Jabra, still feeling cold?’

  Jabra barked softly as though to say, ‘How can one feel cold now?’

  ‘I should have thought of this sooner; we need not have got chilled to the bone.’

  Jabra wagged his tail in complete agreement.

  ‘Let’s try and jump over this fire. Let’s see who can do it. And if you get burnt, I have no medicine to give you.’

  Jabra looked fearfully towards ‘the line of fire’.

  ‘Don’t tell Munni about this; she will make an awful fuss,’ saying this Halku leapt over the flames. Jabra walked around the fire and came to stand beside him. Halku teased him, saying, ‘Come on, come on, this won’t do. You have to jump over it!’ Once again, he leapt over the dancing flames and returned to the other side.

  IV

  The leaves had burnt out. Darkness fell over the orchard once again. Only a few embers were left beneath the bed of ash. The fire flickered briefly as a gust of wind swept over it, then died down again.

  Halku wrapped himself in his shawl once again. Sitting snugly beside the fire, he began to hum softly under his breath. Warmth had returned to his body and he felt drowsy.

  Suddenly, Jabra ran towards the field and began barking loudly. Halku sensed that a herd of wild animals had entered his field—perhaps a flock of antelopes. He could hear them thrashing about. They were eating up his crop—the sound of chomping carried clearly in the night air.

  Halku said to himself, ‘As long as Jabra is there, no animal can enter my field. He will tear them to pieces. I am imagining things. There! I can’t hear a thing now. I am sure I was imagining things.’

  He called out loudly, ‘Jabra! Jabra!’

  Jabra kept barking furiously but did not come near Halku.

  Once again, the sound of grazing and chomping could be heard. Now Halku could no longer fool himself. At the same time, he didn’t want to get up. He was so warm. To get up and chase the animals out of his field on this cold, misty night seemed unbearable. He didn’t move from his place.

  Instead, he just called out loudly, ‘Jabra! Jabra!’

  Jabra was still barking excitedly. The animals were still grazing loudly. The crop was ready in the field. It was a good crop this year, and these animals were eating it all up.

  Halku hardened his heart and rose to his feet. He took a few steps when, suddenly, a biting cold gust of wind, sharp as a scorpion’s sting, sprang up and hit him. Halku went back to the burnt-out fire and began to warm his chilled body by blowing at the embers.

  By now, Jabra was barking himself hoarse. The antelopes were doing a quick job of destroying the ripe crop. But Halku kept sitting peacefully beside the warm ash. Lethargy held him motionless, as though invisible ropes had pegged him down from all sides. Wrapped in his shawl, he went to sleep on the warm ground beside the burnt-out fire.

  When he opened his eyes in the morning, warm sunlight was spread all around him and Munni was asking, ‘Are you going to sleep all day? You came here to get a good night’s sleep and out there, the entire field has been destroyed.’

  Halku got to his feet and asked, ‘Have you been to the field?’

  ‘Yes, the crop is ruined. I have never heard of anyone sleeping the way you do. What was the use of your staying up to keep watch?’

  Halku tried to make an excuse, ‘I nearly died last night and you are going on about the crop. I can’t tell you what a terrible stomach ache I had!’

  They began to walk towards the field. The ready crop was trampled and Jabra was lying still on his back beneath the shelter of sugar cane leaves, seemingly lifeless.

  Both looked at the state of the field. Munni’s face showed sadness, but Halku looked happy.


  Munni spoke worriedly, ‘Now you will have to work as a hired hand to pay the rent.’

  Halku answered with a beaming smile, ‘At least I won’t have to sleep out on cold nights any more.’

  2

  The Salt Inspector

  When the new Department for Salt was created and the sale of this god-given substance was banned, the business of selling and buying salt began to be done on the sly. Several illegal practices were begun. Some resorted to bribes, others to clever dealings. Government officials made a lot of money. People from other departments wanted to join this department, regardless of whatever high position they already occupied in their own departments. Even lawyers were tempted to become salt inspectors.

  This was the time when people thought English education and the Christian religion went hand in hand. Persian was much in favour. Those Indians who had read Persian romances and epics could reach some of the highest offices. Munshi Vanshidhar was one such person who, having read the tale of Zuleikha’s separation from her beloved and the love story of Shireen–Farhad, set out in search of employment.

  His father was an experienced man of the world. He tried to explain things to his son, ‘You can see the state of affairs in our home. We are groaning under debt. Your sisters are getting big and tall like wild grass. I am like a tree that is about to fall over at any time. Now you are the master of this house. Don’t give any thought to the position of employment; that is like the grave of a saint. Keep your eyes on the offerings and gifts. Look for a job where there is enough extra money to be made. The monthly salary is like the full moon which you can see one day and from the very next day it begins to lessen till it finally disappears. Extra income is like a perennial stream that will never let you go thirsty. Salaries are given by men; that is why they seldom increase. Extra income is god-given; that is why there is so much of it. What else can I say to you; you are a learned man. Remember, these things require intelligence. Learn to study human beings, understand their needs and look out for the right opportunity and only then do what you consider appropriate. If you are strict with the man who is in trouble you will make profit. But it is difficult to extract money out of someone who doesn’t need your help. Remember my words; they are the sum total of my life’s earnings.’

  The father finished his lecture and gave his blessings. Vanshidhar was a dutiful son. He listened carefully to his father and left the house. In the big, wide world he had Patience as his friend, Intelligence to show him the way and Confidence as his helper. He must have left home on an auspicious moment for he was immediately appointed as an inspector in the Salt Department. The salary was good and the sky was the limit for extra income. When his elderly father heard the good news, his happiness knew no bounds. The moneylender’s attitude softened towards the family. Hope sprang afresh. Thorns of envy pierced the neighbours’ hearts.

  II

  It was a winter’s night. The staff and watchmen of the Salt Department were drunk. It had been barely six months since Munshi Vanshidhar had been posted here, but even in this short time he had impressed his seniors with his efficiency and perfect manners. The officers trusted him.

  The Yamuna river flowed about a mile away from the Salt Office. A bridge of boats was made over it. Vanshidhar was fast asleep when suddenly he heard the sound of carts crossing the boat bridge and the shouts of boatmen. Why would carts be crossing the river at this hour of the night, he wondered. Surely, something is amiss. He put on his uniform, put his pistol in his pocket, mounted his horse and within minutes reached the riverside. He saw a long line of bullock-carts crossing the bridge. He shouted, ‘Whose carts are these?’

  There was a minute’s silence. There was some whispering among the men. One man in the front spoke up, ‘They belong to Pandit Alopideen.’

  ‘Who is he?’

  ‘He is from Dataganj.’

  Munshi Vanshidhar was surprised. Pandit Alopideen was among the most respected zamindars of this area. He dealt in lakhs of rupees. From the lowest to the mightiest, there was no one in this area who was not indebted to him in one way or the other. He did a variety of businesses and was considered quite a clever person. English officers visited his estate for hunting and enjoyed his hospitality. There were parties and feasting at his home for twelve months in a year.

  Vanshidhar asked, ‘Where are the carts going?’ The answer was, ‘Kanpur’. But when he asked what was loaded in them, he was met with complete silence. Vanshidhar’s suspicion now became firm. He waited for an answer, then shouted, ‘Have all of you become deaf? I am asking you:What is loaded in these carts?’

  When there was still no answer, he took his horse close to one of the carts and poked his finger in a sack. Now there was no room for suspicion. The sack had lumps of salt crystals.

  III

  Half-awake half-asleep, Pandit Alopideen was riding his beautifully decorated chariot. Suddenly, a couple of nervous-looking cart-drivers came running up to him and woke him up. They said, ‘Master, the inspector has stopped our carts. He is standing by the riverside and calling you.’

  Panditji was a firm believer in the Goddess Lakshmi. He used to say that forget this world, even in heaven it is Lakshmi who reigns supreme. Perhaps he was right. Justice and government are mere toys in the hands of Lakshmi; she can move them around as she chooses. Panditji spoke arrogantly from his reclining position on the chariot, ‘I am coming.’ Unhurriedly, he folded a paan for himself. Wrapped in a warm quilt, he went up to the inspector and said, ‘God bless you, Babuji! Have I committed a crime that my carts have been stopped like this? You should be kindly disposed at least towards us Brahmins.’

  Vanshidhar spoke drily, ‘Government orders!’

  Pandit Alopideen laughed and said, ‘I don’t know the government or its orders. You are my government. Between us, it is like a family matter. Are you and I outsiders for each other? You need not have taken the trouble of coming here. It can’t be that I pass this way and forget to make an offering to the god of this ghat. I was, in any case, about to come and meet you myself.’

  These sweet words had no effect on Vanshidhar. Riding the wave of honesty was still a new experience for him. He spoke harshly, ‘I am not one of those dishonest types who sell their soul for a little money. You are under arrest. You will have to follow the law. I have no more time for idle talk. Jamadar Badlusingh, I order you to arrest him.’

  Pandit Alopideen stood like a statue. Panic spread among the crowd of cart-drivers. For the first time in his life, Panditji had had to hear such harsh words. Badlusingh stepped forward, but he could not dare hold Panditji by the hand. Panditji had never seen Duty show such disrespect towards Wealth. He told himself that the inspector was young and inexperienced. He didn’t know the value of money. With great humility, he said, ‘Don’t do this, Babu saheb, I will be destroyed. My reputation will be dragged through mud. And what will you gain by humiliating me? We are not outsiders for each other.’

  Vanshidhar spoke in a harsh voice, ‘I don’t wish to listen to such things.’

  The support that Alopideen had taken for a rock seemed to slip from under him. His self-respect and his sense of superiority were shaken. But he still had faith in the power of money. He addressed his manager, ‘Present Babu saheb with a thousand rupees; he is like a hungry lion right now.’

  Vanshidhar spoke angrily, ‘Forget one thousand, even one lakh rupees cannot make me step away from the right path.’

  Such senseless obstinacy and sacrifice for the sake of Duty annoyed Alopideen. The two powers now stood face to face. Money began to jump higher and higher to attack Duty. From one thousand, the sum was raised to five, ten, fifteen and finally twenty thousand rupees but Duty displayed godlike bravery in the face of this army of thousands and stood unshakeable like a mountain.

  Till, finally, Alopideen spoke despairingly, ‘No more! I can offer you no more. You can do whatever you wish.’

  Vanshidhar once again called out to his Jamadar. Silently cursing the
inspector, Badlusingh moved towards Pandit Alopideen. Panditji nervously took a few steps backwards. With utmost humility he said, ‘Babu saheb, for god’s sake have mercy on me! I am willing to make a deal for twenty-five thousand rupees.’

  ‘It is impossible!’

  ‘For thirty thousand?’

  ‘No, never!’

  ‘Not even for forty thousand?’

  ‘Not forty thousand, not even forty lakh! Badlusingh, arrest this man. I don’t wish to hear another word.’

  Duty crushed Wealth under its feet. Alopideen saw a big-built man coming towards him with handcuffs. He looked all around him with hopeless eyes. Then he fainted and fell to the ground.

  IV

  The world slept but its tongue was awake and wagging. By the morning, young and old alike spoke only of this. Everyone had something to say about Panditji. Everyone was busy heaping abuses at him as though, with his arrest, crime had been removed from society. The milkman who sold water instead of milk, the officials who filled out false account books, the clerks who travelled without tickets, the merchants who did business with false papers—they were all behaving as though they were superior, god-like beings. The next day when a handcuffed Pandit Alopideen—his heart filled with regret and sadness, his head bent with shame—reached the courts, the entire city rushed to the spot. Seldom had such an eager crowd shown up for fairs or even festivals! People pushed their way into the courtroom in such large numbers that you couldn’t tell where the walls ended and the roof began.

  But once inside the courtroom, it was a different matter. Pandit Alopideen was the lion king of this vast jungle. Here, court officials were his devout followers, clerks his humble servants, lawyers his obedient slaves and the lower-level peons, orderlies etc. in his pocket. People ran from all directions upon seeing him inside the courtroom. They were surprised not by what he had done but by the fact that he had got caught by the law. How can such a man—who has the money to solve all his problems and a glib tongue to get him out of any tricky situation—get caught like this? Everyone walked up to him to express their sympathy. An army of lawyers was selected with great care. The battle lines between Duty and Wealth were drawn up in the battlefield of Law. Vanshidhar stood quietly. Truth was his only strength and clear speech his only weapon. There were witnesses, but clearly wobbling under the influence of greed.