BOOTE SHAH HAD managed to establish his innocence before his father, and he was happy that the elders of the village now understood his position. But he had also lowered himself in Naseem’s eyes and his own shame from the sorry episode was stuck like a thorn in his side. He knew that his actions had thrust Naseem into ignominy. Had he not urged her to meet Yusuf, she would have escaped the physical and emotional trauma inflicted on her by that fiend.
Without waiting to have his dinner that evening, Baba Bhana went across to Naseem’s house to comfort her and offer his unreserved support. Naseem’s mother told him that her daughter had gone to pick some fresh mustard leaves when Yusuf waylaid her and dragged her into the grove. Naseem had to fight with all her strength to save her honour from that ruffian. The old man’s face had a volcanic look about it even though he had already heard the full facts of the incident from his son. His only regret was that he hadn’t been able to lay his hands on Yusuf.
Meanwhile, Boote Shah’s statement to the elders of the panchayat had made it clear that blame for the unfortunate happening must fall squarely on Yusuf. This put a stop to the unsavoury tales that some of the womenfolk were spinning about Naseem’s role in the episode. Their wagging tongues were silenced, and their gossip was replaced by a new-found respect for the girl. A new story could be heard on the lips of all and sundry in the village. About the courage of a young girl who had fought like a tigress to protect her honour from that brute of a man. In the eyes of the village, she had emerged as an idealized heroine. But was Naseem happy with all this adulation?
Boote Shah also wanted to visit Naseem the same evening, but was held back partly by his lingering sense of shame and partly because he knew that his father would also be going to see her. He wanted to catch her alone so that he could express his heartfelt apology and ask her to forgive him. This left him no option but to wait till the evening of the following day.
The sun was setting, its last slivers of light leaving after extending an invitation to the darkness of the night to take their place. One of the last rays was falling on Sugara’s emaciated face, making it look even more pale and deathly. Her frail arm could be seen moving a broom as she sat on her haunches and swept the courtyard. The mouth-watering aroma of saag being cooked from fresh mustard leaves was wafting through the entrance to the kitchen. In a smaller mud oven, a slow fire from a handful of cow dung cakes was keeping a pot of milk simmering. A large wooden churner stood in a corner; the remains of butter fat stuck in its grooves attracting a stream of little brown ants. Some leaves and stems were lying in a winnowing basket, intended perhaps to feed the cow. The speckled cow that had recently been separated from its herd was tied next to the feeding trough. It was trying to stretch its rope towards its calf, the young fellow tied a few feet away from her, and straining to get some milk. The juvenile mango tree stood in the middle, swaying in the evening breeze like a tipsy young man. A few dozen golden-hued leaves were scattered beneath the tree and a new one would glide down every minute or two to add to their number.
‘Chaachi!’ Boote Shah called as he entered the courtyard. ‘Why are you busy with the broom today? Hasn’t Bapuji cautioned you against doing anything strenuous? This is just the kind of thing that aggravates your asthma.’
‘Come inside, my dear son,’ she said as she abandoned the broom and stood up to greet him. ‘Nothing to worry. I had just picked up the broom to clear out the mess left by some kids who were playing here. I thought I would be very gentle as I—’
‘And where’s Seema?’ Boote Shah interrupted her, ‘I don’t see her around.’
‘She’s lying down in her room,’ Sugara brushed the dust off her hands and gestured towards the door.
‘Is she alright?’ Boote Shah asked with a troubled expression.
‘She’s okay, I guess. She said she had a headache and I advised her to rest for a while.’
‘Anyway, you carry on with your chores,’ Boote Shah muttered as he went inside. Sugara picked up the broom and continued where she had left off.
‘Seema,’ he called as he stepped inside the house. ‘What’s wrong? Why are you in bed at this hour?’
Naseem snapped out of her bed and called, ‘Please come in, Bhaaji. Just had a bit of a headache. Do sit down. Why are you still standing?’
Boote Shah immediately realized that his assessment was way off the mark. He had imagined that Seema’s face would reflect her angst, if not an outright dislike for him. He had thought long and hard about the words and phrases he’d need to use to regain her confidence. But all of that became redundant when he looked at his foster sister’s face. Like always, her eyes had lit up with that familiar expression of filial affection when she saw him. As though nothing untoward had ever happened.
He sat beside her on the bed for a couple of minutes, taking the time to collect his thoughts before murmuring, ‘Seema! Won’t you forgive me?’
Naseem looked up and observed the deep sense of guilt and remorse in his eyes. ‘Forgive you for what, Bhaaji? Why are you looking so depressed?’
‘Seema,’ Boote Shah’s voice appeared to echo his pain. ‘It’s all my fault. Otherwise, why would I have taken you to…’ The burden of his own guilt and a recollection of Yusuf’s hideous act combined to choke the words in his throat. Seeing the tears well up in his eyes, Naseem moved across and put her arm around him. Gently caressing his shoulder, she said, ‘What are you saying, Bhaaji? How are you at fault in this? Would you ever do anything to hurt me?’
‘No, Seema,’ Boote Shah’s gaze was transfixed on the door as he spoke. ‘Of course, it’s all my fault. I would never have thought that rogue … that…’ His sense of propriety stopped him mid-sentence.
‘Please don’t look so despondent, Bhaaji,’ Naseem gently caressed his back as she spoke. ‘I’ll stop speaking with you if you go on like this.’
Boote Shah’s expression remained unchanged as he silently cursed his own role in the unfortunate affair.
‘So, you won’t listen to me, Bhaaji?’ she asked with a hint of despair, as she peered at his glum countenance. ‘Why do you want to break my heart?’
Boote Shah’s eyes finally left the door and moved to Naseem’s face. Speaking directly to her eyes, they appeared to say, ‘How could I ever try to break your heart, Naseem? Me, who is wrestling with the challenge of fixing your broken heart.’
Observing that Naseem’s eyes were also drenched with emotion, he said, ‘You truly have a very big heart, Seema. Any other sister would have found it hard to forgive a brother who has transgressed the way I have.’ His hand moved to her head to gently comfort her.
Sugara finished sweeping the courtyard and perched herself next to Naseem on the bed. ‘What’s this intense conversation between sister and brother today?’ Looking at the moist eyes of both, she could deduce the topic at hand.
‘Nothing, Chaachi,’ said Boote Shah, turning turned his face away from Naseem towards her mother. ‘We were talking about yesterday’s incident. I was telling Seema that she shouldn’t allow it to pull her down. The one who has sinned will pay for it.’
Sugara’s sunken eyes were set within dark circles on her gaunt face. They fluttered with the nervousness of a hen trying to protect her chicks from the predatory eyes of an eagle. The bluish veins on her frail neck appeared to become even more prominent as she sighed, ‘What can I say, my son … I swear I didn’t sleep a wink last night. Just lay in my bed wondering why Allah wanted us to see a day like this. We’ve spent our entire life in this village and we’ve never seen anyone so much as disturb a bird’s nest. God knows what happened to that rogue! How could he forget that they have grown up playing with each other like siblings? He didn’t even think that…’
‘Forget about it, Chaachi,’ Boote Shah intervened, ‘my only regret is that we couldn’t catch hold of him. He would have met a fate worse than a stray dog. But fortune favoured him and he managed to escape.’
‘May you enjoy your youth forever,’ Sugara smiled in gratitude. ‘It is thanks to the blessings of Allah and the grace of your family that we have managed to survive. Otherwise, who would have bothered about this poor widow. May you live long. As long as Babaji and you are around, we know that we are safe. These are difficult times and even the closest relatives turn their face away. It is the mercy of Allah that he provided your comforting shade to me and my two kids, otherwise…’
‘Leave it now, Chaachi,’ Boote Shah remonstrated. ‘There is absolutely no need to say such things. If Krishna had not died so young, I may not have felt the same kind of affection towards Seema. But the Lord has given me Seema in Krishna’s place. Bapuji also likes to say that Seema has the same disposition as our Krishna. The same innocence. You knew her equally well, so I am sure you see this too.’
Comforted by his words, Sugara spoke gently, ‘My son, may Allah protect you. Of course, I was equally attached to Krishna. Who can forget such a vivacious girl? It was in a matter of days that she flowered into this beautiful angel. You couldn’t take your eyes off her. If Allah hadn’t broken the thread of her life, she would have been absolutely matchless. But my son, we have to keep living even after her loss. And Seema is yours before she is mine. Anyway, let bygones be bygones. Before you go, please advise your sister to refrain from going alone in the fields. There are plenty of girls around who can offer company. She should take someone along when she goes that way. Times have changed, my son. Our village might still be better than hundreds of others but as the wise say, “Eat what you like but live as the world expects.” Why should we become the topic of conversation for others?’
‘You are absolutely right, Chaachi,’ he said and turned towards Naseem. ‘There is no need to go alone, Seema. If you don’t find anyone to accompany you, just ask your bhabi. She is right next door. All you have to do is shout for Rukman and she’ll be there.’
Naseem looked at him with renewed respect but didn’t speak. Her eyes were conveying her feelings.
As Boote Shah returned to his place, he felt that a huge burden had lifted from his shoulders. He felt lighter, more alive.