Bandit Queen - A novel by Bankim Babu

 Bandit Queen

Bankim Babu

Excerpts:

Bhutanath village in Barendra county was where Profullo and her mother were going.  That was home to Profullo’s father-in-law, Hara Ballav Babu.  Profullo’s father-in-law was a wealthy man.
He owned land, houses, a temple, a walled garden, a lake.   All of this was but six miles from Profullo’s home.  Walking, Profullo and her mother reached there about three in the afternoon.
Once there, Profullo’s mother could barely make herself enter the house.  It was not that Hara Ballav Babu despised them for being poor.  No.  It was what had happened after the wedding.
Profullo was surpassingly beautiful, a matchless beauty.  This was why Hara Ballav had selected her for his son.  Delighted at this good fortune, Profullo’s mother had spent all her money on the wedding, and on lavish food for the groom’s party.  Unfortunately she had not provided half as much to her neighbors, the bride’s party.  Insulted, they had refused to eat and walked out.  Profullo’s mother had been angry, and had let her neighbors know it.  Deeply offended, they had taken their revenge.
On the third day of a wedding, the bride ritually enters her husband’s kitchen and touches the food and the cookware, showing that she is now part of her husband’s household, that she has a right to his food, and she has brought good fortune with her.
On that day, Profullo’s neighbors, (who had been invited to the feast) refused to eat.  Surprised, Hara Ballav had asked what, if anything, was wrong with the food.  Their answer shocked and dismayed him.  Profullo’s mother, they claimed, was a widow, and had lost caste by keeping bad company.  A rich man may do as he pleased, but they were poor people with nothing but their honorable caste to lose.  And they were not going to lose that by eating what Profullo had touched.  Why would they lie?
The next day Hara Ballav had sent Profullo home to her mother.
Now, as Profullo’s mother looked at Hara Ballav’s house, she trembled.  Yet they had come, they had screwed up their courage and come.  There was no going back now. Mother and daughter entered the house.
At that moment, Hara Ballav was taking his post-prandial rest.  Hara Ballav’s wife was getting her hair done – which meant having her grey hairs plucked out. 

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