Invitation: Page 7

Moteram: "Madam, it doesn't matter; it is alright. We will leave then if we have your permission."

Rani-sahiba: "Yes, what else can be done? I feel aggrieved for this lapse; the dog has caused such a calamity. Tommy, you are very naughty." The rani-sahiba then instructed the servants to pick up the plates and distribute the food among the beggars.

Sonadevi felt sorry for the children; they had waited patiently for so long only to find the food being snatched away from their mouths. She wanted to strangle the dog. She said, "It is no fault of the children; why shouldn't they eat?"

The rani-sahiba asked the servants to serve food to the children. "Why should the children stay hungry? Fekuram, would you like some sweets?"

Fekuram: "We have come here to eat sweets."

Rani-sahiba: "How much will you eat?"

"This much," Feku said stretching his little hands to show how much he meant.

Rani-sahiba: "Alright. You will get to eat as much as you want but you will have to answer one question. Will you answer?"

Fekuram" "Yes; ask me."

Rani-sahiba: "If you lie, you won't get a single sweet."

Fekuram: "Don't give; I don't tell lies."

Rani-sahiba: "What is your father's name?"

Moteram: "Children don't always remember everything. He has already told you his father's name."

Rani-sahiba: "I want to ask again. Why do object?"

Chintamani: "There isn't any harm in asking again."

Moteram: "Keep out of this, Chintamani. You are not aware of my temper ..... If I catch hold of you, you will run home weeping."

Rani-sahiba: "You are getting angry for no reason. Yes Fekuram, why are you silent? Answer my question else you will not get any sweets."

Chintamani: "Answer the rani-sahiba, son. She has so much affection for you."

Moteram: "Chintamani, I foresee bad days ahead for you."

Sonadevi: "What is the meaning of all this? If you want to give him sweets, then give. If you don't want to give, don't give; but why all the farce about giving him sweets only if he tells his father's name?"

Fekuram mumbled some name but Moteram scolded him so severely that half the words remained stuck in the boy's mouth.

Rani-sahiba: "Why do you scold him? Why don't you allow him to speak? Yes son, tell me your father's name."

Moteram: "You invite us to your home and then insult us!"

Chintamani: "There is no reason to feel insulted, brother."

Moteram: "We will never come here again."

Chintamani: "Moteram, you should not utter such harsh words in the rani-sahiba's presence."

Moteram: "You are a slave to your stomach, just wheedling in the hope of receiving a plateful of food. I don't compromise on my principles."

Chintamani: "Yes brother, you have high ideals; I am an ordinary mortal."

Rani-sahiba: "Don't say such things, Chintamaniji."

Moteram left the rani-sahiba's mansion fuming, and cursing his fate; he regretted bringing Chintamani along.

Sonadevi: "Our lie would have been discovered had Feku told her the name."

Moteram: "Chintamani has made an impression; now he will enjoy a good meal."

Sonadevi: "All your knowledge came to nothing; he won the day."

Moteram: "I am certain the rani-sahiba herself must have let the dog loose."

Sonadevi: "One look at her face and I realized she had recognized us."

While Moteram was thus grieving over his fate, Chintamani was having the time of his life at the rani-sahiba's mansion. A spread of the most delicious food was before him and the rani-sahiba was in attendance herself, feeding him the sweets.

Rani-sahiba: "Very crafty person! When I saw the children I realized his game at once; he didn't even feel ashamed to bring his wife in a disguise!"

Chintamani: "He must be cursing me."

Rani-sahiba: "He was trying to fool me! I said to myself, you swindler I will teach you such a lesson which you will never forget in your life. I set Tommy free."

Chintamani: "Madam, I salute your sagacity."

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