The Price of Righteousness: Page 3

Sardar-saheb had a daughter. Her marriage was arranged with the son of a lawyer in Meerut. The family was good, and the young man held a bright future. Sardar-saheb had fixed the marriage after months of inquiries and negotiations. Except for the matter of dowry, everything else was settled.

A letter from the lawyer, settling the issue of dowry, arrived. But the terms mentioned went back on promises, assurances, and trust. During the initial stages of the talks, the lawyer had thought it improper to hold any discussions on the subject of dowry with a district engineer. He had expressed cheap generosity and even criticized this disgusting and shameful transaction. But after making inquiries and getting to know about Sardar-saheb's financial conditions, it became imperative to settle the question of dowry.

Sardar-saheb opened the letter with trembling fingers. The letter said the marriage could not be held if Rs. 5000 was not offered as dowry. The lawyer expressed regrets and shame for clearly stating the demand but he was compelled to make the demand at the behest of some elderly cunning, thoughtless, and selfish persons in the family. Engineer-saheb drew a deep breath — all his hopes had dashed to the ground. What he had hoped for and what actually happened! He felt uneasy and began pacing the courtyard.

After some time, he picked up the letter and went inside. He thought of telling Rama about the letter, but he realized he could not expect any sympathy from her. Why should I show her my weakness? Why should I make a fool of myself? She will say something cutting. These thoughts occurred to him, and he turned back.

Sardar-saheb was kind-hearted. A gentle heart cannot remain calm at the time of crises; Sardar-saheb was filled with grief and sadness. He wondered what wrong he had done to deserve such a fate. The work he had achieved after years of efforts was destroyed in a matter of minutes. Now things are beyond my control; I cannot do anything about them, he was thinking. There is darkness all around and not a ray of hope. No one can help me. Sardar-saheb's eyes filled with tears.

On the table in front of him were bills from contractors; they had been lying for many weeks; Sardar-saheb had not even opened them. Today, in his miserable state, he looked at them with thirsty eyes. All my difficulties could end if I make only the slightest gesture. My peons and clerks would do all the work if I only pass a hint; I don't have to say anything. I won't be put to shame.

These thoughts overwhelmed Sardar-saheb to such an extent that he picked up the bills and began to study them carefully to determine how much money he could make.

But, soon, his conscience woke him up. Oh my god, what was I thinking! Should I sacrifice the wealth of spiritual purity I have accumulated over a lifetime for a handful of money? Today, I can walk with my head held high; even my colleagues, who own motor cars, don't look me in the eyes. I can never sacrifice my spiritual wealth for five-ten thousand rupees.

Sardar-saheb roared with laughter in the empty room to defeat the bad thoughts that had for a moment got the better of him. The bills and the walls of the room might not have heard the laughter, but Sardar-saheb's soul heard and rejoiced; the soul experienced great happiness at passing such a difficult test.

Sardar-saheb threw the bills on the floor and trampled them with his feet. He smiled at his victory and went inside the house.

The chief engineer arrived in Shahjahanpur, and with him came Sardar-saheb's misfortune. All the works in the district were incomplete. The chief engineer's attendant said, "Sir, it is not surprising that the works are incomplete. Sardar-saheb harasses the contractors."

The head clerk found the office records and accounts full of errors. He had neither been invited to lunch by Sardar-saheb nor offered any gifts. He was not related to Sardar-saheb, so why should he not dig out errors?

The contractors from the district welcomed the chief engineer. They told him, "Sir, we are ready to suffer death, but we cannot suffer the injustice done by Sardar-saheb anymore. In a manner of speaking, he does not accept any commission, but he squeezes the life out of us."

The chief engineer made the following remarks in his report: Sardar Shiv Singh is a very honest officer and is a man of impeccable character. But he is incapable of managing the work of such a big district.

As a result, Sardar-saheb was demoted to a lower grade position and transferred to a small district.

Sardar-saheb's friends and well-wishers arranged a farewell function where speakers praised his devotion to duty and independent style of functioning. The eyes of the chairman of the ceremony were moist, and his voice trembled as he said, "We feel deep sorrow at Sardar-saheb's transfer. It has inflicted a wound in our heart, which would never heal."

But at the farewell dinner, it became evident that all sorrows become tolerable in the presence of mouth-watering food.

All the bags were packed for the journey. Rama found Sardar-saheb looking gloomy after he returned from the farewell function. She had advised him many times to give a gift to the chief engineer's attendant and to invite the head clerk for meals, but Sardar-saheb did not heed her advice. So, when she heard that he had been demoted and transferred, she mercilessly shot arrows of taunts at him. But now, looking at his glum face, Rama could not bear his sorrow.

"Why are you so sad?" she asked.

"What should I do — laugh?" Sardar-saheb retorted.

"Yes, you must laugh," Rama said gravely. "Those who have tainted their souls for a few coins — who have sold their religion for a few rupees — it is they who need to cry. You have been punished not for any wrong-doing; you have been punished for your righteousness; you must endure it with happiness."

There was unbridled affection in her eyes when Rama looked at her husband. Sardar-saheb also looked at her fondly. The lotus-like face of his goddess of heart was aglow with joy. Sardar-saheb hugged her and said, "Rama! I wanted only your sympathy; now, I shall gladly bear this punishment."

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