The Complete Short Stories

by Premchand

  The old woman said, ‘Later if anything goes amiss, huzoor will think ill of us.’

  The doctor said, ‘Don’t you worry about that. I’ve given it a lot of thought. In fact, if this is the mischief of someone from the house then I want to be even stricter with them. If an outsider tricks me then he deserves pardon, but I could never forgive a family member.’

  Budh said, ‘So what does huzoor want?’

  ‘Just that I get my money and misfortune strikes the thief.’

  ‘Shall I cast the spell?’

  The old woman said, ‘No, son, don’t go near the spell. Who knows which way it’ll fall?’

  The doctor said, ‘You cast the spell, whatever the fee and reward, I’m willing to pay.’

  The old woman said, ‘Son, I’m saying it again. Don’t go after the spell. If something dangerous happens and this same babuji harasses you again, you won’t be able to remedy a thing. Don’t you know how hard it is to reverse the spell?’

  Budh said, ‘Yes, Babuji! Think carefully one more time. I could cast the spell, but I don’t take responsibility for undoing it.’

  ‘Didn’t I just say I won’t ask you to undo it? Cast it now.’

  Budh made a long list of the necessary items. The doctor thought it might be better to give him money instead of these things. Budh agreed. As he was leaving, the doctor said, ‘Cast such a spell that by morning the thief is before me with the money.’

  ‘Don’t you worry,’ Budh said.

  4

  It was eleven when the doctor took off from there. The winter night was bitterly cold. His wife and mother were both up, on the lookout for him. To while away the time they had put a brazier between them which affected their minds more than their bodies. Coal was an item of luxury for them. The old maid, Jagiya, lay nearby, huddled under a piece of torn matting. Now and again, she would get up and go into her small, dark room, feel around for something in the alcove and then return to lie down in her place. ‘How late is it?’ she’d ask repeatedly. She’d start at the slightest sound and look around her with worried eyes. It surprised everyone that the doctor was not back at his usual time. He rarely went out at night to see patients. Even if some people had faith in his treatment, they dared not enter this alley at night. And he had no taste for cultural clubs and societies, or for the company of friends.

  His mother said, ‘I wonder where he went, the food has gone completely cold.’

  ‘If a person goes somewhere he informs and goes. It’s past midnight,’ said Ahalya.

  ‘Something must have hindered him. Otherwise, when does he go out of the house?’

  Ahalya said, ‘I’m going off to sleep, he can return when he likes. Who’s going to sit and keep watch all night?’

  They were talking thus when Doctor Sahib returned. Ahalya stayed where she was; Jagiya stood up and stared at him in fear.

  ‘Where were you held up for so long today?’ his mother asked.

  ‘You’re all sitting pretty, aren’t you! I am late but why should you care? Go, sleep happily, I’m not fooled by these superficial demonstrations. If you got the chance you’d cut my throat, and you’re making an issue of this!’

  Pained, his mother said, ‘Son! Why do say these hurtful things? Who is your enemy in the house to think ill of you?’

  ‘I don’t consider anyone my friend; all are my enemies, the destroyers of my life. Otherwise, would five hundred rupees vanish from my table as soon as my back was turned? The door was bolted from outside, no stranger came in, the money disappeared as soon as I put it there. Why should I consider them mine, those who are thus bent on slitting my throat? I’ve found out everything, I’m just returning from a sorcerer. He clearly said it’s the doing of someone in the house. It’s fine—as you sow, so shall you reap. I’ll show you how I’m no well-wisher of my enemies. If it was an outsider I’d perhaps have let him go but if the family for whom I toil day and night deceives me like this, they deserve no leniency. See what shape the thief is in by tomorrow morning. I’ve told the sorcerer to cast the spell. The spell is cast and the thief’s life is at risk.’

  Jagiya said agitatedly, ‘Brother, a spell endangers life.’

  ‘That’s the thief’s punishment.’

  ‘Which sorcerer has cast it?’ she asked.

  ‘Budh Chaudhuri.’

  ‘Arré Ram, there’s no taking down his spells.’

  When the doctor went into his room, his mother said, ‘The devil eats the miser’s wealth. Someone scavenged away five hundred rupees. For that amount I could have visited all seven dhaams.’

  Ahalya said, ‘For years I’ve been fighting for bangles. Good thing it’s my curse.’

  ‘Who on earth will take his money in the house?’

  ‘The doors must have been left open, some outside person made away with it.’

  His mother said, ‘How is he so certain that it’s one of us who stole the money?’

  ‘Greed for money makes a man suspicious,’ said Ahalya.

  5

  It was one in the morning. Doctor Sahib was having a terrifying dream.

  Suddenly, Ahalya came and said, ‘Please come and have a look at what’s happening to Jagiya. It looks like her tongue has gone stiff. She doesn’t say a thing. Her eyes have glazed over.’

  The doctor sat up with a start. He peered around for a moment, as if wondering if this too were a dream. Then he said, ‘What did you say? What’s happened to Jagiya?’

  Ahalya described Jagiya’s condition again. A faint smile appeared on the doctor’s face.

  He said, ‘The thief has been caught. The spell has done its work.’

  ‘And what if it was someone from the family who’d taken it?’

  ‘Then they’d be in the same state, they’d learn a lesson for life.’

  ‘You’d kill in pursuit of five hundred rupees?’

  ‘Not for five hundred rupees—if need be I can spend five thousand—but just as penalty for deception.’

  ‘You’re so heartless.’

  ‘If I cover you in gold from head to foot, you’ll start thinking of me as an angel of goodness, won’t you? I’m so sorry I couldn’t take this testimonial from you.’

  Saying this, he went into Jagiya’s room. Her condition was far worse than what Ahalya had described. There was death shadowing her face, her hands and feet had stiffened, and there was no sign of a pulse. His mother was repeatedly splashing water on Jagiya’s face to bring her back to her senses. The doctor was shocked at her condition. He ought to have been pleased with the success of his remedy. Jagiya had stolen the money so there was no need for any more proof. But he had no idea that a spell could work its effect so quickly and was so murderous. He’d wanted to see the thief go down on his knees and moan in agony. His desire for revenge was being more than fulfilled and yet it was a bitter morsel to swallow. Instead of feeling happy, the tragic scene wounded him. In arrogance we exaggerate the extent of our heartlessness and cruelty. What eventually happens is so much more consequential than we think. The idea of the battlefield can be so poetic; the poetry of the battle cry can generate so much heat in us. But seeing the scattered limbs of the crushed corpse, which man does not shudder? Pity is man’s natural virtue.

  Apart from this, he had no idea that a frail soul like Jagiya’s would be sacrificed for his rage. He had believed that the blow of his revenge would fall on some spirited person; he even considered his wife and son deserving of this blow. But to kill the dead, to trample on the trampled? He felt this contrary to his natural inclination. This action of Jagiya’s should have been forgiven. One who scrabbled for bread, longed for clothes, the house of whose desires was always dark, whose wishes had never been fulfilled—it’s not surprising if such a person is tempted. He immediately went into the pharmacy, mixed into a new blend all the best medicines effective for reviving a person and poured it down Jagiya’s throat. It had no effect. He brought out a defibrillator and tried bringing her back to consciousness with the help of that. In a lit
tle while her eyes opened.

  Looking at the doctor with a scared face, the way a boy looks at his teacher’s stick, she said in a wan voice, ‘Hai Ram, my liver is on fire, take your money, there’s a pot in the alcove, that’s where it is. Don’t roast me on coals. I stole this money to go on pilgrimage. Don’t you have any pity, setting me on fire for a handful of rupees? I didn’t think you such a blackguard. Hai Ram.’

  Saying this she fainted again, her pulse died, her lips turned blue and her limbs stiffened.

  Looking at Ahalya meekly, the doctor said, ‘I’ve done whatever I could, it’s beyond me now to revive her. How did I know that this accursed spell is so destructive? If it happens to kill her, I’ll have to repent all my life. I’ll never be free of the knocks of conscience. What should I do, my mind isn’t working.’

  ‘Call the civil surgeon, perhaps he can give her some good medicine. One shouldn’t knowingly push someone else into the fire.’

  ‘The civil surgeon can’t do much more than what I’ve already done. Her condition is worsening every moment. God knows what mantra that murderer said. His mother kept trying to convince me but in my anger I didn’t pay her any attention.’

  His mother said, ‘Son, call the one who’s put the curse. What to do? If she dies, her murder will be on our heads. She’ll torment the family forever.’

  6

  It was almost two in the morning; a cold wind pricked the bones. The doctor took long strides towards Budh Chaudhuri’s. He looked around uselessly for an ekka or tonga. Budh’s house appeared to be a long way off. He kept feeling that he’d lost his way. I’ve come this way often, I’ve never passed this garden, or seen this letterbox by the road, and the bridge was by no means there. I’m definitely lost. Who should I ask? He was annoyed at his memory and ran in the same direction for a while. Who knows if that wretch will be around at this hour, he must be lying in a drunken stupor. And what if, back home, the poor thing has passed away? He often thought of turning in some other direction but his inner voice didn’t let him move from the straight path.

  Soon, Budh’s house could be seen. Doctor Sahib breathed a sigh of relief. He went to the door and banged the latch hard. From inside a dog answered raucously but no human word was heard. He banged the door harder and the dog became louder; the old lady woke up.

  She said, ‘Who is breaking down the door so late in the night?’

  ‘It’s me, I was here a little while ago.’

  The old lady recognized the voice; she understood that some calamity had befallen someone in the family, otherwise why would he come so late. But Budh hadn’t cast the spell yet, how had it taken effect? When she had tried to reason he wouldn’t listen. Now they were properly caught. She got up, lit an oil lamp and came out with it.

  ‘Is Budh Chaudhuri asleep? Please can you wake him?’ asked Doctor Sahib.

  ‘No, Babuji, I won’t wake him at this hour, he’ll eat me alive. Even if the Lord Sahib came to see him at night, he wouldn’t get up.’

  Doctor Sahib explained the situation briefly and implored her to wake Budh.

  Budh came out on his own, and rubbing his eyes, said, ‘Tell me, Babuji, what’s your command?’

  Irritated, the old woman said, ‘How come your sleep broke today? If I’d tried to wake you you’d have set upon me.’

  The doctor said, ‘I’ve explained the situation to the old lady, you can ask her.’

  ‘Nothing,’ said the old lady. ‘You put the curse, his servant had taken the money and is now about to die.’

  ‘The poor woman is dying. Do something to save her!’ said the doctor.

  ‘That’s a bad thing you’re telling me. Turning back a curse is not easy,’ said Budh.

  ‘Son, one’s life is at risk, don’t you know? If the curse happens to fall on the one who reverses it, then it might be difficult to survive,’ said his mother.

  ‘She can only be saved if you save her, please oblige me.’

  ‘For the sake of another’s life, should one throw away one’s own?’ asked the old woman.

  The doctor said, ‘You do this work day and night, you know all the tricks. You can kill and you can bring to life. I never believed in these things but seeing the miracle you pulled off I’m left dumbfounded. You’ve benefited so many people, take pity on that poor old woman.’

  Budh seemed to be melting a little, but his mother was much cleverer than him in matters of business. She was afraid he would soften and mess things up. She didn’t give Budh a chance to say anything.

  She said, ‘That is all very well but we have children too. We don’t know which way things will go. It will come down on our heads, won’t it? Once your purpose is met you’ll move aside. It’s not a laughing matter to reverse a spell.’

  ‘Yes, Babuji, it’s a very risky job.’

  ‘If it’s a very risky job I don’t want it done for free, do I?’

  ‘How much will you give, fifty or hundred at the most? How long can we live on that?’ said the old woman. ‘Reversing a spell is putting one’s hand in a snake-hole, jumping into fire. Only by God’s grace can a life be saved.’

  ‘So, mother, I am with you. Say whatever you want. I just have to save that poor woman’s life. We’re losing time on talk here and I don’t know what her condition is like there.’

  The old woman said, ‘You’re the one who’s wasting time. You decide the matter and then he’ll go with you. For your sake I’m taking this danger on my head, if it was anyone else I’d refuse outright. I’m drinking poison knowingly, doing you this favour.’

  Every second felt as long as a year to Doctor Sahib. He wanted to take Budh with him right away. If she died, what would he mend when he got there? Money was of no account to him at that moment. He was only concerned that Jagiya be saved from the jaws of death. The frenzy of pity had made absolutely insignificant the money for which he used to sacrifice his own necessities and his wife’s desires.

  He said, ‘You tell me, what can I say, but whatever you want to say, say quickly.’

  The old woman said, ‘Okay, then give us five hundred rupees, the work can’t be done for less.’

  Budh, looked at his mother in surprise, and Doctor Sahib felt faint. Dejectedly, he said, ‘That is beyond my capacity. It seems she’s fated to die.’

  ‘Let it be then,’ said the old woman. ‘It’s not as if we’re burdened by our lives. We took on the responsibility of this work because of your entreaties. Go back to sleep, Budh.’

  ‘Old mother, don’t be so cruel, only man comes to the help of man.’

  Budh said, ‘No, Babuji, I’m prepared in every way to do your work. She said five hundred, you reduce it a bit. But yes, keep the danger in mind.’

  The old woman said, ‘Why don’t you go and sleep? If money is dear to him, isn’t your life dear to you? If tomorrow you start spitting blood then nothing can be done. Who will you leave your children to? Do you have anything in the house?’

  Hesitating, Doctor Sahib said two hundred and fifty rupees. Budh agreed, the matter was settled, the doctor and he set out for his house. He had never experienced such spiritual happiness before. The man who goes to court and returns having won the lost case could not be happier. He went along with a bounce in his step and kept telling Budh to walk faster. When they got home they found Jagiya at the brink of death. It appeared that her every breath would be her last. His mother and wife were both sitting tearful and hopeless. They gave Budh a desolate look. Doctor Sahib couldn’t stop his tears either. When he bent towards Jagiya a teardrop fell on her withered, yellow face.

  The situation had made Budh alert. Putting his hand on the old woman’s body, he said, ‘Babuji, I can’t do a thing now, she’s dying.’

  Doctor Sahib said entreatingly, ‘No, Chaudhuri, for God’s sake start your mantra. If her life is saved, I’ll remain your slave for life.’

  ‘You’re asking me to deliberately eat poison. I didn’t realize that the gods of the spell were so angry right now. They’re sittin
g inside me and saying, if you snatch away our victim we’ll swallow you.’

  ‘Get the gods to come around somehow,’ said the doctor.

  ‘It’s very difficult to get them to come around. Give me five hundred rupees, then she’ll be saved. I’ll have to exert great effort to bring down the curse.’

  ‘If I give you five hundred rupees, will you save her life?’

  ‘Yes, I promise.’

  Doctor Sahib went like lightning into his room and, returning with a purse of five hundred rupees, placed it before Budh. Budh looked at the purse victoriously. Then he put Jagiya’s head in his lap and began moving his hand over it. He would mutter something and say, ‘Chhoo, chhoo.’ For a second his face became scary and what looked like flames leapt from it. He began to writhe repeatedly. In this condition he sang a song off-key, but his hand remained on Jagiya’s head. At last, after half an hour, like a dying lamp that has been replenished with oil, Jagiya’s eyes opened. Her condition improved slowly. A crow’s cawing was heard and she turned over and sat up.

  7

  It was seven o’clock and Jagiya was in a sweet slumber. She looked well. Budh had just left with the money. Doctor Sahib’s mother said, ‘Before we knew what was happening, he took off with five hundred rupees.’

  The doctor said, ‘Why don’t you say that he brought the dead to life? Is her life not worth even that much?’

  ‘Check if there are five hundred rupees in the alcove or not.’

  ‘No, don’t touch that money, let it stay there. She’d taken it to go on pilgrimage, it’ll go towards that end alone.’

  ‘All this money was in her fate only.’

  ‘Only five hundred was in her fate, the rest was in mine. Thanks to it I learnt a lesson I won’t forget all my life. You won’t find me tight-fisted over the necessary things any more.’

  Translated from the Hindi by Anjum Hasan

  Victory of the Defeated