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JUNE, 1921]
HIR AND RANJHA
13
CHAPTER 8.
(Hir and Ranjha meet in the forest.)
Hir Jatti set out from Jhang Sial. She came as a cloud of beauty from Paradise to fertilise the Sandal Desert, or as the soul coming to awaken the body. She came to fulfil the eagerness of her heart, for she was possessed with love for Ranjha. She brought him boiled rice, sugar and butter and milk, and she said with weeping eyes:-"I have been searching for you all over the forest." And she served him with all manner of attention. And Ranjha told Hîr that according to Muhammadan law the promises of women were not to be trusted :
"God himself hath said in the holy Qurân: Verily your deceit is great.' Satan is the Lord of evil spirits and women. Women falsify the truth and feel no shame. The word of women, boys, hemp-smokers and bhang-drinkers cannot be trusted. Only if you intend to keep your word, Hir, can the son of Mauju endure the humiliation of being a servant."
Hir replied:-"Do not upbraid women. None can be so persistent or steadfast as a woman. For the love of Joseph Zulaika renounced her kingdom. For the love of Mâhîwâl Sohni was drowned in the river. Is not the love of Laila known throughout the world and does not the grass grow green on her tomb to this day? Sassi died a martyr in the burning sands and Shirîn died too for the sake of her lover Farhad. Had not prophets and saints mothers that bore them? Was not Eve Adam's equal? Men cannot be as bold as women. Ask Wâris the poet, he knows this well. As God and the Prophet are true, I give you my plighted word that I will be your slave as long as blood runs in my veins. I am yours to do with as you will. You may sell me in the bazar if it so pleases you." So Hir comforted Rânjha with sweet words and poured out all her soul to him. She said:"We shall be surrounded by enemies and you must confront all troubles with patience. The waves of the Ocean of Love are heavy with fate. They will either take us ashore or drown us. But beware of Kaidu, my wicked uncle. He is like Satan and bent on mischief. The world will reproach us and those who are ignorant will cast taunts at us, but the true lover sacrifices his life for his beloved. Lovers have no support but God."
Thus every day Hir used to take a bowl of rice and pudding to Rânjha in the forest, and she swore to be true to him. She gave up her spinning and no longer sat with her girl friends. She was with Rânjha all the day. She set aside the blanket of shame. And the folk of the village put their fingers in their mouths in amazement, beholding her wantonness.
(Quoth the poet : Those who commit sin will burn in Hell.")
The news spread over the whole of Jhang that Hir had fallen in love with a shepherd and that she went to visit him every day in the forest.
CHAPTER 9.
(Hir's mother is angry with her and Kaidu finds her in the forest with Ranjha.)
When Hir came back from the forest, her mother rebuked her saying:-"The taunts of the village-folk have consumed us utterly. Would that no daughter Hir had been born to me! If you cease not from wickedness your father Chuchak and your brother Sultân will cut you in pieces."
