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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(AUGUST, 1921
Chuohak was determined to marry her somewhere to avert disgrace, and his brethren agreed with him, but they urged that Sials had never given their daughters to the Ranjha tribe and that they would be disgraced if they give their daughter to such lowly and needy folk. The brotherhood recommended an alliance with the house of the Kheras as being Jats of good lineage whom Chuchak would be proud to own as relations. They said that the Kheras had already sent their barbers to propose the betrothal. So Chuchak took the advice of the brotherhood and announced the betrothal to his friends and relations. The women of his household beat drunis and gave presents to the minstrels and gave them bowls of sugar. They sang songs and made merry. The Kheras received the news with great joy. They assembled in crowds and danced with delight. They distributed dishes of milk and rice. But when Hir and Ranjha heard the merriment, sorrow fell upon them and their heart turned to cursing. Hîr was angry with her mother for betrothing her against her will and said she would never go with the Kheras however much her mother tried to make her.. "When did I ask you for a husband," she exclaimed: "Why do you try to conceal designs which cannot long remain hidden. You have betrothed a swan to an owl. You have mated a fairy to a bull.”
And Hîr said to Ranjha : "Great Tyranny has fallen upon us. Let us go away to some distant part of the country, for when once I am admitted into the house of the Kheras they will never allow me to come back. We have been fighting on the battle field of Love. It does not beoome a gallant warrior to desert the battle-field."
Ranjha replied: "Love does not taste well if it is composed of theft and stealth and abduction. You are asking me to run away like a thief that has been found out."
Now the girls of Jhang Sial assembled together and came before Ranjha and asked: "How fares it with you now? You have been grazing buffaloes day and night and now all the preparations for the marriage have been made and the barbers have delivered their message all over the country. Foolish man, ask the girl why she is treating you like this. You should say to her: 'If you intended to turn your face from me why did you made me undergo such hardships! You have helped me on to the roof and now you kick away the ladder. That must be all, Hîr, our friendship must now end.'”
Ranjha replied to the girls and said : " The uttering of many words is folly; all ills must be borne with patience. If God is good, the Khera and Hîr Sial will never mate together. The patience of the heart is victorious over the world. You chattering women know nothing of Love. Verily Love is a bitter herb and sour to eat. Patience alone can mend the cloven sky. Those who keep silent always succeed."
And Hir's girls came and said to her: "You have been insincere and have deserted your faith. Your Lover Ranjha is ready to throw away his shepherd's stick and blanket and to leave your father's country If you intended to break faith with him why did you first encourage him and then break his heart? He has borne the taunts of the whole world for your sake and you have been a great tyrant. Remember that the throne of God trembles when a man is deprived of his right."
And Hir replied to the girls :' "Hide him under your sheet and bring him to me disguised as a girl, but do not let my parents know. We shall then be face to face and you can decide like a true judge. Those who have been true will be acquitted and those who have been false will be blamed. I have been telling this lover of mine to run away with me but he missed his chance. Why does he turn round now and bewail his lot."
So one night the girls brought Ranjha disguised as a girl, and Hir and Ranjha onoe again pledged their troth to be true to one another.
