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OCTOBER, 1921)
HÍR AND RANJHA
CHAPTER 16.
(Hir is married to Saida against her will.) Meanwhile the Kheras asked the Brahmans to consult the augury of the Stars and to fix the marriage.
The Brahmans fixed Virwati (Thursday) in the month of Sawan for the wedding : But Ranjha all this time was sad in his heart. Meanwhile all the kitchens were busy making preparations for the feast, and fine flour, sugar and butter melted into each other's embrace as an affectionate sister-in-law embraces her brother-in-law.
There were all sorts of " pilao "and soups and all kinds and varieties of rice, even Mushki and Basputti and Musngir and Begami and Sonputti. And they brought baskets of clothes of all kinds-huge plates of every sort of sweetmeat and divers fruits. And there was no end to the ornaments, armlets, anklets, necklaces, earrings and noserings which were prepared as a dowry for the Bride.
There were large dishes and small dishes. There were " surma " boxes for the bride to paint her eyes. There were drinking bowls of all sizes, frying pans, kneading dishes, spoons, rolling pins, milk cans and dinner trays, all of costly and regal magnificence.
The lovers of the guests turned green with jealousy when they saw the abundance of good things. The potter women brought earthen pots and the bakers brought fuel from the forest. The water carriers rushed about drawing water from the wells. Men with ropes and poles were carrying large cooking-pots and others were carrying old fashioned guns and culverts. A large host of people came to enjoy Chuchak's hospitality. There were multitudes of barbers cooking the food. Chuchak has gained credit in the world and the people are praying for his long life and prosperity.
And Ranjha left his buffaloes and sat in a corner sad at heart.
Meanwhile flocks of beautiful women lined the tops of all the houses to watch the marriage procession. They were as delicate as fairies and as beautiful as houris. Their fairy forms must have been compounded of musk and perfume. They exchanged ribald songs and pleasantries with the women of the bridegroom's party. They flashed their beautiful red eyes and sang in sweet tones. They uncovered their heads and shoulders and showed their rounded breasts. They gazed at their own beauty in their thuib looking-glasses. They were tantalising their maddened lovers. They clapped their hands and danced and sang songs of welcome to the Bridegroom. They greeted every body as they passed with some new song.
The crowd and the noise was as great as at the Fairs of Pakpattan or Nigah or Rattan or Thamman, where women flock to kiss the tomb of the saint and attain the achievement of their desires.
The girls went wild with jealousy when they saw the costly robes of the married Sial women. Then came the musicians, the dancing girls and the jesters and the ministrels with trumpets and cymbals even from Kashmir and the Dekkan. The horses neighed and the ground quivered with the trampling of many hoofs. There were grey horses, piebald horses, duns and roans, and chestnuts groomed to shine like the sun and gorgeously caparisoned. Their ears were quivering with excitement. They were ridden by handsome Khera youths, and the dancing girls sang and declaimed with amorous gestures, and they danced like peacocks. The men beating the drum chanted songs. The riders had spears in their hands and were merry with good drink. The folds of their turbans were soaked in saffron. The saddle bells tinkled as the horses neighed and caracoled. Thus the marriage procession came from Rangpur to Jhang and they halted at the
