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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ OCTOBER, 1921
CHAPTER 17.
(Hir is taken to Rangpur.) Thus was Hír married by stratagem and put into the wedding palanquin by force. She was put into the doli (palanquin) moaning and crying. The Kheras took her off as thieves drive off stolen cattle. When Hir was put into the palanquin she made bitter lamentation even as a swan separated froin the flock, and she cried out to Ranjha and said: “To-day your wealth has been looted by Kheras. Takht Hazara and Jhang are left masterless. These are the wages of deceit with which the Sials have repaid you for your grazing. Who will take care of you when I am away? You will wander in misery and loneliness. Oh, Ranjha, see my long hair has fallen down all over my breast in iny misery. My jewellery is unkempt and uncared for. The bull, the snake (Bashak Nag), the earth and the sky have turned against me to destroy me. Other brides have bought clothes of green, red and yellow but I wear only mournful white." Thus did Hir lament on being parted from Ranjha.
Meanwhile the buffaloes were ill at ease without their master Ranjha. They gathered together on the bank of the river and lifted their mouths in protest. They pushed folk hither and thither with their horns and broke the pots and the pans of the village. Then the people bade them conciliate Ranjha by kissing his feet.
And all night the Kheras marched with the palanquin of Hira, and at dawn they reached the forest, being mightily pleased with the bride they were carrying off. And they halted and sat down to eat and drink and be merry. And they prepared to go hunting.
But Ranjha who had followed the procession sat apart and his heart was sore within him. But no one paid any attention to him.
The Kheras rode after deer and hunted lions and foxes and showed much cunning with their bows and arrows. And they roasted the meat that they had killed and set aside a portion for Hîr. And Hir finding herself alone and the Kheras merry making, made a signal to Ranjha, called hiin into her palanquin and embraced him tenderly.
One of the Kheras noticed this and brought news to the rest and they were very wrathful. But Hir broke her necklace and pretended she had called Ranjha to help her pick up the pieces. She added that if any one touched him, even with the end of a feather, she would poison herself. Whereupon the Kheras kept silence and urged the procession to move on. And at last the palanquin reached the village of Rangpur and the women came out to greet the bride and sang songs of welcome. The girls lifted the bride out of the palanquin and poured oil over the threshold. Hir's mother-in-law swung water round the bride's head and drank it and give thanks to God. They drew aside her veil and placed a Koran and five gold moburs in front of her, and her mother-inlaw and husband's sister laughed and made the midwife sit by her side. They gave presents to the midwife and other menials. When they espied Ranjha sitting near, they snatched the basket from his head and frightened him away. The village women congratulated Saida's mother on the bride. But Hir kept her own secret in her heart and she alone knew it. Ranjha's heart was sore within him. He drew near to Hir by stealth and spoke to her. She protested that Fate was too strong for her and that she could do nothing for Ranjha. Whereupon Ranjha upraided Hir for first encouraging him and then abandoning him.
Hir replied : “ Ranjha, this love of ours must last for all our life long. The Five Pirs stand witness between you and me. I swear I will never be the wife of Saida. If he approaches me I will turn away from him. Surely the Five Pirs will punish him if he tries to come near me, Listen, I have a plan how we may meet again. I will write to you
