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OCTOBER, 1922]
HIR AND RANJHA
49
CHAPTER 28.
(Sehti and Hir plan a strategem.)
And Sehti and Hir consulted together how Hir might leave the Kheras and be united to Ranjha. Sehti invented a cunning strategem. She forsook all the traditions of the Faith. She consulted the book of the curses of God, and deceits in the volume of Satan.
Sehti went to her mother and spoke to her about Hir saying: "Mother, Hiris not well. She is becoming thinner every day. She lies on her couch all day and looks miserable. She will not touch her spinning wheel or her wool basket. She neither eats nor drinks and her body withers away with grief. As elephants are the pride of armies and cows and buffaloes are the pride of the farm-yard, so sons' wives are the pride of the house. But this bride whom we purchased with so much difficulty is the beginning of our misfortune. She takes fire when she sees Saida her lawful husband, and he runs away from her as from an evil spirit. We never see her happy or laughing. We have consulted Mullahs and physicians and Hakims and they cost much money. Let us conquer the obstinacy of this wilful bride. Saida should chide her and beat her and we will not interfere."
And Hir came before her mother-in-law like Umar the trickster [Umar was a famous trickster mentioned in the stories of Faizi, brother of Abu Fazl, minister of Akbar] and wove a cunning web of deceit saying: "Mother, I am weary of staying indoors. May I go iuto the fields with Sehti? Let me see green gardens. My heart is weary sitting in the house."
And her mother-in-law was silent and pondered the matter in her heart. And Sehti broke in saying: "Sister, come into the fields with me. Mother, she is wasting away because she never leaves her house; we are spoiling the health of this rosebud bride by keeping her indoors,"
And Sehti's mother replied: "Hir may go and walk about, and maybe she will recover her health and strength. At present she lies day and night like a sick woman. Let her rid care from her mind and laugh with her lips, and let the bud of my hope blossom again. She can go with you if she wishes and you may take her into the fields where she may enjoy the company of her girl friends. But remember, Hir, be prudent, and when you leave this house do not do what is unbecoming to a bride. Take God and the Prophet to witness."
Having thus obtained her mother's permission, Sehti assembled her girl friends together. "Friends," said Sehti, "You must all get up early, before daybreak, without telling your parents beforehand. To please the bride Hîr, she is to be taken into the garden and she will also pick cotton in the fields."
The girls sat up half the night weaving their plans. They were as beautiful as princesses and as wicked as the grandmother of Satan. They challenged each other to wrestle the next morning on the well. There was Kammoo the sadler's wife, Sammi the baker's wife, Bakhtawar the wife of the blacksmith, Tajo the wife of the watchman, and the wife of the barber; there was Nando the water carrier's wife and Daulati the girl with seven brothers, and many others. It was agreed that they should all go to the fields in the early morning.
So in the morning they all assembled together. Not a girl remained in the village. It was as if the Turks had drawn up their armies to invade Hindustan. There were Amir Khatun, Salamati, Bholan and Imam Khatun Gujari, Rahmatia Daulta and Bhagi the minstrel's wife, and Miran the singing girl, and Chand Kaur the beautiful Jatti with Miman her pretty friend. There were Suhkdei, and Mangti, and Sahiba, and Jhando, the wicked girl, who teased
