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Sugandha: Sweet Fragrance
587
allowing to go off for a life of austerity; could he not show some strength of character and forestall Dākhi now while there was still time? Surely he could, the more so as he had only granted permission with the utmost reluctance.
Now started the second phase: Dåkhi was kept at home and forbidden to go out to visit the temple or the upāśraya. Dākhi replied that she would obey, that, as she was being forbidden to go to the temple, she would fast. This, then, is what she did. In the evening of the first day of the fast, her grandfather, softened at heart, offered her a cup of milk, but Dākhi refused. Softened still further, the grandfather gave her permission to attend the temple, but re-affirmed stoutly that he would never give his consent to her receiving dikşā and that Dākhi must needs get married. To this she replied that she would not disobcy, so, said she, she would wait for dikşă but would never on any account marry! Confrontations of this sort continued for one week. The grandfather, realising his powerlessness to persuade Dākhi and despairing of the assair, lodged an appeal with the civil authorities. He informed them that the sādhvis had brought pressure to bear upon his thirteen-year-old grand-daughter and were desirous of admitting her to dikşā against the will of her guardian (himself); that they should be so good as to help him prevent Dākhi from joining the sādhvis. A thakuraa type of magistrate of the district, was appointed to study the case and administer justice. He sent for Dākhi and questioned her at length, even threatening her with his rifle. She did no allow herself to be intimidated and responded to everything with astonishing clarity and determination. Meanwhile, the grandfather was sending telegrams to two of his grandsons to come at once to his aid. While the magistrate, highly embarrassed by this disficult case, was considering what verdict he should give to the grandfather, everybody was trying to dissuade Dākhi, but all to no avail.
Next day, at the Court of Justice, the courtroom was packed and a heavy silence reigned in the assembly; each one was anxiously awaiting the verdict. Just as, so they say, when a camel sinks to the ground, one never knows in which direction he will flop - on account of the movement he must make to balance himself - so the anxious eyes of all were fixed on the magistrate's face; towards which side would he lean? With conviction he then declared "that no-one had put pressure upon Dākhi, that, having cross-examined her, he was
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