"
"Why, what's the matter, mother?" asked Ramzan with open eyes.
"Matter," she yelled. "Would you believe it, that black-faced daughter
of a pig has actually abused me--me, your old mother!"
"What did she say?" rejoined Ramzan angrily.
"My son," was the answer, "you know how she neglects household duties,
leaving all the hard jobs to me. Well, this afternoon, I ventured
on a word of remonstrance, and she actually abused me." And the
old woman wiped her tears away with a corner of her cotton wrapper,
adding with eyes cast heavenwards, "Merciful Allah, to think that I
should come to this in my old age!"
"But what did she say?" repeated Ramzan wearily.
"She told me to my face that I had forgotten to
put salt into the curry!"
"That's hardly abusive," rejoined Ramzan.
"You think so," shouted Fatima. "Now you're taking sides with her
against your mother, who bore you. You will assuredly suffer in
Jehannam (hell) for such a crime! But I'll have it out with that
she-devil!"
So saying, she dashed from the room to the kitchen, where the
luckless Maini was cowering in anticipation of a coming storm. She
was not deceived. Fatima seized her by the hair and administered a
sound thumping.
Several days passed by, bringing no alleviation to her fate.
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