But Maini never told us that you were with her. Why, Ramzan,
you're quaking in every limb. I always suspected Maini had concealed
the truth. Swear on the Quran that you did not try to drown her."
Ramzan feebly protested innocence, and the two men sat awhile without
speaking.
At length Sadhu said: "I've come to make you a proposal. Young Esaf,
the son of Ibrahim of our village, has fallen in love with Maini and
wants to marry her. He is willing to pay the den mohur of Rs. 100
which would be due from you in case of repudiation. Now we want you
to divorce her."
Ramzan was overcome by his wife's magnanimity, and the thought of
losing her drove him to distraction. "No!" he shouted, "I won't
divorce her. I'll fetch her back this very day!"
"That's quite out of the question," rejoined Sadhu. "Maini cannot
bear her mother-in-law's cruelty, and I'm sure she'll never consent
to live with you again. Besides, Esaf is a rich man and will make
her happy. She shall marry him."
"I say she shan't," said Ramzan emphatically.
Sadhu got up and moved off, remarking, "Very well, I will go to
the police station at once and charge you with attempting to kill
her! We shall soon worm the truth out of Maini, and get plenty of
eye-witnesses too."
Ramzan was beside himself with terror.
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