THAKCHACHA's house was on the outskirts of the city: on either side
of it were filthy tanks, and in front the shrine of some guardian
saint. Inside the enclosure was a storehouse for grain, and ducks
and fowls were running about the yard. Rogues of every description
were in the habit of assembling at the house early every morning.
Thakchacha could assume many characters in the conduct of his
business: he could be gentle or passionate: he could laugh or frown:
he could make a parade of virtue or a show of force, with equal
facility[32]. When the business of the day was over, he would take
his bath and his food, and then sit by his wife and smoke: and as
he smoked the tobacco would gurgle and hiss in its well-chased bowl
of _Bidri_ ware. Their conversation was generally on their mutual
joys and sorrows.
Thakchacha's wife was held in great repute amongst the women of
the district. They were firmly convinced that she was well versed
in religious ritual and incantations, in the art of making bad
qualities good, in mesmerising, in causing even death or timely
disappearances, in magic and sorcery, and in fact in every variety
of the black art. For this reason women of all classes of life came
constantly to her to hold secret converse. An old proverb has it:
"As the god, so the goddess," and Thakchacha and his wife were
a well-matched pair: the husband got his living by his wits,
and the wife by her reputed learning.
A woman who earns her own living is apt to become somewhat
imperious, and her husband rarely receives from her unfeigned
respect and attention. Thakchacha had consequently to put up
occasionally with his wife's reproaches. She was now sitting
upon a low cane stool, saying to her husband: "You are always
roaming about everywhere but at home. What good does it all do
to me or the children? You are always saying that you have such
a lot of business on hand; is our hunger appeased by such talk
as that? Now it is the desire of my heart to dress well and to
mix in the society of women of good position, but I never get a
glimpse of any money. You go wandering about like a lunatic; do
remain quietly at home for a change." Thakchacha replied somewhat
testily: "How can I possibly tell you all the trouble I have had
to undergo. Look at my great anxieties, look at all the artifices,
intrigues and trickery I have to employ: I have no language to
express it all. Then just as the game is on the point of falling
into my hands, off it flies again. Never mind, sooner or later
it will be caught." Just at this moment, a servant came to tell
them that a messenger was arrived from Baburam Babu's house to
summon Thakchacha, who thereupon looked at his wife and said: "You
see, the Babu is continually sending for me: he will do nothing
without consulting me. I will strike when the hour is come."
Baburam Babu was seated in his reception-hall: with him were
Bancharam Babu of Outer Simla, Beni Babu of Bally, and Becharam
Babu of Bow Bazar: they were all chatting hard. Thakchacha
sat down among them as a monkey chief might sit amidst his
subjects. Baburam at once greeted him: "Ha, Thakchacha, your
arrival is most opportune: my difficulties are as great as ever:
I am more involved than ever in these law-suits. Come and tell
me some way of preserving my property."
_Thakchacha_.-- Litigation is natural to a man who is a man. Your
misfortunes will all be at an end when your cases are won: why
then should you feel alarmed?
_Becharam_.-- Mercy! what advice is this you are giving? Baburam
Babu will be completely ruined by your instrumentality: of
that there is not the slightest doubt. What do you say, Beni,
my dear friend?
_Beni_.-- Some portions of the estate should be sold, I think,
to clear off the debts, and some arrangements made for reducing
the expenditure: the suits-at-law also should be looked into and
cleared off. But our words are wasted, like one crying in a bamboo
jungle. Thakchacha's are the only words attended to.
_Thakchacha_.-- I pledge my word of honour that all the suits
that have been instituted at my instigation will be gained:
I will clear all the difficulties away. Fighting is one of the
necessities of man's existence: what cause then is there for alarm?
_Becharam_.-- Ah, Thakchacha, how grand is the heroism you have
always exhibited! What a magnificent display of courage you made
when the boat was swamped! Why it was all on your account that
we suffered so on the occasion of the marriage. You displayed
great bravery, I must say, in getting up that false charge against
Barada Babu. Not one of the affairs of Baburam Babu in which you
have meddled but has turned out most prosperously! All hail to
you: I humbly salute you! But ugh! my gorge rises at the mere
recollection of you and all your works! what more can I say to
you? Come, friend Beni, get up and come away: it is no pleasure
to me to sit here any longer.