The golden wedding ceremony was over; Nendramani had not yet changed her sari. Baraju Padhaan measured out the mung beans, measured out the jaggery, and the wedding rituals were performed—the six measures of jaggery were set aside, the deer skin was set aside—Nendramani’s necklace was crafted, the cowshed was decorated.

Chhakada said, “Kakei, the things I say, let the earth bear witness—I have set aside the deer skin, the jaggery, everything has been done according to the rules—what is good in all this, what is devotion, who has ever managed to fit everything into the almanac? In all this, she, Maipi, is always involved, separating Amar and making him do chores—sometimes the children are left running around—she will arrange everyone’s weddings, do everything, but will she ever be free from all these entanglements? If she keeps getting involved, what will she gain? Again, I too will have to get married—once the wedding is done, how much will she have to shed tears every month for her daughter’s home—sometimes for the little grandson, sometimes for the lack of enough milk for the baby. Still, Kakei, why does my mind always get entangled in these things—if it were someone else, would they say anything about all this? Earlier, she used to always be cheerful, now even Maipi seems to have changed—what can be done? I am just a simple man, how many times can I patch up torn clothes on the thorny fence? What will people in the village say about me? If they say, ‘Amaku, people in the village are talking badly about you,’ let them say it. If they say good things, fine, if they say bad things—who will bring anything to anyone’s house and fill it up?”

Mishe said, “What was I saying — Rghara’s son is Rula, Swaghara’s son is Ghu — the house is full of sons and daughters. In the village, people will say all sorts of things about the unprotected girls — who knows what all they’ll say — does it matter what they say? Do you think everyone really calls us good people? Should I be afraid of what these unprotected girls might say? If someone becomes a devotee of Kulura, what can anyone do to me?”

Chhakada, gathering his courage, said, “But what will happen, Kakei, try to understand everything — still, all this seems very strange to me. He always says yes to everything; now how can I bring up the matter of separating the cooking pots?”

“Oh, Naim, what will happen if the pots are separated — they’ll just eat from them, that’s all. Separate the pots, eat from them for a few days — then they’ll mix again, then separate again, this is just a game. This is how it will be for men — the land, the cattle, the bronze utensils, everything. And today, if you take the pots and keep them in your own house, tomorrow you’ll bring them back to the main house — I don’t like