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Updated: May 20, 2025
A month later, Suket Singh, Sepoy, came that way to the cool hills on leave from his regiment, and electrified the villagers of Kodru with tales of service and glory under the Government, and the honour in which he, Suket Singh, was held by the Colonel Sahib Bahadur. And Desdemona listened to Othello as Desdemonas have done all the world over, and, as she listened, she loved.
'You will be better soon, said Suket Singh; and he told her what was in his heart, and the two laughed together softly, for they loved each other. But Athira grew better from that hour. They went away together, travelling third-class by train as the regulations provided, and then in a cart to the low hills, and on foot to the high ones.
'Never mind, said Athira, 'stay with me, and, if Madu tries to beat me, you beat him. 'Very good, said Suket Singh; and he beat Madu severely, to the delight of all the charcoal-burners of Kodru. 'That is enough, said Suket Singh, as he rolled Madu down the hillside. 'Now we shall have peace. But Madu crawled up the grass slope again, and hovered round his hut with angry eyes.
'It is very good to be alive, said Athira wistfully, sniffing the scent of the pine-mould; and they waited till the night had fallen upon Kodru and the Donga Pa. Madu had stacked the dry wood for the next day's charcoal-burning on the spur above his house. 'It is courteous in Madu to save us this trouble, said Suket Singh as he stumbled on the pile, which was twelve foot square and four high.
'I've a wife of my own, said Suket Singh, 'though that is no matter when you come to think of it. I am also due to return to my regiment after a time, and I cannot be a deserter I who intend to be Havildar. There is no Himalayan version of 'I could not love thee, dear, as much, Loved I not Honour more; but Suket Singh came near to making one.
'That's all right, said Athira; and Suket Singh said, 'Yes, that's all right. So there was only Madu left in the hut that looks across the valley to Donga Pa; and, since the beginning of time, no one has had any sympathy for husbands so unfortunate as Madu. He went to Juseen Daze, the wizard-man who keeps the Talking Monkey's Head. 'Get me back my wife, said Madu.
'That is the curse of Juseen Daze. And she really began to wither away because her heart was dried up with fear, and those who believe in curses die from curses. Suket Singh, too, was afraid because he loved Athira better than his very life. Two months passed, and Athira's brother stood outside the regimental Lines again and yelped, 'Aha! You are withering away. Come back.
'The base-born has ruined four rupees' worth of charcoal wood, Madu gasped. 'He has also killed my wife, and he has left a letter which I cannot read, tied to a pine bough. In the stiff, formal hand taught in the regimental school, Sepoy Suket Singh had written 'Let us be burned together, if anything remain over, for we have made the necessary prayers.
'We must wait till the moon rises. When the moon rose, Athira knelt upon the pile. 'If it were only a Government Snider, said Suket Singh ruefully, squinting down the wire- bound barrel of the Forest Ranger's gun. 'Be quick, said Athira; and Suket Singh was quick; but Athira was quick no longer. Then he lit the pile at the four corners and climbed on to it, re-loading the gun.
Athira sniffed the scent of the pines of her own hills, the wet Himalayan hills. 'It is good to be alive, said Athira. 'Hah! said Suket Singh. 'Where is the Kodru road and where is the Forest Ranger's house?... 'It cost forty rupees twelve years ago, said the Forest Ranger, handing the gun. 'Here are twenty, said Suket Singh, 'and you must give me the best bullets.
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