Fiction: An unfinished manuscript shows the two women being written about are far from fictional
An excerpt from ‘White Blood’, by Nanak Singh. Translated from the Punjabi by Dilraj Singh Suri.
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A meeting of the panchayat heads was soon held at Karam Chand’s house, presided over by Pandit.
Chowdhry Ditta Mal put a hookah pipe in his mouth and blew out a stream of smoke. “Karam Chand, what happened with your issue, finally?” he asked, coughing.
Karam Chand scratched his turban. “Chowdhry ji, everything happened in front of your eyes. But Pandit ji has fresh news for us.”
The pandit belched, “Hari Om,” he intoned.
“Chowdhry ji, what is there left to say? These are bad times. I pray every morning and evening before the Almighty not to abandon me. Life has been peaceful so far, and I wish it would remain the same for whatever is left. Instead of making me participate in such profane activities, I wish God would take me away from this earth. But who can say what is in store for us?”
Bursting with curiosity about his news, a chorus of voices surrounded him. “Tell us, Maharaj, tell us.”
“What am I supposed to tell you?” Pandit snarled. “It is the result of your own misdeeds. You’ve turned away from prayer and meditation and indulged in sinful behaviour. You are causing chaos in our community.” After a moment of silence, he looked at Karam Chand....
