Rafiq Ali wanted to use Riziya’s vulnerability in the present situation as his weapon. Thus began attacks on Salaam Miya’s house. Stones, taunts and remarks were hurled. Riziya’s name was called out, followed by vile abuse. He employed some riff-raff youths for this dastardly deed. Rafiq had sent a message to Salaam Miya, that such mishaps would come to an end if Riziya agreed to sell the land. Salaam Miya was at a complete loss regarding what he ought to do. He sat inside the house with the main entrance shut. Everyone at home was worried. Riziya seemed to have turned into stone.

Once it got dark, Riziya’s Chhoto Mami exited through the back door and made her way secretly to Jogipara. Rafiq’s motley crew was not around then. She cautiously entered Suman’s house. He was talking to someone she didn’t know. As soon as he saw Riziya’s Mami there, he asked her in surprise, ‘What’s the matter, Kakima? What brings you here at night? You don’t usually come out!’

Riziya’s Mami began to weep the moment she saw Suman. She was in panic. She glanced around to see if someone was following her. And then she said, ‘My Rizi has invited calamity, dear Teacher! The people of the hamlet are enraged.’

‘Please tell me what exactly has happened.’

But Riziya’s Mami was hesitant. She was unable to speak. She asked, ‘Who is he?’

‘It’s all right, tell me. He’s my friend. He’s like an elder brother.’

‘Tell me what we ought to do now! Your Kaka is just sitting at home and weeping. Our own Rahman too is on their side. Even my sister-in-law has stayed away. I think we are going to be socially boycotted, dear Teacher. The mosque, neighbourhood association, and invitations will all be stopped.’

Suman was silent for quite a while. He pondered over the matter. And then he said, ‘Why don’t you meet Rafiq Bhai? After all, he’s the leader now. I’m sure he will…’

‘Who? Rafiq? He’s the blackguard who’s creating all the trouble. He sent a message through Rahman that if Riziya signs, all the problems will come to an end.’

‘Sign what?’

‘Sign on the sale deed of her land. Rafiq Ali Sheikh can’t buy the land unless she signs. Don’t you remember?’

‘Oh.’

Suman was silent, and then muttered, ‘Fucking bastard!’

Sandip, who was beside Suman, had been silent all this while. Hearing Suman’s profanity, he asked, ‘Who’s the fucking bastard?’

‘Oh, you don’t know him. He’s the deputy chief of our Panchayat. His name is Rafiq Ali Sheikh. He loves fishing in murky waters.’

‘So let him do that, what’s your problem, Suman?’

Suman said to Riziya’s Mami, ‘Kakima, go back home. Be careful. Let’s see what can be done.’

Riziya’s Mami left, walking slowly, and full of trepidation, just like when she had arrived there. Sandip was curious. He asked, ‘Hey, what’s the problem, Suman?’

‘It’s a very complicated problem, Dada. Riziya is a student of mine. I’ve spoken to you several times about her, haven’t I?’

‘Yes, you said she is a very good student, but she’s carrying on with the imam of the mosque. I remember you told me that.’

‘No, not exactly carrying on, you know! Not romance like we think. They liked one another. That’s all.’

‘Oh come on! Isn’t it the same thing?’

‘It isn’t. It’s a bit different.’

‘All right, then. So tell me about it.’

‘Why do you want to know? It’s a long story. Really long.’

‘Just tell me, man! I want to hear about it. It’s very interesting!’

Suman then explained to him all about Riziya, Tahirul, and Sadnahati. He told him about his friendship with Maruf, his relationship with Riziya, and her education. So much so that they had their dinner quite late. And thus did Sandip also discern the fact that Suman had a secret weakness for Riziya. So he went on lamenting that. ‘Eesh! The Imam Saheb landed such a beautiful girl in a fix and left? Chhee, chhee! You know what I’m thinking, Suman?’

‘What?’

‘Of catching that Imam fellow and roughing him up a bit. The bastard. It’s only Muslims who are such crooks. Didn’t I tell you?’

‘Keep quiet! Don’t speak against the imam, Dada. This is Sadnahati. People will turn against us. But you won’t be here to face the music. We are the ones who have to live here. They tolerate everything, but when it comes to matters of the mosque, the imam, conscience and deep faith, there’s no compromise. Please, Dada.’

‘What are you lot? Will you live in fear all your life?’

‘Where’s the need to create trouble?’

‘Shall I tell you something, Suman? If you were in Sadnahati but not a Hindu, couldn’t the girl called Riziya have been yours?’

Suman kept quiet. All he could think of was how Sandip Da had read his mind! Sandip continued, ‘Now that your student Riziya is in trouble, don’t you want to help her?’

‘I do! But how exactly can I be of help?’

‘From all that you told me, I think there’s plenty that you can do.’

‘What’s that? I really want to do something for her. I have a good relationship with her family. And especially since Kakima came to meet me, I ought to do something.’

‘Shall I tell you?’

‘Tell me.’

‘You run away with her. Get married.’

Suman was so shocked and stunned to hear Sandip that even if the building they were on suddenly collapsed, he wouldn’t have noticed. He gaped at Sandip. He thought if Sandip knew this was Sadnahati, he could never have said something like this so candidly. He replied, ‘Have you lost your head? We are Hindu. And Riziya is a Muslim girl. It’s like listening to all seven chapters of the Ramayana and then asking whose father Sita was!’

‘My head’s perfectly all right. Can’t something like that happen? Just think about it, Suman, a Muslim married Sujata Pishi, a Muslim married Rakhi Di. Girls from your Jogipara married Muslims before that too. Didn’t they?’

‘Hmm.’

‘Then what’s the problem if you do the same?’

Sandip was only giving voice to what was in Suman’s mind. He had thought along such lines many times, from the time he was young. But he never had the courage to express the thought in words. As it is, even if he were to marry someone belonging to the same religion, they followed the custom of considering so many things, like caste, gotra, etc. Imagine if it was a Muslim girl! Impossible! Besides, why would Riziya agree? And exactly like Rafiq Ali, he, too, would be fishing in murky waters. Would it be correct to make her an outcast in her community by taking advantage of her vulnerability in her moment of peril? He also happened to be the son of a teacher. He himself was educated. He, too, would lose face in society.

Suman walked out of the room without a word. Sandip, too, followed him. There was a sitting place outside. Sandip lit a cigarette. He sat down next to Suman. He relaxed and took a puff, let out the smoke and said, ‘I understand that you lack the courage. But just think about it, Suman, the girl is in great danger. You like her. You wish her well. Don’t you? So don’t you have to gather your courage? If there’s any trouble, I’ll be able to handle that. You can be certain about that.’

‘Rubbish! You have no idea. You don’t know what a mess it could lead to. I will never be able to enter Sadnahati again for the rest of my life.’

‘You don’t have to come! I’ll tell Abhijit too later, to sell off everything and come away. You can buy land or a house somewhere else and live there. What do you have here? You live here like an earthworm as a minority. You call that living? Besides…’

‘It’s all so easy for you to say. Can someone who doesn’t even have a job run away with a girl belonging to another religion and marry her? No! It’s just not possible.’

‘But you got a job recently, didn’t you?’