Woman Accuses Man of False Accusations and Injustice

After narrating her plight and suffering to Pardhan Baje, Phoolmaya sighed deeply and poured out the heat of her heart - "I have come to seek justice, Pardhan Baje! I am fed up. They have accused me of witchcraft and called me a prostitute, destroying my humble dwelling, Pardhan Baje! I have been subjected to extreme injustice, Pardhan Baje!"

"Hmm!" Pardhan Baje said in a hoarse voice, leaning against a large pillow propped against the wall, puffing on his hookah and exhaling smoke - "I have clearly understood all these things. Hmm! It is good that you have come. I had heard that there was a lot of commotion. Hmm! In this matter, the negligence is also on the part of Sahukanchho. Hmm! Justice must be decided in front of four people. Hmm! My point is that in this matter, your negligence is also there. Therefore, I have nothing to say in this matter."

"I am dying, Pardhan Baje! I am utterly dying!" Phoolmaya said despairingly - "If Pardhan Baje does not deliver justice, then tyranny will rule in this village."

Read also

Phoolmaya-4

Phoolmaya-3

Phoolmaya-2

Phoolmaya-1

"Hmm! You have a rather sharp tongue. Sahukanchho is also a bit hot-tempered. By not coming to me in time, you also went to show off to the elders. That's where the matter went wrong. It is heard that your negligence is also excessive. "

"Pardhan Baje!" Phoolmaya said in a helpless voice - "Accused of witchcraft, called a prostitute, branded a thief, burdened with calamity, and on top of that, my negligence, Pardhan Baje? Oh God!"

"I have to act according to the voice of the people. As a people's representative... Hmm! This is what the witnesses say."

"The whole village has unanimously said that he is a hundred percent scoundrel, Pardhan Baje. They say this is not the time to spread rumors. They say his actions against me, a helpless woman, are excessive, Pardhan Baje!"

"Hmm!" said Pardhan - "Your point is not unreasonable. But the real thing is that it is your relatives' matter. One must listen to both sides of a story, and justice cannot always be satisfactory to both parties."

"He smeared feces on my nose, Pardhan Baje. I can't show my face to anyone. This is excessive injustice, Pardhan Baje!"

It was with the hope of receiving mercy and compassion in such times of trouble that I, along with all the women of the village, cast my vote for you in the election, Pardhan Baje!

"Hmm! He was summoned with my advice and consultation. This is the tradition. We must follow customs and traditions. I don't see anything in this that you would disagree with."

"Does tradition permit taking away someone's honor, Pardhan Baje? Isn't this a backward thing?" Phoolmaya lost her patience. Hearing Pardhan Baje's nonsensical words made her head ache. "Is it also a tradition to covet another's livelihood, Pardhan Baje?"

"Hmm! I am telling you for your own good. Nowadays, the village is dominated by troublemakers. Who are these troublemakers? They are bankrupt. They are involved in politics. They are mad. They sell their caste, disregard their parents, gurus, laws, and traditions. It is heard that you have some dealings with such troublemakers. Insulting Sahukanchho is your great offense. Moreover, calling for troublemakers while we are here is a great negligence. The honest truth is... I see your well-being in remaining silent. Even if it means staying away. It is difficult to justify associating with elders."

"It was with the hope of receiving mercy and compassion in such times of trouble that I, along with all the women of the village, cast my vote for you in the election, Pardhan Baje! Is this the repayment for that favor? Isn't this excessively backward?" Phoolmaya stood up, her head heavy as a mountain, her body trembling with anger. "Are the words of the helpless to be disregarded like this, Baje?"

"Hmm!" said Pardhan in a sweet voice, gesturing with his hand to sit down - "I cannot say that what you say is wrong. Your favor is such that it cannot be repaid even in seven lifetimes. But the law is three spans above affection and consideration. The law cannot help but call black black." He poked the dying embers in the chilim with tongs. His face turned ashen. Then, putting the mouthpiece to his lips and twirling his index finger, he said - "Associating with troublemakers who would even harm me is your immense crime. Therefore, you have erred."

In the world of that person, today she saw no light of life anywhere.

"If troublemakers speak falsehoods by slandering, then what are people like Sahukanchho? Should people considered respectable by the world speak such selfish words?" Phoolmaya roared, as if blind. Her chest heaved with the force of her breath. The veins in her neck bulged. Her nostrils flared. "Nonsensical talk! Rotten justice!" She spat and went down to the courtyard. "Selfish world that wants to lick anything!"

"When you walk, you must watch your eyes. If I were not here, you would have been thrown in jail. One must understand favors."

Dark clouds gathered in Phoolmaya's eyes. She seemed to lose her senses. Sharp thorns seemed to run through her veins. The world felt like a hell filled with pus and blood. A hell where there is no compassion, where there is no law or justice, where there is nothing but chaos, murder, and endless uproar. A hell where there is nothing but deceit and betrayal. And in that hell, she was listening to deceitful words - "Justice cannot always be satisfactory to both parties."

In the world of that person, today she saw no light of life anywhere.

000

A strong gust of wind snapped a large, rotten branch of the mango tree. It fell with a crash onto a pile of leaves, dangling from the lower branches. Ganzbahadur was startled by the sound. His legs had grown weary from standing by the pond for a long time, holding the fishing rod. He looked up at the sky. Dark, grey mountains of clouds were hurrying from the north. It looked like it was going to hail and rain today. He looked at the pond. His heart sank when he saw no sign of fish around the hook of the fishing rod. Then, various thoughts began to play in his empty mind. His eyes drifted towards the small hut on the ridge across the river. Waves of suspicion arose in his mind. He saw Magar Kanchho and Phoolmaya sitting close together on the bench outside the hut. He became alert, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. When he saw Magar Kanchho playfully touching Phoolmaya's waist, his eyes widened in disbelief. Hearing the two of them giggle made him feel like he was losing his mind.

"So much..."

Throwing the fishing rod by the bank and flexing the muscles in his calves, he climbed up the riverbank quickly. The pace of his walk and the bitter suspicion in his mind made his soul restless. Reaching the riverbank, he glared at the hut with envious eyes - no one was visible there. Wondering if it was a dream, he scraped the ground with his big toe and shook his shoulders a couple of times. Then he bit his lower lip until it bled. He hesitated whether to go fishing or head towards the hut. Then, making snorting sounds from his nose, he quickly reached the hut. He looked inside - Phoolmaya was there, peeling gourds with a gloomy face. He doubted his own mental state and became very angry.

"What is your game?" he asked in a voice mixed with suspicion and jealousy. While contemplating whether to ask or not, his words slipped out like a live fish slipping from one's hand. He felt awkward.

"Your drum-beating bait." Without even understanding her husband's question, Phoolmaya teased him with a faint smile on her lips and a loving look in her eyes.

"No, what is your trick?"

"Why are you growling like this?"

I'm dying... I'm dying," a cry from the depths of pain and worry rose into the air, making the atmosphere desolate.

"Who is Lyande Magar?"

"Are you crazy?" Phoolmaya was stunned.

"Who were you showing off with Lyande, clinging to him?"

"Listen to this cursed talk? Have you started talking back again?"

"You slut!" He lunged and grabbed his wife's braid. "Even after the world has been talking about you day and night, you haven't learned, you glutton!" He kicked Phoolmaya in the stomach. Phoolmaya writhed, unable to breathe. He added another kick to her neck. Phoolmaya's face hit the ground. After a while, she managed to lift her head and spat out the soil soaked in blood.

"Kill... kill me!" Phoolmaya cried in a mournful voice - "Kill me if it gives you pleasure! You wicked wretch!"

"I'm dying... I'm dying," a cry from the depths of pain and worry rose into the air, making the atmosphere desolate.

The anger of humiliation felt like a sharp pain in Ganz's lungs filled with breath. He looked at his wife from the bench outside, his forehead furrowed. He glanced at his wife with dull eyes. Phoolmaya lay like a lifeless log. Ganjo felt he had beaten his wife in vain and was filled with regret. But he was enraged again and rushed towards his wife. After kicking her in the backside, his wife cried out in pain. Then Ganjo walked towards the riverbank, limping.