Ray Churn enters with his plough.
Ray. (Holding his plough.) The stupid Amin is a tiger. The violence with which he came upon me! Oh my God! I thought that he was coming to devour me. That villain did not hear a single word and with force he marked off the ground. If they take five bigahs of land, what will my family eat. First, we will shed tears before them; if they don’t let us alone, as a matter of course, we shall leave the country.
Khetromani enters.
Is my brother come home?
Khetra. Father is gone to the house of the Babu’s and is coming very soon. Will you not go to call my aunt? What were you talking about?
Ray. I am talking of nothing. Now, bring me a little water, my stomach is on the point of bursting from thirst. I told my brother-in-law[[3]] so much, but he did not hear me.
Sadhu enters, and Khetromani goes away.
Sadhu. Ray, why did you come so early?
Ray. O my brother, the vile Amin has marked off the piece of ground in Sanpoltola. What shall we eat; and how shall I pass the year? Ah, our land was bright as the golden champah.[[4]] By the produce of only one corner of the field, we satisfied the mahajans. What shall we eat now, and what shall our children take? This large family may die without food. Every morning two recas (nearly 5 lbs) of rice are necessary. What shall we eat then? Oh, my Ill-fortune! Ill-fortune (burnt forehead)! what has the Indigo of this white man done?