Resting his elbow on the cushion, the magnate turned aside. Prithusen thought that his father was about to leave. Fearing that his silence might be misconstrued as agreement, with his head still bowed, he made a bold attempt to speak his mind, ‘But Father, I have given my word to Divya. I have already accepted her as my wife. That would be a violation of trust.’

The old man’s brow darkened, his eyebrows dropped lower over his eyes, and the ironical smile deepened on his lips and in his eyes. ‘Son, this is no violation of trust. After some time, if you so desire, you can even marry the great-granddaughter of the Chief Justice. A man in authority has a need for many women and many marriages. But not at this stage. You did not give your word in order to betray her. The situation was different then. If the situation changes after a pledge is given, then the pledge loses its validity. At that time, marriage with Dev Sharma’s great-granddaughter would have been the right thing to do. Now a better course has opened before you. Your future lies in marrying the granddaughter of the President of the Republic.’

Thinking that Prithusen’s bowed head meant a refusal, the magnate said in a voice touched with self-pity, ‘Son, do you want to throw overboard my efforts of a lifetime and the future of our family, for your infatuation with a girl? The great sage, Chanakya has said, “Always protect yourself with your wife and your wealth.” Son, a woman is for man’s enjoyment. It is only when he is blinded by his emotions that he begins to sacrifice his whole life for the sake of a girl. My boy, it is in situations like this that the sages have termed women as the door to ruin, both for the man who aspires to rise high and for the man who wants to attain the other world.’

Prithusen remained silent as before.

‘Son, I am confident that you will save my honour and your own future prospects,’ said Prestha, after a moment’s reflection. ‘On the night of the last full moon during Mallika’s performance, the Chief Justice enquired after your health and made mention of the feelings that existed between you and Divya. At that time I told him that in view of my race and family, it would be very thoughtless of me to seek a wife for my son in the family of twice-born Brahmins; that having been a slave, I could not risk inviting on myself the wrath of the entire Brahmin community of Madra. I also told him about the tender feelings that Seero, the President’s granddaughter, had for you my son, and that caste was no obstacle there. I told him that I was an applicant for the hand of the President’s granddaughter in marriage with my son.’

Prithusen’s head bowed even lower. Without looking at his father, he turned aside and laid his head on the pillow.