Douloti the Bountiful

—Where have you come from, Somni?

—They brought me from Barha village.

—Did they say they would marry you?

—Why should they? I was already married.

—Already married?

—Yes yes. And I have my man at home.

—How did you come?

—Was there another way? My man took two hundred rupees from him, to get land. Hoo, in a year it became four thousand rupees. Then the god said to my man, You won’t be able to repay, you are a kamiya. Send your wife. Your debt will be repaid in five years, your wife will return home with money in hand. I kept my son with my husband and came here.

—And the boy?

—He is in Barha. The god has lots of land in Barha.

—How many children do you have here?

—Three.

Somni put her hand to her cheek and said, “See what a strange thing. I was married in childhood, and I stayed with my man for so long. I had only one son. And Latia made me the mother of three sons in a row.

—Those sons?

—They lie around in the marketplace. They beg. They don’t let you live with your child, and clients come up to one month before birth. Then I can’t for three months.

—Then?

—The god lends money.

—Doesn’t he let you keep them?

—No no, would he? When I am burnt up, I go see them. Rooti’s son too is Latia’s son. And it was Latia’s truck that hit him and crippled him. As a cripple he gets more begging. He got a shirt too.

—How long will you stay?

—Who knows. As long as it pleases the god.

—Then?

—Then I’ll beg. There’s nothing in my body anymore. Will I be able to work hard anymore? For four-five years thirty clients a day. I’ll beg.