After having to wake up early in the morning in prison for a long time, Soukhi decided in her heart that she would never get out of bed before noon today, in order to enjoy her newfound freedom.
The old woman's heart trembled at the sight of the police. She was not the type to be afraid of the police; before
How many times had he seen the police raid their houses at untimely times? But today was different! The Matadin Peshkar and the crockery seller were with the police. He had the idea that crockery sellers don't sell old crockery without painting it and making it look like new... Five or seven years ago, the police had surrounded their house in the early hours of the morning, looking for guns. At that time, he didn't give a damn. Robbery was the addiction of his husband and son's rights. It was a mortal's work; a matter of pride. Going to jail in that case was just shortsightedness - nothing more. But this is theft!... The work of a sneak thief, in the end...
Out of shame, Soukhi's mother even forgot to deny the accusation!
The Daroga Saheb asked him, 'Did you sell this lota today at the bazaar's shop for fourteen annas?'
No answer came out of the old woman's mouth. She just looked at her son once and bowed her head.
By now, Saukhi understood the matter. Mother had recently stolen a ghat for fourteen annas.
.....Why didn't mother tell him!...His duty was in the prison warehouse all this time. He earned ninety taka from the prison contractors. That money is still in his waist wallet. Why didn't mother ask him? How much more sense can a woman have. Maybe he should have guessed the poverty of the family with a glance at the door.... Realizing this, he should have given the money to his mother himself. ...But where did he find the time? He came to sleep at night; he hasn't gotten out of bed in so long.... Finally, the theft of the lot! He never spoke to those sneaky 'thieves' in the prison!... The robbers talk to the 'lifers' in the prison, this is not unknown to mother.... The 'thieves' are only sentenced to two or three months.... Doesn't mother know that...
'You old woman! Why aren't you answering my words? Tell me. Answer me.'
The old woman was speechless. She could tell by the look on her face whether she had heard the inspector's question or not.
Saukhi couldn't stay any longer.
"Darogasaheb, why are you bothering me with a woman? I stole a house last night."
The wise warden, casting a victorious glance at his attendants, wanted to show that he had already understood this, having seen the courtesans sleeping until this hour; he had only been trying to get the point out of the old woman's mouth.
This time, Soukhi's mother broke down. She brought shame on her son's name.
'No no Darogasaheb! Saukhi didn't do it, I did it. Don't arrest him. Do it for me. He doesn't know anything. He was sleeping. Leave him alone Darogasaheb. He hasn't met his wife and son yet....'
The old woman is resting her head on the inspector's feet.
But he doesn't want to worry about the dish washer or this old woman; he needs to deal with the real culprit.
As Saukhi was leaving, she took out her wallet from her waist and left it on the bed.
Mother was still lying on the floor, sobbing. The smell of the burnt potato curry simmering in the oven spread throughout the neighborhood.