Being the Thakur (Head) of the village meant I needed to take up a wife soon. I was turning 28 the next month and it was high time I marry a suitable girl and make babies, to ensure the line of succession of our family.

My parents educated me in the city, and even though its 1930 and the freedom struggle is at its peak, things in my village are not much changed.

The Britishers do not deem my small village worthy of their attention. Most people here are farmers and small merchants so not much tax revenue will be gained from a place like this. That’s why my family is still able to look after this village.

After my father passed away a few years back when I was 25, not only my mother but other villagers have all been insisting that I marry and settle down. Don’t get me wrong but I had no interest in the freedom struggle. The welfare of my people is what I was concerned with. Plus, my family has been a zamindar (Landowners) for generations so wealth isn’t an issue for me.

My mother has tried to set me up with many girls from good families, but for some reason none of them ever impressed me. I don’t have any high expectations from my wife, but I want her to be smart.

Most of the girls want to marry me to be a part of my family and a piece of our wealth. They are more concerned about the way they dress rather than education.

As these thoughts flood my head, I step out of my haveli (mansion) for a night stroll. I often step out in the chill night air after dinner to clear my head and get some peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of my home.

I walk towards the mango plantation and lean against a thick tree to light my chillum (cigarette). At this time of the night, there is no one here. Many people think that there is a ghost spirit that roams the plantation at this hour. But I am an educated man and I know better than that.

I understand it’s a story devised to keep thieves away from the plantation at night. It’s the oldest tactic in the book.

That’s when I hear some leaves crushing a few feet behind me.

My first instinct was to confront the thief who dared to steal from the hard-working people of my village. But when I turned around and looked, I was awe-struck.

There in the middle of the plantation, was a girl wearing a saree, she was on her tip toes and was trying to steal a mango...

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