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beaten, I would have hated the sight of your face. Even if I did not put it in words, my respect for you would have gone. Now, whatever befalls us I shall accept gladly. Hey, where are you going? Listen, listen. Where are you off to?'
    As if possessed, Fatehchand walked out of the house. Sharda kept calling out to him. He hastened towards the Saheb's bungalow— not cowering in fear, but proudly holding his head high. His face reflected firm resolve, his legs were no longer weak. His appearance had undergone a dramatic change. In place of a humble, pale office Clerk with an emaciated body, he had become a young man with courage and determination. Fatehchand first went to a friend's house to borrow a stick. Then, he headed for the Saheb's bungalow.
5.
    It was nine p. m. Saheb was having his dinner. Fatehchand did not wait for him to finish. As soon as the bearer left the room, Fatehchand slipped in through the wooden partition. The house was a-glitter with lights. On the floor was a carpet, the like of which Fatehchand had never seen.
    The Saheb looked up angrily and shouted, 'How did you get in? Get out at once!'
    'You asked me to get the file. That's what I've brought. Finish your dinner, then I'll show it to you. Take your time eating. This could be your last meal, so eat well.'
    The Saheb was struck dumb. There was fear in his eyes. He trembled. He realised that the clerk had come prepared to kill or be killed.
    It was a new Fatehchand he had to deal with. He weighed the pros and cons of taking on his clerk, 'I understand. You are angry. Have I said anything to upset you?'
    Fatehchand drew himself up and replied— 'Just half an hour back you had taken me by my ears and had abused me soundly. Have you already forgotten?'
    'I caught you by your ears? Ha-ha-ha-ha! What sort of a joke is this? Am I mad?'
    'Am I lying? The peon was a witness. Your servants were also watching.'
    'When did it happen?'
    'Just half an hour back. You had sent for me and when I came you caught my ears without any reason and hit me.'
    'Babu. Jee,
I was a little high. The bearer had given me too much to drink. I don't remember what happened.'
    'If in your drunken state you had shot me, I would have died. Is everything excusable when you are drunk? I too am drunk now. Listen to my decision. Hold your ears and promise that hereafter you will never behave badly with any innocent person. If you don't, I shall box your ears! Do you understand? Don't move! If you so much as get up from your chair I'll use my stick. Don't blame me if your skull breaks. Just do as I say. Hold your ears!'
    Saheb pretended to laugh it off, 'Well,
Babu Jee
, you do know how to take a joke. If I said anything wrong, I apologise.'
    'Not good enough. Just hold your ears,' ordered Fatehchand, twirling his stick as he spoke.
    Saheb could not take more. He jumped up, hoping to snatch the stick from Fatehchand's hands. But Fatehchand was alert. The moment Saheb got up from the table, he dealt a solid blow on his head. The Saheb staggered. He held his head in his hands and said — 'I shall sack you.'
    'I don't give a damn. I will not leave without making you hold your ears and promise never again to treat a good man so nastily.'
    Fatehchand lifted his stick again. The Saheb feared that the second blow might crack open his skull. Placing his hand on his ears he said — 'Are you happy now?'
    'Say that you will never abuse anyone again.'
    'Never again, I promise.'
    'Alright. I shall leave now. I'm resigning from today. In my resignation letter I shall state that I resigned because you called me names.'
    'Why are you resigning? I am not dismissing you.'
    'I will not work under a wicked man like you.'
    Fatehchand came out of the Saheb's bungalow and walked towards his home in a leisurely manner. He had tasted the pleasure of true victory. He had never felt happier. This was the first triumph of his life.
    Translated by Ms. Neelam Kumar

Enlightenment
    Yashpal
    Sage Deerghalom