"But there is neither your house, nor any door. What kind of intimation can be given and what permission can be taken!"

"Why not? The place I am standing is within my circumscription. How can anyone else enter it?"

"Why can’t one enter? Are you Mother Sita in whose boundaries no Ravana can enter?"

"Here every one lives within a boundary line like Mother Sita. Why has this Ravana entered my limits?"

"It must be in your mind that Ravana has entered."

"If Ravana had been inside me, I would not have remained quiet after seeing her standing so close."

"Are you really quiet?"

"Of course."

"Ask your eyes. How many times have they stared at her?"

"The eyes have only welcomed the visitor."

"Don’t bluff yourself."

"How is that?"

"For any man, a new young girl is a prey."

"Not for every man; say, for ever hunter ---- and I am not a hunter."

"You seem to be a novice."

"What is so great about being a hunter. Instead of being a hunter and taking advantage of a helpless woman, it is better I remain a novice."

"Don’t be silly! Do you think she has come to stand with you due to any helplessness?"

"Why not? Instead of getting drenched in this sudden shower, she has come to take shelter under the umbrella."

"As if she has obliged you."

"Whether she has obliged or not, atleast she has given me the honor of it."

"Honor ….. Ha – Ha – How is that?"

"You are laughing as if you had a great victory. Mark how the envied eyes of men standing opposite us are staring at us with poignant regret. They are so flabbergasted as if they have lost something. Instead of taking shelter under my umbrella, she should have saved herself from the shower of rain, under somebody else's umbrella."

"How could she leave a stout and healthy youth like you and go to some one else?"

"Why could she not go? She has to pass only a moment of the shower."

"You are a simpleton. Every woman falls in only for a robust person like you."

"Every man loves a skillful and accomplished young beautiful girl."

"Oh! That means you consider her skillful bride?"

"Yes. Like a virtuous bride she is standing aloof in shyness."

"These are the tricks of a woman, with which she puts a spell on naïve persons like you. Otherwise, how can a virtuous woman come and stand close to a stranger on this busy road? Think a little. Why do you want to reject a chance offered to you?"

"A woman is not a chance for me?"

"She is not a doll to become a morsel?

"Then what is she?"

"Look, how has she made herself attractive, like a ‘MOOMAL’ to please her  'RANA'.

"Every one wants to make oneself attractive. There is nothing wrong in it."

"Don't  you notice how, while, setting the hem of her sari, she is trying to invite you with her eyes to the elevation of her breasts?"

"She is not inviting me. On the contrary she is imploring to keep away from her."

"Really! You are seeming entreaties in her intoxicated eyes?"

"Yes. There is a humanistic entreaty in her innocent eyes."

"And the hot touch of her breath which is spreading on your face. Does it not affect you?"

"It does affect me but like an instrument which produces sweet

innocent music."

"Does the fragrance which is spread from her garden like face, not make your youth mad?"

"Youth is not always mad. It can be sensible also. I don't remember but some women have told me that in a bus youngmen sit a little farther with control and courtesy; but the old men have become shameless; they will try to sit close enough to touch us."

"And you would also remember some man having told you about how women sit close to be touched and even while standing they make their breasts touch the front standees."

"Every one is not the same. Every one has to account for one’s actions."

"You don’t seem to be a ‘man’; you are good for nothing. In this cool and rain-washed atmosphere, if there had been any other young man he would not have spared the prey. He would have talked to her smilingly and sweetly and offered her a cup of tea pleasantly. Then he would have taken her to a cinema or for a stroll on the seashore and then ….."

"Even I can do all that. What is so great about it?"

"Then why are you standing quiet? Who are you afraid of?"

"By doing a wrong thing I do not want to make an innocent wayfarer woman a laughing stock before the public. She has come under the refuge of a man reposing faith in him. I do not want to degrade her by betraying her."

"You are really naïve. Instead she will be happy with you."

"No. Even by saying that you are insulting the male species."

"Just as all men are not adulterous, all women are not well behaved."

"Oh! ….. You spoilt all the taste by bringing into character and ideal. Life is to enjoy. Enjoy as much as you can; why to care for others?"

"No. We have got life for living and only character and ideals make life worth living."

"Stop these sermons of saints and sages. Do you know how even Rishi Vishvamitra forgot his ideals before the nymph Menaka?"

"I am not yesterday’s Vishvamitra. I am today's human being ---- some one’s son, some one’s lover and also some one’s husband."

"But this Menka, the nymph?"

"No. She is also today's human being ---- some one’s daughter, someone’s beloved, and she may be wife of some one."

"Come on, stop this nonsense about the outmoded social relationship. Why not to entrap free birds for a moments pleasure? You will not get this chance again, therefore don't lose it."

"I am neither a bird or beast; nor am I an opportunist."

"Come on. See even the rain is stopping and she is also getting ready to go. See how close now she is to you ….."

"No ….. I said no ….."

"She is now even smiling ….."

"……………"

"See how the skirt of her sari is wrapped with your trousers."

"……………"

"Just extend your hand and it will touch her hand."

"……………"

"Turn your arm a little around her."

"……………"

"Bring your face close to hers. Why are you quiet?"

"Shut up. I donut want to hear any rubbish."

"Oh … Oh! Why are you closing your eyes? The rain has stopped and the prey is also going away."

"I am not a hunter …… Don't you understand."

The rain stopped and the damsel while taking leave, said in a sweet, melodious and musical voice: "Thank you very much."

Now she has gone. The struggle that was going on between my conscious and subconscious mind, because of her presence, is over. The subconscious mind ultimately lost. Carrying with me the triumphant conscious mind, I proceeded further. I had hardly taken a few steps, when I overheard a laughter at my back and some one remarked: "An idiot".

This story was published by BEST SINDHI SABHA in 1987 in ‘Sindhi Short Stories’ and was complied by Shri Holaram Hasija Hans.