BY R. K. CHINCHLILAR

(Translated by the author from the original in Marathi)

He was feeling dreadfully sullen. There was not a copper in his pocket.

Since morning his son was restless with hunger. The sobs of the motherless lad suffocated him.

The city was all quiet. No riot, no epidemic, nothing of the evil……And that was exactly his trouble!

Because the rugged sign-board on his shop read:

"Material required for Funerals is sold here."

The hungry child cried, "Father, give me at least a coin."

The shop-keeper looked through the lane opposite.

Yes!

Heavy laden faces were bustling in sad frenzy. A doctor was frequenting the big house, while blood-red waste-water was flowing through the gutters.

Heaving a deep sigh, the father said, "God willing, you may get a copper soon."

But these words had very little effect on the biting hunger of the lad’s stomach. Disappointed, the child retreated to the corner of the shop and began to weep.

Four hours later there was an outburst of wild mourning in the lane.

Presently a group of four persons lifted the corpse of a young man. A young lady with two small children in her arms came beating her breast, and an old man fainted on the doorstep.

The sight was unbearable–too cruel for human eyes. The shop-keeper turned his eyes inside.

His son was enjoying the sweets!

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