'Who?'
Opening the door and seeing a tall, broad man in front of him, even the robber's mother shivered.
"The house is suddenly pitch dark. How do I get in?"
'Who, Soukhi? Oh, you. I wonder who or what.'
The old woman is hugging her son.... This son has remained the same even after he has grown old. He is returning after being released from prison; he could have easily entered the house with his chest full and woken up the neighbors. But he has been knocking on the door and arguing with his mother all this time.... He has no place to keep this joy....
"Latsaheb went to visit the jail. He was pleased with my work and ordered me to be released. What else could he be happy about? I had given money to the head jailer. He recommended that to the jailer. That's why I got a higher remission. Well, you light the pot first. Then everything will be discussed."
Soukhi spoke louder than necessary so that everyone in the house could hear. Then she lit a matchstick to help her mother find the kerosene lamp.
The old woman could see her son's face in the light by now. His hair was quite curly now; so the boy's face resembled his father's. He looked sickly. A good person gets better when he goes to jail like his father. But why is it like this now? The boy's eyes were searching for something even up to the far wall of the room. She didn't have to explain to the old woman who he was looking for....
"Hey, did prison make you sick?"
Soukhi doesn't want to hear this question; she asks, "Don't you see any of them?"
The old woman was dreading this question every moment. She knew she would ask; ...yet...
'The wife has gone to her father's house.'
'Suddenly, my father's house?'
...The boy has returned home after so long. I don't want to spoil his mood by telling him everything right now. He's angry. He might run away in anger to try to make amends with the people in the party.
....There's no point in talking about the grandson and his wife's poor health right now. Saukhi is dying of old age. He didn't have children with his previous wife. This wife is just doing her best. If she hears about his poor health, Saukhi might not stay here for another day. He came after so long. Can't I keep him close for even a day? Let him eat and drink and get well for a day or two. Then we can talk about everything slowly....