Dukhiram Rui and Chidam Rui lived together in the same house. Their wives were always quarreling. One day both
brothers went to work with their farm knives at the Zamindar’s house, while their wives were quarreling. A bailiff took them forcible to work on the office roof that was leaking in places. They worked whole day and couldn’t return for lunch. They were neither paid their usual wages and were also insulted.
On returning in the evening Dukhiram exploded with rage on not finding food to eat. He took his farm knife and struck his wife on the head. She collapsed into Chandara’s lap and expired. Chandara’s clothes were wet with blood. Dukhiram sat down in grieve. Chandara screamed but Chidam pressed her mouth with his hand. Outside no one knew what had happened in the house.
In the evening Ramlochan Chakraborty who also happened to be the village’s chief legal advisor came to collect the rent from Dukhiram. As he came Dukhiram burst into tears. Chidam quickly told that both the women had a fight and the younger one killed the elder sister in law. He asked Ramlochan how he could save his wife. Ramlochan suggested that he should put the blame on his brother’s head. But Chidam said that if he loses his wife he can get another but where will he get another brother? So Ramlochan said that he should go to the police and tell the truth.
On hearing such lies Chandara was shocked as she loved her husband. She stared at him in disbelieve. Chidam told her to say that the elder wife was about to attack her with the vegetable slicker so she picked up the farm knife to protect herself and it hurt her head. The police came to investigate .Chandara told them that she had killed the elder wife as she couldn’t stand her anymore. She also told them that she didn’t have any quarrel .She was determined to die rather than live with her husband. The innocent village wife was arrested and taken through streets and watched by her friends and companion. Chandara confessed to the Deputy Magistrate that she had committed the sin. When she was told that her punishment would be death by hanging, she prayed for the penalty without delay. She said that she loved her husband like mad person and her husband also loves her. Now Chidam cried and said he had killed his sister in law as she didn’t give him food. Dukhiram said he was the killer. But the judge said that both the brothers were trying to save the younger wife.
In jail Chandara was asked if she wanted to see anyone, she replied that she would like to see her mother and refused to see her husband when he requested.