By this time the girl's relatives also reached, The girl sat in a corner, sobbing quietly. The Nawab sat down on the cot and looked angrily at the villagers. They came to him and bowed low.

Shama joined his hands and said, "My Lord, She is my beloved daughter and she is married. Today she has to go to her husband's home. Please set her free. The rulers are like one's mother and father, always caring for their subjects."

Nawab - "Go away all of you. What I take I do not qive up."

Shama - "My Lord, I can offer you her weight in silver, but please let her go."

The brother also spoke up - "Surely you have no shortage of beautiful women, If you like we can offer you gold instead, Please release my Sister!"

The Mughal however, continued to shake his head obstinately.

It was the turn of the husband now, to catch the Nawab's feet and beg for mercy, "Please spare us this shame . I am ready to offer you anything valuable - jewels - anything you wish, but please return my wife to me, and save my honor!"

The Nawab now turned his head and looking slyly at them said. "You seem very moneyed people - but I don't care for your silver, gold and jewels. Leave right now or I'll have you thrown in prison.

The husband realized that in their eagerness to get his wife free they had revealed how wealthy they were. He had no wish to lose everything for the sake of a mere girl. Quietly, he slipped away.

Seeing the Nawab's adamant attitude, the girl's father began to wail loudly and her brother fell down in a dead faint.

Saraswati looked at them, then drying her tears and pushing back her veil she came close to her brother and began to whisper softly in his ears, "Wake up dear brother, wake up and go home" I will not drink the water from a Mughal's home, brother. I would rather set fire and kill myself!"

At these words of quiet confidence, the brother and father got up. They knew they could gain nothing by staying except the Nawab's anger. With slow, dragging steps, they returned to their village.