JAISING IS A LABOURER TOILING HARD AT INAMDAR’S HOUSE. ONCE, THE SCHOOLMASTER TELLS HIM THAT HE HAS A FARM NEAR NIPANI AND IS LOOKING FOR A ‘RAIT’. JAISING, WHO FEELS SUFFOCATED AT THE INAMDAR, THINKS HE COULD DO THE JOB. HE SAYS SO. THE MASTER AGREES AND TAKES JAISING TO HIS VILLAGE. HE MAKES NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR JAISING’S STAY BEFORE RETURNING. THE NOVEL ‘RAIT’ DESCRIBES HOW JAISING’S LIFE CHANGES AFTER GOING TO THAT VILLAGE.
HERE JAISING IS THE NARRATOR. HE STARTS LIVING ON THE MASTER’S FARM. HE IS HONEST. HE IS ATTRACTED TO FULI AND ANJI. FULI IS A LITTLE ROBUST. SHE COMES TO WASH CLOTHES AT THE WELL ON THE FARM, WHEREAS ANJI WORKS ON THE FARM. JAISING GETS INTIMATE WITH FULI A COUPLE OF TIMES. WITH ANJI, HE DOES NOT GO BEYOND A LITTLE FLIRTING. ANJI, TOO, BEHAVES WELL.
ONCE JAISING GIVES A TOUGH FIGHT TO THE THIEVES AT PATIL’S HOUSE. HE GETS INJURED. PATIL TAKES HIS CARE AND ADMITS HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. AFTER THAT, PATIL FEELS AFFECTIONATE TOWARDS HIM. HE TAKES HIM NOW AND THEN TO THE CITY, WHERE JAISING GETS INVOLVED IN ALCOHOL AND WOMEN. ANJI BRINGS HIM BACK TO HIS SENSES. MEANWHILE, FULI GETS MARRIED BUT RETURNS FROM HER HUSBAND’S HOUSE QUICKLY. SHE STARTS BEHAVING LIKE A LUNATIC. JAISING FEELS COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS HER. HE TALKS TO HER FATHER AND SUGGESTS SHE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL. HE ALSO SHOWS READINESS TO PAY FOR HER TREATMENT.
ONE DAY, WHEN HE GOES TO THE VILLAGE FAIR, HE MEETS ANJI. WHILE HE IS TYING THE RIBBON ON HER BUN, A MAN COMES AND STARTS BABBLING. JAISING STARTS HITTING HIM. ANJI TRIES TO STOP HIM, BUT HE DOES NOT LISTEN TO HER. FINALLY, SHE SAYS THAT THE PERSON IS HER HUSBAND. THAT MAN THREATENS JAISING AND LEAVES. HE DOES NOT LET HIS WIFE STAY WITH HIM. WHEN JAISING LEARNS THAT ANJI IS MARRIED, HE GETS A SHOCK OF HIS LIFE. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, ANJI CONTINUES TO WORK ON THE FARM. ONE DAY, SHE RECEIVES HER HUSBAND’S LETTER. HE IS NOW READY TO TREAT HER AS HIS WIFE. ONCE IT IS DECIDED THAT SHE WILL GO TO HIM, JAISING FEELS ALONE. HE REALISES THAT HE IS INVOLVED WITH HER. HOWEVER, LEGALLY, ANJI IS SOMEONE ELSE’S WIFE.
DO ANJI AND JAISING MARRY EACH OTHER?
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