Moth Smoke

The trial is now in closing arguments. The prosecutor claims that Daru is misleading the judge, trying to turn the accusers into the accused. The prosecutor points out that the one person who has defended Daru is “his adulterous lover” and thus should not be trusted (236). The prosecutor demands “justice” (236), but the verdict is, as of yet, undecided.

Daru and Murad drive away from the scene of the crime, with Daru’s ears still ringing from the gunshot. Murad keeps his gun pointed at Daru while Daru drives. Once back at Daru’s house, Murad leaves in his rickshaw without giving Daru his share of the plunder. Daru endures a sleepless night before going to the post office where Mumtaz picks up the mail for Zulfikar Manto. He goes to her and collapses at her feet. She touches him gently, and he hugs her tightly. After a moment, she walks away without a word.

That afternoon, Daru is arrested. The police claim he hit a boy with his car, killing him, before driving away.

Mumtaz feels responsible for what has happened, describing herself as a “monster” (241). She knows that caring for Daru enabled his obsession with her, and she acknowledges that she took care of Daru because she could not take care of her own son.