The Home and the World

Some of Nikhil’s tenants begin to kill cows for food. Although this is forbidden by the Hindu religion, the Muslims hold different views. Some tenants visit Nikhil to tell him he must forbid it, but he refuses to act as an oppressor in any way. There are reports that an effigy of Nikhil was burned after he refused to invest in a cotton mill because he knew that the business would fail. The pieces about him in the newspaper are accelerating. He feels danger everywhere, but cannot see a way to both stop it and to maintain his integrity.

One of Nikhil’s sub-treasuries is looted, and 6,000 rupees are taken. Rani begs Nikhil to leave for Calcutta until the unrest settles. Nikhil meets with the police inspector in his office. The inspector believes that Kasim, the guard, was colluding with the thieves, even though he was shot in the leg during the robbery. Nikhil visits Kasim, who tells a wild story about being attacked by hundreds of men. Nikhil is unsure of what to believe.

Chandranath encourages Nikhil to send his tenants away, at least, those with dissenting feelings towards him and his views. Nikhil says that he has given them all one more day.