Munshi Premchand's "The Struggle of Duty and Love": A Story of Conflict and Sacrifice

Munshi Premchand's Story: The Conflict Between Duty and Love

Our nation has been a cradle for great men and women throughout history, from revered sages and poets to writers and musicians. Their countless creations are invaluable treasures.

Today's youth, immersed in the digital age, seem to be losing touch with these invaluable legacies. subkuz.com strives to connect you with these treasures, along with entertaining stories, news, and insights from around the world.

Here, we present a remarkable story by Munshi Premchand, titled:

The Struggle of Duty and Love

Before Virajan came to her in-laws' house, she had no firm understanding of the duties and ideals expected of a Hindu wife. Discussions about marital responsibilities were rare within the household. She had read books on women's duties, but they hadn't had a lasting impact. She never considered that this was not her home and that she would soon have to leave.

However, upon arriving at her in-laws' home and constantly seeing her husband, subtle changes began to occur within her thoughts. She began to reflect on who she was, what her duties were, and the proper way to fulfill her dharma. Other matters seemed like distant dreams. Whenever she remembered her transgression, one that she couldn't erase, she would lower her head in shame and wonder how she had dared to appear before Lallu! Perhaps she tried to convince herself that the incident was a dream, but the image of Lallu's courtesy would surface, and she would bless him from the heart. But now, faced with Pratapchand's small-mindedness and the realization that Lallu hadn't forgotten the incident, Virajan's reputation had diminished in his eyes, and he no longer wished to see her. This ignited a feeling of remorse and anger within her. Her affection and esteem for Pratap, which had been deeply rooted in her heart, evaporated like water droplets. Women's hearts are easily influenced; the man for whom she was willing to sacrifice her very existence could not forgive even a trivial misdeed. Was his heart so narrow? This thought pricked Virajan's heart like thorns.

From that moment, Virajan's vitality seemed to fade. A heavy burden settled upon her mind. She questioned why she should continue to endure this sorrow when Pratap had forgotten her and disregarded her worth. Like the saying, "Ram is to Tulsi, and Tulsi to Ram," if he held her in contempt, if he refused to look at her, she would also reject him and not desire his presence. Now, she would berate herself for constantly dwelling on his thoughts. She resolved to banish his image from her mind, but after a short while, her thoughts would return to him, and these thoughts would continue to trouble her. To alleviate this inner turmoil, she began showering Kamalacharan with displays of affection. She would scold him when he went away for a little while, gifting him all her accumulated savings so that he could purchase a gold watch and chain. Kamalacharan refused, leaving her dejected. Kamalacharan, already subservient to her, felt a deeper devotion to her after witnessing her unwavering love. Upon hearing of this, her friends expressed gratitude. Mian Hamid and Syed lamented their fate for not having a wife as affectionate as her. They marveled at her generosity, noting that other women were often calculating, whereas she was not. They wished for their wives to be as generous and considerate as Virajan. Regardless of material possessions, she insisted on fulfilling every wish, otherwise, chaos would ensue. It was remarked that even in the trivial pursuit of a beedi or some pan, petty squabbles would inevitably erupt. People wished that they had such a wife. Kamalacharan loved her, and Vrjarani loved him, but no happiness or contentment was visible on Virajan's face. She was becoming thinner and weaker every day. Kamalacharan would repeatedly ask her why she was losing so much weight, employing every method to comfort her and seeking counsel from friends, but to no avail. Vrjarani would laugh and assure him that she was fine. She would then get up and comb his hair or fan him, and her service and attention would soothe him, but like applying paint to wood, there was no cure for the inner pain. The thought that Pratapchand had forgotten her, and that she was cast aside, tormented her heart like a thorn. Her condition deteriorated progressively, until even getting out of bed became a challenge. Doctors were called to administer medication.

Meanwhile, Pratapchand's life in Prayagraj had become more active. He was deeply invested in physical activities. He diligently exercised in the morning, played football in the evening, and spent his evenings walking in the garden. After these rigorous activities, he would fall asleep, only to awaken at dawn. Within six months, he had risen to captaincy of the cricket and football teams, and he played matches that drew significant attention in the city.

... (Continues with the cricket match account.)