Another month passed. The date for the case to be heard in the High Court was fixed. The same timidity and sycophancy that had characterized Rama earlier had returned to his nature. He danced to the officers' tune. He had increased the amount of alcohol he drank, and indulgence seemed to have him firmly in its grip. Sometimes a courtesan named Zohra would also come to his room, and he listened to her singing with great pleasure.
One day he said to Zohra with great longing, "I am afraid I may grow too fond of you. What else can come of it except that I spend my life weeping? What hope can there be of fidelity from you?"
Zohra, secretly pleased, looked at him with her large, jewel-like eyes and said, "Yes, sir, what do we know of fidelity? After all, we are courtesans! Can an unfaithful courtesan ever be faithful?"
Rama objected and asked, "Is there any doubt about that?"
Zohra said, "No, not the slightest. You men come to us with hearts overflowing with love, but we do not value it at all. That is what you mean, isn't it?"
Ramanath said, "Certainly."
Zohra said, "Forgive me, but you are taking the men's side. The truth is that you go there for amusement, merely to forget your sorrows, merely to enjoy yourselves. When you yourselves do not seek fidelity, how can you find it? But this much I know: if the world knew how many wretched women among us lose all peace and comfort after being disappointed by men's unfaithfulness, its eyes would be opened. It is our mistake that we seek fidelity from spectators, that we look for meat in an eagle's nest; but if a thirsty man runs toward a blind well, then in my opinion he cannot be blamed."
That night, as Zohra was leaving, she gave the daroga the good news: "Today the gentleman had a wonderful time. If God wills, in two or four days he won't even mention his wife."
The daroga said happily, "That is why I had you called. The real pleasure will be when the wife leaves this place. Then we will have nothing to worry about. It seems those Swaraj people have won that woman over. They are all the same devils."
Zohra's visits became more and more frequent, until Rama himself fell into the trap he had set for others. He had wanted to gain the officers' confidence by pretending to be in love with Zohra, but just as children sometimes begin to cry in the course of a game, his pretended love too turned into real passion. Zohra now seemed to him a goddess of fidelity and love. She might not be as beautiful as Jalpa, but in conversation she was far cleverer than Jalpa, in gestures and manner far more accomplished, and in the art of fascination far more skilled. New schemes began to arise in Rama's heart. One day he said to Zohra, "Zohra—the time of separation is approaching. In two or four days I will have to leave here. Then why have you begun to think of me?"
Zohra said, "I won't let you go. Take some good job here. Then you and I will live comfortably together."
Rama said affectionately, "Do you really mean that, Zohra? Look, I swear by your life, don't betray me."
Zohra said, "If that is what you fear, then have a nikah performed. If you dislike the idea of nikah, then get married. Call the priests. What other proof of my love can I give you?"
Overwhelmed by this proof of Zohra's sincere love, Rama became agitated. How much greater the enchanting power of these words had become simply because they had come from Zohra's lips! This woman, whom great wealthy men adored, was ready to make such a great sacrifice for me! If, in a mine where others find only sand, someone discovers lumps of gold, is he not supremely fortunate? Rama's mind remained at war with itself for many days. How dull and difficult his life with Jalpa would become! At every step she would stand before him with her principles and truth, and his life would become a long penance, a permanent discipline. A pious life had never been his ideal. Like ordinary men, he too wanted to enjoy pleasure and luxury. Turning away from Jalpa, his pleasure-loving mind was drawn with irresistible force toward Zohra. He began to remember examples of courtesans who had observed vows of fidelity. Along with them came examples of fickle wives. He decided that all this was hypocrisy. No one is innocent by birth, and no one is guilty by birth. Everything depends upon circumstances.
Zohra came every day, adding another knot to the bond. In such circumstances, even the resolve of a disciplined young man would begin to waver. Rama was a man of pleasure. Until now he had been prevented from wandering here and there only because, as soon as his wings grew, Jalpa had shut him inside her cage. Even after spending some days outside the cage, he had not dared to fly. Now a new scene lay before him—not that small cage with its rough bars, but a garden waving with roses, where captivity itself held the pleasure of freedom. Why should he not enjoy the delights of play in this garden?