132 THE HALF SMILEa kind and just ruler, is old and incapable of fathering sons, and so
Sohnan Devi sends a message to Chach: "Oh Chach! The arrows of
your eyelashes have wounded my heart. Your separation is a noose
around my neck. I hope that you will cure my ills with your presence
and remove this noose from my neck with your hands and put instead
garlands of love and companionship. If you refuse me, I will kill my-
self ."5 Chach refuses the entreaty and declares it to be foolhardy to
cheat one's king and that this would lead to disrepair in this life and
discredit in the next:
Because we are Brahmin, my father and my brother are ascetic and
sit in meditation. It is enough for me to serve at the king's pleasure,
where I spend my life between hope and fear. For it is true t4at a
servant of kings is always suspended between praise and condemna-
tion. There are four things that one should never trust: a king, fire, a
snake, and water. Hence, I cannot take more sins upon myself while
engaged in such worldly pursuits.^6Chach was from a family of ascetics, and he notes here that he has
already transgressed the dictates of his ascetic life. He insists that he
is attempting to be an ethical man while in the service of the king ("I
cannot take more sins upon myself"). He does not rebuke the queen or
call her immoral. Rather, he admits his own culpability. This is the
first instance of Chach making a choice to be an ethical subject. This
emphasis is reflected by Sohnan Devi, who accepts Chach's decision.
Instead of becoming angry and vowing revenge, which is a more typical
reaction in adab stories of a woman in power and a young protagonist,
she "replied with great love and care," saying that "even if you refrain
from my love and company, at least let me see you from time to time
so that I can live with the hope of your company."^7 On receiving this
reply, Chach is relieved. Over time he sometimes sees her, such that
their feelings toward each other strengthen. Yet Chach and Sohnan
Devi do not step outside of the bounds of ethical conduct, even though
rumors circulate. The declaration and restraint of desire critically sets
up their relationship as one concerning political power.
Chachnama then presents Sohnan Devi as the architect who brings
Chach to power. It is Sohnan Devi who first informs Chach that the
king has passed away. The king leaves no son. Sohnan asks Chach to