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Now Rajendra gathered a little courage. He showed his name and said :
"Cigarettes will get dried up soon. But the ring in your finger, well it is my marraige-ring. If we put it off, that sounds an evil omen."
The dacoit handed over the ring to Rajendra. A sense of humanity was visible even in the Chambal valley. We could not believe it. But now we gathered courage to speak. Suresh said: "We feel thirsty."
The dacoit gave the water-bag and said: "We are short of water, take it like ghee."
We had thus a little of water. We wanted to talk so many things, but we were still afraid of the guns. Again our journey started, very hungry though we were.
At about 2.30 p. m. we camped at one place. The dacoits took out stale loaves from a bundle. We could not eat. The leader of the dacoits shouted-"Take food! How shall we proceed otherwise? Let us sit together and eat."
We took one piece each, then a little water. Now the dacoits felt safe and rested. Each one was narrating his own experiences. But all the while, they were watchful; one gun remained constantly aimed at us.
Slowly we gathered courage to ask: "When shall we be released?" The dacoits laughed loudly and hoarsely. They stated: "You are arrested as surety. When your parents pay the amount that we ask from, you will be set free."
Again our journey was on. The dacoits were surprisingly far-sighted. They flung down the valley, the pieces of bidis, even match-sticks.
