When the week of grace had expired, Nagendra Babu filed a suit in the local Munsiffs Court against his defaulter.  As soon as the fact was bruited abroad a universal protest was roused against Nagendra Babu’s harshness.  Some of the village elders remonstrated with him, but were told to mind their own business; whereon they laid their heads together and subscribed the small sum due from the Brahman.  A deputation of five waited on him with entreaties to accept it, but he refused to take the money on any other footing than a loan.  So Ramda paid his arrears and costs into Court, to the plaintiff’s intense annoyance.

Samarendra Babu had left his wife and children in comparatively poor circumstances; for, after discharging his debts, they had barely Rs. 300 a year to live on.  The widow declined to seek Nagendra Babu’s help, even if she were reduced to beg in the streets.  After her brother’s imprisonment, she had no one to manage her little property which, as a Purdanashin (lit. “one sitting behind the veil"), she was unable to do herself.  After mature reflection she sent for Ramda, who had known her from infancy.  He obeyed the summons with alacrity and gave the poor woman sound advice regarding the direction of the Zemindary.  By acting on it she was able to increase her income and live in tolerable comfort.  Observing that Ramda was a frequent visitor, Nagendra Babu hinted to his sister-in-law that, if she cared for her reputation, she would not be so thick with him.  She flared up instantly.  “I will talk to any of my friends I please,” said she, “and you shan’t poke your nose into my affairs!”

“Very well,” replied Nagendra angrily, “but you may rely on my making it hot for that old scoundrel shortly!”

This threat was of course repeated to Ramda, who merely laughed.  As far as he was concerned Nagendra might act as he pleased.

A few days afterwards the bailiff of Nagendra Babu’s estate, known as Lakhimpur, called on Ramda with a verbal request that he should surrender his ancestral tenure and, meeting with a curt refusal, left the house threatening all sorts of evil consequences.  Next day, indeed, Ramda received a notice from Nagendra Babu, calling on him to show cause against the cancellation of his lease on the ground that, by mismanaging the land, he had rendered it unfit for cultivation.  Ramda called some of his neighbours together, to whom he exhibited the document.  They expressed the greatest indignation and assured him that they would spend their last rupee in defending his interests.  Ramda gave them a heartfelt blessing and promised a divine reward for their sympathy.

Calling on Samarendra’s widow the same day, he was distressed to find that she had received a similar notice, which aimed at robbing her of a small estate, on the ground that it had been surrendered by her husband in part payment of his debt to Nagendra Babu.  She knew nothing of any such arrangement and assured Ramda that, if the property was lost, her income would fall to little more than Rs. 100, meaning starvation for herself and little ones.  Her trusty counsellor told her not to lose heart, for she might rely on his help.