Seth Gulprasad was a successful and rich businessman regarded with respect in the community.And yet, there were dark whispers behind his back. "He's a sex fiend" the soft whispers said, "whokeeps many young girls in his mansion to beget a child." "And his wife," they spitefully suggested, "isspineless and petrified of the sinister threat he makes to throw her out on to the street if she doesn'tproduce an heir for him."

So she had to 'bite her tongue' and mutely watched as young nubile girls were arranged for him(at great cost) whom he covered again and again, but none carried his seed. That he may be barren, hewould never accept.

His adopted son, Sundram, was growing into a handsome youngster: straight limbed, strong,intelligent, and with a quick smile. He was booked to attend a prestigious boarding school on reachingthe age of seven. Gulprasad wished he had a daughter too. He had tried, unsuccessfully for months onend to make Roomi the mother of another child. But it had not happened and, instead, a vague doubtabout his own potency was creeping in to worry him.

Should he seek out the young man who had brought a pregnant Roomi to him? Would heagree, for a large fee, to give him a daughter? Where would he find him? Roomi would surely know.He mulled this for weeks before falling asleep. It would have to be planned carefully and with completesecrecy for it must never be known that his seed was banjhi (sterile).