The Blue Umbrella

While herding cows in the village pasture, Biniya stumbles upon a blue umbrella belonging to foreign tourists. She trades her bear claw necklace, Yantra, to the visitors in exchange for the umbrella. The exchange marks the beginning of her newfound celebrity in the village.

Biniya's mother scolds her for trading away a talisman believed to bring luck. Despite the scolding, the umbrella's beauty makes Biniya a local sensation, admired by many in the village and among tourists.

Khatri covets the newly famous umbrella but cannot afford it. He resents Biniya's possession and repeatedly tries to buy it from her, only to be refused. His jealousy starts shaping the town's dynamics around the trinket.

Khatri's shop boy, Rajaram, offers his help to steal the umbrella in exchange for a higher salary. He promises to cooperate in the plan, implying a move from wishful desire to a criminal scheme. The talk sows the seeds of a heist that unsettles the village.

While tending to the cows in a pasture, Biniya discovers the umbrella is missing and immediately suspects Khatri of stealing it. Her claim triggers a search and a public humiliation for Khatri. The incident tests trust within the small community.

Khatri's shop is searched, but the umbrella is not found. The village's doubt grows as the absence of evidence fails to clear the air. The tension sets the stage for a costly misjudgment.

Humiliated, Khatri pledges to acquire his own umbrella and soon obtains a similar red umbrella from Delhi. He proclaims it as a symbol of status, hoping to erase his prior loss. The red umbrella becomes the new focal point of the village's envy.

To restore pride, the villagers nominate Khatri to be the president at the upcoming village wrestling competition. His sudden prominence shifts attention from Biniya to him, complicating the social dynamics. The town begins to treat him as a symbol of the umbrella's disputed value.

Biniya continues her investigation and learns the umbrella was actually sent by a textile dyer from Banikhet. Determined to uncover the truth, she accompanies the village police to Banikhet to verify the source. The journey marks a turning point in the pursuit of justice.

During the wrestling competition, it begins to rain and the red dye from Khatri's umbrella washes away, revealing his theft and deception. The moment exposes him before the whole village. The crowd's perception shifts as truth comes to light.

Following the revelation, the village boycotts Khatri and shuns his shop. His former accomplice Rajaram abandons him, leaving him with no customers or support. The social backlash underscores the consequences of deceit.

In a gesture of empathy, Biniya decides that Khatri is the umbrella's rightful owner and willingly returns it to him. The act leads to his eventual reintegration into the village community. The tale closes on a note of reconciliation.