The Bandit Queen - Devi Chaudhurani

Profullo and her widowed mother live in the village of Bhutanath. They are Brahmins and barred by the customs of the time from working. Profullo is growing into an extraordinarily beautiful and intelligent young woman. She rebels against the poverty and hardship of her life. She is ashamed to beg from her neighbors, yet she must do so to live. When the local nobleman s (zamindar) wife notices her, she thinks that this lovely, well-born girl will make a perfect wife for her son. Profullo s mother is delighted and the marriage takes place.
Sadly, the good fortune of some, rouses the anger and resentment of others, some of the villagers go to the zamindar and slanders Profullo s mother, saying that she was a loose woman. Disgusted, the zamindar sends Profullo back to her penniless mother. What will happen now?