“Begum Jan’s poor parents had given her in marriage to the Nawab sahib, because, although somewhat ‘advanced’ in age, the Nawab was a very pious man.” (i) Comment on the use of irony in the above passage. (ii) Is Begum Jan’s marriage a factor that determ

Nawab Sahib is Begum Jaan’s husband. As a Muslim nobleman, he is head of a household full of servants and guests. He has a public reputation for being virtuous, but ironically, it is heavily implied that the nawab maintains sexual relationships with the various young male students who come to stay with him. Preferring the company of these young men, he ignores his wife's sexual needs and sequesters her to a section of the house. Chughtai implies that the nawab molested Rabbu's son, causing the boy to flee the house and refuse to ever return.