"Beena's so lucky!" "Her in-laws have sent her such a beautiful necklace" "Oh yes, it's really beautiful" "Expensive too" "Must be worth at least 50,OOO" "Chand, is it true?" " Absolutely true" "True?" "You realise whom you are raising head against?" "I'm not raising my head, father." "I'm merely asking for my right" "Sons don't ask their fathers for their rights" "Fathers give their sons their dues on their own" "You'll have to change your mind." " No, father" "Unless I see the girl's face, this marriage is not taking place" "You think of it now that you have arrived at the bride's house?" "Were you asleep earlier?" " l wanted to tell you earlier" "Talk softly. I know, you haven't taken a single step independently in life You've always done the bidding of others I'm not such a coward, father." " Had you not been a coward..." "you wouldn't have humiliated me like this in someone else's house Think about it, Chand." "How will I be able to say anything to Kedarnath?" "How will I tell him that my son wants to see your daughter's face..." "before he marries her." " If you can't..." "let's the bridal procession back." " The bridal process does not go back It's a sacred promise." "One would rather die than break it I was married too, and so was my father But neither my father nor I acted so arrogantly I trusted my father and my father trusted his That isn't happening anymore, father" "Times have changed." "We must change too I'm firm in my decision. I won't mary the girl unless I see her face Shut up!" "Rascal!" "There was a time when sons kept their father's promise even after he died" "And today, you humiliate me while I'm still alive?" "You can afford to be stubborn." "But I won't let that girl's life... be spoilt, who is dreaming of a new life ahead lf you want my honour to lie at Kedarnath's feet today... that's how it will be" "What is the matter?" "Say something, please" "Where is Chand?" " In the other room" "Squandering away his father's honour." " What does that mean?" "Mr Kedarnath, you are about to hear words from me today... that I do not have the sanction to utter" "But I'm helpless" "My son wishes to see the girl before the marriage" "What are you saying?" " l'm not saying it" "Nor is it the love of my son that makes me speak" "The young man is stubborn, Mr Kedarnath... and you know what a big storm it can unleash" "I did my best to make Chand See leaSOn" "But boys of the new generation go deaf when you talk of norms and mores Mr Jwalaprasad, something like this has never happened in our community If anyone gets to know, I'll lose face I've already considered that" "But if it doesn't happen, the bridal procession will return from your door" "This humiliation is nothing compared to that one" "You will be humiliated, so will I and our forefathers" "Beena isn't lust your daughter." "She's my child too" "My conscience is pricking me I'm insisting that my own daughter be put on display today lf only Chand wasn't my son." "If only I didn't have any issues... I wouldn't have had to see this shameless sight today" "Please go to Chand." "I'll do what I can" "You've done a great thing, my son" "You have done something that will make people will spit at my name" "Father... I've waited enough. I've seen what I had to from outside the veil" "But my eyes yearn to see your face" "Father, I like the girl" "Thank you, but I don't like you" "Father, this marriage will not take place" "Beena!" "What are you saying?" "Mr Chand did a nice thing by asking me to remove my veil" "He has been exposed in the process." "I can't entrust my life to a man... who sees superficial beauty as the way of life... who's only looking for a beautiful face... for whom a wife is no more than a commodity" "You saw my face." "You liked my features and nodded..." ""Father, I like the girl!"" "Why didn't you ty to find out what heart this prem-faced girl has?" "Father!" " Silence" "Please be calm." "You have come here only looking for a prem face" "So you'd rather listen to a few words from these prem lips" "You had come to get married, to settle down in life" "You wanted a companion for life, to spend your life in harmony" "But your words make it clear that you need not a wife... you need a beautiful face in a beautiful frame for your drawing room" "Bravo, my girl!" "I'm delighted!" "Although you're a girl, you have taught this arrogant chap a lesson... which will serve as an example to misled youngsters like him" "Father, do not play with my feelings lf l wish, I can find hundreds of girls like her wishing to lie at my feet Let's go, father" "So you've seen the girl?" "Are your eyes satisfied now?" "Now go and insert an ad in the newspapers... that you need a beautiful wife!" "See the girl first, my foot!" "I married your mother without even looking at her!" "The guests have returned!" "People poked fun at us!" "is this what I got you educated for?" "is this why I had you take lessons in music and dance?" "Father, you sent me to college so I could decide... what is good and bad for me." "You gave me the light of education... so I could find the true path." " Was this the true path... to dash your old father's hopes?" "To spurn your husband to-be...?" "and ruin your life?" " My life isn't ruined, father lt has been saved from ruin." "Think about it" "Could I ever have been happy with him?" "After marriage, if I had to return to your house again... what would you have gone through?" " Who knows about the future, my dear?" "But you don't know the consequences of what has happened today At the worst, no boy might be willing to mary me." "Right?" "I can make that much of a sacrifice." " You are mad How would you know what a burden a young, unmarried daughter is!" "Believe me, I will not put you" "through any hardships, father Won't you take off that bridal headgear?" "Flowers don't look good on a rat's face!" "Father!" " See the girl, indeed!" "What the hell is all this?" "What are you doing here?" "I'm putting the stuff in." " Go ahead This is an expensive necklace, sir." "Where must I keep it?" "So Kedarnath has returned the necklace?" "I never heard ofjewelley being returned like this The bridegroom has returned from the bride's door..." "see the girl indeed!" ""Father, I have touch your feet in the darkness of the night..."" ""to go away from you"" ""l'd have forever lived with you." "But the sight of me..."" ""would have caused you agony." "Had I been present there..."" ""people would have pointed fingers at you, because of me"" ""l know what you will go through, when I go away like this"" ""But with time, you and society will forget about my misconduct"" ""l assure you, wherever I live I will be the ideal Indian girl"" ""l will do nothing that will cast a slur on your fair name"" ""At evey step, your blessings will show me the right path"" ""Your daughter, Beena"" "What have you come here for?" "Raian hasn't come home for many days." "I'm told he's in jail lf you sympathise so much with him, rather you go to jail with your brother Do not be so cruel!" "I need your help Please help me!" " Lady, this is a decent man's house It isn't a home for the destitute." " l know what house this is!" "Of the decent man who plays with the heart of a poor girl..." "as if it were a toy, and break it For his selfish needs, he calls her his beloved Place a hand on your heart and tell" "Don't I mean anything to you?" " You are so naive" "Haven't you been able to figure me out yet?" "Pran has a rule in life." "A new suit, he wears just once" "New boots, lust once." "And..." "Quiet, Pran!" "Don't forget, God is looking down at us" "On the Day of Reckoning, He will dispense justice" "Right?" "But I'll deal with it, when the time comes" "So why mustn't I enioy my life?" "Now just get going" "There are so many girls pining for their Pran" "Don't do this to a broken woman, Pran." " Enough of your rubbish!" "Get out!" "Do not be so cruel!" "I haven't eaten in days My brother's in jail." "Have mercy on me!" "So you won't listen!" "Just get the hell out of here!" "Done with!" "Darling Pran, who was she?" " A beggar" "She came to Pran's door to beg for his love" "Wow!" "Wow!" "Makardhwai, you're taking digs at me." "You are vey happy today?" "Rai-saheb, what a great portrait lt appears as if he were a Colonel or a General" "What a name your parents gave you!" "Idiot!" "Am I any lesser than a Colonel or a General?" "Lord preserve my virility!" "Evey lane I walk through... even wrestlers step aside." " The ruins do suggest... it used to be a grand structure." " Bloody prawn!" "Am I a picture of ruins?" " Youth is youth, Rai-saheb" "And old age is old age" "Lord preserve my virility!" "Old age is miles away" "Old fossil!" "If you ever want to ty my strength... summon a King Kong!" " How will King Kong compete with you?" "You are the strongest man in India." " Bravo!" "You're a vey nice man!" "Step closer, Makardhwaj." "Look..." "whenever you want any money, do not hesitate to ask me, okay?" "You may go now" "Welcome... welcome, young man!" "You will see the girl indeed!" "So have you seen one?" "Father, don't be under the illusion that there's a dearth of girls for me" "Someday, my wife and your daughter-in-law's picture... will be published right here." " And why not?" "What dearth of girls for you?" "You're young, tall, handsome... and whose son are you after all?" "Rai Saheb Jwalaprasad... a rich retired contractor, who has returned from Burma!" "Whatever, father!" "In lust a few days, you'll see... a beautiful girl will walk into your house as your daughter-in-law" "The sight of whom will make the Moon hide, the stars break... and cause an earthquake!" "King Rat!" "See the girl indeed!" " Poke all the fun at me, father" "But I'll bring home a girl who's more beautiful than Beena" "Maybe you'll find a girl who's more beautiful than Beena" "But not you, not even your father can find a girl with such a nice heart" "Had she become my daughter-in-law, my life was made!" "And my life was ruined!" "My joys were all over" "You say that because you don't have her, son." "Sour grapes!" "Not your mistake, father." "Old age has driven you senile" "Go away, piss off" "God bless my virility!" "Old age is miles away!" "My mother died when I was still a child... and my father went away, sick of povem" "My brother's in prison." "So you tell me... what could I have done?" "Death was better than the life I lead" "God gives us life." "And only He has the right to take it away I don't blame you, but why didn't your brother take care of you?" "Couldn't he earn an honest livelihood?" " Don't blame him, sister The things he has done to stay alive!" "He went around looking for iobs..." "for days, he lived in penuy with me." "But hunger drove him to desperation And he turned to crime." " Rather than steal..." "or commit suicide, it's better to die in penuy Had there been only a setback or _o in life, maybe I wouldn't do that But I had other reasons too." " What reason?" "Do not ask me, please." "That must remain a secret I want to keep the secret buried in my heart A secret like that...?" " You've given me a new lease of life It would be a sin to hide anything from you." "So, please don't ask I'm not being stubborn, Roopa." "Just promise me..." "that you will never think of suicide again You and I will live together and face whatever happens If you are with me, I can even de_ death My dear Roopa!" "Relax. I'll go" "and get something for you to eat Why won't you go away?" "You have been released Don't you hear that?" " l do, but you haven't heard Before I leave, I need a cigarette and a match to light it I need a cup of tea to drink, and fare to take a bus-ride home For a shave..." " Don't talk rubbish This is a police station." "It isn't a hotel or a restaurant But it sure is a hotel for me." "Where eveything lands before me..." "without even asking for it." " Shut up!" "The fun I find in the confines of those four walls..." "I can't find in the free world outside!" "You are worried here about what I eat And out there..." " Shut up!" "The world is a big jail and this is a small one But they sure are jails." " Shut up See you again," "if God brings me here God will give you a bountiful!" "Please give me a penny!" "A penny!" "You're young and able." "Aren't you ashamed to beg?" "I'm in trouble, lady." "Have mercy!" "May you always have plenty!" " Get lost!" "One penny!" "What sort of a lob are you doing, watchman?" "How do filthy people like her get here?" " Move it... go away!" "Mercy..." "You're not hurt, are you?" "Get up" "Here you are." " May God bless you" "Go and find something to eat" ""Society for A Better Woman"" ""Helping women is our duty"" "Frauds!" "Can't you see?" " Forgive me, Bawa (bawa=Parsis)" "Where am I headed today...?" "My hat!" " Your hat...?" "Friends of the poor, our biggest patron Mrs Mithaiwala... who has donated 5001 rupees for the upliftment of women... and a gold medal for the best programme for the day... has something to say to you." "Welcome, Mrs Mithaiwala" "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not a rich woman... I'm a poor woman." "But I can't bear to see atrocities inflicted on the poor lsn't that right too?" "I want all women in the world to be happy" "They must get good food to eat, good clothes to wear lsn't that right too?" "The 5001 rupees I have donated is towards this end... so also is the gold medal for the betterment of the poor I want you all to work for the upliftment of the poor" "To ruin someone...?" "Sory!" "To disappoint someone is a grave sin ln whatever form you pray to the Lord," "He'll bless those He has to What more will I say to you?" "Pray to God that I get lots of money... so that I can use it for the help ofthe needy women" "An unnamed lady wishes to perform an item for the poor" "Who is it...?" "You?" "I was told you were arrested." "So what's new?" "The police took me away... and when they couldn't find any evidence against me, they let me go" "Brother, I don't mind povem." "But give up this sinful life" "What sinful life am I living?" "When I'm hungy... I ty and remain patient." "But there's a limit to someone's patience" "My hunger shadows my eyes and I see someone's pockets stuffed with money" "And then, I go mad." " Stop it, Rajan" "You must give up this madness for your sister's sake!" "Starve, till you find an honest meal." "Be patient!" "And when you can't take it anymore, give up your life!" "No... don't do that!" "It's God who gives us life" "What's gotten into you, Roopa?" "Looks like you're famished" "Wait till I go and bring you some food" "Where will you get it from?" "Do you have any money?" "Money is always earned l didn't have money to pay for my bus-fare home" "But God can't bear to see the suffering of His devotees I met a sympathiser who let me have his motorcycle" "And I'll find a sympathiser now who'll provide us a meal" "Friends of the poor, for the best performance of the day... this medal donated by Mrs Mithaiwala goes to... your name...?" " Videvi lt goes to Miss Videvi." "Here you are" "Can I interview you for my paper?" "Sory, I'm an anonymous girl." "I'm not good enough to give interviews You're being too modest... where do you stay?" "I have yet to buy a place." " But you do stay somewhere?" "Yes, I'm staying at someone's place faraway from here No sweat." "The newspaper has given me a motorcycle There's the motorcycle..." "Now quietly go to your owner" "Hello, Khan-saheb" "Where's the 1000 bucks you owe me?" " 1000 ?" "Over there" "Over there?" "What does that mean?" "Just that I don't deposit my money in a bank. I keep it in a gambling den!" "Gambling den or anynrhere, I want my money with interest." "Now!" "Now ?" " Yes, now." "And here" "What sure?" "I want my money." " In that case... let's have a round of cards." "Either square it, or double it" "Don't talk rubbish!" "You borrow money and also poke fun at me?" "Strange man!" "Does anyone ask for money on the streets?" "Come to my house." "I'll treat you to some tea..." "No tea!" "I want my money!" " Money?" "What does that mean?" " Keep this motorcycle" "When I have the money, I'll take it away from you" "Now that's something!" "You seem to be an honest man" "Undoubtedly" "Someone took my motorcycle away." " Nice" "Your bike...?" "Over there" "Two days ago, a ladies organisation bought this medal from this vey shop" "Yes, it's the same organisation that rewarded me the medal for a performance Those who win medals in a prize, don't sell them They preserve the medals." " What's that to you?" "Give me the medal." " Sure." "We don't buy stolen stuff Could you give me a ride?" " Why ask?" "Make yourself comfortable Can't you see where you're going?" "Please don't be angy." "Accidents do happen in life" "Such accidents are vey rare." " What do you mean?" "People do fall off motorcycles, but always at the wrong place" "Some fall in gutters, some fall in heap of garbage I'm glad I fell..." " Be thanMul your life is saved" "You're the one I must thank." "It was you who saved my life" "Mister, come on!" " Go ahead" "This is where l had to get off!" " So this is your junction?" "A medal!" " Give it to me." "It's mine" "Yours?" "It's vey nice." "Looks like it's gold" "Prem heavy too." "Why do you keep such precious stuff like that?" "There's no dearth of pickpockets." "If someone snatches it... you'll be left rubbing your hands." "I'm sory." "Here you are" "Excuse me..." " Yes?" "You appear to be an honest man." "Can you help me sell this medal?" "You want to sell this medal?" " l've been tying for so long" "No one's giving me the right price." " Give it to me I'll get you the right price." " Thanks" "Wait here. I'll go with the medal and come back with the dough" "What are you looking at?" " It's vey nice, vey prem... but the gold is adulterated." " Adulterated, my foot" "That's the usual stuff." "Tell me what it's worth" "You are vey old customer for me." "And honesty, is my motto lt must be worth 24 rupees and 16 annas" "Has the price of gold fallen?" " That is the price in this market" "Here you are" "My luck is reaching for the skies today" "Luck?" " Yes lf luck's on your side, you get all the moolah" "Moolah!" "Twenty" "Fom" "Eighty" "Another blind" "Don't gamble against 3 aces, Raian." "You'll get killed" "9, 10 and Jack." " Don't touch it" "Let the money remain there." " There it is." "Take a look" "Lord!" "Three" "Three" "Three" "Well, three-aces?" "I could turn soil to gold today" "Sure, you've made gold." "But I'm a dead man" "Don't be a dead man, feller..." "it's God who gives us life" "I don't understand this" "What do you want?" "How much is the sweetmeat worth?" " 3 rupees for a kilo" "How much do you want?" " l want to 2 sears" "Ganpat, 2 sears of sweetmeat." " But I don't have any cash" "Give me a cheque in that case." " l don't have the cheque either" "That's okay." "Give me your address." "I'll have the money collected l'm an outsider." "You can keep these ear-rings I'll collect them tomorrow." " Don't say such things, my child" "For 6 rupees, am I going to take away your ear-rings?" "It's all right." "Take the sweets, I'll have my money later" "Thank you." " What for?" "Here's another 5 rupees." "Maybe you need to buy something else too" "You do need money in an unknown city." " Thank you vey much I don't need to buy anything else." "Your kindness is enough for me" "Wow!" "Laddoos!" "Tell me the truth." "Where did you find the money for the food?" "What a question!" "Don't you know what my business is?" "Oh yes." "You must have gambled." "What else can you do?" "Where did you get the money to gamble?" " Want the truth?" "Don't be angy My victim was a prem girl today." "She was vey lucky for me So you picked her pocket?" " Girls cary a purse She was tying to sell a medal and people thought it was stolen I helped her sell the medal." " And you betrayed her?" "I wonder what hardships the poor girl is facing I speak the truth. I didn't want to deceive her, when I sold the medal But the moment I got the money, the devil in me..." "took me to the gambling den." " Shut up!" "I can't eat this food Believe me, sister. I forgot all about that girl when I won Maybe she's still waiting for her I'll go and give her the money and her medal too" "A thief... but a good man at heart" "So much of food?" "Who brought it, Roopa?" "My brother came the moment you left." " Your brother?" "Yes." "Your arrival brought back my brother and quenched my hunger too" "Hury up" "Looks like you've been in luck today." "Or else, who buys back sold stuff" "So give me 50 rupees and take away the medal I'll give you a tight slap!" "It's just 25 rupees" "You've been an old customer and you know, honesty is our policy" "There's a difference be_een our purchase and sale prices" "Damn you..." "You act smart with me?" "You don't know, I charge interest for evey minute" "And it's hours and minutes since you sold the medal to me" "Calculate that and give me 50 rupees" "No delay... the interest will mount" "Honesty is your policy?" "Bloody rat!" " So it's you!" "Inspector!" "Why did you take the trouble?" "You're in trouble." "You're going to the police station with me" "What is my crime?" " Selling stolen goods" "But this medal wasn't mine, Inspector." "Am I right, Gangadhar?" "Why drag me into all that...?" "Sort it out be_een yourselves C'mon." "Move it!" "Me too?" " Yes you too" "That which the Lord wishes, always happens" "That which the Lord wishes, always happens" "Where's the other guy?" "So you're hiding?" "Even a criminal has a sense of shame, I see" "Yes, that's how it is." " Do you recognise him?" "Yes, he's the one." " Yes, I'm the one I'm the one who stole her medal." "Well?" "What's my punishment ?" "Inspector, please do not pay heed to what he says I myself gave him the medal to sell it away" "Yes!" " Yes, Inspector" "This girl speaks the truth." "I vouch for her truthfulness" "Constable, set him free" "You may go now." " Thanks." "But I'll keep coming" "See you again, if God brings me here" "Not you." " No?" "No." "Go on inside." " Thanks" "Shut the door, constable" "Thanks for your sympathy." "And I thought you came to have me punished" "You were wrong." "Now go home and ty to find a decent job I tried finding a decent iob earlier." "I'll ty again" "When I committed a theft, I wasn't punished" "And when I wanted to atone for my wrongdoing, I was caught!" "Hats off you to, God!" " Didn't you meet the girl?" "She was the one who had me released" "She arrived there and got me released." " Where is she?" "She came... and she left." "She must've been an angel What are you telling me?" " Roopa..." "Come, Beena." "Where have you been?" " Beena?" "You?" "She's the one who gave me a new lease of life, brother Beena, this is my brother." " Oh yes, brother for you And a thief for her." " What is the matter?" "It was her medal, Roopa." "Strange games of destiny I didn't know, I was deceiving a sympathiser Forget what has happened." "If you truly regret your sin..." "you are not a sinner anymore" ""The ticking of the clock clearly tells me..."" ""another moment of my life has now been reduced"" "Strange wheel of life, I say lt isn't drawn by the bulls either." "But it flies by like an aircraft" "True." "Which is why I want Chand to get married at the earliest" "Who knows when the wheel of your life might come to a standstill" "What did you say?" "My life coming to a standstill?" "Have you considered who will give you your pay, if I die?" "Don't say such ominous things, sir." "Death be to your enemies I was talking about life..." "because you're an old man" "Don't talk rubbish!" "I'm no old man!" "God preserve my virility..." "old age is miles away" "Death be to your enemies, Sir." "You're still a child" "Even if I'm not into my childhood, I'm surely into my youth lf l still take someone's hand, he cannot free himself" "Splendid thing you've said." " Great!" "You're a nice man" "Come closer." "If you ever need money, ask me for it." "Don't feel shy" "Father..." " Come on in young man" "See the girl, indeed!" "Seen one?" "I've brought the bride, father." " l don't need a bride" "You want me to mary at my age?" " What are you talking about?" "My bride!" "Your daughter-in-law." "Give her your blessings" "Giriia..." " Girija..." "That sounds more like a church" "She?" "She's my daughter-in-law?" "He's my father-in-law?" "is she the one you've married?" "Chand, is this old man your father?" "Yes, this old man..." "Had I known my father-in-law was so old... I'd never have married you!" "Had I been young, wouldn't I get married too?" "See the old man?" "I've come straight from the airport" "Congratulations." " Thanks, thanks" "Excuse me, he's not going to introduce us" "Let me introduce myself." "I'm Pran" "Who I am and what I do, you need not know" "The truth is that I haven't had a better friend than Chand" "Nor has Chand found someone better than me." "Right, Chand?" "You're right." "Girija dear... go upstairs and rest." "I've got to have a word with Pran" "Nothing private... but we'd like a bit of solitude" "What brings you here?" " The same old reason" "Times of inflation." "Low income and high expenditure l need lust 5000 rupees." " Just 5000 rupees!" "I haven't a mint at home, Pran..." " For a young man... his old father is the mint." "You're the only son... you'll get whatever you ask for." " l can't pay you right now, Pran" "No?" "You will pay me." "You surely will" "Are you using force?" " Not at all." "What force?" "You know, I'm a man of peace." "I don't raise my hand at anyone" "You know the name of this magic?" " l'll bring it at once 5000, right?" " For the moment" "My magic from Bengal!" "Here comes 500O" "Here's the 5000." " A gift for your wedding" "People normally give on weddings." "But friends like me take gifts" "That reminds me of something" "Keep the old man in good humour." "You must always have his blessings lf you ever have a tiff with your wife, send for me I know of ways to sort out marital fights" "All right." "Go away now" "You didn't have to give up the joy of having a father" "But I had all that, and yet I had to leave the house" "Why did you do that, Beena?" " That's a long stoy" "Suffice it to say that I left the house... with lust a few clothes and my father's blessings" "My revolt is no doubt an act of a stubborn girl... but it's also a challenge to the waynrard young men" "Who is it?" "Ramu?" "What is it?" "Nothing new." "It's the same old stoy" "Where will I bring money for you evey day?" "Why do you need the money now?" " The biggest of the needs is hunger" "The _enty rupees you gave me, I spent on my daughter's illness" "We don't have any provisions at home, sir" "Now look, Ramu." "Don't ever think that I'm one of Bombay's rich men I myself look to others for help" "Here you are." "And ty to find a job, okay?" "Vey well" "Who was he, Raian?" " Someone in trouble, like us" "Where did you get the money you just gave him?" "Wherever." "Why are you bothered?" " You didn't have a penny this morning Why get angy?" "Just tell her where you got the money from What will he tell me?" "I know it." "He must've been gambling again Gambling?" "So you gamble too?" "Yes, I do Not because I'm greedy for wealth." "But I've got into a habit You will kill someone and say you're not a killer That you've got into the habit." " Do not embarrass me I had to gamble." "Or else, where would we have got our provisions from?" "How would Ramu's daughter have got her medicines?" "You think Ramu's daughter has recovered?" "You have given her poison, not life-saving medicine Since I'm staying here, I'm bound to find a lob You will also find some work and Roopa will manage something too We'll turn this house" "into a little heavenly abode How's the lady?" " Incomparable Good in English too" "Well, lady?" "Do you know any song and dance?" "Yes, I have been trained in singing and dancing" "Terrific!" "So let's see a glimpse, Chhagan." " She's good, sir" "Have a contract typed and give the lady an advance" "That's all right." "But what's wrong in seeing what she's like?" "Nothing wrong." " Get the harmonium then" "Not the harmonium." "Get me a taanpura, please incomparable!" "She's classical!" "But forget classical stuff, lady." "Let's have something racy" "Like, "Enioy life, the world belongs to you"" "Chhagan, you've gone mad." "Let the lady sing of her own accord" "Fantastic!" "Splendid!" "What a voice!" "You're a nightingale!" "God bless you!" "Bless you!" "Chhagan, have a 3-year contract signed for the lady" "On a retainership of 1000 rupees and 24-hour job 1000 rupees?" "You're a fortunate lady" "The earlier actress started at 100 rupees and died at 90O" "But you're making a beginning at 1000 rupees!" "Chhagan, the lady's classical." " All the way!" "Forgive me, I can't sign the contract today" "What's the problem?" " It's not a nice day I'll come tomorrow." " Chhagan, the lady has left" "All the way!" "Terrible times!" "A grave sin!" "Come here..." "I haven't seen such shamelessness in my life!" "Lord!" " What happened?" "A sin!" "A grave sin!" " What happened, sir?" "It's that lady in the house." " What's happened to her?" "She's the one things are happening to." "Sir, those whose night begins at midnight, start the day at noon" "She's the modern daughter-in-law." "She'll wake up at ten... take a bath at _elve, and at 2..." "What?" " It's the strange name... the lady calls her afternoon meal." "May God bless your virility... it's a strange name..." "Oh yes, "loonch!"" "Moron, it's lunch." "Not "loonch" !" "Bearer, get me cup of tea" "Father, send for some more tea." "This one is for Girija" "Listen here!" "Is it written on the tea that only Girija can drink it?" "Must be feminine stuff!" "Ass, if anyone saw you in this state, he'd never believe you're the son... of Rai Saheb Jwalaprasad, the moneybags, who has returned from" "Burma!" "He'd rather say you're the son of a butler!" "What have you started so early in the morning, father?" "Should I rather start it in the evening?" "Moron!" "How would you know what hopes I had pinned on you When you were born, I threw a pam for half of Rangoon You remember?" " Oh yes." "Vividly, too When you first went to school... I distributed sweets from Burma to India indeed!" "Sweetmeat vendors in Burma built huge mansions" "When you completed your matriculation, I had aims given away..." "at temples, mosques and churches!" "Did I do all that to see my son..." "becoming a waiter for his wife?" "She keeps snoring in bed..." "and you run to her service with a tray in your hand!" "Father!" "This is the limit!" "Whatever you say to me, I will tolerate it" "But do keep quiet about my wife!" "Why must I remain quiet?" "She isn't just your wife" "She's my..." "daughter-in-law too!" "That doesn't mean you must poke fun at her" "What fun will I poke at her?" "She's a bad joke anynray" "Chand, let the old man babble away." "Come on upstairs with the tea" "Sinful times!" "A daughter-in-law calls her young father-in-law an old man!" "God preserve my virility!" "Old age is miles away" "And I won't become an old man because that sparkler says so" "What are you doing nowadays?" " l'm doing nothing I'm looking for a lob, however." " You're looking for a job?" "It's true. I was offered a lob at a theatre, at 1000 rupees a month" "You turned it down?" " Yes. 1000 rupees is a big amount" "But there is something bigger." "My self-respect" "Devi, I understand." "It's our good fortune that you came here on your" "own Our society needs someone who will organise art programmes..." "and also train these girls." "Are you 400 rupees?" "This is more than the 1000 rupees I was offered" "This iob offers respect, money and the satisfaction of service" "It's time for the show, Raian." "Just fifteen minutes left" "Will you drive faster?" " Okay" "Stop, Raian!" "You're a stubborn girl!" "How will you perform in this state?" "I'll do what I have to." "Or else, our organisation will get a bad name" "People will break the furniture in the auditorium" "People have started getting restless." " Won't they be livid... when you go on the stage with a face like that?" "You will fall on the stage!" "Let me perform in your place" "What will you do?" " Don't wory I'll make them laugh and cool things down" "Brothers!" "Friends!" "Buddies!" "I'm here to say something in your own welfare" "Could you tell me why you folks have come here?" "To see Devi dance!" " Exactly!" "I too want you to see Devi's dance performance" "Why won't we see it?" "We've bought tickets!" "India's leading dancer Devi will perform a dance" "Please be seated" "Lallu's mother!" " Yes?" "Open the door!" " First tell me your name!" "I'm your husband." "Shivcharan Das" "So you're drunk again?" "Damn you!" "I haven't drunk any liqour I've merely sprinkled some on my whiskers" "God!" "Save me!" "Open the door!" "I'm feeling cold" "Unless you give up drinking, I'm not opening that door!" "It's almost four and Rajan hasn't arrived" "Don't tell me!" "The watches of Switzerland could go wrong" "But Raian will never forget the time" ""l fell in love with the bottle..."" ""sure was a bad thing to do..."" ""all I have at home now is fights and arguments"" "Hello!" " Welcome, buddy" "You're the one we were waiting for." "I swear... my luck is terrible today." "Ty yours, come on" "Sit down." " Deal me a hand!" "I'm going to blow you guys away!" " Really?" "Let's see the money." " Here you are" "How are you feeling?" "Did you have the medicine?" "Medicine?" " It's lying as it is" "Where's Raian?" " Rajan?" "I went to sleep." "He must be somewhere around" "He doesn't care for his ailing sister." " So what's new, Beena?" "But why did he leave you in this state?" "What was so important?" " He alone knows what he does I thought he had given up his old ways But a disease that has taken over the system..." "cannot be cured so soon" "Till now, we only reasoned with him." "But that's not working" "Roopa, I'll return in a little while." " Where will you go, Beena?" "It's futile looking for him." "He must be at a place... which isn't safe for you to visit." " l'll go there too" "Maybe he'll be ashamed to see me at a place like that" "You think I'm a kid?" "This is not my card" "Come to my senses, Raian." "I never make a mistake" "And my eyes can't be deceived either." " Forget it, Rajan" "You're mistaken." " l know you, Pran." "Look" "Eight and nine." "The third card is a Queen" "But this isn't my card." "That one is mine" "The one this rascal swapped." "It must surely be a ten" "This prince is now claiming to be a victim" "As if he could close his eyes and tell us the whole stoy lf that's how it is, Iet's open the card" "Take a look!" "It's a ten!" "The _o of you are hand in glove." "Return my money to me!" "Or else, I'll lay your bodies here!" " Here's another Hitler, I say!" "Raian, you mustn't blame others because you can't play" "Even if what you say is true, it doesn't mean we're cheats" "You are indeed a cheat!" "Whatever I have lost is because you've cheated!" "Return my money to me!" " Shut up!" "Raian, come with me" "The Goddess of Beauty?" "At this place?" "Raian, I've won a lot of money today" "But I wouldn't regretted losing either" "What a figure, what a face...!" "I thought you had come to the right path" "But what I saw today tells me... that even if the world changes, you will not change lt's true that I haven't changed." "But I have really made the effort" "What good is an effort that does not succeed?" "If an ailing man dies despite getting the best of treatment... it's neither his fault, nor the doctor's" "Beena, ever since you have come into this house... I have done my best to give up my bad habits" "But despite my good intentions, at the stroke of four... my feet start moving towards the gambling den" "My heart tries to stop me, it shackles my feet" "But my brains break the shackles." "I'm not bad at heart lt keeps telling me to reform." "But my dim mind kills the feelings" "It was a dream" "How I wish it were true" "I'd rather have married a lamp-pole than getting married to you!" "Both of us would've been happy then." "Your airs and dad's stick... I'm sandwiched be_een the _o of you!" " Pran..." "you're such a wicked man to be angy with a tender wife like her You've got to take care of such fragile things Where did you spring from?" "I'm but a slave of yours." "Like servants... come to you for rewards on festivals, I too come calling once in a while I'm broke nowadays, Chand." "If you could help, it'd solve my problem" "You're not getting another penny from me!" "So that's how it is?" "The jackal turns into a lion?" "Chand, you know I wield a magic wand... that can turn the lion into a jackal again." "Look" "Put that in your pocket." "I'll go and get it" ""Secrets of Marriage"" "The moron!" "Pran, I've brought a necklace." "Go away before my wife comes here" "What will I do with a necklace?" "Your wife's necklace!" "That's all right I want money, even if you sell your wife's necklace or your old man's ring Your wife after all." "Whom will she help, if not you?" "Here's your book of secrets." "What insolence is this?" " No insolence." "It's tea I can also see it's tea, but why interrupt my shirsh-aasan?" "I have heard of so many aasans..." "but what's a shirsh-aasan?" "How would you know what shirsh-aasan is?" "It's meant for youngsters like me." " Strange I've heard of an animal which hangs upside down at night" "Are you comparing me to a bat?" "Ass, you don't know... shirsh-aasan is a boon granted by sages and saints" "When I was a young man..." " You mean you're old now" "God preserve my virility." "Old age is miles away I mean, when I was vey young, I did 101 push ups evey morning I used the heavy club 50 times." "And 180 minutes I spent in shirsh-aasan Later, I'd have over a litre of cow milk, buffalo milk and goat milk..." "in all, more than 3 litres of milk in one gulp Guess what I ate with the milk?" " What?" "Ass!" "No tea after a work- out!" "After a work out one eats almonds." "I used to have 101 almonds... ground on a white grinding-stone" "Not even the devils eat so much, sir!" "With that much... it would explode a man's size." " Explode it...?" "You are so naive!" "You are a kid, you are hare-brained" "As a result of my work-out and diet... I defeated the strongest of wrestlers in the world, at the age of 18" "Guess who?" "Mirza Abu Baig of Turkey." "Don lebesko of England..." "Ching Chong of Korea, Ming Mong of Manchuria... and Ping Pong of Persia!" "I slayed all of them with my bare hands!" "And then came the one..." " Who?" "He came at me like this, I advanced like this..." "He kept a hand on my neck, I held his neck too... I shook his hand off and went for his neck... he tried the same, and his neck broke" "Tell me his name." " Don't ask. I held his head... pressed him to the ground with my knee on him... I gave him a heave, and it broke his spine!" "Tell me his name." " Don't ask" "He then came for me, so did I... I grabbed his hair and pulled." "It came unstuck." "He went bald!" "What was his name?" "His name was Dara Singh" "C'mon!" "That's foul!" "The fourth round of the bout" "Two" "Three" "Four" "Five" "Six" " Start the count again" "Seven" " Start again" "Water..." "Sir, do you want me to get cow, buffalo and goat milk?" "My throat is parched and you're thinking of milk?" "Get me water!" "Do you want me to get 101 almonds?" "You want to kill the old man by feeding him so many almonds?" "What farce is this?" "This is a bloody wrestling ring!" "Listen sparkler, don't talk too much lt's my house." "Not your father's." "Go and get some water" "Oh yes, give him a bucket full of water" "Waiting for you has taught me a lesson lt's dusk from dawn, and yet you haven't come" "Greetings." "Please sit down" "You've probably never heard of me noi Seen Me I can't remember anything." " How will you?" "You're a Goddess of Art." "And I'm merely a devotee of your art" "The Goddess can forget her devotee." "But the devotee... sees his Goddess all the time." "Lest you think I'm flattering you... it's true that not even death can stop me from attending your performance Thanks for the admiration." " l present my salutations..." "and also wish to say that I haven't come here for my selfish needs It's your talent and your love... I mean, your love for your art... I wish to present you something vey humble for that" "It isn't humble." "It looks like a vey expensive necklace" "Oh yes, it's vey expensive." "But why must you wory about that?" "It's lust a token of appreciation." "Please accept it" "Excuse me, but this necklace, Mr Jwalaprasad...?" "What a thing to say!" "It couldn't belong to any Tom, Dick and Hary lt belongs to the family collection." "In Queen Victoria's time... my grandfather had four Englishmen make it for my grandmother" "Perhaps someone called Jwalaprasad has an imitation of this necklace lt's the age for duplicates." "Anything goes" "Beena..." " Excuse me, I'll be back in a moment" "What is it, Roopa?" "I must go, Roopa." "Someone is waiting for me" "Chand...?" "Jwalaprasad...?" "You...?" "Welcome" "Please sit down." "Maybe you think, I'm still a bachelor" "You will be disappointed to know that I'm the husband... of a girl far prettier than you are." " Congratulations to you" "Maybe your wife is prettier and more fashionable than I am" "But beauty for me means something else" "You may build castles in the air." "What can I do for you?" "There's a secret I need your help to shed light on" "My help to shed light on a secret?" "Am I a detective from Scotland Yard?" "No, you are the culprit" "Do you recognise this diay?" " How did you get it?" "Stay away from me" "How did this land with you?" "What have you to do with him?" "Thanks, I don't need to know anything more." "Good bye" "You can't take the diay away!" " See the girl indeed!" "Seen one?" "Bless you!" "In my house...?" "God brings her to my house." "I gape at her and... my son." "See the girl indeed!" "Sit down, my child" "Well?" "What brings you to this house today?" "Fortunate for me to have a virtuous girl like you set foot in my house!" "Makardhwai!" "Get tea, coffee..." " No thank you I was passing by and just dropped in I'll come again some day." " Bless you, but you must surely come" "Treat it like your own house" "My diay?" "See the girl indeed!" "Chand!" "I'm ruined!" "I've been robbed!" "Listen to that, you do have ears" "Look at that, you do have eyes" "Here was this girl." "One glimpse of her... told me that she was an angel." "And there's your madam Girija" "She's calling you all the names in just a moment" "Chand!" "I'm ruined!" "I'm robbed!" "See the girl indeed!" "Where is it?" "What's happening here?" "You act as if you are possessed!" "This is no time for iokes!" "My necklace has been stolen" "How could it be stolen?" "You have the keys to your cupboard" "Has the earth swallowed it?" " How would I know?" "I've looked eve_here." " l'm glad it has been stolen" "That necklace was worn by goddesses like my mother and grandmother" "You were not worthy of it!" " Chand dear... the necklace has been stolen!" "I'm sure your father has sold it" "He doesn't want me to wear it!" " Keep this sparkler on a leash" "How dare she accuse me of theft in my own house?" "A baker's daughter points a finger at me?" "This is gross iniustice!" "After Bengal and Bihar, to raise money for the charity fund..." "Devi performs here in this city" ""Devi's love affair"" "What insolence is this?" "Who are you?" "Tell me, who gave you this news about Devi?" "I can't tell you!" " Shut up!" "If you don't, I'll wring your neck!" "Don't be angy." "Please sit down." "Should I send for some tea?" "Just give me the answer to my question!" "What's the answer, sir...?" "I'll give you all the evidence" ""Ways to Peace"" ""Come to me, O slumber..."" "Coward, scoundrel!" "Speak up now!" " Let me go, else..." "Else what?" "You'll call the police?" "You'll be dead before they arrive!" "Let me go, I say!" " Sure, I will" "Father!" "Giriia..." "See the fun of giving Beena a bad name?" "is there any other false news you can give the editor?" "Thief!" "Thief!" "You've turned this house into a race-course!" "He was out to kill your son!" "Why don't you call the police?" "Why are you standing silently?" "Are you a thier Were you here to rob or kill someone?" "I'm not a thief." "I was here to take revenge... from your son for slinging mud at an innocent girl" "What's all this about, Chand?" " Nothing, father" "So what's the fuss...?" "Nobody's calling the police!" "No one cares for my Chand!" "Shut up, girl." "There's no need to call the police" "Leave him alone!" " Don't!" "He's a bandit!" "He should be hanged!" "Leave him alone, I say!" " Thanks" "What a difference be_een father and son" "Why did you let him go, father?" "Are you out of your mind?" "He was never in his senses go to mad now!" "Girl!" "Watch your manners." "If I lose my temper... you'll lose the bread and butter you get in your bed evey morning" "See the girl indeed lt's a small wound." "It'll heal soon" "Why did you have to risk your life for my sake?" "Do you think I value my life more than your honour?" "I don't want any big amount." "I need just 5000 rupees" "Days when you could blackmail me are gone, Pran I'm not giving you a penny." "I have seen that letter with Beena" "Remember, Chand. I'm Pran." "I'll have that letter back vey soon" "We'll see when that happens." "You may go now" "Want me to show you the door?" " You talk back at me?" "Don't be silly. I can take 5000 from you even without the letter" "What is the matter?" "I will leave now, Chand." "I'll deal with you later" "What is the matter?" " How will I explain!" "Problems and problems..." "I wonder who will get us out of this mess" "Problems for you." "Not for me." " You are part of it too" "Don't wory." "You take your Giriia to be an innocent doll lf l wish, I can make the mountains bow to us" "Mountains are for mountain climbers, darling" "That letter with Beena looks like Everest to me I wonder what that letter contains to make you wory so much" "Whatever it is, I'll take that letter from Beena" "Beena is no kid, darling." " Neither am I I could make a thousand Beenas dance to my tunes lf you could do that, life would be fun!" "We'll have all the happiness!" "You...?" "I don't understand" "You came and left like a storm yesterday I'll explain that later." "Where is my diay?" "Your diay...?" "When did you give it to me?" "Don't pretend to be innocent." "My diay got left behind yesterday" "Strange diay that gets left behind when it wishes to" "Are you talking about the leather case?" " Yes, that's the one I'll fetch it immediately." "I wondered who had left it behind Here you are." "Isn't this the one?" "Where's the diay?" " Which diay?" "Do not ty to fool me, Beena" "Watch your tongue, Mister." "You can't speak like this to someone in his house Why would I go through" "someone else's belongings?" "Forgive me, maybe I've forgotten it somewhere else I'll find the diay." "Where will it go?" "See you again" "Strange man!" "But why did he leave so suddenly?" "Maybe he was scared of you." " Me?" "What has he to do with me?" "Do I scare people away?" "I don't understand this, Roopa" "My life was always run by other people" "Especially the rich I couldn't understand why you were sympathetic to me the other night" "Young man, behind that sympathy is a painful incident in my life" "The moment I saw the injuy on your arm... I was reminded of the days when I was a contractor in Burma" "I was away from home one evening, when my house caught fire" "Only my wife and my only son were at home at that time" "What happened then?" " The fires were e_inguished" "But my wife was killed I could save my son's life with great difficulty" "He had an iniuy like that on his arm too" "When I saw blood flowing from that injuy... my heart felt so much anguish, I still haven't forgotten it" "That's the reason." "Whenever I see someone's injuy... I am reminded of the iniuy my heart has taken" "You do have a compassionate heart which understands others' feelings" "There is still humanity in the world" "Please grant me your leave now." " Do drop in sometimes, son" "Good bye." " Good bye" "What are you reading so intently?" " Alibaba's tales I'll read it out to you some day." " Really?" "Know a secret?" "During our days of romance... I got my hands on a diay in your house lt has the effect of magic" "But that diay is now with your cunning friend" "To get it back, I'll have to pretend to be in love with you again" "When the time comes, I even call an ass my father" "Roopa, you must forgive me for my mistake" "Roopa, it is the return of the prodigal" "My life is an album of sins." "There is no trace of goodness I have committed a thousand sins, the worst of them being... the betrayal I handed out to a goddess like you" "You have always treated me like God." "You have worshipped me" "But like Satan, I spurned your worship" "But I'm not the Pran of old." "The devil is dead" "Forgive me, dear..." " No lf you really forgive me, it'll give me peace" "Pran, you are my lord and master." "Do not touch my feet I belong at your feet, Pran." " No, Roopa." "You are a goddess" "Do not call a fiend your lord and master" "Give me a curse." "A curse that will turn my sinful body into ashes" "No, Pran!" "When I am born again, with a new soul... I will appreciate your love." " For my sake, don't say such things I have love for you." "I can't cure you" "You are my lord." "You are a goddess of compassion" "And I'm scum from the gutters!" "If you do believe my love... here's proof of it." " What's this, Pran?" "It's the gift of my love that has now awakened lt's so beautiful." " Give it to me I'll personally make you wear it" "Reminds me." "Do you have a proper safe to preserve such precious jewelley?" "Of course, Pran." "Look at the wonderful safe we've got" "How is it?" " Wonderful I needn't wory that the symbol of my love will be stolen by someone" "You have a bad cough, Pran." " It's the punishment... for betraying a goddess like you!" "Water... warm water!" "My magic wand!" "Even water from a goddess is like elixir" "One sip, and the cough has disappeared" "Grant me your leave now." "I'm vey happy today I have my wish" "Makardhwai!" "Where the hell are you?" "The barrister still hasn't arrived!" "Yes, sir?" "." "He should be coming any moment." "But why do you need him today?" "Are you fighting a case?" " A serious case" "What happened?" "What else?" "Come closer" "You are a loyal servant." "Don't tell anyone what I'm going to tell you I'm going away to Kashi." " When will you come back?" "I'm not coming back at all!" "I'm renouncing the world" "Renouncing the world at such a young age?" "Makardhwai, you are the only one who appreciates my youth" "The truth is, I'm fed up ofthis world of sinners I want to live at a place where there is no one else" "Makardhwai, come closer." " Sure I've seen enough of this farce. I only want to chant the name of the Lord Praise the Lord..." "Greetings, sir." " The lord is here!" "Barrister?" "I've been waiting for you." "Please take a seat" "Anything important?" " This is vey important, barrister" "Makardhwai, get some coffee I want to make a will." " Why do you need to do that?" "You have an only son." " Good morning, barrister" "Why did you come here without my permission?" "Can't you see I'm at some vey private work?" "I'm having my will made." " What for, father?" "Who the hell are you to ask me?" "Go and polish your wife's sandals!" "See the girl indeed!" "Barrister, I wish to bequeath half my wealth to an orphanage" "My bank balance must go to Makardhwaj" "One third of the other half must go to Chand" "Father, such a small share for me?" " Shut up" "Else, I'll give you zero!" "See the girl indeed!" "One third of the half must go in making a gym for budding wrestlers" "So that no weak-minded and weak-kneed children like Chand are born again" "Father, what's gotten into you?" "You have no idea what it'll do to us!" "I know what's going to happen!" "With my money... you will see a few English films, take your wife to the ballroom... and when it's all over, you'll love on air" "You will then think of your father." "In tears!" "Father, I need your support." "I'd be ruined without you lf l don't renounce the world... your wife is going to make my old age miserable" "God preserve your youth." "Why do you say such things?" "Makardhwai, it slipped out of my mouth I'm sory, barrister." " That's all right" "Mr Contractor, do not be hasty." "Think it over" "He's your only son" "What if I had _o sons like him?" "Keep your sympathy to yourself" "Quietly prepare the will, collect your fees and leave" "Vey well, sir i'll have the will prepared in a day or _o" "All right." "Good bye" "Are you here to meet Beena?" " Yes." "Isn't she there?" "She's away at the institute." "Is it something important?" "It is vey important." "I must meet her" "Where did you get that necklace?" " Mind your manners." "What's it to you?" "Tell me quietly who gave that necklace to you It's my necklace." "Why must you bother who gave it to me?" "I'll tell you why I bother." "Tell me his name first!" "Who the hell are you to ask me?" " Tell me his name quickly..." "or I'll be the worst yet!" " Go to hell!" "You can act smart in your house." "But remember..." "if Chand has given you the necklace, I'll drag you to court!" "I don't know who Chand is." "To hell with him Why must I care about him?" " Don't ty to fool me What have you to do with Chand?" " To hell with Chand and you It's Pran who gave me this necklace." " Pran?" "How did the necklace" "land with Pran?" "I'll fix you!" "I'll fix him too!" "Madam!" "At my humble abode...?" "Welcome l have urgent business with you You come to see me for the first time, on urgent business Please be seated." " l want you to answer a question You will have the answer." "What is the question?" "I want to know how my necklace landed with you Your necklace with me...?" "What are you tying to say?" "Don't ty to evade the question" "How did my necklace fall in your hands?" " l wish it had fallen in my hands But you never gave me the golden chance Don't you know anything about the necklace Roopa has?" "Roopa...?" "Nice name." "is it a girl?" "So you don't know Roopa either?" " l don't know anyone of that name Madam, I'm not as intelligent and cunning as your husband Mr Chand He has the numbers of all the girls." " What do you mean?" "Obviously, you are vey naive, despite being so modern and simple Your husband Chand is a womaniser of the first order You're blaming my husband for" "You ought to know that your husband's true name is Dosharoof" "Despite being a married man, he's blowing up his father's money on" "women There isn't a girl in town he doesn't flirt with Chand must surely have given Roopa the necklace you're talking about Oh yes, he has squandered away" "all the iewelley of his family I'm sory, despite being the lady of the house..." "you can't save it from destruction." "I'm vey sory for you What is it, Beena?" "Did someone come here after I left?" " Yes, Beena." "He was here" "Who's he?" " He... how will I tell you" "Ever since you have arrived, my life has changed" "Raian is giving up his bad habits... and the love I had lost has come back to me" "The love you had lost?" " Have you forgotten?" "I once told you about Pran?" "He has come back to me" "And you brought him into this room to show him evey nook and corner" "Beena, have I made a mistake?" "I've never seen you so angy" "No, Roopa." "What I mean to say is that when a man comes into our loom..." "things ought to be in order." "Look at the things lying scattered He doesn't pay attention to all this." "He's a vey broad-minded man He surely must be." "I'm going out Don't wait for me at dinner" "Take this!" " The diay?" "Wow!" "Take this, this and this..." "I don't need anything you gave me!" "I spit at your wealth and riches!" "A hundred times!" "Tell me what happened?" " l don't even want to see your face" "You keep following me around... and behind my back, you gave the necklace to Roopa!" "Roopa?" "Which Roopa?" "I swear, I don't know any Roopa!" "I know it all." "You know evey Roopa in town!" "I'm sure someone has instigated you." "Don't lose your senses like this!" "I don't know any Roopa, nor am I seeing any girl" "Did my necklace fly to her then?" " l was the one who gave it away" "But it was to Pran, not to Roopa." " To Pran?" "Yes, where could I have found the huge amount he was asking me for?" "You mean, it was Pran who gave that necklace to Roopa?" "I can't understand what this is all about" "Why are you so scared of Pran?" "What secret does the diay hold that you want to hide at any cost?" "My necklace goes from Pran to Roopa, your diay goes from Pran to Beena" "What the hell is all this about?" "Wow!" "It was devastation let loose!" "I thought you were a Goddess of Dance" "Now I realise, you are also a Goddess of Music I swear it on your beauty, I've heard a million songs... but this was a class apart" "While you sang, my heart was being lit up" "You are embarrassing me I'm not such a good singer." "I only keep tying lf you call that tying, what would genius be?" "I must say, I have never seen such a combination of beauty and music" "God must've crafted you with great care" "Hats off to you, Creator!" "Hers is one face... and mine is another." "The ugliest of beasts" "Don't say that." "A handsome, outgoing and lively man like you... is found one in a million." " Thanks for the lavish praise" "Whatever God has made, I wonder why girls don't find my looks appealing" "How would a gem know what it's worth?" "It takes a true jeweller to know one lf only someone asked my heart..." " What this feeling is all about lt's the desire that stabs at my heart" "What happened?" "Not a cold, is it?" "What a terrible cough!" "Looks like my praise went to your throat" "No, it's a punishment" "Water..." " At once" "A bit warm" "Sory for the bother" "Police Station." "Hury up!" "Where's Beena?" "Where?" "She's not in" "Now listen, Shambhu." "If you want this place to remain... and want to preserve my name... find Beena from wherever she is and lay her at my feet" "Raian, Beena's life is in danger" "Pran was here lust now." "He's gone to kill her with a pistol" "Pran, where's Beena?" "That's a question I must ask you." "And you're asking me?" "Skip the iokes." "Tell me..." "where have you hidden her?" "I've hidden her?" " Yes." "Tell me where's Beena?" "Else, I'll kill you!" " You'll kill me...?" "I'm glad to see you that you're not as weak as I expected" "The death of a brave man is like mamrdom" "Be prepared to be mamred" "Inspector, I've been waiting for you for a long time" "You're here at last." " Yes, I've been waiting for you too" "Move it!" "Why don't you arrest him?" "He's a kid compared to you." "The student comes after the teacher" "So it was all his doing." "The rat" "Don't touch me" "You think I need your sympathy because I've been arrested?" "There isn't a woman who can do a favour to Pran" "Beena, now I understand where you were I am thanMul to you, I've been arrested because of a beautiful girl" "Repeat after me: "l have nothing to do with the material world"" ""l have nothing to do with the material world"" ""l hereby renounce this material world and go unto the Lord's feet" "l hereby renounce this material" "Sir, take me along!" "What will I do in this world without you?" "The status of an ascetic not evey living being can have" "May the Lord be praised forever" "Praise the Lord!" "Praise the Lord." "My fee?" "Where will I give you any fee from?" "I have renounced the material world" "But my fee?" " l could have given you... before I renounced the world." "I now beg in God's name" "My lot is to take alms, not give any" "Jwalaprasad, I inspired you to renounce the world I agree." " l'm a Brahmin, your Guru" "Unless you pay your Guru his fee, you will never find redemption I don't agree" "Jwalaprasad, have you really renounced the world?" "I started the moment I received your letter" "Please sit down" "Why did you think of giving up a settled life and doing this?" "I had no other way" "My son talks back to me... my daughter-in-law calls me "Old man"... I thirst for a cup of tea right till the afternoon... and my son plays bearer to his wife and flits around her lsn't it better to leave the house and turn an ascetic?" "Welcome, barrister" "Here are the documents, sir" "Greetings." " Bless you" "Read the documents and sign them, Mr Kedarnath" "This will has been prepared after a great deal of thought, Mr Kedarnath" "Will....?" "Hold it" "You...?" " Beena!" "Come in" "Father I'm sory, but I have to ask you something vey important" "Go ahead." "What is it?" "Did you live in Rangoon earlier?" " Yes" "Did you move to Africa, after your wife's death?" "Yes." " Before leaving for Africa... did you leave your only son with a close friend?" "Yes." "But what is all this about?" "Because war had broken out, you came directly to India from Africa lt's true." " Where was your son then?" "In Rangoon, with a friend" "After a year, I had my son brought back to me" "And you thought the child was your son?" "Nonsense!" "Won't the father accept his own son?" "Calm down, Chand." "Go ahead, my dear" "You've been kept in the dark." "You have been betrayed" "Chand is not your son" "What do you mean?" "Why're you jealous of us?" "Girl!" "Be patient" "Beena, how can you prove it that Chand is not my son?" "ProoR" "This diay will bring the facts to light" "Keep reading." "You will get to know the truth" "What is the proof that this is indeed an authentic diay?" "The one who wrote it is missing." "Jwalaprasad..." " Who is it?" "Who are you?" " An unfortunate man... you know vey well, but someone you can't recognise" "My name is Naraindas" "Yes" "Naraindas!" "You are alive!" "What state are you in?" "Beena, this is my friend from" "Rangoon!" "Tell me the truth, Naraindas." "Did you really write this diay?" "Tell me..." "Yes, it's a diay of my black deeds" "So isn't Chand my son?" "Why did you betray me?" "Why?" "I'll explain it to you, my friend." "When you went to Africa from" "Rangoon..." "war broke out in your absence." "Panic had gripped the whole city People started running helter skelter to save their lives I took your son and my children to leave Rangoon empty-handed In the ensuing confusion, your son was separated from me My wife died in the bombardment" "For _o years, I suffered." "I had neither food nor shelter" "When peace returned to the city, I went back to Rangoon" "Someone from India had come to take your son back to you I thought, that if I told you I had lost your only son... you would go through hell I saw off my own son, who was of the same age, with that man" "Chand is not your son." "He's my son!" "I know what you're going through" "But I was only being a good friend." "By giving my son away... I wanted to save you from a rude shock" "But destiny willed otherwise I raised the money to come to India and boarded a ship" "On board were a lot of orphaned children..." "Whose parents were dead in the war." "On the ship, I found your son again" "Found my son...?" "So why didn't you send him to me?" "Answer me, Narain!" " l brought him to your doorstep I thought I'd seek your forgiveness for lying earlier... and return your real son to you." "However... the moment I reached your gates... lt's my son's birthday." "Keep it here" "Here you are, son." "A motor car l'm so happy to have found my son again lt's all thanks to the kindness of my friend Naraindas" "Forgive me, Jwalaprasad." "I have changed my mind I'm taking your son away with me lt was a moment of weakness I thought my son would be vey comfortable with you I was human, I made a mistake." "For my son's bright future, I took your son back with me" "And God punished me severely for my sin l suffered greatly to provide for the children I was deeply in debt" "The children had grown up." "And one night... I left them in God's care, and went away" "This state you see me in is because of my evil deeds!" "Naraindas, this is the last thing I expected you to do" "Tell me, where is my son?" "How is he?" "Take me to my son." " Have patience" "Your son is right here." "Rajan..." "Come in" "My daughter!" " Father!" "Father!" "In this state...?" "Where had you gone away?" "Raian, don't call this sinner your father I'm not your father." "Your father is Jwalaprasad" "My daughter!" "I've seen many clever men going astray... but the secrets of God, only He knows" "Wait!" "Where are you going?" " To hell" "What have you to do with us?" " Really?" "You've been harassing me for 25 years I spent my younger days worying about you ln this old age, I had my whiskers shaved to renounce the world" "My lovely whiskers!" "And you want to go away...?" "Set the luggage down!" "And don't you ever tell anyone that I'm not your father." "Get that?" "A friend's son is like one's own son" "Forgive me." " Forgiven" "Brother Raian... forgive me" "Me too." " You too?" "Wonderful!" "The cat expresses regret!" "You are forgiven too." "But remember... you will give up your western ways" "You will be the true Indian woman." "Like Beena" "Bless you" "Mr Kedarnath, it's time to fulfill the promise I made to you" "Do you agree?" " How can I disagree?" "Don't get a vagabond like me married to Beena I'm not worthy of her." " Vey rightly said" "Evey decent man's son considers himself inferior to others" "But my son, Beena can't find a better husband than you" "And you will not find a better wife than Beena I'm so happy today!" "I feel as if my young days have returned to me!" "Who could be luckier than me?" "Two sons." "Two daughters-in-law" "Two friends." "And a goddess-like daughter" "Vey soon, I will be a grandfather too!" "Sir, my fee... ?" " Fee?" "What fee?" " l've made you renounce the world" "Hey Makardhwai!" "There you are. I renounce hermitage and return to the material world" "Only the hair and whiskers are missing." "What say, Makardhwaj?" "Absolutely!"