"Hello?" "Hello Miyage, you can hear my voice?" "Hello?" "Hello..?" "Dear Senomoy, I was waiting for your letter." "Ever since I send my name to the magazine where you find it.." "..I am expecting a letter from India." "Yes. I will accept to be your pen-friend." "The meaning of my name is gift." "I could not pronounce your." "Can you teach me?" "Yours sincerely, Miyage." "Dear Miyage, thank you for your letter" "Yes, my name is very much difficult to pronounciate.." "..unless you are a Bengali" "..what I am." "My mother tongue is Bangla." "In Bangla, Sneha is meaning affection.." "..'moy' means full of." "So, 'full of affection' is the meaning of my name.." "..which is the same as affectionate." "Dear Senomoy.." "Thank you for explaining me the meaning of your name." "is beautiful." "I have been rolling my tongue like you say.." "..and practice to pronounce it.." "..but it not easy!" "I do not know if I am affectionate.." "..as because I am all alone in this world except for my Mashi." "That is Bengali for..." "Auntie... ..which is mother's sister." "My Mashi is bringing me up.." "..ever since my parents are killed by floods in the river Matla." "She is very affectionate towards me." "She makes me eat very carefully.." "..and I think I am also affectionate towards her." "Japanese!" "Japanese!" "No, no!" "No touching now!" "Watch it from afar.." "What's she sent in this huge box, the Arithmetic teacher's wife?" "Don't touch it." "Don't touch it" "Mr. Mailman, do tell!" "What's in it this time?" "A bomb!" "Haven't you heard the old rhyme?" "Do re mi fa so la ti." "The bomb, my dears, is Japanese." "Inside the bomb a cobra." "Waits to strike the Britisher!" "Do re mi fa so la ti The bomb my dears is Japanese inside the bomb a cobra Waits to strike the Britisher" "Careful!" "Don't ram it against anything!" "Hurry now!" "Hey boatman!" "Come on, let's go." "Be careful." "Be careful." "This way." "Let us pass brothers, let us pass!" "Where has it come from, the box?" "Japan, where else?" "Where else do Snehamoy's 'gifts' come from?" "Guess what's coming to your house!" " What's the matter." "A huge box!" "From Japan." "They're bringing it to the front door!" "Good heavens!" "What's she sent now, my niece-in-law?" "Umi!" "Khendi!" "Quick!" "Wash your hands!" "Hurry up!" "It's a huge box, the boys said!" "Help me carry it indoors." "Oh dear!" "Here already?" "Hurry!" "Hurry!" "Be careful." "You may fall." "Come this way. this way." "Be careful!" "You may fall!" " Japanese!" "Japanese!" "A plus B whole square is equal to.." "A square plus 2 AB.." "Mr. Teacher!" " plus B squa.." "A word with you please.." "Yes?" "Come this side..." "Sir.. another one's come!" "Meaning..?" "Meaning from Japan, sir.." "Oh!" "From Japan..?" "Oh yes, sir!" "From Japan all right." "Saw it on the ferry with my own eyes." "A huge box!" "Japanese." "Headed for your house." "Thought I should come and tell you.." "might be important like as not.." "Yes, I see.." "Well.. you were quite right to inform me.." "Much obliged, I'm sure" "Quiet!" "Quiet!" "Aren't you going home?" "Sit down!" "Note down these questions please." "He's seen the blackboard!" "My English ability is not so very good.." "..so it is difficult to me to express everything properly." "In fact, I am having to consult dictionary.." "..so that I can translate the Bangla words I am thinking.." "..into English in order to write to you." "You can think in English or you are also having to translate.." "..from Japanese when you are writing?" "Please tell me about yourself." "Are you having any brothers or sisters or any pets?" "Yours sincerely, Snehamoy." "I have one brother which is ten year older than me.." "..mean that he now twenty-eight.." "no, no, twenty-nine!" "He live in Yokohama, and work in a big store." "My father die last year, and so my mother.." "..and I live by our self in an old family house.." "..which we don't have money to repair." "I run a little family store from our home.." "..as my mother too ill to work ever since my father died." "What is your river Matla like?" "is it very deep and wide?" "I become very sad to hear about your parents." "I have always been very curious about India." "My father go there once for kite festival." "Kite-making his hobby." "I have dog as pet." "My brother name him Haiku." "A Haiku is a very short poem." "My brother say.." "..my dog finish before he start." "M." "Dear M.." "The Matla is a strange river.." "It is bringing out different emotions in me at different time." "Sometimes, like now, it is all swelling.." "Now is the season of rain.." "It is called monsoon." "Matla is dangerous in monsoon." "There is very much stomach diseases.." "..and also malaria everywhere, which is a disease from mosquito." "When you are having malaria, you shiver and shiver.." "..and your spleen is swelling up." "You can even die!" "I had malaria three times already, but did not die." "After monsoon is getting over, Matla is calm." "When I am going home during my holiday.." "..I like to stay by the bank till late evening at night." "My aunt is scolding for that but I am not paying attention." "I like to listen to the water lapping.." "..and thinking that my mother is talking to me." "You know, Miyage, I feel so strange!" "In my whole life.." "..I am never being able to talk to anyone as I am talking to you." "Look out for the dance in the cinema!" " Ok, let's go." "Get ready quickly!" "We are getting late." "What's this!" "You will change your clothes now?" "Look at him!" "He even sleeps with his text books!" "Dear S.." "You know, I feel same like you!" "People say I am so shy that I cannot make any friend." "My only friend is you." "It's closed?" "Let it be." "Dear M.." "Dear S.." "Dear M.." "Dear S.." "How quickly three years have passed!" "I have been writing to you every week." "You know, I have had to take on some tuition work.." "..in order to pay for postal expenses.." "Now listen, Senomoy.." "..this time I send to you a Polaroid camera.." ".. to take picture of your aunt and your home and send to me." "Please read manual carefully." "There is English section which you can understand." "I am so sorry." "I look and look, but cannot find.." "..Bengali manual in any Japanese store." "Mashi!" "Sneha, is that you..?" "Oh dear!" "Statue!" "Stay like that." "Don't move at all." "What's that?" "You are taking my photo?" "Where did you get that gadget from?" "Not a gadget, Mashi, it's a camera." "A Polaroid camera!" "Want to see some magic?" "Watch.." "Enough now!" "Don't have to waste your precious phillim.." "..on an old woman." "Come inside." "I have something for you.." "Mashi please!" "The word is 'flim!" "' Not 'phillim!" "' Say 'flim.'" "Come on, say "flim!" "' Say 'flim!" "'" "Full of beans in front of your old Mashi, aren't you?" "And yet you shrink like a worm in front of outsiders!" "Come on inside now!" "Dear M, ..this time when I went home to my village.." "..a funny thing is happening." "My aunt Shoi's daughter came to visit." "I suppose you could say that She is my aunt's God-daughter.." "..because Shoi means bosom friend." "This is Sandhya." "See how lovely she is?" "Mashi wants to get me married to her." "So she was brought to our house for me to see." "But I could not see her face though I tried very hard!" "She was so shy that she kept her face lowered all the time." "Now, Senomoy, I must tell you something very important." "I.." "I like to offer myself to you as your bride." "Please tell your aunt I will make a good wife." "If you accept, we will be marry." "Dear Miyage.." "..I am sorry that I have taken so long to answer.." "..but the fact of the matter is.." "..that I was considering your proposal very carefully." "I am not opposed to the idea in principle.." "..but I have one question." "How?" "I am not having any money to pay for a ticket to Japan." "I have already told you that after my graduation.." "..I have joined the local high school as arithmetic teacher.." "I have calculated that at the present rate of exchange.." "..my salary comes to approximately $ 100 only." "As an alternative measure, you could come.." "..but I do not know whether you would be comfortable in my village." "We are having only one lavatory here and that is also Indian style.." "..where you have to squat." "S." "Why are men so stupid?" "They think about unimportant thing only." "Important is that we have both agree to get marry." "How silly you are!" "Please don't worry about lavatory." "We have many same kind of lavatory in Japan." "Mamma" "In any case, I cannot come to India right now.." "..because my mother not well.." "Come when you can.." "..or I will come when my mother little better." "But in the meantime let us be marry, ok?" "I am send to you a silver wedding ring.." "..with my name engrave on it." "And what about you?" "I am sending you one pair conch shell bangles." "It is known as 'shaankha'." "Also a packet of vermillion powder to wear in the parting of your hair." "It is the sign of marriage among Bengali women." "You must never take them off, Miyage!" "Blind or what?" "You can't even walk properly?" "Excuse me!" "Sir...?" "Not blind!" "Newly married!" "See?" "is that you Sneha?" "Come here." "Your Shoi-ma has come to visit with Sandhya." "Sh-h!" "Quiet!" "Where are they?" "I haven't come here yet." "Go back!" "Remember, I am not home yet!" "Go!" "Oh dear!" "I must be seeing and hearing things these days!" "You can come out of hiding now." "They've left.." "What was all that drama about?" "You don't like Sandhya, is that it?" "We'll have to order a 'Princess' for him!" "I.." "I'm m-married already.." "What!" "What did you say?" "Married already!" "A love marriage!" "When?" "L-last year." "Last.." "In Calcutta?" "Secretly?" "I'm not allowing any old girl into my home, just remember that!" "What's her name?" "Well?" "Doesn't she have a name?" "Miyage." "Magi...?" "Miyage." "Mi...?" "What kind of name is that?" "What caste is she?" "Brahmin or Kayasth?" "Japanese." "Mashi!" "Mashi listen!" " Enough!" "She's a v-very good girl..." "My dear husband, when this reach you.." "..it will be our fifteen wedding anniversary." "I am send to you traditional Japanese kite.." "..which used to belong to my father." "Remember you had once told me that on your fifteen birthday.." "..you had master art of kite-flying?" "I like to think that maybe if we had a child.." "..he would have learnt to fly kite by now.." "Kites!" "That's what she's sent him in that huge box for their fifteenth wedding anniversary." "Here " "Have this medicine." "Whoever heard of a wife sending her husband.." "..kites for an anniversary?" "Everything about them is weird, I tell you!" "Here, have some water " "Goodness!" "Fifteen years already?" "Of course!" "And in all these years neither of them.." "..ever managed to visit the other." "Her mother's ailing, you see." "Lives with her daughter, she does." "Why?" "That's what I'd like to know!" "She has a married son who has a good job.. why not live with him?" "Why deprive the poor girl of her husband's home?" "My nephew's just as bad!" "Very well, you go and visit your wife then.." "I've told hime a hundred times!" "But its always, "Later Mashi.." "..when you're keeping better health."" "Better health?" "At my age?" "And now?" "Fifteen years have gone by.." "Letters are all very well for them.." "..but what about grandchildren for me, huh?" "Can't make babies through letters you know!" "But she's a good girl, my nephew's wife." "Look, look!" "A chemise from Japan, see?" "..woollen shawl for me.." "..hand-knitted socks for Sneha.." "..sends such useful gifts every year." "So attentive to all our needs!" "Dear Miyage.." "I could not think of what to send you for our first marriage anniversary." "In the end I am deciding on a Bengali sari.." "..and these flowers." "They are called Champak and is my favourite." "I hope they will retain their fragrance by the time they reach you.." "Happy anniversary, my dear!" "Hello.." "Hello.." "Miyage..?" "This is Snehamoy." "No, no, not Cinema.." "Snehamoy, your husband.. from India!" "You can hear me?" "Hello..?" "Hello..?" "Alright." "Actually, I am telephoning as because.." "..I am wanting to wish you on our anniversary." "No!" "No!" "Not university!" "Oh dear!" "Anniversary!" "That is to say, marriage anniversary!" "Yes!" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Hello..?" "S, I do not know what you mean.." "..by enteric fever when I read your letter." "Then I look up dictionary." "It is infection of intestine!" "My goodness!" "I go and tie Ema in temple immediately.." "..with a prayer for your good health!" "How much are these?" "Hey mister!" "Would you like to come with us?" "No." "Yes, yes, go to them, Senomoy." "I know you want to." "But don't come back to me." "I can do without all that!" "And is that why your letter take so long time?" "Because there is other distraction?" "I don't want those women, Miyage." "I am wanting you only." "I am wanting you as a wife.." "I am wanting you to make love to you under the stars.." "..and under the moon.." "..under the sun.." "..under the sun.." "..under the roof.." "Ooof!" "Kaku!" "(Uncle)" "Doing push-ups?" "I'm Paltu." "Wait a minute. I'm coming." "We came here today." "That's my mother over there.." "Come and see.." "Come." "There!" "That's my mother." "Yes, that'll do." "Sneha, come down.." "My dear Miyage.." "..I do not know how you are going to react.." "..to what I have to tell you." "A young woman has come with her son to live in our home." "She is not a relative.." "..but my Mashi's best friend's only child, her God-daughter." "That shy girl that Mashi had wanted me to marry.." "..whose face I could not see..?" "Live here!" "What else?" "She's a young widow." "Her in-laws won't keep her.." "Her father left them ages ago.." "..her mother died last year.." "..where can she go a widow of her age.." "..with that fatherless son to bring up?" "Who does she have now except me, her God-mother?" "I've told her she can live here with us." "Look, I brought you up when you were an orphan." "Now it's your turn to bring up Sandhya's son, understand?" "You can't just write letters all your life.." "..and shirk all responsibility!" "But we've got only two rooms!" "To repair the other one.." "They can share mine." "There's just the two of them." "Remember the old saying:" ""lt's never a squeeze if your heart is at ease..?"" "Another piece of fish..?" "You may be wondering what she looks like now." "Please believe me that I still have not seen her face." "Only I have seen a figure in a white sari.." "..helping Mashi in her day-to-day work." "Hindu wives are always wearing borderless white saris.." "..after their husbands are died." "And they have to remove vermillion powder.." "..from the parting of their hair." "That is the custom." "Some are even shaving off all their hair.." "..depending on how much devoted they are to their husband's memory." "I do not know if Mashi's God-daughter has shaved off her hair." "Her head is always covered." "My brother go back to Yokohama yesterday." "I have never felt so alone." "First my dog Haiku.." "..and now my mother." "I like to go to you, Senomoy.." "..except I am not very well." "I will see a doctor soon." "And afterward, if I am little better, I come.." "I understand, Miyage." "I did feel the same loneliness many years ago.." "..when I sat by this burning 'ghaat'.." "..and watched my parents' bodies turn to ashes." "Come to me when you are well." "I will be here, waiting.." "Or maybe one day, in the end, I will come to you.." "..floating down this river like that sailing boat.." "Can't bear to look at you in this awful widow's white!" "Should I leave then?" "So that you don't have to look?" "Just listen to her!" "At least wear a sari with a narrow border!" "This is not your in-laws' home.." "..where you have to fear criticism!" "Mashi.." "Here " "Got this melon for you." "Where's Paltu?" "Paltu!" "Paltu!" "Kaku!" "Here.." "Mine?" "Got them for me?" "Yes, for you." "Ma!" "Ma!" "There's one other person in this house, Sneha!" "Got gifts for everyone except her?" "You have a heart of stone!" "Ma " "Look what Kaku brought for me." "Well, I .." "How would I know what's needed?" "Next time tell me." "Look, Ma!" "Kaku, your tea.." "Oh yes!" "Ma said to tell you.." "..that if you're looking for your matchbox, it's in that drawer." "Kaku!" "What are these?" "Which?" "Come and see!" "Come." "Here!" "See..?" "What's this?" "What are these, Kaku?" "They're so beautiful!" "See, how this one's got its tongue out!" "is that you Sneha?" "Look!" "Oh my God!" "It's those kites!" "The one's she sent on your wedding anniversary!" "He has gone and dragged out the whole box!" "He's gone and dragged out the whole box!" "What a naughty boy!" "You little brat!" "How dare you touch these?" "W" " What's this?" "How many time have I forbidden you to touch anything in this house?" "What's Paltu done?" "Mashi ask her to stop!" "He'll get hurt!" " Let him go!" "Have you taken leave of your senses or what?" "He's just a child!" "Kites are meant for boys of his age, not for his Kaku!" "They were lying forgotten in a corner.." "Good thing he's got them out!" "Don't cry, dear." "There's the kite season ahead!" "How would you like to.." "..fly these kites with your Kaku in the school grounds?" "A regular kite fight with the neighborhood boys!" "What fun that would be, would'nt it?" "Say something, Sneha!" "A kite fight..?" "Er.. why not?" "But we'd need abrasive for the lines!" "Of course, we'd need abrasive!" "Abrasive, lines, wheels.. everything." "It's going to be a big fight, isn't it, dear?" "Free." "Free." "Kites for free!" "Kites for free!" "Here... take them!" "Take them!" "You don't need to pay." "They are for free!" "Kites for free!" "Free!" "Free!" "Kites for free!" "But you have to beat the Japs!" "Think you can manage that?" "No one can beat Fatik Mondol at a battle in the sky!" "No, no, Fatik." "My cousin Khendi has been to Paltu's place." "Those are no ordinary kites!" "They're huge!" "And what colours!" "She says we've never seen the likes of those kites!" "Oh clam up!" "Stop talking rubbish!" "Wait till we're out in the field.." "we'll see who's seen what!" "Right!" "Out in the field we'll.." "..we'll take their pants down!" "This is a matter of.." "This is a matter of national pride, boys!" "India versus Japan, no less!" "Three cheers for Indian kites!" "Hip hip hurrah!" "Hip hip hip huraah!" "Louder!" "Three cheers for Indian kites!" "Hip hip hurrah!" "Hip hip hip huraah!" "Down with Japanes kites!" "Down with them!" "Down with them!" "Three cheers for Indian kites!" "Hip hip hurrah!" "Hip hip hip huraah!" "Workers over the world unite!" "Unite!" "Unite!" "Workers over the world unite!" "Unite!" "Unite" "Ouch!" "What happened!" "Goodness!" "What a deep cut!" "Come here, let me bind it with sugar to stop the flow.." "I'll do it myself." "Granny!" "Come and see this beautiful colour!" "Ruby red!" "Heard your blood-thirsty son, Sandhya?" "Wants to colour his abrasive with his mother's blood!" "Tall order!" "Sneha!" "Sneha!" "Leave those kites and come here." "Go, get a bottle of Dettol from the grocer's, dear.." "Why?" " Sandhya's cut her finger." "And get a packet of vermillion powder too.." "This child wants the abrasive to be ruby red!" "Thank you!" "Here you are sir.." "Here's your Dettol." "And here's vermilion powder.." "Vermillion powder..?" "Aren't they both widows at home..?" "Oh I see!" "Of course!" "Its for your wife in Japan!" "Here you are then.." "How much?" "Let me do it, Kaku!" "Please!" "I'll do it." "See how well they've begun to get along..?" "This is my favourite kite!" "Will you let me fly it, Kaku?" " l will." "A snack, everyone!" "Good God!" "Goodness!" "is that a kite or a canopy?" "It's swallowed up the whole f-ing sky!" "Yay..!" "You know.." "Just look at their faces!" "They're yellowing their pants after seeing our kite!" "What's it called sir?" "I know!" "I know!" "Baramon!" "Right, Kaku?" "Baromon..?" "Barmon..?" "Brahmon!" "A Brahmin!" "Brahmin?" "A Brahmin!" "It's a Brahmin!" "Hey Fatik!" "Sure you want to go on?" "Or would you rather head home with your tail between your legs?" "How dare he!" " How can he say that!" "No, you punk!" "A master reserves his tricks for the end." "Let's see what more you guys have up your sleeves.." "Give me that wheel!" " Why did you take it away?" "Give it to me." "Shut up!" " Give it back!" "How lovely they look!" "Look!" "The teacher's wife!" "Look!" "Look how good he's flying it." "The teacher's wife!" "Mrs. Teacher!" "Which one?" "Which one?" "Up there.." "See?" "The one with the fancy bun!" "Hey!" "Look!" "The Japanese wife floating in the sky!" "Wait!" "Let's cut his wife down!" "Here " "Take this one. lt's a good fighter!" " Sure?" "Of course!" "Take as many kites as you need.." "Here, launch this one " "Go on!" " Here hold this.." "Sir!" "Sir!" "Save your wife!" "Take this.." "Release the line!" "Release!" "Release!" "Now pull!" "Pull!" "Pull it!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "We cut it down, Kaku!" "Worthless!" "He's good for nothing!" "No matter, boys!" "We'll die fighting!" "Now for the final trick of the master, eh Fatik?" "." "Out with the 'Fighter!" "'" "What now, teacher?" "What'll we do, Kaku?" "Stop worrying.." "We have our fighter too!" "Ok, who can tell me.." "..which Japanese city was bombed during World War ll?" "Hiroshima!" "Nagasaki!" "Right!" "Here's our Nagasaki fighting kite!" "Get him, Fatik!" "Get him!" "Will they get it?" "The teacher's letting out yards of line, Fatik!" "Careful!" "Release more line, Fatik!" "Release more line!" "Release.." "Pull it!" "Pull it fast!" "Let go more line!" "Let go more line!" "Go for the kill!" "Kaku, careful!" "Move back!" "It's gone!" "Goner!" "Goner!" "Three cheers for Indian kites!" "Hip, hip, hurrah!" "Hip, hip, hurrah!" "Three cheers for Indian kites!" "Hip, hip, hurrah!" "Hip, hip, hurrah!" "..raze to dust!" "Raze to dust!" "The Japs agent's treacherous hand.." "..raze it to dust!" "Raze it to dust!" "Kaku.. your tea.." "What's the matter, Kaku?" "A letter from the Japanese aunt?" "Bad news..?" "I must tell you something, Senomoy.." "My doctor say I am sick, very sick." "Kaku!" " He has ask that I close my shop.." "..and go to live with my brother family in Yokohama." "I will be okay soon." "You mustn't worry." "But please send all your letter to my brother address." "Six months leave?" "This is somewhat unusual!" "is there a problem at home?" "Problem.. well.." "..my wife is very ill, sir." "Your wife..?" "Oh!" "Yes, of course!" "So you've decided to go to Japan then?" "No, sir." "That's far too costly." "Especially Now that there are two more mouths to feed.." "No, sir. I'll do what I can from here." "There is the local Ayurvedic healer.." "..he's reputed for working miracles." "And then there is my friend the pharmacist.." "..in the nearby town." "I'll try and send her medication from here." "I wouldn't be able to manage it after school." "But I've heard that Japan has advanced medical services." "What can you do from here that.." "Anyway, that's your decision." "But six months leave with pay won't be possible I'm afraid!" "I could allow two months at best.." "..but for the remaining four months.." "That's all right, sir, I'll take leave without pay." "But I'll be able to come back to my job, I hope?" "I have a lot of responsibilities, you see.." "How can I diagnose.." "..without checking the patient's pulse?" "Although doctors there have said.." "..that it might be Pancreatitis.." "..but still you know.." "..in Ayurveda.." "..we can tell just by feeling the pulse.." "..whether it's a case of gas, bile or phlegm!" "This is long-distance diagnosis!" "Anyway.." "..since you are so insistent.." "But I'll need to know some of her symptoms at least!" "No patient.. no pulse-count.." "..just a cure!" "is there a layer on your wife's tongue?" "Meaning, is the tongue coated?" "Sir..?" "The tongue?" "Yes, the tongue." "Coated?" "I.." "I'll let you know in a day or two.." "is the tongue.." "Coated." " Coated." "Anything else?" "What about her stools?" "What is the frequency of her bowel movement?" "Frequency.. of her.." "Bowel movement." " Bowel.. movement." "Next?" "is the breath stronger in the left nostril.." "..or the right?" "Sir..?" " lt's essential to know!" "'lda' and 'Pingala'.." ".. are the two nerves situated on either side of the spinal cord." "Without an understanding of their functioning.." "..it's impossible to diagnose the disease!" "Write!" "Does she inhale.." "..more.." "..with the left nostril.." "..or with the right?" "Left nostril.." "Or.. with the right?" "..the.." "Right." " Right." "Yes." "Greetings." " Greetings, sir." "Excuse me..er..how much for a call to Japan these days?" "Tokyo?" "No, Yokohama." "Depends. lf you can keep it short.." "Would you be talking long?" "Will it take time?" "Actually.. there were a lot of questions.." "All right, get me the line.." "Here's the number." "Just a minute." "Yes, it's ringing." "Go and pick it up." "Go and pick up the receiver." "Hello.." "Hello.." "Hello..?" "Hello!" "Miyage is there please?" "Yes." "This is Snehamoy." "No!" "No!" "Not Senegal!" "Snehamoy.. her husband.." "Oof!" "S-N-E-H-A-.." "Yes, yes!" "Snehamoy!" "Yes, yes, I am holding.." "Thank you." "Oof!" "Hello?" "Hello Miyage!" "It is you..?" "Look, Miyage.." "I have some questions." "Could you please answer them regarding your condition.." "..for the Indian medical practitioner here?" "Number one: is your tongue coated?" "Kote..?" "What you mean..kote..?" "Co.." "Coated..?" "Means.." "..er.." "layer." "Covering the tongue." "Lay.. are..?" "Never mind.." "It's..it's..er..number two!" "What is the frequency of your bowel mov.." "What is the frequency of your bowel movement?" "Hello..?" "Hello.." "Miyage..?" "Can you hear me?" "Hello..?" "Must have got disconnected." "Should I check?" "Yes, the dial tone's back." "Want to try once more?" "How much?" "Rs.1 42 and 20 paise." "Couldn't communicate properly.." "My English is not that good." "It's not so bad when I'm writing.." "..you know, with a dictionary.." "..somehow I manage." "Then you can put everything down in writing." "Do you have the fax number?" "I'm not sure.." "It says 'e-mail' here.." "E-mail?" "Oh, you won't find that in these parts, sir!" "Where's the power to run a computer here?" "You know how it is.." "..a bit of solar power or a generator at best.." "..managing somehow.." "A fax would be best." "May I take a look?" "Here!" "A fax number!" "Take this paper.." "..I see you have a list ready.." "Just write a letter." "In short!" "Let me see what your wife has written..?" "Hmmm..severe backache.." "She complains of a backache, eh?" "If only I could get a feel of her pulse.." "Where..?" "Here it is!" "The Yunani Clinic!" "Homeopathic Treatment Centre!" "Sounds like Arthritis." "Arthritis..?" "But her pancreas.." " Rheumatic Arthritis!" "Hypericum 200." "Works miracles for aches and pains!" "Here it is." "Rest assured." "This will bring relief.." "Well, I've heard her symptoms.." "..but what can I say?" "Firstly you ask for medication for an unseen patient.." "..besides, you're trying everything at once!" "Ayurvedic, Yunani, Homeopathy, Allopathy.." "What more?" "Maybe I should try going to Japan once.. what do you say?" "All said and done, I am her husband.." "Your cousin went recently, didn't he?" "Do you have any idea of the fares?" "Not too costly, I believe.." "My cousin flew Thai.." "..and it cost him about thirty-nine or forty.." "Thousand..?" "I have been taking the medicine you send.." "..very regular.." "..though preparing is meticulous.." "..and laborious process." "I cannot tell if any improvement yet.." "..but I am sure I will feel effect.." "..after sometime." "Kaku!" "A letter!" "From the Japanese aunt!" "Oh..give it here." "Give " "What do these black scribbles mean, Kaku?" "Your aunt's name." "Written in Japanese..?" "Yes." "They're called characters." "Villains?" "Character means a bad man, Kaku!" "They told us in school.." "..that villain means 'bad character!" "'" "What is Aunty's name?" "Miyage." "is this how she dresses?" "Like this doll..?" "Why did you marry a Japanese wife, Kaku?" "Don't you like Bengali wives?" "Miyage Aunty is a Japanese wife.." "..and my mother is a Bengali wife." "Isn't that right Kaku?" "A widow." "That means her husband is dead.." "..and she has to wear a white sari, right?" "My mother was saying that we'll go back.." "..to my father's house." "Why, Kaku?" "Ma keeps weeping when she's there.." "I don't like that house one bit!" "Why do we still have to go, Kaku?" "Run along, dear.." "I have to talk to your Kaku now." "Private talk..?" "What?" "Private talk?" "A secret?" "Yes, yes." "Whatever you say.." "Just go now, will you?" "Japanese wife.." "Bengali wife.." "Bengali wife.." "Japanese wife.." "So you're still sending her those herbs and roots!" "Does she take them?" " Yes, she does." "Indeed?" "And how is she doing after taking them?" "Fine." "You've got to do something for me.." "I'm not taking no for an answer!" "Do what?" "You have to be the chaperone for a trip to Goshaba..." "What do you want in Goshaba?" "Not me!" "Do I ever go shopping with my rheumatic back?" "You have to take Sandhya to the Goshaba market." "She wants to pawn her jewellery and arrange for some money." "Why?" "Anything the matter?" "Matter?" "What about the boy's thread ceremony?" "He's almost nine.." "High time for a Brahmin boy's Sacred Thread!" "So what if he's fatherless?" "He's not an orphan!" "If yours had been a real marriage.." "..you'd have had your own sons by now." "Wouldn't you have arranged for their thread ceremonies?" "But pawning jewellery!" "Why?" "Wants it to be a big affair, does she?" "Well, you can't leave out neighbours and relatives!" "We'll arrange for the feast in our courtyard.." "There have to be some occasions for celebration!" "Poor girl!" "Widowed so young.." ".. and besides, he is her only child." "And he's the only grandchild I'll ever have!" "How can we not celebrate?" "Don't you go saying no now!" "I was just wondering.." "er..should I be paying for the ceremony..?" "The 'should'-s can come later." "Just take her to Goshaba for now." "I'll just be back.." "How much?" "The pawn shops are all in that lane." "I'll just be a few minutes." "The attaché case.." "I'll wait here then.." "Alright." "Spicy-hot puffed rice for sale!" "Hungry?" "No need to have junk food now." "It's almost lunch time." "The bags..?" "Oh!" "I've found a cheap rice hotel that side." "See you.." "Fish." "They didn't realize I am a widow." "Shouldn't be wasted." "It would've gone waste." "Have we got everything..?" "Yes." "Hope Paltu didn't give Shoi-Ma a rough time all day.." "We should've brought him along.." "He really wanted to come, poor fellow." "That would've meant the end of our shopping!" "Ma!" "Kaku!" "Kaku..." "Paltu!" "Er..." "Paltu was saying something about going back to his father's house...?" "Well.. expenses have gone up.." "..and we're just an extra burden." "Er.." "We've reached our stop..." "Let me take those..." "Kaku!" "Letter from Japan!" "Let me see..." "Sandhya..." "Don't cry, Sandhya!" "You don't have to go." "You don't have to go anywhere..." "Don't cry..." "Please don't cry..." "Dear Miyage... I don't know how to tell you.." "..what just now happened." "I..." "I have caressed the widow who lives here with us." "Dear Miyage, I don't know how to tell you.." "...of what happened last night..." "Dearest Miyage, I don't know how you will react.." "..when I tell you of.." "I have to tell you, Miyage, of what happened last night... ..although I am fearing that.." "..you will never write to me again after this!" "But, as my wife, you have the right to know the truth.." "..even though you are ill." "Without complete truth.." "..these letters are not having any worth." "It is like our seventeen years of marriage." "is it having any meaning without these letters?" "If you never write to me again Miyage how will I be knowing how you are?" "How will I be knowing if anything has happened to you?" "You had started our marriage with the stroke of your pen, Miyage... ..Miyage." "...will you end it now with silence?" "Kaku!" "it's come!" "Your letter from Japan!" "Here " "Dearest S, I am still alive even though... ..I am very weak after my chemotherapy session." "Yes, my dear. lt is cancer." "But you mustn't worry." "Doctor say, there is fifty percent chance.." "..of survival and we must hope for best." "I have put all my medical document and prescription with this letter." "As my husband, you have right to know everything." "I have also enclose my will in separate envelope." "When time come to open this, I will be no more." "No, Snehamoy. I am afraid this is beyond any of the local doctors." "You'd better go to a good oncologist in Calcutta." "Onco.." "logist..?" "Cancer specialist." "Wait, let me write down an address for you." "Here it is." "Just look at the sky!" "There's a storm brewing!" "Must you go out today of all days?" "Have you taken leave of your senses?" "Sneha..?" "Sneha..?" "Sneha!" "Babughaat!" "Babughaat!" "All those for Babughaat!" "Babughaat!" "Babughaat bus stop!" "This is the address." "How much?" "75 rupees." "Go and sit there." "Dr. Dey's clinic." "Yes." "Miyage Chatterjee?" "Sir, Miyage Chatterjee's case." "Good afternoon, sir." "Miyage Chatterjee?" "Er..my wife, sir." "Where is she?" "You needn't remove your shoes." "Sit down." "Please sit..." "From what I see here, her treatment has to start immediately!" "Yes, sir." "But before that we have to see if metastasis has set in already." "Yes, sir..." "Meta...?" "..stasis." "That is, when the carcinoma begins to spread to other organs as well." "Meaning, we need to find out if the cancer has spread elsewhere." "If that's the case, I'm afraid I must warn you.." "..the chances of survival will be very slim." "But I have to examine the patient for that." "When can you bring her here?" "Well..?" "She's not here, sir." "Where is she?" "When can she come?" "is she in a condition to travel?" "Thank you very much, sir." "I wasted your time." "What's this?" "Your wife...?" "In Japan, sir." "In Japan!" "Sandhya..." "Has Sneha returned?" "No Shoi-Ma, not yet..." "Not yet." "Hello!" "H-hello..." "Miyage?" "Miyage, can you hear me?" "This is...this is Snehamoy speaking." "Senomoy?" "Yes." "Yes.." "I can hear you very clear." "How are you?" "I.." "I am fine.." "is good to hear your voice.." "Your.. your voice also, Miyage." "Today it is wonderful!" "Connection is good!" "Other day...don't know why..." "I..." "I could not speak properly." "is okay." "is okay, Senomoy." "You should not spend so much money... ..to make so many long-distance call." "Write to me." "Yes, yes, Miyage. I will write." "I am also preferring that." "When I write, there is no problem with my English." "When I speak how to explain... I became very much conscious...and... lt's okay." "English not my language also." "It's good to hear your voice anyway." "Yes!" "Yes...!" "Miyage, today I am very much disturbed.." "..that is to say, worried, actually." "About your health." "Please you can tell me there has been any metasta - One minute!" "Here it is!" "There has been any metastasis?" "Hello?" "Miyage, you can hear my voice?" "Hello..?" "Hello..!" "Oh, my goodness!" "Shoi-Ma!" "Shoi-Ma!" "Still over 103!" "Have to wash his head again... I've given him something to bring the fever down... ..but that's a temporary measure." "He needs antibiotics. immediately!" "Couldn't someone go across to the pharmacy in Goshaba?" "What about Fatik?" "He was the one who called me here." "Sure I could, Doctor." "but how?" "The ferry service is closed because of bad weather." "What's to be done then, Doctor?" "Be careful, what else?" "Pneumonia is easily treated with antibiotics these days." "It's only when fluid collects in the lungs that it's time to worry..." "There's clarified butter at home." "Should we massage some into his chest?" "That's what our grandmothers used to do before.." "..your new-fangled medicines came out!" "Oh dear!" "There now..." "Any letters...?" "The ferry service is closed, Kaku..." "mail's not coming in." "The post isn't coming in." "There's a red...envelope..." "on my desk..." "This one...?" "Why wait in the rain, little one?" "The mail won't come in today." "No boats plying, see...?" "Go home." "No point getting drenched." "Depressing weather!" "Give me another glass of tea... I am right there beside you, Senomoy." "Can you not feel my hand on your forehead?" "Miyage..." "Miyage..." "Sandhya " "Just check his desk, dear see if you can find her address in Japan..." "Senomoy Chatterjee...?" "School master...?" "School master...?" "No, no!" "I can't take that!" "Madam, look!" "Look who's come home!" "Who's that?" "Come..." "What's the matter!" "Come..."