"Porter!" "It had to rain today!" "I won't even get a porter now." " Porter, sir?" " Ah, yes." "I've to go to the Waiting Room." " 1st class?" " Is there one?" " Yes, come on." " Go ahead." "I've no change, sir." " Keep it, wake me for the train." " The Express?" " Yes, 7:30 A.M." " Any canteen here?" " Yes." "You get cold tea." " Cold tea?" " I mean cold drinks and tea." " Shall I send some tea?" " Yes, send the waiter." " Right." "Good boy!" "Eat the biscuit." "We'll go home and have dinner." " Any separate Ladies Waiting Room?" " Only one 1st Class Waiting Room." "It's for both, Ladies and Gents." "There's another one, but very dirty." "But why don't you sit here and be comfortable?" "Don't worry." "Because our staff is on duty the whole night." "The key." "Where did I keep it?" " What are you looking at?" " Your suitcase." " Why?" "I've lost my key, so I wondered if this was a V.I.P. Brand too." " Their keys are common to all." " No." "Mine is a different make." "That's a V.I.P. And the key will fit." " It belongs to a lady." "She has gone out." "Request her when she comes." " What is it, Sudha?" " Open the door." "What are you doing?" " What will I do in a Dark Room?" "Developing a photo." " Whose?" " A girl's." " Which girl?" " The girl I married 2 months ago." "Come along." "The car's here." "Uncle's come too, to take you." "So, sir?" "Didn't the bag open?" "Did you ask her for the key?" "Why feel so awkward, sir?" "People are expected to help in a journey." "Excuse me, Madam..." "This man has lost his key." "He has a V.I.P. Too, so your key may fit." "Please give him." "It may be useful to him." "Where has he gone?" "Madam, was there a gentleman here?" "Yes, He's having a wash." " What is it?" " Nothing, Ma'am." " I told you he's having a wash." " Has he ordered tea?" " Yes." "Bring it when he comes out." "As if I'm his watchman!" "If I hadn't been here now, then?" " Tea, sir." " Why two?" " Madam told me." "Thought she'd..." "Okay, You may go." "I just told him to get the tea." "Since he has brought it, might as well drink it." "You know I don't take tea." "Yes, I do know it." "But he has brought it." "You used to have it once." "Shall I make it for you?" "I'll make it." " One spoon of sugar, right?" " No, no sugar." " Since when?" " Five years now." "Yes, since that time." " Where had you been?" " Patna." " Do you still teach?" " Yes I do." " Music?" " Yes." " When did you start wearing glasses?" " About 21/2 years now." "They suit you." "You look matured." " Wasn't I mature 5 years back?" " You were." "But now you look wiser!" " When did you grow a beard?" " Some days now." "Why?" "Don't I look matured?" " How come you're here?" " I had been on a campaign." " Going back now." " Where?" " Home!" " Do you still live there?" "Yes, there." "The same city." "The same lane." "The same house." "Everything is..." "Everything isn't the same." "But it's there." "At the same place." " My respects, Grandpa." " Bless you." "So you've come!" "Go have a bath." " I'll have a wash at home." " Animals are washed, son." "Humans have a bath!" "No Holy Thread either, eh?" "Wear one, son." "Who'll tell you to wear one after me?" "I've but a few days." "Once I die who'll do my last rites?" "So wear a Holy thread, okay?" " How's your car running?" " It doesn't run at all." " It just troubles me, that's all." " But it's a Vintage." " My foot!" "It's just a nuisance!" "Hey, hey..." " But I've brushed my teeth." " At least wash your hands now." " Good, eh?" "Sweet?" " Yes." " Keep a box from our garden." " It'll go waste." "I'm hardly home." " Do you live in the studio?" "I've to go in the hilly terrain for campaigns." " You're all set?" "Come, Parvati." "Son-in-law's here." "I called him." "Don't complain later." " I never say anything." " Now ask him what you want to." " What will I ask him?" " Okay, sit down." "You tell me next month is auspicious, but ask him it he's prepared or not." "You better ask him." "I've been waiting for 5 years." "Did you hear that?" "And she's quite right." "5 years is a long time to wait." "At first, you were studying." "We educated the girl." "Then when you opened a shop, we agreed." "I was never for an early marriage." "Never!" "Two years went by." "Sudha took up a job." " She teaches at Panchgani." "You know that, don't you?" " Yes." " Talk in Hindi." "What are you talking about?" " Nothing really." " Just asking if he's involved..." "...then what about Sudha?" " 5 years now..." " Don't worry." "You also ask her when she comes." "What's there to ask her?" "She respects you so very much." "Whatever you say, is greater to her." "Than even me!" "Don't start that now." "I'm also very proud of her." "I respect her more, than my own grandson here." "Tell her we won't change the date now." "That's it!" " You said the 7th inst., right?" " Yes." " 7th of next month?" " Yes." " That's just 8 days from today!" " So?" "What have you to do?" "Just come and sit in the pandal." " I hate fuss of any kind." " But Grandpa..." " You can't come earlier." "Come on the 6th." "The marriage is on the next day." "I'll attend to it myself." "Recite the mantras myself." " You should've told your Grandpa." " I didn't have the guts." "When we got engaged there was nobody." "I met Maya 2 years ago." "And if she's in town, there has never been a day when we haven't been together." "We're not officially married, else..." "What I mean is, we've lived together." "What do you want me to do?" " Can't this marriage..." "...not take place?" "Cancel it?" "Meaning I'm to say that I've found somebody else?" "Actually I was hoping this would happen for the past 2 years!" "You're independent." "Away from home." "You live alone too." "And as it is, you're..." "I mean..." " You mean..." "I'm beautiful, Right?" "What's the use?" "Since you don't like me, how will anybody else?" "Don't say that, please." "I'm feeling guilty as it is." "That's why I came, and, was so honest with you." " Of course, Grandpa will kill me..." " And Mom will die of shock!" "You don't know her." "Then?" "What shall I do?" "Listen to me." "Don't try to control life." "It will not turn even if you try to turn it!" "I'm a typical teacher, aren't I?" " Look." "Do what is honest and right." " Meaning?" "Take Maya and go straight to Grandpa." " And do as he says." " And supposing he..." "He won't force you." "I'm sure of that." "Grandpa didn't rear just you." "I too grew up around him." "And... your mother?" "She was Grandpa's responsibility." "He'll do the same now." " Yes, sir?" " Had anyone come?" "Maya Madam was here." "But she was in a hurry." " She took some things and left." " Say anything?" " She left a note." " Where's the note?" " Don't know." "She just told me." " But where did she go?" " Does she ever tell?" "You know her." "Always in a hurry she is!" " When did you come back?" " Just now." " I was trying to phone you." " Coffee?" "Where's Maya?" " Want some coffee?" " Where's Maya?" "Sometimes, as I walk, my shadow on the ground stands before me, holds my hand and says..." "This time I'll walk ahead" "And you follow me, and see what happens" "I waiting for you." "Maya said, when you come back you'll definitely meet me." " Where has she gone?" "When?" " 2 days after you left." " But where?" " Does she ever tell?" " And when will she return?" " Didn't tell that either." "She doesn't know it herself!" "You know how it is." "Last time she was away for 3-4 months!" "Before that that time she had gone home." " Home?" "She doesn't have one!" "That's where she escapes from!" "Even her parents are fed-up!" "They washed their hands of her the day she joined the Film Institute." "Where will I search for her now?" "You won't find her." "She's made like that." "The way she came to me, she dropped, in your life too." "In her own words..." "Mona..." "I flew like a dry leaf, and got caught in Mahender's collar." "She has stayed put for such a long period only after meeting you." "Mona, if she doesn't return in 1-2 days, it'll be the end!" "Why?" "What'll happen?" " Marriage!" " With whom?" " Sudha of course." " What is it?" " What are you doing?" "Open up." "What else can I do in here?" "I'm developing photographs." " Whose photos?" " A girl's." " Which girl?" "The girl I married just 2 months back!" " I don't want it!" " What?" "The photo or the marriage?" " Open the door at least." " Come on in." "Here you are." "Your Wedding Photographs." " That Ram Gopal has to be paid." " Give him money from my wallet." " Where is it?" " There it is." " You give it to me." "Rs. 40." " Why?" "Take it yourself." "I may seem petty minded." "But I'm like that." "Possessive and selfish too." "Please don't feel bad." "I know, that she has left a strong impression in this house which has been erased." "She may lurk in some odd corner now but she'll go away from there too." "I am not asking you to drive her away." "But I feel everything is being shared in this house." "Whatever I touch, I feel as though I'm touching someone else's things." "Nothing seems to belong solely to me!" "Where has he gone?" "Here's your money." "Yes?" "Which 10/-?" "Is it?" "Why didn't you say before?" "Tell me what you brought." "It's 10/-, isn't it?" "You're sure about it?" "Okay, right." "You wait here I'll get it." "Listen, I need 10/- more..." "Wait!" "Take the money and go." "This is for the tea." "And keep the change." "Go." "By the way, will I get anything to eat here?" " Everything is closed now, sir." " Nothing is available." " Nothing." " Any biscuits or such dry snacks?" " Nothing at all, sir." "Okay, you may go." "It's raining ever so heavily!" "Don't think it'll stop." "It'll stop automatically once it pours heavily." "Hey!" "You still keep matches, eh?" "You kept them for me before." "Now whom do you keep them for?" " For myself." " You mean you've started smoking?" " No." "You haven't lost your habit of forgetting, and I, of keeping!" "Habits are strange" "To breathe is also a habit" "Continuing to live is another one" "We go on living..." "and living..." "Habits sure are strange" "One of Maya's poems?" "She really adored rains, didn't she?" "Yes, she did." "Doesn't she roam in the rain now?" "Which train are you taking?" "The morning one." "The night train, was cancelled, that's why." "So I got the morning train, at 7.30 a.m." " Even my train's due then." " I know." "I heard you talking to the porter." "It's for one night..." "What's for one night?" "You'll have to bear it for one night." "Isn't it?" " I didn't say that." " No you didn't, but..." "Anyway, you bore it for years, so add one more night to them." " Who bore it all those years?" " You did, naturally." "I didn't endure anything." " I was dishonest with you." " Look." "This is not home." "It's a Waiting Room!" "That's what our house was!" "A Waiting Room." "Why do you want to rake the past?" "I didn't say anything." " Didn't ask for anything." " That's just what I mean." "Had you said something..." "It's pouring very heavily now." "There's chill in the air, isn't it?" "What are you drinking?" "Eh?" "Just a little bit." "Else I feel cold." " Is it Whisky?" " Yes." "Do you drink?" " Yes, I do." " Then shall I pour out a glass?" " A glass?" "Full glass?" " No, no..." " I mean a peg." " Well..." " Okay, will do." " No!" "No need." "He doesn't drink." "It's pouring cats and dogs!" "Suppose I feel cold?" " Nothing doing." "Wear your jacket." " Listen to her." "As if anyone does that!" "It's pretty cold." "Well, Mr. Station Master?" " Do you know each other?" " Yes." "Don't you recall the key incident?" " No, no." "I mean long before?" " Long before?" "You mean..." "It's not a life long relationship or anything." "It's just for one night." "Better if one spends it nicely." " What do you say, sir?" " But of course." "What else?" "This life is also a Waiting Room." "Bingo!" "That's it." "I was also saying the same to her." "Enough!" "Stop it please." "Sir, can one get some food in this Waiting Room of Life?" "You'll get nothing, sir." "Even the tea-staff is closed now." "Don't you eat anything?" "Or do you just drink?" "I eat." "I've 2 boiled eggs." "You can have one if you wish." "No, thanks." "You see Madam is a veggie!" "She doesn't even glance at an egg." "Let alone touch it!" " Can't we order something from outside?" " Very difficult." "There's water all over." "You won't even get transport." "But shall I send you some pillows?" " Eating pillows won't help sleep." " Stop it!" "Let him go now." "Sir is very jovial." "Had you been alone, you'd be scared." " What must that man think?" " What?" " He'll think I've made you an indecent proposal." "What else?" "But he's right." "We are lifelong partners from our recent past." " I'll try to get some food." " Let it be." "I'm not hungry." "How come?" "You were here before me, and you mustn't have eaten at all." " But I'm not hungry." " There it is again!" "I'll just go and see." " What do you want?" " Whose cycle is that?" " What will you do with it?" " Thought I'd get some food." " You'll have to go right in, and it's pouring too." " Just give it and I'll try." " Go on." " Do you have a raincoat?" " No, but I can get you an umbrella." " Umbrella?" "Riding a cycle?" " May I?" " Sure, take it." "Scat!" "Bloody things always." " Who is it?" " It's me." "Open the door." " Where had you been?" " To get you some hot food." "What's wrong with you?" "Honestly, you are half-mad!" " Why half?" " Okay, totally mad." "Now sit." "Come on." "Change your clothes." "Yes, I'll take them out for you." "You wipe yourself." " See?" "I did catch a cold." " So?" "It's lying over there." "May I drink some?" "Come along now." "If you haven't caught it, you will!" "What's the matter?" "What happened?" "Get you some food, eh?" "If only I'd get a hot cup of tea now!" "Here you are." " How many cups of tea do you drink?" " As many as I get." " And if you don't get them?" " I keep on asking till I get." "Well, you can ask all you want." "No more tea for you." " May I ask why?" " There's no milk, tea or sugar." " Lying?" " Yes!" " You rascal!" "Sit down for a while." "Don't start your wifely morning chores." "Sit and listen to the world news." "Indiraji has routed the opposition." " She won at Rai Bareilly and..." " I'm going in..." " Okay, okay." "This is interesting." "Reagan has proved one thing." " What?" " That bad actors can become Presidents too!" " Not interested." " Listen, aren't you interested in world events?" " And are you interested in home events?" " Why not?" " What's happening?" " Your breakfast is being made." "When you have your bath, it'll be laid on the table." "You know your office timings, so I won't remind you like other wives." "Lf, you go, good." "If you don't... all the better!" " You don't seem a new bride." " What do you mean?" "What I mean is, that, you look an expert wife!" " The Holy thread?" "Is Grandpa..." " Yes." "Mom had phoned." "He's going to Badrinath, and, wants to meet us before leaving." "You're no less than Grandpa." "You recite the mantra very seriously!" "Answer the phone, will you?" "Yes, this is Sudha speaking..." " Hold on;" "I'll just call him." "Your phone." " Who is it?" " Tell her to phone me in office." " Tell her yourself." "Sudha, listen to me." "Don't make me feel a cad." "I haven't hidden anything from you." "Maya can't bear this." "That's why she phones." "I can; that's why I don't phone or even meet her." "But the fact is, we both are trying to..." "We both are trying to live without each other." "I have you." "But she has nobody." "What is it?" "I'll just come." " Maya shall I say you're out?" " Why?" "I'll take it in my cabin." " Hello, Maya." " Mahen?" "Do you know, your wife's voice is sweeter than yours." "It sounds as though it's coming out of a fragile throat." "I wanted to talk to her..." "but I got scared." "She won't hit me, will she?" "She can't hit you, on the phone at least." "Mahen..." "My breath is coming in short gasps like vermicelli pieces." "Please lend me a long breath." "From Pune to Mohenjo Daro." "Then I won't pester you for a long time." "I bring sadness to some people as it is." "I don't want to cause sorrow to any one else now." "Especially to you." "Never!" "Listen..." "What's this?" "This 3 yards long muffler." " Where did you find it?" " In a case." "But what is it?" "It's a muffler alright, but it's called something else." "It's Maya's." "She had got it from Nepal." "There are few other things too!" "They look expensive." " Why not give them to her?" "She can use them." " Meaning?" "There's a beautiful woollen coat." "A pair of Jeans, some cosmetics, a pair of goggles which neither of as can use." "I don't mind keeping them, but they're expensive things." "They'll get spoilt just lying around." "Okay." "I'll send them tomorrow with our servant." "No!" "It won't look nice." "Why don't you give them yourself?" "Else, phone her at least." "Listen... this." "What are you looking for?" " I had kept some papers here." " Maya's letters you mean?" "I've kept them." "I'll just get them." "Here you are." " Your ornaments were in this." " I removed mine and kept yours." " Here keep your jewellery in this." " You're returning her letters?" " Shall I?" " You got offended." "I won't even return her things to her, if you say so." " How can you send the letters?" " No..." "I just asked." "These are her poems, not letters." "Sent to me from various places." "You pack the things." "I'll ask Mona to take them." " Sing something." " I'm setting the chord!" " Who?" " I'm setting the chord!" " It sounds fine to me." "Please sing." " You sing and I'll play." " Don't try my musical abilities." "You'll run away." " Then learn." "I tried to, once." "But that was enough." " I used to learn the violin." " Really?" " As a school boy." "Grandpa got me a violin, and I played it, whenever I played others laughed." " Why?" " I left it." " Why did they laugh?" "I was a 'lefty' as a kid, so, I held the violin the wrong way." " You wanted to be a violinist?" " I wanted to become things." " But I became something else." " Oh?" "What did you want to become?" " You'll laugh." " No." "I won't laugh." "Tell me." "You won't laugh?" "I wanted to become an actor!" "Honestly." "I was so fond of seeing my own mug on the screen." "Remember, when we were engaged I got a chance to be a news-reader." "Once, while reading the news, I felt, some emotions must be put into it." "Not much but still." "So I said..." "Because of a boat mishap 45 people are missing." "30 bodies have been found, but 15 are still untraced." " Take it." " You take it." "It's not for me." "Yes?" "How are you?" "Yes, she's here." "Sitting right across me." "Then you tell her yourself." "Yes, she's at home now." " You wish to talk to her, right?" " I don't want to!" " It'll be wrong." " Now that I've told her." "Just say 'hello'." " No, I can't." "Look, she wants to talk to you." "Just say hello and hang up." "For my sake." "Who Mom?" "I thought..." "He's laughing uproariously." "What did you say?" "Yes, I'll come in a few days." "How are you keeping?" "I'm fine." "Okay..." "Why you..." " C'mon, the servant will see to it." " I think he's sleeping." "If he's sleeping, then why wake him?" "We'll go in quietly." "Take this." " Sir..." " Yes?" " A telegram has come." " Telegram?" " Not about Grandpa I hope." " This seems to be a letter." " Yes." " Sent telegraphically." " Who has sent it?" "Maya." " What does she say?" " That some more things are with us." " She has asked for them." " What things?" "I don't know any." " Read it." " You read it aloud." "Do you remember how once, when cyclists without light were fined" "How we had acted like paupers" "And the constable had given us an 8 anna coin and sent us" "4 annas were mine." "Send them to me" "I've left behind some wet days from the rainy season..." "There's one night too, wrapped in a letter I wrote..." "Shut off, that might." "My other things are also with you" "Send that back to me." "Some of it is like fallen leaves." "The sound of the fallen leaves." "...had adorned my ears once, and come back to me." "That branch is still quivering." "Send it back to me." "116 moonlit nights." "And that mole on your shoulder." "The scent of the wet henna..." "and false promises." "Why did I send her things back?" "She's living with us night and day, as it is." "If those things had remained here, what would've happened?" " You must be having the matches." " Yes." "Matches and cigarettes too." "May I ask you something?" "Why did you think of this trip suddenly?" "Why?" "We're going on our honeymoon." "Is that a bad thing?" "You're not running away from anyone, are you?" " Who?" " You know who." "This thought of Maya, constantly between us, is not good." "Remember you saying this to me in Panchgani?" "That do what is honest and right." "And believe me, I'm doing just that." "I loved Maya." "That's true." "That I'm trying to forget her is a right thing to do." "But if you don't help me, to, it'll be very difficult for me." "Because, more than me, you remember her!" " If the has been isn't..." " Has been?" "The past." "What's gone by..." "What is past, let it remain a past." "Don't stop it." "But you added..." "You drink it sometimes." "So I drank." "At first that tea-stall man said what you had said." " What?" " That the milk and tea leaves are finished." " Then you too must've said what you had said." " What?" " You rascal!" " No." "Had I said that he'd have never made the tea." "He was dozing." "I woke him, so..." " That's all we needed!" " I think all the lights have fused." " Where are the matches?" "Sit tight." " Where are you going?" " I'll see if I can get a lantern." " Wait!" " I won't stay here alone." " Finish your tea first." " I've finished it." " Right." "Come along then." "Can't you see or something?" "I told you to sit inside!" "Can't wait for 2 minutes, can you?" "Are you badly hurt?" "You are hurt." "So many years have passed." "But I haven't lost the habit." "One loses habits, but not the right!" " Keep sitting here." "I'll just come." " Where are you going?" " You'll get wet again." " No." "He had candles." "Don't move." "He didn't give me the candle." "Anyway, we got this." "There are 2 lounge-chairs there, it's better that we sleep now." "What's the matter?" "Are you hurt?" "Is it very bad?" "On the knee, eh?" "May I have a look?" " No!" "Let me see at least." "It's bleeding." "Hold on." "Keep it like this." " What's that you're doing?" " I'm not drinking it." "I'm using it as a medicine." "No, it'll burn." "Attention please." "The safety signs are off." "You can remove your seat-belts and smoke if you wish." "But it's better to keep the belts, during the flight." "Thank you." "Our honeymoon just flew..." "I was tired." "I can't take it for too long." "You mean the journey, or..." " The journey!" " Okay, I'll sleep now." "Wake me up if there's bumping." "We were told to congratulate you when in air." "After the take-off." "Birthday wishes?" "What's the date today?" "Your name is my lifeline." "And I die for you." "Only she can do this!" "She'll never do anything normally." "See." "How she caught me in air!" " Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?" " I didn't know." " I didn't remember at all." "Honestly, dear." " Go to sleep." "Don't get off midway!" "I pity this silly girl, and also can't help loving her." "How shall I explain what she is." "Sometimes I get scared for her." "Why didn't you marry her." "I had told you, when I had come to see you again." "She's so impulsive, I tell you!" "Once..." " What's going on?" " Ride it!" "A classic piece." "And this idiot wants to sell it." "Please, let's buy it." "Are you crazy?" "Who'll ride it?" "You or me?" " One filling gas will ride it." " You know how to ride, eh?" "I just rode it here." "And I've improved a lot too." "Wait." "Are you mad, girl?" "Know how dangerous this is?" "My friend had an accident once." "He was broken in 50 places!" " He didn't die." " Wished he had." " You always dread death!" "Look at him." "He's riding for years." "Has he died?" "Well, Guddu?" " Please let us buy it." " Are you mad?" "Okay." "You buy it!" "I'll ride it now and then." "Okay..." "Ask him to come at Mona's place tomorrow." "You know where I live with Mona." "Come there tomorrow." "You're going with her?" "Best of luck!" "Easy now." " Hurry up..." " Hey, take care you..." " Whose baby is that?" " Maya's." " What?" " She has a legitimate child." " What nonsense!" "Look, anything's possible with this girl." "Go in and see." "Go on!" " What's all this?" " He's sleeping." " But what's this?" " It's a baby I bought." " Bought?" "Yes." "Look he has no mother." "And that idiot he can't even feed him milk." "How will he bring him up?" "That's why you brought him here." " So where did you find him?" " My bike stalled near that slum." "You've lost your sense!" "Come, let's return the baby." "This could become a police case." "Why?" "I've paid for him." "It's illegal only if it's taken without paying." " Let's return it." "Or I'll hit you!" " Take him." " Hold on, the baby..." "Give him to me." "I'll take him." "Come with me." "Where will I search his father?" " I want the baby." " Get going, else I'll hit you." "Here's a pillow and a bed-sheet." " Now sleep like a good girl." " I want a baby." "Where shall I get one from?" "An orphanage?" "Why?" "Can't I have my own baby?" "Yes, of course." "Want one?" " Yes." " Then come." "Let's get married." "For 1 baby." "I must take on 10 other problems!" "I see." "So marriage is a problem!" "How do you know what it is?" "I know." "I've seen it." "I've seen a lot of relationships." "Some end... get broken." " But when a marriage ends..." " Stop it!" "...it begins to rot." "Gets dirty." "And I don't want that to happen to us!" "So, you don't wish to marry." "Any guarantee about me?" "I may live, or I may not." " Meaning?" " Go and sleep." "Look, I had told you." "I'm engaged to be married." "The day Grandpa calls me, he'll send me back, married." "So get married." "But give the child to me." " Yes." "We'll give it to her." " Sure?" " Promise?" " No..." "We'll soon land at the Pune airport." "Please stop smoking and tie your seat-belts." "Thank you." " That's mine." " So keep it that side." "Never uses them." "Don't know where she got them from!" " Took quite a lot." "Found them under her pillow." " Is she conscious?" "Yes, but asks to be discharged before you got here." "I'll just come." "Take this money." "No, Mona, take it." "Don't hit me." "It hurts a lot." "You're congratulating me for what you've done?" "I mistimed it, didn't I?" "When one dies the soul goes to heaven." "Then I thought I'd pass your plane and say goodbye to you." "But everything went wrong." "Even if one takes an overdose, one doesn't die." "It only makes one vomit!" "If one wishes to commit suicide, one should take only enough to digest!" "You've done nothing, praise worthy!" " For which you should get a Nobel Prize!" " Don't scold me." "If you let me wipe your eyes I'll let you scold me." "Who has embroidered this 'M'?" "Your wife?" "When will you introduce us?" "Not in the condition you're in now, at least." "Have you told her about this?" "I've not told her anything as yet." " What are you doing?" " Sniffing." "To see if you're drunk." " You slept on an empty stomach." " Not hungry." " Just sleepy." " Then go to sleep." "Shall I go to Wai?" "I've to go to my school too." " Why?" "Want to teach again?" " No." "I had to meet the principal, and..." "Where do you always get matches from?" "Thought I'd stay with Mom for a few days." " No..." "You'll return today itself." "I'll come to collect you." "No, I'll come to my own." "Don't phone and make excuses." "I'll come at midnight if I have to." " Did you go to your class?" " Not yet." "I'll go afterwards." " I miss the kids so much." " You'll soon have your own." " Then you won't miss them." " No, I'll always miss them." "How's your new student?" " One hitch though." " What?" " Here the class is for45 minutes." "There it's a 24 hour job." "Whether the student is present or not." "Less of teaching, and more of learning." "Don't get bloated thinking that I tried suicide for you." "Actually I didn't even know..." "that I loved you so much." "I think marriage is also something like this." "Overdose of love." "Couldn't kill oneself, so got married." "Right?" " Next time try that." "Marriage!" " With you!" "Can't you have a 2nd wife?" " Marry me please." " Stop talking nonsense." " Will your wife mind?" " Will you shut your mouth?" "Shut it with your own mouth." "3 pants..." "And 2 shirts." "What's this, Madam?" " It all comes to 20 plus 4." " That's 24." "Okay." " Don't you have something to tell me?" " What?" "...were you meeting Maya all these days?" " I thought you never hid anything from me." " You see..." "I think we should call Maya here." " We did a bad thing to avoid her." " Don't pull me into it." "I neither want to meet anybody nor have I avoided anyone." "You?" "You called me after centuries!" "Last time you called me was during Lord Buddha's time." " And after that you..." " Listen, Maya, Listen!" "Can you come here tonight?" "Don't scream!" "Speak softly." " Sudha was invited you." " Why lie?" "Why should I call her?" "Keep quiet!" "What if she comes?" "She won't carry away your house." "I told you not to pull me into this." "Everyday I see poems on your hankies lipstick marks on your sleeves on your coat." "I find earrings." "If you want to meet her, do so." "But don't bring her here." "I won't have her in my house." "This house is not just yours." "It's my home too!" "I'm bringing her at night." " What do we do?" " What can we do?" "If she tells us and goes, we can at least search for her." "I'm coming between you both." "So I'm leaving" "I'm coming between you both." "So I'm going away." "You weren't here." "She's here For the past 2 months now." "I don't know what went wrong." "She doesn't tell me anything." "I've not talked to my son-in-law, nor did she allow me to." " Where is she now?" " In the school at Panchgani." "At first she came every Saturday." "But not anymore." "She knows that I'm alone." "Even then..." "Stop it." "I'm going, aren't I?" "I'll talk to her." "I don't think that'll help." "If it was to make a difference her husband would've come here." "I'll meet Sudha, and see what happens." "No, Grandpa, don't go to him." "I told you how much they love each other." "I stopped mom with a great effort told her to wait till you came." "Because you can understand." "Not Mom." "And to be honest, he has not ill treated me even for a moment." "Grandpa, he has endured so much just out of respect for you." "You also give him respect and don't say a word, or meet him." "And what will you do?" "I'm working here." "In this school." "And what of the work you've left behind?" "I just left the place." "Call it an excuse or a reason." "Else, no body will be happy." "Neither I, nor him." "Okay, child." "It's alright." "Accept whatever fate offers you." "Let some time go by..." "In between, if he comes to collect you then go with him." "Don't be adamant, silly girl." "But if he doesn't come, then fine." "Que sera, sera!" "You'll become a Vice-Principal But it's very far from here." " Please write my name too" " You'll have to go at once." " That'll be even better." " But what about Mahender?" "What about him?" "It's 2 months already, Ma'am." " And in between all this..." " Mahender didn't come?" " No." "You also didn't try?" "I had phoned him a few days ago, and Maya answered it." "I kept the phone down, without talking." " Thinking of taking a divorce?" " No." "Thinking of giving it." "I had deliberately made an error." "I married you." "Today I'm rectifying it." "Actually your honesty won me." "Firstly, when you had come to break off from me." "And secondly, when you came and proposed to me." "Maya is very different from us." "But what can I do?" "I'm an ordinary woman." "Stubborn and jealous too." "And melt too." "I'm doing you a favour as I go." "I've convinced Grandpa." "He won't say a word to you." "You better marry Maya." "Don't worry about me." "I'm walking out of your life on my own." "The place I'm going..." "I don't want to give you the address." "Please don't search for me." "Sudha." "You're sitting here?" "When did you come out here?" "Quite some time back." " Should've tried to sleep." " I couldn't sleep." "Didn't even know when you put a blanket, kept a glass of water..." "Do you carry the whole house with you or something?" "You've also scattered all your things around as though you're at home." "The towel is lying somewhere." "The soap, elsewhere." "Even your wet clothes are still in the bathroom." "Was it because I was around, or is it still a habit with you?" "It feels very homely." " Sudha." " Yes?" "Don't you have anything to ask me?" "Should I?" "One can't change the past events." "Man can only regret and apologize." " I behaved very badly..." " How's Maya?" "Do you remember, when we had come back from Kudramukh..." " It was your birthday." " I got a telephone call." "And you had to go out on some urgent work." "So you remember." "That's it." "I had gone to the hospital." "That night Maya tried to commit suicide." "I didn't think it wise to tell you, and I left quickly." "After that I went to see her for many days." "I thought it was my duty to save her." "Mad, she was, no doubt!" "At times she'd cry." "At times she'd hug me." "At times even fight with me." "In this manner, one day, her earring got caught in my coat." "Like I found this earring of yours caught in my shawl." "May be I should have explained everything to you." "But I myself couldn't understand anything at all." "Maya's behaviour scared me." "I was trying to get round to it, when she ran away!" "When I came back home, you had gone away too." "That's when I got a heart attack, for the first time." "Your going away hit me very badly." "I was angry, and frustrated too." "I was hospitalized for a month." "When I went home, Maya was there." "Hearing about my sickness, she came back home." "She stayed there for some time to look after me." " It's very hot." " Okay..." "Bear it a little." "You make others burn..." " Let's see you go up in smoke too!" " Enough!" " I've to do your feet." " Your feet are terrible!" " 100 times better than your mouth!" " Seen your face in a mirror?" " Have you?" " I see nothing else!" " What are you doing?" " Made your feet beautiful." "I've put my stamp on them." "You won't get lost now." " If you do show them your feet." " What shall I do with you?" " Make a pickle!" " I'm totally trapped by you." "Mutual feeling, believe me!" "Can't live with you, nor without you!" " What happened?" " I sounded so good, I got disconnected." "You've ruined it!" "I had washed it." "It's stinking!" "Hey come, sit." "Mona..." "You look very happy..." "Radiant!" "Are you pregnant?" "That's on the agenda!" "Next week we're getting married." "We haven't printed any cards." "Just invited a few, to the church." " Party?" "You'll host it of course!" " What a stingy wife you've chosen." "Can't help it." "Else how will I pull on a purser's salary?" " Where's Maya?" " She's having a bath." "I'm leaving my house after I get married." "I spoke to my landlady about Maya, but she just wouldn't agree." "It's alright for now, that she's staying with you." "But what will happen when Sudha comes back?" "Honestly." "I'm very worried about her." "She'll be all alone." "Come Mona." "We're getting late." "Mona's got married too." "She's going away now." "Where will you stay now?" "If Sudha comes back, what will you do?" "She'll throw me out, won't she?" "Of course, what else?" "Is it proper to stay with me?" "You're sick now." "And, when I become well?" "What are you doing?" " Going for a ride-where?" " Anywhere." " On the roads; near the river." " Okay, you sit behind and I'll ride." "Why not go and get your wife?" "I'll go away." "Honestly." "Don't worry about me." "Are you mad?" "I didn't ask you to leave." "Not for that." "Go and get your wife." "And what shall I do about you?" "Get me..." "Get me married." " To whom?" " Anyone you like." "I'll have to find somebody crazy like you!" "Like that chap..." "He's a nice boy." "So innocent!" "Innocent, eh?" "Then shall I get you married to him?" "Okay." "He has a motor-bike too!" " You'll marry him for that?" " So what?" "As a groom, he'll come on a motor-bike." "Your parents never seem to call you." "Don't you feel like meeting them?" "I had been to them." "And I regretted it." "I don't know what has happened between them." "Don't know why they're pulling on." "Papa..." "He doesn't come home on many nights." "Mom... she never seems to have any time." "She can't accept her age." "She was involved with somebody else." "When they live under one roof, they're sarcastic to each other." " There's a lot of age difference between them." " Yes." "So what if she's a step-mother?" "She brought me up, didn't she?" "But how?" "By keeping you in various hostels." "Hot tea, sir..." " What's that?" " It came yesterday but the servant forgot about it." "Where are you going so early?" "On some urgent work?" "Look very serious." "Not in a mood to fight, are you?" "I'm going to Sudha." "Do you know what I'm going to do with you." "I'm going to put you in her care." "She's very wise." "Only she can do, what is what is correct and the truth." "She must be knowing what we both should do." "I had deliberately erred and married you." "Today I'm rectifying that error" "What's the matter?" "What's wrong?" " I'm going to get your wife." " You'll not go anywhere!" "If you leave this house, I'll kill you!" "All night, only I talked." "You didn't tell me anything." "What did I have to tell you?" "You endured everything all alone." "Where's your mother?" "Does she live with you?" "She's no more." "So, you're all alone?" " You?" "Don't give up, do you?" " When I knew the train was cancelled I nearly died!" "I tried to phone but I couldn't get through." "I tried once or twice, but it got cut." "I asked to be left where I could get a bus;" "I knew the train timings." "I felt relieved when I got the bus." "But I pestered the driver!" "I said, if he didn't go fast, I'd miss my wife, let alone the train!" " But why did you rush so?" " Yes, why did I rush?" "I'd have just sat all tensed, and chain smoked!" " Here you are." " See?" "This is like a nice, beautiful wife." "Which only the lucky get!" "All night I was tense, so I just sat and smoked." "I've called the porter." "Shut the bag." " Sir..." " Ah, porter." "Come." " You didn't wear a cardigan?" " I have a shawl." " Where?" " It's..." "May I go?" "Last time I went without asking." "This time give me permission." "Last year I married again." "Bless you." "Be happy." "Be happy." "You've got a very nice husband." "Who loves you very much." "Which I couldn't do, then." "For God's sake, bask in it." "If you can, forgive me with all your heart, just once." "What have you left behind now?" "Who was it?" "A relative?" "An acquaintance?" "Come on, tell me."