"Move." "Let me alight." "Be careful." "It's slippery." "Okay." "Okay, move." "What happened?" "What happened?" "I told you it was slippery." "You didn't hear me." "Haripada..." "O Haripada..." "Dadababu has arrived." "What happened?" "No letter, no intimation, you just came." "I was supposed to come, mom." "The exams are over." "Did you pass your exams?" "What do you think?" "O god, what's this?" "Are you planning to study further?" "Law." "Law?" "Law..." "law." "I am going to study law." "How long are your holidays?" "Two months." "Shall tell you something if you don't get angry?" "." "How can I promise that?" "If it's offensive..." "Now you should get married." "There go my studies." "You promised to get married after you passed, remember?" "No." "What do you mean, no?" "I said, I wouldn't marry until" "I passed." "That's not the same." "Whatever that is." "Tell me, will you get married or not?" "These questions can't be answered in a jiffy." "Just like that." "So when will you answer?" "Soon." "You cannot keep postponing like this." "I want an answer from you." "I have chosen the bride." "Here." "Have this." "Haripada, what does he do?" "He should dust and clean these." "Chatterjee's second daughter." "Chatterjee's?" "Yes, Kishori Chatterjee's." "What happened to him?" "Happened?" "Nothing." "I have chosen for you." "What?" "That Puti?" "Why?" "Why Puti?" "She doesn't have any good name." "Nirupama." "Now tell me what you have to say." "Why my name is also Khedi." "You are different." "Why different?" "She's a very nice girl." "Nice?" "Yes, very nice." "How is she nice?" "She is from a good family." "She looks nice, works hard, she sings, sews." "What more do you want?" "Listen mother, the way you are planning my wedding... that way doesn't work anymore." "How can you surmise that your choice will tally with mine?" "Oh, so you want to select your own bride?" "Will that do for you?" "Listen, the elders have arrived." "They are ready." "Why?" " What do you mean why?" "" "Why do you, in every matter involve..." "They have come on their own." "Let them be." "I'll go on my own." "When I said I'll go alone, I'll go alone." "Okay, okay you do that." "See the shoes now - let's see " "Yes they are fine now." "You haven't learnt to polish shoes yet." "There was a lot of mud on them." "Anyway, they are fine now." "Haripada - yes, master " "Listen... eh... who's that?" "That girl?" "Playing all the time with the kids?" "Oh that Pagli (mad girl)?" "Pagli (mad)?" "They call her Pagli." "That's not her name but they call her Pagli." "You haven't seen her before?" "They've come only a few months ago." "Her father works in Kushiganj." "Heard they lost everything in the floods." "Oh." "She's quite naughty, can't sit still." "Shameless" " Sir?" "" "Shameless" " Sir" "Let it be..." "let it be..." "You have come on your own." "Please come inside..." "Hello." "With the advent of the rains, the roads are in a terrible state." "Leave it there..." "leave it there..." "Nobody will touch it." "Amulya has come." "Amulya has come." "He's come alone" "So what are you planning to do now?" "I want to study law" " Good." "Good" "Amulya says he wants to study law." "Please have some sweets." "Have you told them inside?" "They are coming - okay, okay." "Why are you standing?" "Sit down." "Touch his feet and seek his blessings." "Let it be..." "let it be..." "Here see this." "Here see this." "This has all been made by Niruma." "She is very talented." "What does she study?" "Ask her yourself?" "She will tell you herself." "What do you study?" "Answer him child." "Don t be shy." "Speak." "Answer his question." "Tell him what you study." "Why are you so shy?" "Bengali geography, history, maths." "Oh." "Rakhal, see this." "Come." "Rakhal." "Sing a song." "Child." "Sing a song." "I used to train her, now she practices on her own." "Sing a song child." "Don't feel shy." "Sing that song "Rajpuri te bajaye banshi." Sing." "Hey!" "Chorky..." "Chorky..." "Chorky" "Chorky..." "Chorky..." "Chorky..." "Chorky.." "Chorky." "Chorky..." "Chorky..." "You mischief... where did you go?" "We have known your family for years." "You are not an outsider." "What happened?" "No... my shoes..." "Your shoes are..." "Hey Pithi." "Where are the shoes that were here?" "I don't know." "What do you mean, you don't know?" "Go see if anyone has taken them inside." "It's okay, you won't have any problems." "You take my..." "No... no... how can I take your shoes?" "No... no..." "Amu?" "Did you like her?" "No." "What didn't you like?" "What is there to like?" "Only you understand everything." "If you like her so much, you marry her." "See how my son speaks to me after all his education... you didn't like such a nice girl?" "What am I to do?" "Now where shall I look for another girl?" "Or whom shall I tell?" "There s an auspicious date next month." "If the wedding could be held," "It would be wonderful." "You don't plan to get married at all, Amu?" "Answer me." "Did I say that?" "Then shall I look for a girl?" "Your selection won't do." "Then you look." "I have already seen her." "You have seen her?" "You have already seen her?" "What happened?" "You won't play?" "Wait, let's put it away first." "My mother won't let me keep it in the house." "Hand it to me." "Stay here, stay here like Lord Jaganath." "Stay here till I get back..." "Oh my god!" "Oh my god!" "Oh my mother!" "Do you know what people call her?" "Pagli (mad girl)." "Is she a girl or a man?" "Girl." "She is a dimwit." "So be it." "You do want her, you want her?" "I cannot tolerate people poking fun at the wedding of my only son." "You go get married," "I am off on a pilgrimage to Kashi." "You don't have to go anywhere," "I am going back." "Haripada..." "Haripada..." "Sit... sit... sit down properly." "Steady now." "Shall I climb?" "Careful or I'll fall." "Hey Rakhal, hold tight." "I told you to hold tight." "See, you made me fall!" "Mrinmoyee," "Mrinmoyee," "I want to talk to you." "Come here..." "You didn't say anything?" "Yes, sit." " I'll sit?" "" "Yes, sit." "Don't you know how to sit?" "Why are you laughing?" "Why do you laugh at everything?" "Sit down..." "The whole day you are roaming around." "Doesn't your mother say anything?" "Don't you have any work?" "I do work - what work?" "" "Light the fire... cut the vegetables ...sweep the house." "Don't you know how to cook?" " Yes" "Don't you know cooking?" " Yes" "How do you cook shuktoo?" "How do you cook it?" "With mustard." "Can you read and write?" "Can you?" "A little." "You are playing the fool all over the village." "Don't you have any shame?" "Don't you know you have to be more modest at your age?" "No." "Then start from now." "All this shamelessness will not work here." "Where?" "You come back later - okay" "I have made all the arrangements, Amu." "I have also written to the girl's father." "Even if he doesn't get leave now..." "I could have done without this charity." " Why?" "" "When you dislike the girl so..." "No... no..." "listen, they are not bad people." "I've spoken to the girl too." "I can mould her." "That's your problem." "Minoo..." "O Minoo... roaming around all the time, see what you look like:" "look at your hair, not a drop of oil, nor has it seen a comb." "No stepping out of the house anymore." "Stay at home like a good girl and learn the household chores." "What will people say?" "Do you Iike them to speak ill of you?" "You are very lucky to get a proposal from such a family." "Minoo" "You cut your hair to avoid marriage?" "Your..." "May I ask, why are you so conceited," "Mrinmoyee?" "Why did you marry me?" "Because I felt like it." "Did I do wrong?" "I don't have a choice I suppose?" "You didn't want to get married?" "Or you didn't want to marry me?" "Why force me?" "I am not a child." "If you were a child and were forced, that would be wrong." "You are not a child." "At least that is my opinion." "But the sort of games you are playing now..." "I am leaving then." " Where to?" "" "Khushiganj." "Are you depressed that your father couldn't be there?" "My father has never raised his hand to me." "Never." "What makes you think that I will ever hit you?" "Then why does Haranda beat his wife?" " Haranda?" "" "He pulled her nose ring and tore her nose." " Who's this Haranda?" "Oh!" "He delivers milk to your house and you don't know?" "Oh then..." "He's a evil person." "Do you think" "I'II pull your earings and rip your ears?" "Are you comfortable standing there?" "Or would you Iike to sit on the bed?" "Mrinmoyee?" "You sit down comfortably." "Where will you sleep?" "On the floor." "I am not used to sleeping on the bed." "We are not used to a lot of things, but we have to adapt" "with changing times, with changing situations." "We have to change." "We have to change our old habits." "Many a time it happens on its own." "If it doesn't, then the change has to be forced." "This can be painful but that pain..." "Why have you locked me in?" "Mrinmoyee." "will you let me go out?" "Listen," "listen Mrinmoyee, you are now married." "I did not marry anyone." "Okay, you did not marry." "You are married, but not by your will." "In short, you are a married lady, therefore... haven't you ever seen a bride before?" "Do they go roaming around?" "Or climb trees?" "Or sit on swings?" "I do." "I like it." "I am happy doing it." "Does everyone have to be the same?" "It's not that." "This is the norm." "I mean..." "If you don't act your age," "I mean, if you're much different... do you know what people will then say?" "I'm mad." "Mad... that's right." "Mrinmoyee..." "Mrinmoyee?" "I'm feeling sleepy." "Chorky..." "Mrinmoyee?" "She was asleep on the swing." "Take her upstairs." "Open the door." "What are you staring at?" "Go about your work." "Open the door." "Don't give in to her." "She needs to be taught a lesson." "Open the door." "Such anger." "On my books..." "Do me a favour." "Pick up the books and put them back." "Did you hear me?" "Listen to me, Mrinmoyee." "Go do what I am saying." "You know what Haranda would have done?" "He would have thrown you from the terrace." "Where were you all night?" "Near the rath (chariot)." " Why?" "" "Chorky was there." " Oh " "Your squirrel." " He was in the cage." "Didn't get to eat" "You were there all night." " I was on the swing " "You didn't sleep?" "Where did you sleep?" " On the swing" "Are you used to sleeping on the swing?" "Mrinmoyee." "What else should I do?" "I am going to Calcutta." "Don't worry." "I am leaving you behind with Mother," "your mother." "If you need anything... then write to me and I'II be back," "and if you show that you've accepted me," "I'll be happiest." "Sister Minoo" "I brought a guava for you and you threw it away?" "Here, take it, sister." "What happened to you?" " Nothing " "What do you mean nothing?" " You go from here " "You've lost everything." "What will happen now?" "What's wrong with you?" "Why are you so stubborn?" "We've lost everything: pride, prestige, everything is gone." "Only remaning is this." "No one will ever keep you." "No one." "How many sons has one to commit to beget such a fate?" "Shall I give you some food?" "You haven't eaten for days." "Don't cry, Minoo." "Don't cry, my girl" "This is our fate, girl." "We have no one to look after..." "Sister Minoo," "Chorky is dead." "You didn't feed her." "You take her away." "Bury her in the ghat." "You're not coming?" " No " "It is six months since the wedding." "How do you think I feel?" "You shouldn't have given in." "He'll marry, his choice!" "What's this?" "You've made a big mistake, giving him so much freedom." "How do I discipline him?" "Did you call him back?" " Of course, but he's very stubborn " "All boys are stubborn." "But he loves you, doesn't he?" "What?" "Of course, my only son... he's very nice." "After my husband's death..." "He has no flaws... he is a gem of a boy." "Then give me a postcard?" "Postcard?" "You?" "Yes, me." "Who else will write?" "You are sick." " Sick?" "" "Sick...?" "Of course," "You are suffering for the last three days." "After that?" " After that he will rush here " "No... no... don't do that." " You keep quiet." "The idea is to get him here." "And after he comes?" " Then you act sick" "I have done this many times..." "You know my sons..." "Go get the postcard." "Let me write." "Sister... your husband's come." "Lies." " No, I saw him " "His mother is sick." "Sick...?" "Yes, she wrote and sent for him." " Oh " "Okay, you go now." "Mother." "What happened, mother?" "What happened?" "Look at you." "You could have informed me earlier." "Did the doctor come?" "Did you inform him?" "For a few days now... you get sick because of me... why are you crying?" "You've come." "That's the problem." "Why?" "What's the problem?" "Nothing's happened to me." "Nothing's happened?" " No " "But then the postcard aunty wrote me?" "All made up." "Made up." "Made up?" "What do you mean?" "Otherwise you wouldn't have come..." "How many times didn't I call you?" "You didn't heed me, you never came." "You..." "O my god..." "Amu, listen..." "listen." "Don t be angry." " No I won't." "I'll dance " "I want to talk to you." "Come inside." " Even my cinema tickets were wasted..." "Sit." "Sit down please." "You got married once." " What are you trying to say?" "" "She's not been eating." "Shy?" "Aren't there good fruit in the trees this season?" "Don t say it like that..." "Who wanted to marry her?" "I could not see inside her, could I?" "She is not bad but headstrong." "No one speaks ill of her." "You did once." "Anyway, I never spoke bad either." "Amu, go to her place, go." "Go or I'll really fall sick" "Amu" "You have come." "Son?" "Your... we can't find her." "can't find her?" "She never left the house for months and then suddenly today..." "How long has she been missing?" "Some time now." "You know her." "Okay." "I'll..." "Wait..." "let me see..." "Mrinmoyee..." "Mrinmoyee..." "Mrinmoyee..." "Mrinmoyee..." "Mrinmoyee..." "Mrinmoyee..." "Where's she hiding?" "Such a huge area." "I can't do it anymore." "Amu," "I hope you are not angry with me, son." "No... it's my mistake." "You've come back." " Your mad girl." "You?" "Here?" "I wanted to." "How did you enter?" "By the trees." "Trees?" "I won't go again." "Hey!" "Hey!" "Mad girl." "Amu." "The end"