"Praise to the Goddess of Wealth!" "Be generous Mother." "Be merciful Mother." "Peace to all." "Hail Mother Goddess." "Where is Birju?" "The sun is up in the sky." "And his lordship still sleeps!" "When I was his age, I'd leave home at 6 in the morning with some clothes." "And I'd return by evening only after selling and making some money." "Hail Mother Goddess." "Be merciful Mother." "Otherwise what would I eat and how would I feed others?" "To each his own fate." "You're right." "When you can eat for free Why must one slog?" "He does Work hard." "Was studying till late night." "Studying?" "Must have been snoring with the lights on!" "I went to give him milk." "He was deeply engrossed in the book." "He didn't even know when I entered." "I've seen enough of his dramas You mustn't make excuses for him!" "Shall We leave father?" "It's time to open the shop." "He too is your son." "Let's go, son." "Good morning grandpa." "I'll get you a sweetmeat in the evening." "Will you get two if I tell you something?" "If ifs good news, I'll have to bring it." "Do you know what uncle was reading last night?" "What was he reading?" "This book." "So he was reading this?" "A comic book." "Son, ifs bad manners to carry tales." "Should he seal his lips like you?" "What sons I have!" "One who is forever sleeping and the other..." "Who sleeps even when awake!" "Why are you screaming?" "Thank God Pm only screaming, not doing anything else!" "You think he was studying last night?" "See what he was studying!" "Studying!" "Drink milk before leaving." "Give it to the one who has been studying all night!" "Must be Weak studying so hard!" "Why are you angry with milk?" "Stop worrying about me." "And Worry about him!" "Your son is getting out of hand." "Now are you pleased?" "Don't make stories." "Go." "Careful." "It's slippery." "Yes, I know, mother." "My question was if you've brought some book or pen, We begin studies." "His four sneezes have answered my four questions." "He has neither pen nor book nor text nor the inclination to study!" "That's his story." "Now if others Wish I'll teach something." "As it is this college has neither benches nor classroom." "Don't look at me." "Study!" "What is it?" "This is the sixth circular today!" "Is this a college or a post office'?" "New admission?" "What's your name?" "Was it you at the Wharf last evening?" "It was you!" "No, it was my twin sister." "Yes and she said a boy looked at her yesterday and fell into the river." "Absolutely not!" "My foot slipped." "So it was you?" "It's just 2 days since We came here and you're up to your tricks!" "Silly girl!" "He almost believed me." "Fool!" "Yes, mother?" "Yes mother?" "Nothing." "Something is nagging you." "Tell me." "You know when you were very little your Papa was martyred on the front." "And you also know how I've worked in a school and raised you." "But you don't know one thing." "What is that?" "Your twin sister..." "I never told you this." "You were born and then two minutes later, she came." "It was a dark stormy night." "So We named her..." "Rhyming with yours." "Neha and Meha." ""There's she?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "What are you saying?" "Tell me." "Mother !" "Fooled you!" "I don't like this." "The one fooling others got fooled!" "Neha and Meha!" "Not had enough with falling in the river." "He's hidden his umbrella." "You've caught a cold." "Yes." "If I soak for another 5 minutes, I'll die of pneumonia." "And only I can save you from death?" "You are very understanding." "May I share your umbrella?" "Sure." "Do you know my father, his Dad and now I have this problem?" "That is Why I keep sneezing!" "Sneezing all the time?" "At that point if somebody asked me the address of heaven.." "I would answer." "By the riverside, under a red umbrella." "Tell me something..." "Yes?" "Why does this happen to me?" "Because you're a fool." "Do you know Why Pm sitting outside the temple?" "I know." "Why?" "To see me." "What else?" "Do you think Pm a fool?" "To sit here to look at you?" "Yes." "You think Wrong." "Pm quite sensible." "And Pm more sensible than you!" "How'?" "Because even if you stop me to talk, I won't stay back." "Go ahead." "Pm not going to stop you." "That is Why you are a fool!" "Where is Chandru?" "There ." "Who is that girl?" "Where does she live?" "Who?" "Neha?" "You know her?" "She stays behind the gurudwara." "She's very nice." "That's what has gone to her head!" "She gives stupid answers!" "You're very right." "Not only you, everybody says that." "Thinks no end of herself!" "Know What she does if somebody drowns?" "Laughs." "Absolutely right." "And if somebody is soaked to the bone and dying of pneumonia..." "What does she do?" "Laughs even then." "Habit bound." "But what is one to do with this stubborn child?" "Explain to her." "I am, for years." "Forget about her." "Eat this." "Today is her birthday." "Neha' s mother ." "Tell me Why does this only happen with me?" "People give such gifts on birthdays." "What did I give?" "Rebukes!" "So now give her a gift." "Sir says one gift converts failures into victories." "Is this my shirt you're wearing?" "Yes." "I always help you?" "Yes." "Come with me." "But what do I have to do?" "Pm getting scared!" "No reason to be." "Pm going inside." "Follow in 5 minutes." "What if Pm caught?" "You won't be." "We're not stealing ." "It's our shop." "Don't be soared." "Dad, shall I keep this money in the vault?" "What money?" "Gulabchand's 1000." "And Sharma's 1500." "One feels sorry if one does not have children." "But if one has kids and they turn out to be fools, he feels Worse!" "Whom are you talking about?" "There's nobody in this room but for you and me." "You're my son." "Pm your father." "Who is the fool?" "In this World Where people try to own others money." "You call a bundle of notes bearing my name, somebody else's!" "Good day father." "What are you doing here?" "Early morning... attheshop?" "What's Wrong with you?" "A miracle took place!" "Miracle?" "It's really a miracle!" "The riverside... strains of hymns.." "And thousands of lamps..." "And the glimpse of the goddess in the radiance of the lamps!" "Goddess?" "Yes father." "It lifted the curtain on my eyes." "Now I see everything clearly." "Saris, scarves." "Suit pieces." "I'll sell father!" "From today serving you is my religion!" "I'll Work hard for you!" "What are you doing?" "I can see what you can't." "Come in sister." "Come right here sister." "Sister come in" "I can't see you so I don't know who you are." "I am Chandru." "Whether you're a daughter, daughter-in-law, mother or granny." "Because I can't see her." "If you're a daughter you must buy.." "If you're a daughter-in-law, you must buy..." "Silks with embroidery." "If you're a mother, you need..." "Cottons." "I can't see you..." "So I'll show her everything." "This really is a miracle!" "Son, what is he doing?" "Selling saris." "I can see that." "See this." "Wonderful stuff." "You've come to buy one but you'll end up with 3" "Take this, and this..." "And if you're a grandmother, you must buy a suit piece." "Look at this." "Cut it." "You?" "You, here?" "Yes." "Me, here." "Is this your shop?" "You may consider it yours." "What shall I present?" "Hot or cold?" "Give me a scarf that will match this dress." "First finish off with her." "Shes in no hurry." "I am!" "Quiet." "Have a look." "You keep looking." "I'll keep showing." "What are you doing?" "I want just one." "If you take just one scarf, the other scarves won't forgive me." "Cut my piece!" "They look gorgeous on you." "Like a rainbow in an open sky after a downpour." "Are you a poet?" "Cut it please!" "Cut it!" "To sell scarves a good salesman will Write an epic not just poems!" "Son, he turned out to be a marvellous salesman, isn't it?" "Look at this yellow." "Very pretty." "Keep it." "If you wear it, it will appear as if the sun has kissed the earth." "Forget it." "I don't have so much cash" "It's a gift for you on your birthday." "Cut it please!" "It's tradition with our shop." "A first time customer keeps coming." "He keeps coming father!" "Son, this is salesmanship." "Learn from him." "That's what Pm doing." "Will you sit and learn?" "Why don't you attend to the other customer?" "But I don't want yellow." "I want a blue one to go with this dress." "When I first saw you, do you know the color of your dress?" "What was it?" "Yellow." "Your relation to the color yellow is..." "Like a pearl and an oyster." "The morning and dew." "Like sneeze and Water, rain and umbrella!" "Listen sister, you come there." "BIO!" "NO Way!" "What are you doing?" "This is my first customer." "If he gets out of my hand, it will be inauspicious." "Dad?" "It will be inauspicious father!" "Call him father." "Brother go there." "Son..." "What are you staring at?" "Come here!" "Listen..." "Yes?" "Come closer." "Yes?" "Closer." "Your first customer..." "It's not a customer." "Really?" "She's got your pink piece hidden in her dress." "Who is it?" "It's a thief." "Catch him." "Catch him." "Catch?" "Son are you watching?" "Pm learning father." "Fast!" "Go away from me!" "There maybe a gun under the dress." "You go there." "Cut it!" "Run away!" "Who is it?" "What have you done?" "What have I done?" "What?" "I said I Wouldn't wear this dress!" "You did?" "And you said..." "I have to steal saris." "I said that?" "Yes." "Yes I said so!" "Remember what else I said?" "Yes, on the birthday..." "Quiet!" "I'll tell father." "You listen to me." "Come here." "You think I'd steal?" "Didn't you?" "Is it a crime to give a gift on a birthday?" "Birthday?" "Whose?" "What date is it today?" " 12th of August." "Whose birthday falls on this day?" "Whose?" "Not yours." "Nor mine, nor brothers or Pappu's." "And sister-in-law's is Way off." "Who remains?" "Your mother?" "Yes!" "Your mother's birthday?" "You forgot again!" "I forgot last year too." "Son, get the fresh stock of saris out." "Why are you laughing?" "What's the matter?" "Then I saw his shoes." "Whose?" "Chandru' s ." "From the gurudwara?" "You've been laughing continuously People will think you're mad." "All the Way home." "You too are laughing." "That's at something else." "Acted foolishly again." "What must she think of me?" "As you sow so shall you reap." "When you've sowed gum, you can't reap mangoes." "You keep preaching all the while." "Why didn't you stop me then?" "You didn't give me a chance." "Caught me and took me there!" "Made me wear the dress." "What could I have done?" "Everything has been ruined." "Now how will I ever face her!" "My sir also says..." "If you repent and apologise with a true heart..." "The clothes were ours, father is mine and I apologise to her?" "No Way!" "But sir..." "I said no Way!" "So Why are you upset?" "I have nobody." "No parents, no siblings." "He does so much for me." "I too should repay him." "He is very nice and he likes you very much." "That is Why he stole the saris." "He's here." "Don't take him in!" "Don't move from here." "You?" "Here too?" "Here too." "I came to ask if it is a sin to fulfill a poor man's dream." "Absolutely not." "Chandru is very poor." "His father passed away in his childhood." "He Wanted to give his sister a sari for Rakhi." "To his sister?" "Please come in." "Actually my father is very nice." "He gives anything if We ask for it." "So you thought you'd steal saris from your own shop for a poor guy." "What?" "Learned men say.." "A theft which does not harm or hurt anybody is not a theft." "But 3 saris?" "The other was for his mother." "And the third..." "For his sister-in-law!" "You are truly Wise." "But even I didn't understand the dress piece." "I'll explain." "That was for his grandmother." "I see." "She doesn't wear saris." "You are great." "In today's selfish World who thinks about others?" "One must think." "The saint Kabir has said, in this World of sorrows..." "Will you have some Water?" "Just one glass for me." "The other is for that poor guy." "Who has nobody in this World." "No brother or sister." "She knows everything." "I have nobody but you." "I told her everything." "Nice of you to tell her." "Very nice." "Why does this happen only to me?" "Matter of stars." "When's your birthday?" "When is it?" "What is it?" "Did you think I'd forget again?" "Are you crazy?" "Out of 365 days let me be crazy for one day." "Pm not just Wishing you." "See what I've brought." "For Whom is this?" "For the birthday girl." "Who is that?" "Definitely not me." "Neither is it Ram Kumar's or Brij Kumar's." "Then Whose birthday is it?" "Mother!" "You've become as forgetful as father!" "What are you doing?" "Say it's your birthday or I'll get thrashed soundly!" "You remembered my birthday?" "You're so nice!" "You?" "Yes." "I'll post it for you." "I couldn't give you a gift on your birthday yesterday." "Where did you steal this from?" "I borrowed it from the rose plant." "The other ﬂowers won't forgive you for this." "Let them not." "But I Wanted it." "The most beautiful ﬂower." "The prettiest." "The most delicate." "Like you." "Spreading fragrance Wherever it goes." "Listen..." "Yes?" "Why does this happen to me?" "I took 2 hours to choose the ﬂower and then I posted it!" "I fall into the Water when I first see you." "Why doesn't this happen to you?" "You fall in the Water and I laugh." "You're getting drenched in the rain and I have the umbrella." "I run away from you and you come close." "I must come close?" "This close?" "Look at this shade of yellow" "I won't repeat yesterdays mistake." "The letter and ﬂower are both in your hands." "My letter will say what the ﬂower couldn't say yesterday." "I like you very much." "If you keep the ﬂower, I'll assume you too like..." "Who gave this?" "Mister Birju, glad to know you like me so much." "But I only like those who do not steal." "And are brave enough to accept their faults." "In front of everyone." "This you cannot do." "So you keep this ﬂower." "Take this son." "Sukhram's money?" "Said the Wrong thing!" "The note reads my name and the money is his?" "How often have I told you the moment I put this chit, it's mine!" "Grandpa, uncle." "Good morning father." "Where are you off so early?" "It's time for the prayers." "Since when have you started attending prayer meetings?" "Since I accompanied mother to the temple, my life has changed." "Let me know what miracle took place." "I told you I'd seen the goddess at the riverside." "I was transformed." "In that light..." "Look son." "Listen to me"" "There's no need for you to be so religious at this age." "It's needed only at this age." "He's gone for prayers." "Yes." "That's good." ""That's good?" "He's always up to some mischief." "If he goes for prayers, he'll turn into a saint!" "I say get him married." "Marriage?" "Didn't you get married?" "Excuse me sir." "I Wish to say something." "This boy Wants to say something." "He's asking for your permission." "Come and sit here." "Here." "Speak up." "I've made many mistakes in life." "But I never apologized for it." "But now somebody has taken me out of the darkness of ignorance." "I was told a good man is one Who has the courage to bravely and honestly own them up in public." "Today whatever mistakes I have blindly committed in love..." "No need for details." "You've come to God." "He forgives you everything." "God has forgiven me." "But now I want to go and apologise to that person Who has shown me the light of knowledge." "Fine." "I'll be there at 8 tomorrow morning." "Mother!" "Where are you going?" "Please don't go!" "Pm going to school like everyday." "Mother, no..." "Out with it quickly." "What do I tell him?" "What you've been trying to say since last night." "Okay." "Come and sit here." "What am I?" "My mother." "I can read everything on your face." "When my child is happy or sad..." "But today she's very confused." "I am confused." "If he really comes, What do I say?" "You have to decide what you must say." "My mother too gave me this right." "Recognise this?" "When you were little, you always snatched it from Papa's finger." "And he'd laugh and say, I'll give il: to you..." "For the man you choose." "Now ifs your turn." "You must decide." "Only tell me when it is to be given." "Now Pm off." "It's getting late." "Tell you something?" "Even I like that boy." "Only he's a little foolish." "It's 8 o'clock." "I said I'd come at 8." "So I've come." "That's nice." "Now go." "In your letter you said you'd forgive me if I publicly apologized." "I've forgiven you." "Don't come down." "Forgiven me?" "Yes." "That's all?" "What else?" "Do me another favour." "What do I do?" "Only the fortunate are blessed with such kids." "Yes." "We keep explaining to him." "Son, these are your days of enjoyment" "But he has only one thing in mind Work and more Work." "These days he even attends prayer meetings." "Have a drink." "Thank you." "He Works so hard..." "He's a diamond." "If your son is a diamond, my grand daughter is a pearl!" "Here is the customary token." "Sir you..." "We'll accept il: if our son agrees." "This is just a token." "The real token will be on the engagement." "Now don't refuse us." "You're requesting us and We won't accept?" "Okay I'll Write a chit of my name." "Give me one, son." "Money is always like this." "This belonged to you." "The moment I put my name on it, ifs mine." "What can I tell you about my elder son's wife." "They gave so much that.." "I had to buy a new vault." "I don't want to blow my own trumpet but..." "Forget about buying vaults, buy a house nearby." "She's your grand daughter." "Give her as much as you please." "My daughter will be behind and your son ahead of her..." "Son." "Yes father?" "Come and sit here." "Come and sit." "Eat some famous sweetmeats of Simla" "Have some grams of our place." "He's brought a proposal for you from his grand daughter." "I'll fulfill all your desires." "Colour television, motor car." "Feeling shy in my presence." "Doesn't matter." "Tell Dad whatever you want from me." "So this is what you Want?" "Rascal!" "Fall in love and ruin our family reputation!" "It's not a sin to fall in love." "No shame to talk of love in his father's presence!" "Has there ever been a love marriage in our family?" "There'd be a love marriage if somebody had fallen in love." "This is what you teach him!" "What do both of you think?" "Will I give up my dowry for you?" "But father Neha's mother..." "What does that teacher have?" "Her mother..." "What are you bleating on about?" "Father her mother's brother!" "Her maternal uncle." "Mother's brother." "I know." "So he'll give her dowry" "Yes father." "Fool somebody else." "Poor mother and her brother is king of Spain!" "He is a king but of Bombay not Spain." "This man is nothing in comparison." "She's his only grand daughter." "Neha too is the only niece of her uncle." "All his property is hers." "So call him over." "Let's see how powerful he is." "Press my feet!" "Uncle!" "I can't become the uncle." "Pm too short to be a Wealthy uncle." "And voice too childish." "Shut up!" "Do you have millions?" "Nobody in this place has!" "My grandpa has 3 vaults full." "Will you get me a glass of Water?" "Will you get me a sweetmeat?" "I'll get you two." "No!" "I won't do it!" "Neha's uncle has sent it." "So much money?" "For uncle ifs just a little." "But he should have come personally" "I Wanted to meet him." "I said the same but the messenger said the letter explains all." "Respected sir." "As Neha's uncle it was my duty to lay this humble amount at your feet." "But my sister thinks otherwise." "Both of them are reforming society." "They detest the Word dowry!" "But Pm a businessman like you." "I respect your sentiments." "I'll continue to do so in the future." "Neha is like my daughter." "All that I possess is hers." "I only request you not to tell my sister about this secret deal." "Even if the wedding breaks off, she will never accept this money." "Do send the couple to Bombay after they are married." "Respectfully yours, Neha's uncle." "Send you over?" "He's invited us." "It's all free." "Lodging, boarding, clothing..." "He's got cloth mills in Bombay." "Now our clothes will come directly from Bombay." "Directly from Bombay?" "Should I call Neha's mother?" "No!" "No son." "It doesn't seem right." "There's no male in her house." "So We'll go over." "Stop this drama!" "Where did you get the money from?" "I stole it." "Stole again?" "I gave father's money to him." "That's not stealing." "Mother, the money did not go out of the house." "The notes only went from the outside vault to the one inside." "Pm not doing this for myself." "You want a cute daughter-in-law." "Now the wedding will be smooth." "We'll go to uncle in Bombay." "And tell father everything." "He'll be a little angry." "Scold us a little." "Then he'll forgive us." "Son..." "Pm going to the temple with my parents." "Then they will come to your house." "Do you know Why?" "To ask for your hand." "Do serve them sweetmeats." "Live long child." "Be happy." "I think We should send the kids to Bombay for their honeymoon." "The Whole World goes to hill stations" "But it would be best if they went to Bombay." "It's a great city." "By the Way you may have visited it..." "I went there years ago." "It's best to forget old matters." "It's your own relations who help in times of need." "You must be having relatives there?" "Those who have nobody have God." "My daughter is truly lucky." "All of you have come to ask for her so lovingly." "There was no dearth of proposals for our son." "Line outside our house." "And everyone Wanted to give dowry." "But I have nothing except my daughter" "We Wouldn't have taken anything even if you had!" "Isn't it?" "The one who gives a daughter gives everything." "It's love that's exchanged." "I believe whatever a man is..." "The giver is somebody else." "Who knows who he is." "And what he can give." "You just decide on the wedding date." "Have a sweet." "Here child." "They are delicious." "Shall I go?" "No." "Will you let me go if I give you something?" "What?" "Come close." "Close?" "It was my Papa's." "It contains my love and my mother's blessings." "Never take it off." "I Won't." "Never." "Even I want to give you something." "I think I'll give it now." "Don't turn it down." "Grams!" "What's Wrong?" "Can't sleep?" "Just like that." "I was so Worried about your marriage." "And now when we've found such a sweet boy and good family..." "I am frightened." "How will everything be organized?" "How will I stay Without you?" "Why do you talk like this?" "Pm not going far." "I'll come everyday." "To be fed by you." "To make you oil my hair." "And if you talk so, I won't go." "Silly girl!" "You have to go." "Everyone has to go." "This is the tradition." "And this fright will vanish in a couple of days." "Once you are Wed happily..." "Then I'll sleep tight." "I'll fall into a deep sleep." "The mother Whose daughter is happy..." "Her life is happy." "Got taken in by the teacher and fooled your father!" "Stole!" "The groom won't come!" "Let her rest." "Come with me." "It's a mild attack." "You have to admit her." "I'll Write a note." "Take her to Simla." "We'll take her." "Not We, I'll take her!" "Don't talk like this." "Should I dance and sing?" "Or laugh?" "I had no idea this little joke..." "Everything is a joke for you." "Pm a joke!" "My mother is a joke!" "And this 1:00 is a joke that people will think I'm a thief!" "My mother is a thief We made you steal!" "You swore before God never to tell lies." "You won't steal." "But what did you do?" "The same!" "Because that's all that you can do!" "Since Pm responsible, I'll fix everything." "What will you do?" "Go home and stretch your hands?" "Beg?" "And get my mother treated with that money?" "No Neha." "Then how?" "Then how?" "Tell me, how?" "How will you treat my mother?" "Tell me, how!" "Don't come in." "For my sake!" "I'll come with you." "Haven't you done enough?" "Do you want to kill my mother?" "If something happens to my mother, I'll never forgive you!" "Nothing will happen to her." "I'll look after her." "I swear..." "Yes, promise me..." "Never show me your face!" "I Won't, till I get her treated." "But don't leave like this!" "Listen... excuse me." "My mother is unwell." "Please hurry up." "Fill this form." "Write your name, address properly." "If there's any mistake, they'll say I was sleeping." "Was I sleeping?" "General Ward or special room?" "Pay 5000 bucks for special room over there." "I don't have that much." "Then Why did you spoil my form?" "I've already been Warned earlier." "I've come from far..." "Everybody does." "My mother is very unwell." "I too have a mother who is sick." "But what can one do?" "Do something?" "What?" "Admit her Without payment?" "I'll lose my job sister." "The key." "Yes, doctor." "Doctor!" "Sir!" "What are you doing?" "For God's sake..." "Stop this crying!" "I say just shut up!" "Were you going to run all the Way to Simla?" "328 kilometers?" "Why are you fooling us?" "He was running like a madman." "Had you not stopped he'd have fainted." "What happened to you was Wrong." "But what will you go there and do?" "You've sworn not to show the girl your face." "I have sworn so I Won't." "I won't break my promise!" "But I didn't promise not to see her." "I'll see her, every moment." "Even if ifs from far." "Wow!" "This is romance!" "Learn from him." "No!" "I'll learn to drive from you." "You're stupid!" "No problem." "That's Mall Road." "The hospital is there." "Come to me if you ever need help." "Learn something." "No sir." "I have to go to Riwasa." "After you get Well." "I'll plead with Birju's father..." "I'll tell him that..." "You won't do that." "They will never agree." "We'll watch for a few days." "If she suffers another attack..." "We'll give her blood transfusion." "I want a report every 30 minutes." "Sorry I yelled at you." "I'd just returned from ICU." "An 8 year old girl held my hand and asked..." "What's Wrong with me uncle?" "A small kid." "Whom I had seen laughing, playing, eating chocolates." "She was asking me the truth" "I promise I won't cry." "And I told her the truth." "After 15 minutes, Without crying..." "Nor shedding tears, she died." "That is Why when I came out and saw you cry, I couldn't myself." "Has any patient come here from Riwasa?" "Inquire there." "I want to find out Whether any patient came from Riwasa." "Room no 9, third room on the left." "Upstairs." "Nobody will stop you now." "Go." "Please find out for me." "Why should I?" "You go yourself." "Should I leave my duty and go?" "Tell me one thing..." "Is it a custom in Riwasa to get people thrown out of jobs?" "What's the matter?" "Tell me." "Diwanji has come!" "How is it possible?" "He has come and you didn't get up!" "What will he think?" "Dad!" "Your dream has come true Dad!" "He's so young!" "In my dreams he was old." "I just dreamt of you." "You came to my laundry." "And bought the Whole collection at a price Where I could see London!" "Come." "I'll show you the collection." "My name is Bhigelal." "I always got Wet in my childhood." "So my Dad named me Bhigelal." "My Dad's name was Sukhelal." "He worked in the laundry." "The English frequented this place." "This is London Laundry." "Please come in sir." "Have a seat." "What would you like, hot or cold?" "Have a Wash." "I've reached London looking at you." "Please sit, sir." "I'll get the collection." "I'll be back in a minute sir." "Where are you?" "Does anybody leave home like this?" "Nobody has slept all night." "Is this right?" "Don't worry." "Pm fine Where I am." "How is Neha's mother?" "Is she fine?" "Do you need money?" "Should We come there?" "No mother!" "If you come here, I'll kill myself" "Where are you son?" "Rascal has called up?" "Needs money?" "How much money does he want and Where is it to be sent?" "Tell father I'll die but not touch his money!" "He says he'll die but not touch father's money." "You...are not Diwanji?" "You're joking!" "You've come from Chamba." "To buy my Dad's collection." "Then Why?" "Why did you wear such clothes and break my dreams?" "Who are you?" "Pm from Riwasa." "I've left my home." "So fine!" "You made a long distance call?" "Give me 50 rupees!" "Come on!" "I don't have any money." "No money?" "No money?" "I'll claim that money!" "Think how!" "The question that arises is Why?" "Are you ironing clothes or sawing Wood?" "Pm collecting money to go to London" "Yet Pm employing you as an extra servant." "The question is Why?" "You look like an Englishman." "An English servant!" "Despite the ﬂattery don't be under the impression, I'll pay you extra." "Just 50 paise per cloth." "Sir even if you give me 25 I Won't leave your shop and go." "Now don't ask Why." "Don't burn the cloth!" "Health?" "She got up in the morning and had a headache..." "The nurse gave her a shot and..." "I get your mother's reports everyday." "This is Monday, that Tuesday." "This Wednesday, herds Thursday." "I was inquiring about you." "Your mother said you smiled a lot in Riwasa." "When did she tell you?" "We always talk about you." "She was telling me all about you." "How you love troubling others." "You love mischief." "And ﬂowers." "Half your mother's treatment will be treated with my medicines." "And the rest will be by your smile." "This red ﬂower thrice a day with cold Water for your smile." "Must be around here somewhere." "Mother what are you looking for?" "Medicines." "Not medicines." "I know what you're looking for." "This?" "Yes, this." "Shall I post it?" "Why don't you go?" "I just..." "Go away." "You were looking for this letter." "In which you've begged Birju's father"" "To give the kids' another chance." "You forgot the principles that you taught me." "My principle was also not to read others' letters." "I haven't read it!" "I haven't even opened it." "But I know you Well." "I too can read your mind." "Tell me honestly..." "don't you miss him?" "You are Wrong." "I've forgotten him." "Why are you lying?" "You remember everything." "Mother !" "If he loved me, he would be here not back home!" "Brother !" "You've come!" "I searched for you everywhere." "I was so Worried." "Everybody is Worried." "Don't worry." "I've spoken to mom." "How is Neha's mother?" "Much better." "See that Window?" "They are there." "She had told me not to show her my face again." "But she never said I can't see her!" "Earlier even I'd sleep like this." "My mother would slap me softly and say.." "Is this how you'll become a doctor?" "Is your father a doctor?" "No, he's a driver." "But the oar was a doctor's." "It was his dream I become a doctor." "They Wanted their son to be called a doctor not driver." "They must be very happy now." "The reports are good..." "She is improving" "Pm fine." "You do so much for others." "Even this late at night..." "The patients and I are alone." "You must have heard the saying..." "One and one makes two" "But when one is lonely, the formula completely changes" "Do you know how much is one lonely man plus another." "Nobody." "I found this in the pipe." "This is an old coin." "Go and give it upstairs." "I won't go." "Why?" "He'll start again." "Okay." "Give it to me." "The World's most beautiful tower." "On the banks of the Thames." "Yes?" "We found this in the pipe." "Dad!" "Your coin of Jahangir!" "Where did you find it?" "Downstairs sir." "Dad was so Worried." "Dad lost it." "This is an incident not a coin." "No, a piece ... ofhistory!" "Madam gave it to Dad!" "Ask Why." "Why sir?" "Once What happened..." "We'll sit and listen." "Dad was Washing madam's clothes for two years." "And would talk to her in English." "But the funny part is he did not know English!" "Then how did he talk?" "Whatever she said in English." "Dad would latch on to the last 2 Words" "Suppose she said. ." "She Wouldn't even realise Dad had caught it..." "Then she said..." "Dad said, lot of soap?" "Once matters got twisted." "Once she said, you're so sweet!" "Dad said, so sweet?" "He said one minute and ran!" "And bought sweets." "He bought a box of sweets!" "It's then that madam realised Dad can't understand English." "But she was happy to see the sweets." "In return she gave him a box of old coins." "Look at these coins." "So many coins?" "She went back to England." "Dad was left pining..." "He couldn't collect enough money." "On his death bed, he held my hand and said..." "Now I'll see madam's England through your eyes." "People sigh on dying..." "But before dying, Dad said..." "Sir, you will go." "I will definitely go!" "I've somehow collected 60000 bucks!" "I'll get at least 40 or 50000 for these coins." "I will go!" "Positively!" "You've made me very happy today." "I'll make you happy!" "At 50 paise per garment..." " 500 bucks advance for 1000 garments!" "You keep this and ﬂy kites." "What's the matter?" "Sir, it's my "E's first earning." "Thank you sir." "Sir, 50 bucks for that day's call." "No." "Forget it." "No sir." "Please." "Saw that?" "I'll Write to mother" "See that girl?" "Give her this ﬂower." "Many years ago, I too" "In this very place gave somebody a ﬂower." "You returned a lost moment to me." "By the Way, the end to my love story was very painful." "What happened?" "We got married!" "We got married!" "The roses that would make her cheeks pink before marriage With shame, she now turns red with rage at the same roses." "Flowers have become expensive." "Stop it." "Talking through your hat in front of kids!" "Fill my mouth with ice cream and I'll shut up." "Will you have some?" "He's not allowed to eat So he's finding excuses." "One has to find excuses for everything." "Look at the cruelty of life." "One should have a reason to live." "Even if it be just memories." "And life is easy to live." "Today is your time." "Go and make your memories." "Memories are the staff of old age." "And man starts off with it for support." "Like We're setting off." "You remind me of my son." "You returned a past moment to us." "Which is priceless." "If I can ever help you.." "Keep this card of mine." "Come over if you need anything." "Dear mother, I have neither stolen nor borrowed this money." "This is my first earning." "I'll be glad if father considers it Worthy of being placed at the mother goddess' feet." "Pm sending the first pay home." "Pm missing but my address is the same Wherever you are." "Hope you're at peace now!" "You were always after my baby!" "Only you are his mother." "He means nothing to me." "If you loved him so much, you would not have snatched away his happiness." "Stop it." "As if all the fault is mine" "What about what he did?" "The rascal didn't even Write his address!" "But I'm glad at least he's started earning ." "Son..." "Place the money at the goddess' altar." "How are you?" "Fine." "I came to return this." "The deposit for the room." "There was no hurry for it." "I cannot repay the value that the money had for me that day." "Hence Pm returning it." "Did you have to sell something?" "Please keep it." "Maybe it will be of use to somebody else someday." "Who may not have anything to sell." "I closely know of many who have nothing to sell." "My Dad was a driver." "He had a lot of vices." "Once he left he never returned." "Why?" "Because everything in the house was sold for his treatment." "When the money kept for my education was being used..." "He got up as usual, switched off my night lamp, tucked me in..." "And went away." "Had he been here today, he would have been treated." "Herds your dose for today." "For your smile." "Washer man!" "Call Bhigelal." "He knows it." "You do your Work." "Call him." "Your parents taught you to wear a watch but no manners!" "You come to London Laundry and talk to me like this!" "Who are you?" "Are you Bhigelal?" "Yes..." "No!" "Pm just a servant." "Sir is sitting upstairs." "Please be seated." "I'll call him." "But sir..." "Now you are sir not me!" "What do I see?" "He has seen me in my pajamas." "Will he give 50000 for these coins?" "He'll run away!" "God knows what I said to him!" "I can't do this sir!" "My dream will break." "You know what a dream is?" "Yes sir." "I know what a dream is." "This is Bhigelal." "He owns this shop and this collection." "Pm very eager to see your collection." "It's not my collection sir." "It's Dad's!" "My Dad.." "I mean his Dad selected... collected it." "Now you select it." "I'll get the seeing glass." "This belongs to Shahjehan's era." "Yes." "What did you say about it?" "Something special about it..." "Yes I'd written to you." "Let me have a look." "This is not a coin sir." "It's an incident..." "What incident?" "That. . riverside..." "The strains of the hymns." "Thousands of lamps." "And a glimpse of the goddess." "Goddess?" "She was bathing in the river when Shahjehan first saw her." "Looking at her, he fell in love." "And Mumtaz slowly put this coin in his hand." "Wow!" "Excellent Bir. ." "Bhigelal." "And this is Jehangir's coin." "Does this also have some story?" "Story?" "It's a portion." "A part of history." "Very integral part." "Then... ?" "All the lamps had been switched off." "The slave at the door told Saleem, Anarkali has left everything and gone." "Saleem" "Right then there was a sound." "Saleem turned and reached Anarkali." "He asked her Why she did this." "She screamed that your Dad was not in favour of our match." "Now I'll never show you my face!" "What happened?" "I can't do this." "I can't do this!" "I swore I Wouldn't lie." "Sir, you..." "You are the sir." "Pm just He's fooling." "I swore never to tell lies." "We cheated you." "If you leave, his father's dream will break." "He is Bhigelal." "Forgive me." "Where are you taking the coins?" "You maybe a liar but the coins are genuine." "I'll pay you 65000 for it." "Fine?" " 65000 rupees?" "You've bought my Dad's collection?" "My Dad's dream has come true!" "I'll Wash your and your family's clothes all my life!" "What can I do for you?" "You have to make a call." "Please." "What do I do for you?" "Dad!" "Pm coming!" "No..." "Pm going to London!" "Yours." "Tie the ribbon." "Again?" "How many times will you count them?" "They'll remain the same?" "Yes sir." "I've been Waiting for 32 years." "I can't believe that Pm going to London in 2 days." "Get up!" "The cupboard key is under this." "I'll dress up and go to London!" "When my Dad died, he left behind 2 things." "The coins and me!" "Today there are 125000 bucks in here!" "Look at this map of London." "Madam's house." "Dad would look at this map day and night." "I'll show you my preparations." "Come." "Binoculars." "One can see stars with this but not England." "Come here." "Far off things appear close." "Look at the beauty outside." "See anything?" "What's the matter?" "Are you a relative?" "Deposit 20000 bucks at the counter." "Deposit for ICU." "We have to operate." "How much will the operation cost?" "Lakh or so." "Hurry up." "You've come back after counting the stars?" "Didn't they seem very close?" "I want money." "Money?" "Here, take it." "Have fun." "I'll manage." "More?" "Here." "Go." "Keep it." "More?" "Just tell me how much you Want." "A lakh and a quarter." "Give me the binoculars." "Said he swore never to lie." "Doesn't your promise break by joking?" "Joking!" "Go and count stars." "Let me count my notes." "Come immediately." "Mother is very unwell." "I made you promise." "But now Pm breaking it." "Come back Birju." "Just a minute." "Mother is serious." "We must operate immediately." "There maybe a lot of expenditure." "A lakh and a quarter." "But We will operate." "I told you I'd filled a form for my Dad." "The doctor's relatives are treated free of charge." "But Whom do We have?" "The Director asked me the same question, how are We related?" "Then gave me the form." "The form Where every relation has a name." "Which can be classified." "So I..." "I gave the answer that the director and committee will understand." "I've told them that..." "We are getting married." "I know it is Wrong but there is no other option." "I just know that this is the only option open." "Either you sign this form." "Or I'll tell them We're not operating" "Son, you?" "This late?" "Come in." "See who has come." "Don't Worry son." "You'll get the money you Want for the operation." "I'll slog day and night to repay your obligation." "But We are retired." "Where will We get the money?" "You Well know Where the money will come from." "Son, the lottery here..." "I can't do that." "Why not?" "We've lost one son." "You Want the other to be ruined?" "What happened aunt?" "Call me mother." "Had my son been here, he would call me mother." "I had told you not to talk about this." "Your honesty and principles snatched away my son!" "For my sake, if you want to erase my sorrow..." "Don't send this son away empty handed." "All right." "If anybody else hears about this I.." "The fact is the lottery run here.." "." "Is full of corruption." "Tickets are printed for name sake." "The Winning ticket Worth lakhs only goes to..." "The one who gives big bribes." "He was in the ministry." "Hence he knows all this." "I never asked anything for myself." "But one thing is sure, in my long service I earned respect." "If I ask for the Winning ticket the ministry won't refuse me." "If We can somehow arrange for 7000 or 8000." "I'll earn that much myself." "By Working hard." "This is 3282." "I'll get the rest by tomorrow." "Did you think We'd Wait for your money?" "I pawned my chain." "Your ticket has come." "The result will be declared tomorrow." "But mother, your chain..." "When you Win, bring it back for me." "Both of you are..." "No!" "Don't adulate us." "We're humans of ﬂesh and bone." "Seeing you, I felt my son has returned." "Under the pretext of helping you We too are blessed with some joy." "Tomorrow a new life begins for you." "Treat Neha's mother with the money." "Your promise will be kept." "Here mistress." "I'll make it." "Take this." "Give these ﬂowers to Neha on our behalf." "Herds your ticket." "But I want something from you in return." "Do you know how expensive ﬂowers are?" "She won't let me buy." "You give me some ﬂowers." "There's a call for you." "Birju here." "Say something." "Yes, ifs me." "Pm coming with the money." "I'd said till I get the money I won't show you my face." "Pm coming." "I've kept my Word." "I've got money!" "Lakhs!" "Lakhs?" "Yes!" "Lakhs!" "I Won a lottery!" "Really?" "Yes." "And listen..." "are you listening?" "I love you very much." "You also say that you love me." "And you're not mad at me." "Enough." "Just come over." "Yes." "Pm coming tomorrow." "Yes." "Wait for me." "I'll be coming tomorrow." "Yes, come Birju." "The stamp is of your shop." "Have a look." "Yes it is of my shop." "They bought the entire bundle for 1000 rupees." "And sold it to you for lakhs." "What can I do?" "But what happened?" "The uncle and aunt" "What happened to them?" "They are thieves!" "They cheated the entire town and vanished." "They can't do this." "I have their card." "So What?" "They've given everybody their cards." "Let's burn them up!" "How can I?" "I got taken in by their talk and even sold my ﬂower shop!" "Thank God your house Wasn't sold." "They cheated the cottage owners of 25000 bucks!" "I'll slaughter them if I see them!" "Where will you find them?" "They've left the cottage." "We'll all kill them" "Why are you banging at the door?" "They have gone!" "Stole everything and left!" "Didn't even spare me!" "They said I reminded them of their son." "I am ruined!" "Sit down." "Calm down." "He will come." "He won't come now." "It's 11 p.m." "He's coming from Riwasa." "It will take him time." "He lied again." "Why will he lie?" "Mother, he won't come!" "What's the matter?" "What's the matter?" "I want to say something to you." "About what happened to me." "That's over." "Do you know Why God gave us eyes in the front?" "He could have put one at the back." "He only Wants us to see ahead." "And do you know What's ahead?" "Mother's latest reports are good." "After the operation, I promise she'll be fine." "Remember you said, We should decide for ourselves." "I've taken a decision." "I'll marry the doctor." "He's a very nice man." "Doesn't tell lies or steal." "Or hurt anybody." "He will look after you." "I respect him a lot." "Do you love him?" "Brother!" "Come to your senses." "Why should I come to my senses?" "This is not correct." "Then what is?" "Is it all right for Neha's mother to die untreated?" "Go and ask your teacher!" "A person Whose mother is dying Without treatment..." "From Where will he bring a lakh?" "By Washing clothes?" "Or ironing them?" "From Where?" "You've gone mad." "Pm going back." "I'll tell your parents everything." "I'm going" "Tell me what to do." "On one hand are your dreams." "On the other Neha's mother's death." "Dreams can Wait, not death." "I'll Work all my life for you and return every penny." "You may not believe this story." "Hence Pm leaving behind.." "the lottery ticket." "Keep it." "It's like my life." "And my fate." "A fraud!" "What are you doing here?" "Who are you?" "Pm telling you repeatedly..." "Till you tell me who you are I can't take this money!" "Do you ask all patients?" "All right I'll ask Neha!" "BIO!" "Don't tell her anything." "She won't take them." "Why not?" "Where are they from?" "Who are you?" "Why are you crying?" "We are going to him." "If something happens to him...?" "Don't tell anyone." "I won't tell." "Keep this money." "Her uncle has sent it!" "He has many cloth mills." "The material is sent all over India." "But she said they have no relatives." "Her saying doesn't turn family into strangers." "He only Wants her mother to be saved!" "That is Why he sent this money." "If something happens to mother..." "Who is it?" "He is Birju's Dad." "Where is he?" "How did you come in?" "The door was open." "My money!" "Don't know how it happened..." "He's got a mad fit." "There's been a theft in London Laundry." " 125000!" "For a few rupees..." "He stole everything!" "Your Birju stole everything!" "The night you came, he had come, too." "What he didn't do for you..." "He Washed clothes, swept the rooms." "He stayed awake at nights and Washed trucks." "Earned money." "Everything is lost." "Where is he?" "Where is he?" "Sir, please forgive me." "I had written I won't go away." "I'll be your slave." "Slave?" "You and slave?" "Never!" "Pm not Diwanji." "You are a king, an emperor!" "You are the prince and Pm your slave." "WEB-pen!" "I want a Weapon!" "Weapon!" "I won't go anywhere!" "He's gone into shock." "He's escaped from the hospital." "Wash room!" "I won't spare you!" "He cried and yelled." "Then laughed like a madman." "With great difficulty your Dad and brother took him to hospital." "Dad is here?" "Found it!" "He's talking of Dad." "Be sensible." "I'm no prince just a petty thief!" "You're a thief?" "You would have run away." "You're petty?" "Absolutely Wrong!" "Only you can Win a bet of lakhs." "How?" "Because you have this." "You have this!" "You are mad!" "This is false, useless!" "It's useless?" "It's not useless!" "It's a miracle!" "Pm not mad, you are!" "Because you didn't ask, What?" "Say it again." "What did you see at the shop when you went there?" "People were yelling and shouting." "What else?" "Everybody was cursing uncle and aunt." "What else?" "Everybody had similar tickets in their hand." "And?" "What else would We see?" "What you should have seen." "What you should have seen." "People crying..." "They had a glance and went away." "They went away." "But they didn't see..." "The number of the Winning ticket." "What is it?" "You should have asked." "Those thieves sold many such tickets to innocents like you." "But by chance if one of those tickets does Win...?" "So?" "Uncle and aunt were frauds." "But the ticket was genuine." "The question arises, Who?" "Who has the Winning ticket?" "This question arose in my mind." "I called up and found out." "This is the Winning ticket." "It is this!" "It is this!" "It is right!" "These men were after the ticket." "What are you doing?" "He's my Dad." "Tell him." "We thought you were in shock because of the theft." "So I went to find out." "Is this the number?" "It is." "I've Won a lottery!" "Yes son!" "You have the boon of the goddess of Wealth." "You've Won 125000!" " 250000!" "Whether it be 125000 or 250000..." "It belongs to my son." "Neha's mother will be treated by your money." "Come." "Neha is calling you." "She's Waiting for you." "Is everything fine?" "Doctor you saved my child's life." "Doctor's idea was good." "But your acting was superb!" "You did all that had to be done." "But I thought you had ﬂoundered in between." "You said 250000 instead of 125000." "That's because I'll only be able to see London in 125000." "But in 250000 I can see England!" "On my expense?" "We had a deal for 125000." "Not one penny over that!" " 250000!" "125000!" "I lose my head very fast. 250000!" "125000!" "One moment, may I suggest something?" "Call up the lottery office." "You'll know Whether its 125000 or 250000." "Shut up!" "You think We're fools?" "Don't speak when you don't follow!" "I understand everything." "What?" "What?" "What do you understand?" "Do you know what Birju did?" "Robbery." "And what happens if he complains?" "He'll be imprisoned." "So what do I have to do?" "Pm his father." "So tell me." "Say, he'll have to return the money." "Tell me, What I did to him in his Wedding..." "Would he have taken money from me?" "He said he'd die but not touch your money." "He Won't." "That's Why doctor said..." "Even if he hasn't Won the lottery, just say it." "You mean he hasn't Won the lottery?" "No." "You may tear this." "Meaning you're giving 250000?" "Say yes." "Yes." "He agreed to pay 250000!" "Not for 250000!" "No, just 125000!" " 125000 not 250000!" "He has gone up to meet you." "My name." "You never asked." "Friends should be addressed by their first names." "Mother !" "Everything turned out fine." "You'll be fine." "I am already better." "The mother Whose kids are happy, her life is made." "See what I brought for you." "Neha is Waiting for you." "Where had you gone?" "Always near you." "Since We were separated..." "We'll never be separated." "We'll always be together." "Like Water and the lake, rain and the umbrella." "Flower..."