"The professional Mourner" "Gifting a cow is a most beneficient act" "It assures one salvation" "Go." "Take it away" "You gifted a cow" "You will attain heaven" "And 11 Brahmins are to be fed at the temple" "Why 11?" "Would five lessen my accumulated virtue?" "Get lost!" "You hind of a dirty buffalo!" "As you command..." "I've been put out of my own house..." "And thrown here to rot under this pavilion!" "May thieves take his accursed mother!" "I know very well..." "No one'll cry over my corpse when I die tomorrow" ""Father, you'll get perfectly well"" "I sent for the city doctor." "He should be here soon" ""Oh, your city doctor'll bring the fabled Sanjivani..."" "...like some god!" "It's I who am paying for all your sins!" "Where's that wretched Kalia gone!" ""Hey, Kalia!"" ""You hind of a buffalo!" "Yes, Hukum (liege)"" ""Couldn't I call out from here, you fool"" "Go there and call him" "Even this wretched death doesn't come too soon!" ""Kalia..." "Hey, Kalia... come quickly"" "He's making merry" ""His life isn't hanging by a thread, is it!"" ""Were you dead, you wretch!"" "You stuck to me like a shadow when I was alive" ""And now, you vanish out of sight!"" ""I'm but your dog, sir." "Where'll I go"" ""May God give you long life." "Command me, sir"" "Come here..." "Sit here by my side" ""Look, I don't think I'll ever get up from my bed"" "That Pandit may say anything" "He just babbles" ""Clutching a calf"s tail, I had invited the god of death"" "But even he hasn't come" "I won't die so easily because the god of death has no time for me" "And you'll also see..." ""I gasp out my breath, and they'll distribute sweets!"" "God forbid!" "The young Master is most worried about you" ""Very worried, I'm sure!"" "Just you wait and see..." "He'll not shed a drop of a tear when I'm dead" ""You sent for me, Hukum (liege)?"" "Will you cry when I die?" ""How can you say such a thing, Hukum!"" "Tell me why you called me..." ""Oh, yes..." "As I was saying..." "You too won't cry"" "Fetch a Rudali (Professional mourner) From the village a special one who leads the mourning in rich houses" ""Now, don't fetch an expensive one..."" "Get someone cheaper" ""At least, she'll cry over my death"" "She'll mourn... even she's hired for it..." "But she'll cry" ""Well, you heard me"" "Go now." "Why're you still sitting here!" "?" ""Hey, Munim (Accountant)...!" "Hukum?"" "Will you cry when I die?" "I feel like crying now!" "No..." "Your wretched face always look weepy!" "I won't be a burden on you" "I'll help cook and clean." "And bring vegetables" "I mourned at a wake before coming here." "I've money" "May be..." "I'll have to stay here with you for a while" "Can't trust the Zamindar to die soon" "Even life is a matter of chance..." "Who can say what happens after death...!" "May I ask you something?" "Who gave you this name Shanichari (Saturnine)?" "Shanichari..." "The folks here started calling me that..." "Unlucky to be born on Saturday..." "Accursed because... she ate up her father as soon as she was born!" "Didn't your Ma give you a name?" "When did I ever see my Ma's face...!" "She ran away after I was born with some actor from a touring company" "It's said she was a born wanderer" "You think it'll rain?" "I grew up..." "I was fair and pretty" "A drunk won me in a game..." "and brought me to this place" "He married me..." "And ever since..." "this has been my heaven and hell" "Where have you come from?" "From Dongri..." "Those who're dying send for me" ""I'm a Rudali (professional mourner), you know..."" "Here today and elsewhere tomorrow" "Looks like it'll rain" "You don't seem to belong here but come from elsewhere" "Sometimes I wonder if you're really mine!" "You're born to a wanderer like my mother" "I forgot!" "I've to take home medicine for Dadi (Grandma)" ""Let's stay for a while, Ma"" ""We've been here for so long." "We'll come again, Budhua"" ""Dance, Ma!"" "Are you crazy!" "?" "Please dance" ""Oh, I'll fall off!" "Dance, Ma"" ""You've got used to play-acting, heven't you!"" ""Should your Dadi know, she'll hit me"" "Please dance" ""You'll come home if I dance?" "Yes, I will"" ""Oh well, I'm dancing with my son!"" ""What happened, Ma?"" ""I fell down, you crazy boy!" "Let's go..."" ""Oh, it looks like it's going to rain"" "She'll rain abuses... as she does everyday" ""So you're home, you witch!" "Yes"" "Did you bring my medicine?" "Yes" "She won't even let me breathe..." "What happened?" "Who broke this pot?" "I did." "What could I do...!" "I was dying of thirst" ""Was anyone at home to give me water, tell me!"" "I had to get up myself..." "And I fell down" "But what am I to do?" "Tell your son to sit beside you" "Then who'll work in the Zamindar's fields!" "?" "It's I who slog and slave!" "Does he do anything!" "He'll be lying drunk..." "Then I go searching..." "at the temple and the liquor den..." "Oh!" "And here he practically stood by my side for a week!" "Well do I know!" "You'll be at peace only when I die!" ""Forever maligning my son, are you!" "You accursed!"" "The Zamindar's men will whip him one day" "He'll know then!" "May the worms eat your tongue!" ""You always speak evil, you black-tongued bitch!"" "That's why you're named..." ""Yes, Shanichari!"" "Born on a Saturday to eat up her father at her birth..." ""Accursed wretch, I know!"" "Let Ganju come home." "See if I don't have him skin you!" ""Budhua, come and eat your bread."" "Still picking your nose?" ""Coming, Ma"" "What did the Vaid (herbal doctor) say?" "He gave medicine." "I'll give you" "Will the medicine make grandma all right?" "God forbid..." "The clouds're really thundering tonight" ""Yes, they only thunder." "When will it rain"" "The fever's still high... hasn't come down" "When'll Ganju come home..." "It's two days since I saw his face..." ""Why do you worry?" "Now, sleep well"" "I'll go search for him in the evening ...Don't worry" "Ganju...!" ""Have you seen Ganju?" " No, I haven't"" "Oh God!" "Where'll I search for this drunken sot!" "Ganju...!" "Tanne Singh..." "Tanne Singh..." "You saw Budhua's father anywhere?" "Ganju?" "He was here the past 2 days" "Must've run away in fear this morning" ""You're lying!" " No, it's the truth"" "There was a theft at the Zamindar's." "They suspect him" "His Ma is so ill and there's no news of him" "Send him home if he comes" "And you send him too" ""Ma, come and see!"" "It's raining so heavily after years..." "This barren earth is soaked!" "I danced like one possessed" "Look at my clothes!" "They cling as if they don't want to leave my skin" ""Look, Ma..." "Ma, look..."" "Ganju...!" ""Panditji, did you see my husband?"" "He's not come home for 2 days." "What happened?" "My mother-in-law..." "I'm searching for him" ""Well, keep searching!" "He won't be home for 6 months"" "He's in a police lock up." "He stole from the Zamindar." ""Go, you accursed wretch!" "..." "God forbid..."" "Kamli..." "Chanchali..." "Kamli...!" "Shanichari?" "My Ma-in-law is dead" "This time of the night!" "It's a sin to keep the body overnight." "I must cremate her" ""If the Pandit comes to know, he'll make me spend 1O rupees"" "There isn't a grain to eat but folks'll be ready to say perform all sorts of rites!" "Come quickly" "I didn't cry..." "Not a tear would moisten my eyes..." "Even time was against me" ""Oh, don't you have to go there?"" "I will go... after a while" ""He isn't going to die this night, is he"" "And if he had died..." "You'd have seen vultures circling in the sky" ""Beg pardon, my liege"" "Bhikni..." ""There's no lack of food at Shanichari's, I hope"" ""No, Hukum." "I have everything there"" ""Shanichari is well, I hope?"" ""Yes, Hukum"" "Tell her to come here to the palace if she needs anything" "Tell her to meet me" "She's an old retainer of the palace" ""Yes, Hukum"" ""Hey, Shanichari...!"" "Look at all the things I have brought for you!" "That mean old Munim really got what he deserved today!" ""Here, come and see... one kilo lentils..."" "One kilo rice and... then this oil" "And 25 rupees cash!" "We'll make merry now" "How did you like... the palace?" "The palace was nice..." "And so was the owner of the palace!" "He was not much bothered about me..." "It was you he was worried about!" "Was there some special attachment..." "in your youth?" ""Come on, tell me"" "That smile seems to hover round your lips!" "Why?" "Look up!" "Look up when you speak" ""Come on, girl." "Let me have some water to drink"" "Have you gone crazy!" "?" "Who're you giving water to?" "You said... give water." "So I'm giving some water" ""I said, give me water." "It's I who am thirsty"" "And you give the camel the water!" "How can I give you water!" "I'll have to raise my head" "Why?" "Have you sprained your neck?" "Yes..." "look up" ""Look up, you silly girl"" ""Look up, I said"" "Such piercing eyes!" "..." "I find you beautiful" "What's your name?" "Shanichari" "Where're you going?" "Home" "Listen..." "I didn't stop just to look at you" "I was thirsty" "I saw the pot on your head." "Thought you'd give me water" "My flagon is empty" "Your flagon's empty...!" ""Yes, give me water"" "Don't you understand!" "Lt'll pollute your caste" "It won't harm me to drink water" ""If it harms you to give me water, well then... don't!"" ""Enough, Hukum?"" ""Yes, enough... for now"" "I'll take you there." "Where have you to go?" "Barna." "Then get on the camel" "You add glory to the camel" "You're born to ride the camel" "I'll sit forward and you sit behind me" ""This glory you spoke of will lead..." "so, come on"" "I'll be buried alive should anyone in the village see me" "Don't you worry" "So long as this Lakshman Singh is alive..." "No one'll even dare raise his eyes at you!" ""Beg your ardon, Hukum!"" "What's the matter?" ""Forgive me, Hukum!"" ""Listen to me, will you"" "Why've you tied me up and brought me here?" "What've I done!" "How do I know!" "Hukum told me to bring you" "Come on..." "Walk" ""Hukum, he is Ganju." "Shanichari's husband"" "Is Ganju your name?" ""Forgive me, Hukum!" "I beg your pardon"" ""I've done nothing wrong, Hukum"" ""I was working and Kalia brought me here, all tied up"" "He beat me up... really thrashed me" "Hmm..." "Have you had liquor?" ""No, Hukum." "I..." "I..." "I haven't had any liquor"" ""I swear on my son." "I've given up drink, Hukum!"" "I can smell liquor on you!" "I... my joints were aching last night" ""And I massaged it, Hukum..." "And then..."" ""I..." "I just took one little gulp, that's all"" "Kalia didn't let me bathe." "That's why there's the smell" "What's your daily wage?" "2 rupees and 8 annas" "You drink away the 2 rupees and give the 8 anna at home" ""No, Hukum!" "You've got it totally upside down!"" "I give 8 annas at home and" "The young Malkin (mistress) Of the palace needs a maid" "She'll get food and clothes." "Send your wife" "She won't even need your 8 annas then" "I'm Moti." "Malkin (mistress) Has been waiting so long" "Come... walk quickly" "My heart is humming!" "Humming?" "It beats so hard!" "I'm afraid" "There's nothing to be afraid of." "Malkin is very kind" "That's the way it is with high born landed Thakurs" ""If you ask, you get everything"" "But if you don't ask..." "She'll not let you touch even the twig of a tree" "And don't you even dare go near the temple lt'll be a calamity if you touch the image of any god" "I'll have a slim waist if I go up these stairs daily!" ""May I enter, Malkin?" "Come in"" "Shanichari is here." "Who Shanichari?" "You had sent for a maid" "A maid?" "For what?" "Kunwar Sahib told you about her" "Shall I send her in?" "All right." "Send her in." "Come" ""Oh, Moti..."" "Do they use so much water everyday to bathe?" "The good fortune of the big folk!" "Silly girl!" "What do they lack?" "They have wells and ponds of their own!" "Poor Budhua!" "He must be fetching water himself now..." "Be quick now" "May I just wash my face and hands?" "Just a little..." "Quickly" ""Hey, Moti..." "Yes"" "Tell me this." "You're like us but why do you live with them" "Why not live with us" "I came here a long time ago." "I was even younger than you" "I came to serve the elder Malkin" "I couldn't bear hunger and poverty..." "So what else could I do..." "I stayed here" "Now I'm old" "Who needs this old bag of bones...!" "Yes." "What you say is true" "Once a woman comes to live here..." "Folks don't think well of her" ""Hey, Shanichari..." "Yes"" "We used to play hopscotch as children" "Tell me..." "what game did you play as a child?" ""When did we ever play, Malkin!"" "Fetched water when it was time to play and worked in fields otherwise" "Grandma used to pack me off with bread and an onion" ""And she'd say, drink water before and after eating..."" "That way the belly would feel full!" "You talk of poverty when I asked you about playing" "But one game we did play..." "What?" "We'd hide under the Zamindar's buffaloes..." "And suck milk straight from the udder!" "From our herd?" "I'm not from this village" "I was born in Jasod on a Saturday and at birth..." "Kantha Rani..." "Go... tell him I'm bathing" "And ask him what he wants" ""Yes, Malkin"" "Malkin (mistress) is bathing" ""Whenever I meet you, you're drenched"" "She asks if you want anything" "Up...!" "Look at me when you speak" "You want anything..." "Look up!" "Look up at me" "You're breathing fast" ""No, Hukum!" "NO!" "This is sin, _Hukum!"" "You poor innocent..." "From the day I saw you..." "I have wanted you" "I find you lovely" "Hukum!" "Please give me my Chunni (Shawl like cloth)" "If I don't?" ""I'm not Moti, Hukum"" "Shanichari!" "It's not difficult for a Zamindar to abduct women" "But this Lakshman Singh is not Ramavtar" "But you're a Zamindar" "I'm a low-caste..." ""Hukum, lt'll be a sin even if my shadow falls on you!"" "I'll go to hell!" "Sin... hell..." "Do you know what sin is?" "Virtue and sin..." "They're but false myths created by Brahmin logic" "If one were to strictly follow their teaching..." "There wouldn't be a bigger sinner than I" "If this life that I'm living is one of sin..." ""Well, what's wrong in that?"" ""It's much cleaner than your virtuous life, Shanichari!"" "You keep rotting in that filth..." ""Hungry, naked and diseased..."" "And assume you're accumulating viture?" "What sort of virtue?" "And for whom?" "Have you ever thought of it?" "Your hell is... where you are!" "Shanichari..." "Think again" "I make you this promise" "You'll never go hungry or thirsty again" "You'll have nothing but good in store" "But yes." "There's one thing" "You must give up Budhua and Ganju" ""Rani, Shanichari serves you most diligently"" "Serve me sometimes!" ""Yours to command, Hukum"" ""Well, let it pass"" "Each one to his lot...!" "Kesar Bai is in Sipla these days" "I thought we could call her here..." "For the baby's birthday." "She sings very well" ""There'll be singing, Rani." "One even better!"" "But there's no need for Kesar Bai" "This Shanichari here..." "She will sing" "Kalia told me you've a lovely voice" ""How can I, Hukum?"" ""You know better what and how to sing, not I!"" "What I meant was..." "If my shadow falls on the little Thakur on such an auspicious occasion!" ""Don't you bother about that, Shanichari"" ""The celebration'll be at night." "And so, no shadows!"" ""Look, all this matter of high and low caste..."" "...of pollution through shadows..." "I neither know about it nor believe in it" ""Besides, you sing so well!"" "Don't you want to share our happiness?" ""That's not it, Hukum"" "Whatever be the matter..." "You had asked for my command and this then is my command!" "..." " Hukum...... " ""Shanichari, what is your desire?"" ""Your grace, my liege"" "All right" "Your hut stands on our ancestral land..." "The two acres around it are yours as of today" "And that night..." "I got everything" "Kunwar Sahib really set me free" "But what I lost that night..." "I have never forgotten" "You never met him after that night" ""How well you understand, Bhikni!"" ""All these years, no one even knew this Shanichari"" ""And in two days, you..."" "Bhikni..." "The Thakur Sahib is dying." "Come quickly." "He calls you" ""Wait, I'll come"" ""At once?" " Now, at once!"" "It's almost night." "Can't he wait till morning?" "Are you mad!" "Does death look at the clock before it comes?" ""Hey, Bhikni!" "What're you doing?" "Quick!"" "Panditji (priest)..." "Give me the holy Ganga water...!" "Soon" ""Munimji, go bring the Ganga water"" "My Lord..." "Ganga water" ""It's coming, Hukum"" "You've made me sit here for four hours!" "Why did you send him to fetch me?" "The Thakur isn't going to die so soon..." "Give me a light" ""Who can save a dying man, you tell me, Bhikni"" "The city doctor you brought here...!" ""You've ruined my business, you have!"" "Shall I tell you something?" "It's a good thing the Lord prolonged Thakur's life" "Shanichari is so good!" ""She says, Shanichari the one born on a Saturday..."" "...ate up her father at birth..." ""Shanichari the accursed, withered, wretched, unlucky!"" "It's the plague!" "The plague has spread!" "Why can't I cry!" "Today I'll cry till my heart breaks" ""Cry!" "Shanichari, cry!"" ""Cry!" "Shanichari, CRY!"" ""CRY!" "Shanichari, cry!"" "You hear me...!" "Shanichari hasn't dried up." "She can cry" "She'll cry for Ganju's death!" "You wretched widow!" "Have your eyes ever turned moist!" "It's 1O days since Ganju died" ""Shameless woman, you haven't performed his funeral rites"" "You didn't do it for your Ma-in-law!" "Ganju was your husband." "Atleast perform his rites" "I had made the ritual offer..." "of sand and water" ""Yes, she did"" "God forbid!" "You made offerings of sand and water!" "?" "Your seven generations'll rot in hell if you don't have me perform the rites!" "You'll be cursed!" "Ganju'll be damned to hell" ""No, Panditji!" "NO!"" ""Please, revoke your curse"" "What peace did my man find in this world" ""Atleast, may his soul rest in peace"" "Take back your curse!" ""Get lost, you witch!" "Putting on a chaste act, are you!"" "It's all your doing" ""Nothing happened when he drank everyday, you wretch"" ""The one day he has the temple Prasad with you, he dies!"" "All because of you." "You accursed wretch!" "No!" "What'd you order me?" ""My orders?" "Well then, listen"" "I'll take 3O rupees to perform the proper rituals" "Not a paisa less!" "I'll take 5O for both if you add your Ma-in-laws's rites" "From where'll I get so much money!" ""From wherever, Borrow it..." "Or steal it..."" "Commit a dacoity..." "Or beg" "And listen!" "Those two might yet be saved" "But your soul will not find place even in hell!" "Accursed wretch that you're" ""Munimji..." "Yes, Hukum"" "Oh damn!" "How often have I told you!" "Don't let me see these beggarly faces first thing in the morning!" "It ruins the entire day!" ""These people are here asking for a loan, Hukum"" ""One wants 1O, another 2O..."" "And Shanichari wants a loan of 5O rupees!" "Hmmm..." "loan" "You know what a loan means?" ""Along with the money, you've to pay interest!"" ""Can you pay it?" "It sends you back to your Grandma, I bet."" "Go now" ""I said go, didn't I?" "Get lost"" "But Shanichari!" "You're the owner of your own house" ""What'll you do with a loan, eh?"" ""Oh, you'll build a palace over your hut, eh!"" ""My liege, my husband died and I must perform..."" "...his funeral rites" "Mohanlal Pundit says it'll cost me 5O rupees" ""But Shanchari, how'll you ever pay back 5O rupees?"" "I'll pay back somehow." "Just command me" "What use are you to me...!" ""If you've anything else, tell me"" ""Hukum, she has the hut which Kunwar Sahib had gifted her"" ""No!" "Hukum, no!" "It's my home." "I can't give it up!"" "Who else is at home?" "No one else... but this my boy." "He's eight" "Hmm..." "Munimji..." "Take them all as bonded labour for 15 years" ""I'll die, Hukum!" "15 years is very long"" ""What'll I eat if I don't even get a wage, Hukum!"" ""You have a son, don't you"" "He'll earn for you." "Send him to me" "I'll put him on a job" "Budhua..." "O Budhua...!" ""Where're you hiding, you rascal?"" "Have you seen Budhua?" "Yes" "Where is he?" "Over there" "Budhua...!" "I'll thrash him today!" "Let me just find him" ""You boys, tell me where he is." "Truthfully"" ""Oh Budhua!" "Playing pranks on me, are you!"" "Why do you tease your poor mother so!" ""Oh, let me go, Budhua!"" ""What're you doing, Budhua!"" "You aren't a child anymore" "Have you no shame!" "Atleast tell me before you go" ""Oh Ma, forgive me." "I said sorry, didn't I"" ""Don't play pranks, son." "I worry over you"" "You worry?" " Whether you're alive or no" ""Okay, I won't go" " Don't you play pranks"" "I'll go only when you tell me to go" ""Again...!" " Oh no, no!" "I won't go"" "What're you doing!" "Put me down" "You've grown heavy in your old age!" "Who says it's expensive." "Buy it." "Your wife'll be happy" ""Ah, Shanichari!" "Come, Lala"" ""Show me your quilt." "It's warm, I hope"" "Are you blind!" "Why should I show you?" "See it yourself" "That's why I say give it to me too..." "It'll keep away my cold!" "How about kerosene?" "Sprinkle it on yourself and light it!" "Lt'll keep away the cold for ever!" ""Get lost, you bitch!"" "It's demeaning to argue with the likes of you!" ""Shanichari, send Budhua to the Thakur's palace tomorrow"" ""Yes, sir"" ""What're you doing here, Ramji?"" "Preparing to ward off the winter" ""Wonderful!" "You've chosen the best place for it, Ramji"" ""I must applaud you... well, I must be going"" "We'll meet again." " Here!" ""Listen, Shanichari"" "I've some bad news for you" "When did one ever expect good news from you!" ""Look, Thakur Sahib's days are numbered"" "And Kunwar Sahib has decided to sack all workers and sell off the property" "And the lot of people like you'll be hell." "Know that?" ""What're you saying, Munimji!"" "Where will we go!" "What will we do?" "As you well know..." "She isn't fit for the oldest profession in the world now" ""Ramji, what you said's worth a million!"" "You wretched widow!" "Think of something soon..." "Or you'll starve to death" "No one'll lend you even a paisa!" "Wonderful!" "How am I to blame" "The Master is seriously ill!" "And you're least concerned" "You just fill your pockets" "You're so worried about me!" "Why?" "You sucked us dry for years!" "And pilfered from the Master" "So you built a mansion and filled your coffers" ""You think you're a Zamindar, a Thakur!"" "Whore!" "Take care what you say" "Whore...!" "How can I forget you're neither a Zamindar nor a lowcaste like me!" ""You're a pimp, Munimji!"" "A pimp whose only religion is dishonesty who worships money!" "I know that we poor will die this Zamindari (feudalism) will end" ""But you the pimp will live!" "Yes, you misbegotten bastard"" ""Shut up, you whore!"" "Your tongue grows insolent with age!" "Know who you're talking to?" "Take care what you say or I'll cut your tongue out" "Please come away" "I'll boot her out in public!" "Let her be." "She has become old" ""I said, don't bandy words with the likes of these!"" "Budhua...!" "Tell me this one thing" "Why do you run off when you can't be without your Ma?" ""It's beyond my control, Ma"" "Somebody sings across the dunes..." ""And calls me, Ma..." "So I have to go"" "I can't understand anything you say" "Why do you come back then?" ""Because Ma, you call me from here!"" "And so I come back to you" ""You're crazy, that's why"" "And yes... you're my son" ""Oh, Budhua, you're home..." "Stop that playing!"" "Lift it up." "Let's go to the market..." "come here" "You put me to work already!" "Get up" ""Take care, Budhua!"" "I can't lift it!" "Have someone else lift it for you." "I can't" ""Hey you, Budhua..." "Yes"" "Aren't you ashamed!" "Do some work sometimes alteast" "I won't call anyone else." "Get up" ""Wait, wait!" "I'll call if you won't"" "I shall call..." ""Is this some joke, Budhua?"" ""Get up" " It's not a joke, Ma"" "Have you gone mad!" "You want to make this a brothel!" "You didn't marry this whore!" "?" "Have I done anything without asking you?" "All right." "Throw her out" "Throw her out!" "Out of this house!" ""Leave her, Ma!" "Listen, Ma!" " Throw her out!"" ""Sit down and please listen to me, Ma"" "Listen!" "Don't be angry." "Please listen" ""Budhua, I'll listen to every word you've to say"" "Throw this whore out first!" "We'll become outcastes should folks see her" "Don't you understand?" ""When were we ever welcome here, Ma"" "Everyone knows that I lie drunk all day at her place" ""And come home at night, to you"" ""Because you pity me... yes, out of pity"" ""No, becuase I'm afraid of you..."" "...you'll come after me and flay me before the world" ""Ma, please listen to this one thing I've to say"" ""Yes, I'm listening to you"" ""Please listen, Ma." "Why're you afraid of folks"" "Let them bark like dogs" "You walk upright and ignore them" "Just listen to what your heart says" "Budhua..." "Yes?" "My heart says only one thing..." "one thing..." ""Throw this whore out of the house, now!"" "Shall I throw both of them out?" "Both!" "?" "..." "Who are they?" "...the two?" "Your grandson too is in her womb" "She wanted to abort it" ""I said, don't be afraid." "Ma'll take you in"" ""You'll keep her here, won't you, Ma!" "Please Ma"" "You persuade my beguiled heart" ""Look at the times we're living in, Lala!"" "Whores do business openly in the market!" "Yes" "She sells quilts by day and at night..." "Something must be done" ""Well, Panditji..."" ""Earlier, Rajas and Zamindars used to take care of them"" "Rajas've lost their kingdoms and Zamindars their fieldoms" "We're now forced to fawn over labourers" "Who'll care for these whores now!" ""Hmm..." "Just look at that wanton Mungri, will you!"" "Isn't she juicy like a ripe mango!" "Just pluck and peel it!" "Why do you call her a Mango?" "Ever suck it?" ""So you too have lined up, have you, Panditji!"" ""Lalji, I want 8 annas worth salt, sugar and a biscuit"" "And I want Mungri!" "I don't see you in the whore-street now" "Where've you set up?" ""Hey, softly..." "What if my Ma-in-law sees!"" "Whose Ma-in-law?" "Yours or mine?" "Mine." "See her over there?" "Shanichari is your Ma-in-law!" "From when?" ""I'm married to her son, you know"" "So don't you talk smutty to me!" "I'm a married woman!" ""Get lost, you bitch"" "The wretched widow has set up a brothel!" "God forbid!" "What immoral times have come to pass!" "I must ask the Thakur to throw the mother and son out" "How dare this lowly wretch!" "She sneaks a whore into her house as a daughter-in-law!" "Make another one like me your daugher-in-law" "You can't reap more merit than this in life!" "Your 7 generations'll go to heaven!" "Say this again and I'll cut your tongue out!" "You'll have to touch me" "And that's not written in your scriptures" ""Aren't I right, Lala?"" "Mungri!" "You go from here" "So tell me." "How much sugar and jaggery do you want!" "It's a good thing Budhua has come home" "He's taken care of your old age!" "He has brought home an entire shop!" "Both'll be happy now you and your son as well" ""You take care of your shop, Lala"" "How can I!" "My heart's not in it!" "You've kept your goods hidden at home!" "I swear on your goods..." "I'll turn over my entire shop to you if you let me" "Lala...!" "Whore Madam!" "Let go!" "You damned whore...!" "You run a whore house and show off outraged decency!" "Shut up!" "You've a wife at home and pant and slaver after whores" "You sneak under their skirts!" "When my son rescues her and gives her a home and respect" "You can't bear it" ""Whatever he did, my son did it bravely like a man!"" "He didn't hide like ou lmpotent bastards!" "If I don't have you both mother and son thrown out of the village..." "Don't call me Mohanlal!" "Stop it!" "Stop playing that!" "Didn't I tell you not to send her to the market!" "When do you ever listen or understand!" "What happened?" ""Ask her!" "Go on, ask her"" "She rubbed our nose in dirt!" "The village spits on us" "She showed what she is!" "What happened?" "Tell me" "What'll she tell you!" "Shame has cut her tongue out" "She sniffed like a bitch round Lala and Pandit" "With tongue hanging out!" "Hers and theirs" "Ma...!" "A whore's always a whore!" "With a harlot's ways" "Harlot!" "Your Ma's a harlot!" "If she says anything more..." "Stop it!" " You shut up!" "I'm a fornicating whore!" ""Yes, you are!"" "She who slurps from every glass can't be a chaste wife" ""You're the only chaste wife on this earth, aren't you!"" "Stop it or I'll slap you!" "Who're you calling bastard!" "He looks a bastard to you?" "He looks a bastard..." "You whore!" "If it weren't for my grandson in your womb..." "I'd boot you out!" "Come..." "Grandson..." "How do you know it's your grandson in my whore's womb" "lmpotent bastard!" "Crawl back into your Ma's belly and hide there!" "Budhua...!" ""Oh, where are you!"" "Budhua...!" ""Tuliram, did you see my Budhua anywhere?"" "Which Budhua?" "Where's Mungri?" "Inside" "Mungri..." "Mungri..." "Budhua didn't come back" "Mungri!" "What's happend to her?" "Mungri aborted her baby" "Did you have to cut off your own flesh for what I said!" "You could've given it to me." "I'd have brought him up" "But you were worried about your trade" ""He was your grandson, Ma"" ""I lost my grandson... with it, my blood line"" "And my Budhua did never come back" "He went off with some touring company...!" "Just as my mother had" "He inherited my mother's wandering ways" "What was your mother's name?" "Peewli... folks say that was her name" "No one was sad for me..." "that my son had run away" "But Ramavtar Singh was sad for losing his bonded labourer" "But I haven't been able to decide till today..." "Was it for good or bad that Budhua ran away..." "When I think of him..." "I feel it was a good thing" "What was here for him anyway" ""He'd share my scraps and die slowly, inch by inch"" "When I think about myself..." "I feel what happened was bad" "Who'll gather the dust into which I have mingled" ""Bhikni..." "Hey, Bhikni"" "You are crying!" "No..." "I'm not crying" "You've fallen into the trap of attachment for me...!" "A Rudali cries only when she's paid to mourn!" "Cry for me when I die." "But you'll be paid nothing!" "Go fetch a comb." "I'll comb your hair" "You wept on hearing my tale" "So much happened to me and yet I did not cry!" "What could I do?" "I hardly found the time" "Now I have nothing but time" "The tears don't come" "Dried up Shanichari!" "Unfortunate Shanichari" "Born on Saturday and ate up her father at birth!" ""Bhikni, I am afraid..." "of this attachment for you"" "You too will go away" "I know..." "Whoever was bound to me either died or went away" ""Will you too go away?" "...yes, go away..."" "...after Ramavtar dies" "This too I shall bear" "I have that strength" ""And now, I have got used to it"" "But memories of you will keep coming..." "Will you stay for always here in this house?" ""Stay back, Bhikni..."" ""Yes, stay here with me"" ""Bhikni!" "Hey, Bhikni"" "I looked all over and you're here!" "Is he dead?" "Then why're you here?" "You don't know when he'll die." "Another job for you" "Will you mourn?" "That's what I do!" "But a Rudali mourns after death" "It's unlucky otherwise" "See how Ramavtar's life is stuck" ""Yes, I know." "Where do I have to go?"" "To Nathuni Singh's house in this very village" "He's Ramavtar's distant relation" "But they're estranged" "Nathuni Singh died in the night" "I thought..." "you're here waiting for Ramavtar to die" "You may as well earn money and pass on some of it to me" "You better know that I don't haggle over my price" ""I take 25 rupees, besides jaggery, oil and flour"" "To beat my breast and roll on the floor..." "Ten rupees a piece..." "Extra" ""If that suits you, tell me and I'll go"" "They'll give what you ask." "They've to show the village" ""How, under his very nose, they used his own Rudali..."" "...to do the mourning" ""Pigs, all of them!" "Such hypocrites!"" "I've contempt for them" "They try to humiliate one another even during death!" ""Oh, stop grumbling"" "It's yes then?" "Yes..." "You go." "I'll follow you" ""Listen, I'll give you two rupees..." "your commission"" "Make it five" "All right." "Take five" "OH!" "My Master!" "My liege!" ""Alas!" "Oh, God!"" "How cruelly unjust of You!" ""Why have You taken my liege so early!" "Why, Oh, why!" "?"" "You have made everyone in this village homelsess!" "Oh my Master!" "Oh my liege!" ""You bastard, let me go in!" "Who are you to stop me!" "?"" "Bastard!" "Alas!" "Oh my Master!" "But she's Phoolbano!" "His keep from whore-street" "She was his keep all her life" ""O Mayi, you know why they called you..."" "And pay you money to mourn him!" "?" "And he used to run even from your shadow when he lived!" ""Because you are pure, that's why"" ""You are not a whore, that's why!"" "All his life he stayed clung to my body" ""And now that he's dead, let alone touch him..."" "I can't even cry over his dead body!" "Can she cry the way I can!" "How can she ever weep the way I can!" "Oh my Master!" "Kick this whore out of here!" "Where were you all when I served the Master!" "?" "It's an insult to you when a whore cries over your dead" "Is it nothing... of no value how you insulted my body when he lived" "You sit." "I'll cook" ""No, you eat..." "And I'll serve you food"" "You have a house... a family..." "I have no one" "I have never cooked for anyone or served" "Let me do it for a few days" "Then I can fulfil this desire too..." "Bhikni..." "May I ask you something?" "What?" "You've been crying at wakes for years" ""You have to weep a lot, I suppose"" "How does this stream of tears flow from your eyes?" "That is the miracle how I can summon up this stream of tears!" "Wait..." "I will show you" "Where're you going?" "What are you doing?" "This is my magic box!" "Kohl" "No... it has magical tears" "I apply a little in my eyes like Kohl..." "Water just gushes out!" "Oh!" "How..." ""What've you done, Bhikni!"" "My head's splitting!" "I can't see anything!" ""Hey, Shanichari..."" "Oh Bhikni!" "You've blinded me!" "Oh Shanichari!" "You look just like a Rudali!" "Like a Rudali?" "How?" "Look..." "The sorrow in your heart has hardened like wax" "No one has warmed it till now" "That's why it has not melted" "Your tears have dried up" ""Cry, Shanichari..." "Cry"" "On the death of those who oppressed you make a pretence of mourning!" "And... as the dead bodies of these sinners grow cold so will your strength grow" "Find this new strength..." "and make a new path..." "A way to bring out your contempt" "But Bhikni..." ""Yes, Bhikni..."" ""You can do it, Shanichari!" "Yes, you can"" ""And then, this is not real weeping, is it"" "You just have to make a show of it" "Have you gone mad?" "Mine own have died... and run away" "Not a tear came to this dried up Shanichari's eye" "Can I now cry over someone's death!" "?" "Yes." "You can cry" "You'll become a Rudali" "You'll get both money and respect" "We'll peform at mournings together" "There'll be two Rudalis in the place of one!" "And then..." ""...this hunger, this thirst..." "and this loneliness..."" "Nothing will remain!" "..." "not this loneliness" "Bhikni..." "Who?" "..." "Kalia?" "Me..." "Purushottam!" ""It's you, Purushottam!"" "Bhishamdata is very ill." "He wants you to come at once" ""Nothing to fear, is it?"" "I can't say but he has been vomiting since yesterday" "Come for a day..." "and return the day after tomorrow" "Make it quick" "Quick." "There's very little time" "Wait." "I'll tell Shanichari I'm going" "Shanichari..." "Shanichari..." " Hmm..." "I'm going." "All right." ""Oh, Bhikni!" "So late at night!"" ""Where're you going, all covered in a blanket!" "?"" "Someone has come for me" "I'm going to Dongri" "Who's come to take you?" "Purushottam" "Bhishamdata has sent for me" "Bhishamdata...!" "Who is he?" "I'll tell you when I come back" "There is so much I have to tell you..." "I heard only your tale till now" "When you hear mine... you'll surely weep" "When'll you return?" "The day after tomorrow..." "By evening" "Come back soon" "It's only a matter of two days" "Sleep now" "Go back to sleep..." "Don't worry" "Master!" "Hukum!" "Go and call the Rudali" ""Bhikni..." "Hey, Bhikni...!"" "Kalia...?" "What is it?" "Hukum is dying...!" "But not yet dead!" "Come... warm yourself" "The young Master has sent for her" "But Bhikni has gone to Dongri for two days" "Some Bhishamdata sent for her" "Bhishamdata...!" "You know him?" "The whole world knows him" "He had his own touring company" "It had created a stir all over this area" "But what has Bhikni to do with a touring company!" "Didn't she tell you anything?" ""Oh, what did Bhikni ever tell me"" "She only heard my story" ""Well then, you tell me"" "Bhikni was romantic and crazy after Bhishamdata" "She left her home and family..." "Kept woman!" "Yes" "Let her come!" "I'll ask her" "But how did she become a Rudali?" "Then came the bioscope..." "It put an end to touring companies" "They all had to retire" "But one has to earn a living" "So she became a Rudali" "Play-acting there..." "And play-acting here too" "Shanichari..." "After the elder Zamindar dies the young Master will not live here anymore" "Why not meet him at least once" ""Beg pardon, Hukum" " It's okay"" ""How are you, Shanichari"" "I'm all right" "I was very sad to hear about the Thakur Sahib" "All of us have to go one day or the other..." "Someone goes early... others later" "That's how this world is... a fair" "Why're you standing so far?" "Come here" ""What have you done to yourself, Hukum!"" "How do you know?" "Have you even looked at me?" "Look up...!" ""Look up, I said"" "Your eyes are exactly the same..." "Honey brown..." ""..." "like the desert." "I haven't forgotten, have I?"" "Budhua...?" "About your daughter-in-law..." "I had so many complaints against her" "Mohanlal..." "And Lala... they had all wanted me to throw her out of the village" ""How could I let that happen, Shanichari?"" "Hukum..." ""I heard that you were leaving the village, Hukum"" ""Hukum, someone has come to see Shanichari"" "To see me!" "Here?" "From Dongri... from Bhishamdata's place" "Call him here" ""Yes, Hukum"" ""This palace seems desolate now, Shanichari"" "What did I have of my own here anyway...?" ""Beg your pardon, Hukum"" "Shanichari..." "I have bad news for you" "Bhikni died" "The plague took her" ""As she was dying, she said she was not Bhikni..."" "She was Peewli..." "She was your mother" "Ma...!" ""The Master has passed away, Hukum"" "Oh!" "Bhikni is dead!" "She has been taken away!" "Ma..." "Ma...!" "Bhikni deceived me!" "She has forsaken me!" ""Oh, Bhikni...!"" "Ma..." "O Ma..." "My Ma...!"