Parched

1

Lajjo! Cover your head.

This wind feels wild!

It's touching me everywhere!

Rani?

You want a taste?

She just turned 15.

You won't find a better bride for...

What's his name?

Gulab.

Gulab is my only son.

Really, Tulsi...

My worries are over.

I couldn't have found

a more beautiful bride...

If I had looked with a lantern!

It's all God's will.

But for me,

God sent one daughter after another.

I have four more to marry off.

One less to worry about.

Janaki is ours now.

Wonderful!

Let us fix a date then.

Just one request...

Could the dowry be raised

from 3 Lakh to...

To 4 Lakh?

Gulab, your bride

better have big b*obs!

Or else get a refund!

I have to make a call.

You'll get it back,

I need to call my Ma.

Please eat.

You have a long ride back.

ls she any good?

Worth the money?

Did they reduce the dowry?

Later...

I'm still in the meeting.

Do your meeting Ma...

But listen...

I'll want a refund if she's rubbish!

What's the matter?

Hello! How is Champa?

l'm begging you...

Leave us alone!

Don't get an educated bride Gulab.

These educated types,

have books riding their minds...

Then what will we ride?

You got a problem?

Nah...

Just enjoying the view.

Careful or you'll enjoy a beating.

Leave it Kishan.

They're not worth our time.

Witch!

How dare she look us in the eye!

Look at Rani.

She's better than any son.

The way she takes care of

her mother-in-law.

Gulab. I said I'm in a meeting.

Gulabo?

Is that your name? Like a Rose?

Does every part of

you smell like roses?

Who is this?

Your lover. Your hero.

Your Shahrukh Khan!

Rani...

That thing looks like trouble.

It's new, Gulab bought it for me.

I'm still learning it.

What an exciting place to keep it!

Ma is saying this now,

but she cursed me every

time I birthed a daughter.

You with your raging hormones.

Couldn't keep your skirt down!

She was a girl-vending machine!

It's the same everywhere Ma.

If men had their way

they'd be pounding us round-the-clock.

Thankfully God created

barren women like me!

Or else the volume of babies produced,

Would fill a whole new nation!

What beautiful eyes.

Such long luscious hair.

Gulab won't believe his luck

when he sees you!

Namaste.

Tell me truthfully Lajjo.

My hair is graying-

My eyes are turning weak too.

Last night I didn't recognize

myself in the mirror.

Do I even look like a woman?

Let's see...

Your eyes are so deep...

Like whirlpools to drown in.

Your mouth is like luscious berries

I want to suck the juice from them.

Duffer!

If only you were a man!

Then I'd get under that skirt!

Stop!

Tell me something.

Who is this Shahrukh Khan?

ls he a film hero?

Shahrukh Khan?

Not just any hero.

He's the hottest!

Manoj took me to his film once.

Why do you ask?

He called my mobile.

Must have been a mistake.

Let me see!

Shahrukh Khan called!

And you didn't tell me?

It has come to our notice...

Champa has run away

from her in-laws' home.

Before trouble starts

between the families...

She must go back.

I won't go back!

My husband doesn't give a damn!

I've come home to my parents'...

How is that wrong?

After marriage,

your parent's home is not yours.

Go home to your husband.

Go back before you

bring shame to our village.

Lakdi manage your daughter.

Just like we managed Ganga last year?

What happened to her?

She committed suicide.

Times have changed Kheema.

So should we.

Or we'll suffer.

Quiet Kishan!

Don't interfere with the Elders!

You've shamed the village enough...

By bringing in a foreigner bride.

You shamelessly

parade her on your bike!

Keep out of our business!

I'm not some alien from outer space.

My name is Naobi. I'm also an Indian.

My husband drives me to the bus stop,

So I can teach the children

in the next village.

What is shameful about that?

Do not flaunt your education here!

We also educate our kids!

As for you Champa...

This village is as much

mine as it is yours!

Society has rules for a reason.

Don't question the Elders!

We won't survive

without their support!

Their support can go to hell!

Okay... Calm down.

Moving on.

Devi...

Head of the village women,

has something to say.

Namaste.

The women have a request...

The trucking contracts

keep our men away for weeks.

While we women are trapped

inside our homes.

We are the last village without TV.

TV would entertain the men too.

Then they wouldn't need to

visit the Dance Company...

We already regret giving

into your last demand.

You demanded mobile phones,

To keep track of your husbands.

We relented.

But what happened?

Shivers daughter eloped with

a man she met on the mobile.

In the next village...

Girls who watched TV

started wearing jeans pant.

Hear this brothers...

Next thing we know...

These women will be

driving our trucks too!

Then there's the matter of money.

A TV dish is expensive.

Kishan has negotiated...

A large order for our handicrafts.

We will get paid before

the Dussehra festival.

We women will pool our earnings,

And buy a TV for the village.

First get the money. Then we'll see.

And with that...

This meeting comes to a close.

Hail Lord Ram!

Hail Lord Krishna!

Ma! Don't send me back!

You should be grateful.

Your in-laws

have agreed to take you back!

They have forgiven you!

Forgiven? What for?

My husband doesn't

even touch me.

He has a mistress

in the next village.

Quiet, Champa!

You have shamed us enough!

I take responsibility for her!

Kishan and Naobi will employ me.

You stay out of this Kishan!

How dare you speak for her!

My brother-in-law

forces himself on me!

All the men in the house don't

miss an opportunity to f*** me.

Even my father-in-law!

Can you bear to hear more?

I had to abort a child because

I didn't know who the father was!

Ma... they will kill me!

Don't send me to that hell!

She'll come around.

All will be well.

I look like a clown!

Like a Prince!

Such a beautiful face.

Eyes just like your father's.

I'm not a girl!

Beautiful? Grandma tell her...

Have you seen Kishan's wife?

Brazenly rides the bus alone!

Exposes her midriff to the world!

That is Kishan's business.

All his education drivel

is corrupting our village.

You stay out of it.

You know as a child,

I loved reading books too.

But my mother said,

Girls who read make bad wives.

So, she married me off at 14.

You're trapping me the same way!

And why did you build this wall?

Oh... You'll see...

After your wedding!

Now listen,

don't take on a new contract.

I need you at home.

No way! It's my last

days of bachelorhood.

I'll call you from the mobile.

I won't answer.

See you in a few days.

Take care Grandma.

Ma...

Our boy is becoming a man.

Lajjo!

ls the wedding order ready?

It's due in 2 days!

Just one blouse left.

I tried some new designs,

From that magazine you gave me.

Yes...

Naobi, meet Rani and Lajjo...

Very important members

of my craft team.

And this is Naobi. My new bride.

She is college educated.

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