Pardes Page #5

maturely. l'll talk to her father.

What are you saying?

That we send her to America

all alone? Are you alright?

What's wrong in that? He's a friend.

Can't she go to my friend's house?

lndian girls do not go

without marrying, son.

l too have decided that

she will not go.

Correct.

Okay. Call the whole thing off.

l'll speak to Kishorilal.

Then what was the need for all this?

Why did you call him all the way?

Then what do we do?

Become Americans?

Come, Kishorilal.

How can we send the girl without a

betrothal or a confirmed relation?

Just think.

We live in a small town.

- What will people say?

- They've already started gossiping.

And suppose she returns

without marrying your son?

- l've got a solution to it.

- what?

We'll get Rajiv and Ganga

engaged this week itself.

Then she'll go with us,

and after a month...

...we'll get them married in

U.S.A. in style. Okay?

Okay? You shouldn't have

any objection now.

Why should we have any objection to

an engagement? Right, my dear?

- Say you agree. lt's okay.

- What l say is...

- ...you all come with us.

- No, that's impossible.

lt's our harvest season, you see.

None of us can make it.

lf none of us can make it

my daughter can go instead.

America? No, l can't.

How can you suggest it?

Yes, that'll be perfect.

lf you stay with Ganga...

- ...she won't feel lonely.

- Go, Mom.

Okay. lf you all insist, l'll go.

So it's all fixed now.

Engagement on Monday.

Then Ganga's farewell and on

that note give us sweet-meats.

Yes, it'll be a farewell, no doubt.

Who knows when she will visit lndia?

What's this? You're

sitting all alone here?

What's up? You're getting engaged

and you're crying?

l know. You don't wish

to leave Papa, do you?

- l don't want to go anywhere!

- that is unavoidable, dear.

All girls marry and

go away one day.

Leaving their mother

and father behind.

Forever and ever.

Why are you crying now?

- you made me cry.

- you did.

- you made me cry.

- You did!

Come on. The engagement and the

farewell are both on Monday.

- The cards will be sent today.

- Cards? Must be Arjun's idea.

What! Kusum engaged to Rajiv?

Never! Did you hear that?

This is absolutely unfair.

The whole town knows...

- ...that Ganga was to marry my son.

- lndeed.

He hasn't just insulted me,

but this whole town!

That's a lie! Uncle had not

promised you anything.

Shut up!

Stop jumping, son. Will you?

That foreigner is marrying Ganga.

Rajiv is no foreigner.

He's the son of an lndian.

That bastard Kishorilal...

First they broke the engagement,

now they're breaking my son! Help!

No Rajiv, No. No, Arjun.

- you will not fight. for my sake.

- We'll have to decide Surajdev.

What do you mean? l'm her father.

l'll give her away where l want to.

How will you decide? Tell us.

We'll decide today, right now.

Then come let's have a combat.

The winner will take Ganga.

Agreed. Today, either you take

her, or l will.

Good!

Even Lord Rama had to lift

Lord Shiva's bow, to win Sita.

So today whoever wins,

shall be Ganga's groom!

This is too much! My daughter's

future will be decided by bouts?

Then admit you're a cheat, and

that you sold yourself to a N.R.l.

Suraj is not a cheat,

but you are!

And we'll give you

an apt reply to it.

Good thing the Headman

mentioned about Ram-Sita.

My son's shoulder is willing

to carry any bow you wish.

Tell me, which bow do you have?

Let me see how strong your son is!

- l'm ready, Daddy.

- so Manuchand...

...what's your choice?

Running, wrestling, boxing...

- Kabaddi!

- Kabaddi?

Okay. Today and now!

- what? a kabaddi-match?

- Yes.

And the winner will be sis's

bridegroom!

Nonsense.

Go and see. Stop them.

No... lt won't be possible.

Don't you worry, Suraj.

We'll defeat them.

You'll say, take care of Ganga,

and l'll say she's my daughter now.

- so you have No Right.

- Right on.

- Arjun hasn't come as yet.

- He's not coming with us.

- why?

- He'll stay back a bit more.

Meaning?

Meaning... Here he comes.

Ask him yourself.

- for Rajiv and you.

- What's this? You're not coming?

l've to go back to Mathura, where

my father has an old house.

l've to rebuild it as a music-school.

So l'll have a lot of paper work.

- You didn't tell me this earlier.

- Didn't get a chance to. Keep these.

What for? l'm going abroad for the

first time. l'll be so lonely.

Why? There is Daddy,

Rajiv, your aunt...

- And many others who'll take care.

- But you won't be there.

You had said you'd be there

with me. l agreed only because...

Look. My responsibility,

and work ends here.

Now your life and my life

go different ways.

- Okay?

- Why are you saying that?

Because, now you've to become

a responsible daughter-in-law.

Abroad, and live happily

with everybody.

Don't give a sermon.

Hurry. Your plane will leave

without you.

l can go alone.

l don't need your help.

l can take care of myself.

Crazy kid!

- are you Arjun Sagar?

- Yes.

A passenger's sent you this note.

Arjun, come soon.

And see that girl there?

ln a maroon dress.

That's Nita, my younger brother

Sandy's wife.

Sandy?

Sandip actually, but he became

Sandy' after coming here.

This is Kathy...

- Daddy has brought a lovely girl.

- But She Looks dominating.

- why? Feeling Scared?

- l'm not scared of anyone.

Sister, does everyone wear

such clothes in this country?

Sister! You called me sister?

Do l look like a sister to you.

My name is Padma, and people

out here call me Paddy.

And this is your Aunty Nita.

l had pointed out her to you.

And he is my youngest

brother, Sandy.

- May l go?

- Yes.

Get lost! You rascal.

Don't you have any mother and sister

that you kiss her publicly like this?

ls this a way to meet a girl?

And you shameless girl...

...how can you be so intimate with

these whites? Forgot family norms?

She's still young...

Why are you firing her?

She's ours now. Come, my dear.

- that was quite a scene.

- What can l say, Mr. Mitra.

Kishorilal went to lndia and

got real sh*t for us!

Ganga, my dear.

Come and sit near me.

lsn't she beautiful?

You haven't eaten anything since

morning, and you must be famished!

Get some food for us, please.

Today l'll eat with her.

Bless you. What were you

looking at? A new country?

lt's either very quiet here,

or it's most vociferous.

Man is either alone,

or he's in a crowd.

Last night the party that

was given in your honour...

The abhorrence that Nita showed you...

l saw and heard, too.

But my Aunt was at fault too.

My dear. ln the house of a

benevolent man like Kishorilal...

...half are lndian, and

half are westerners.

That's why, a pure soul like you

will always be shown resentment.

And you'll have to endure it.

That will be your acid test.

Mother says a woman is tested

through out her life!

You've caught on.

My blessings are with you.

What are you whispering

with my daughter, Sis?

Look, she is managing the

household duties already.

No! She'll do nothing of the sort.

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