The Cloud-Capped Star Page #3

I can't seem to make it

- The question you were going to ask?

- I don't feel the need

I'll be back after tuition

He's sitting all alone.

Should I talk to him?

Or perhaps go out?.

I don't know, whatever you like

Why are you gawping?

Shall we go for a stroll?

Sister won't be coming, you know

Firefly, man has no pity for you!

I've kept them waiting. A friend

of mine works there

If it's a good job, take it

Leave the hostel, find a nice flat

and marry a nice girl

Let's see

The way you are, your life will pass

in gawping

My sandals. Take them off

Mine are unwearable. I went to

a concert with my maestro...

Work, and wear what you like

Dear Montu, give me some money

Eight annas, four... How much can you

scrounge off Neeta? My hair's so long...

Shouldn't a beggar look like a beggar?

Brother, go to your room

You're upset, aren't you?

"I've raised you since you were kids"

Let him talk

Get some clothes made

Get a haircut and look decent.

Buy a pair of sandals

No, you'll suffer. Those who suffer

for others, suffer for ever

You're a complete idiot.

In the words of Banshi Dutt:

"Sinbad the Sailor" - or how could

a fool like me make a fool of you?.

What sort of boy is Sanat?

Why?

That boy has no principles

Where does all the money go?

Your salary, the tuition money,

Montu's salary...

It's difficult

You'll end up with no home, no money

Sister, here's the money

- Only fifty?

- I had to pay a month's hostel fee

He's decided to live in the factory

hostel from now on

Leaving home?

Yes, it's hard to get there from here,

and a sportsman needs good food

We could arrange it here

No, I'll come and give you

whatever I can spare

Young chap, he has his needs

And his old folks just sit and eat

Go and get the shopping

I saw Sanat at our head office today

He's in the Stores Department.

Imagine that, a science student

- What salary?

- Three hundred at least

The boss is his pal, you see

Sanat isn't here, he left last month

You'd like to have his address,

I suppose

I took a job

Are you leaving?

Have you thought of getting

Geeta married?

No, Neeta first. One should

think serially

You've educated her, that's why

she can run the household

It's less difficult to find a groom

for a working girl

Get her married. You'll have time

enough to twiddle your thumbs

What will happen here if she leaves?

You can't exploit the poor girl

all her life

So what will you eat?

- Where have you been?

- Out for a stroll

- Your exams are soon

- Exams are beyond me

- What, then?

- Marriage

- To whom? Does Ma know?

- Sanat

Rushing into the noon sun won't help

Not everyone has patience;

something you ought to know

- Any news of Montu?

- He's playing a match in Delhi

Geeta was talking about your

ear-rings and bangles - you know her

She needs them more than I do

Listen, I didn't really want it

like this

- How much yoghurt?

- Whatever you think

In the past they married daughters off

to the dying. They were barbarians

Now we are educated, civilized

We educate our girl, wring her dry

and destroy her future

That's the difference

It's time for tea. I'll get it for you

Childhood seems so far away

And those hills... they don't seem

to be of this earth

No one climbs hills any more;

they plumb the depths instead

I've got a job in a music school.

Don't tell Ma

Continue your studies, too.

I'll organize the funds

Will you teach me one of

Tagore's songs?

Soft-hearted idiots like you

get hurt most!

Then keep me in a glass case,

like a wax doll

I'm leaving home

Even though I'm a nobody

I can't take it any more

I'm leaving in protest

You'll go on suffering in silence

and get smothered

Want to learn a song?

I'll have to sing at the wedding

The night the storm blew open

my doors

Little did I know that you

would come in

Everything went dark

the lamp dimmed

I reached up to the heavens,

not knowing why

Little did I know that

you would come in

In darkness I lay dreaming

Could I know that the storm

was the pennant of your triumph?

In the morning did I see

You standing there

Standing in what was an empty room

Haven't you gone to work?

I'm not well. I'm feverish

You've stopped going to the library

- A letter from Montu's factory

- What about?

Last night's shift... he's badly hurt

The machine caught him.

This was expected

I'm going to the hospital

This was expected.

How else could it end?

The surgeon said he'll need

a blood transfusion

Will it cost a lot?

Yes. The crisis isn't over yet

Your skin's very warm. You're

running about with such a fever?

- I'm often like this

- Every evening? Get an X-ray

She's terribly withdrawn, doctor

She won't say what's on her mind.

I sense trouble

She's feverish

All because of Montu's accident

All this running about

these last two days

If you can spare the time,

please take a look at her

I've come to see Geeta

I haven't eaten. Can I have some water?

- Where has she gone?

- To bed

Not at the office?

I don't go quite often.

I don't like it

And your office?

Montu is in hospital after an accident

I've been in a terrible state

He needs a blood transfusion.

I hadn't even time to inform you

Neeta's here

So I see. How long have you been here?

It's getting late. I must go

- You let her go?

- She didn't come to see me

You're jumping to conclusions

No need

Montu's in hospital after an accident

Neeta came with something on her mind

What's your name, dear girl?

It would be wise to have an X-ray.

I can easily arrange it

What if I'm really ill?

I'm the family breadwinner

Anyway, please pay for the transfusion

- How's Montu?

- All right

What about some tea?

Can you help me to get some money

for blood and medicines?

I can't raise any. That's why

I came to see Geeta

- How much?

- About 150 rupees

I feel dizzy

Rest a little, for your own sake

My own sake... Iooking like a corpse.

It's hard, earning one's bread

I'll give you the money here tomorrow

- There were 150 rupees here

- I gave them to Ma

You mean Neeta

- I did. It's my money

- An old flame

Getting nasty won't help.

I'm warning you

Come to me, my daughter Uma

Let me garland you with flowers

You are the soul of my sad self,

mother deliverer

Let me bid you farewell, my daughter

You leave my home desolate.

How can I endure your departure?

Heard about Shankar? They say he's

made a name for himself in Bombay

What's happened? Making your bed

so late, in the outer room?

Inner or outer, what does it matter

in this forlorn house?

You won't tell me anything, will you?

Time was, mother, but you didn't hear

There's such a void between us

My life seems unsupportable

Hence this barrier

Must you wail now?

I must work tomorrow

Going to work?

Something I wanted to say

- What can you do about it?

- I can't put on an act

Not an act

Penance maybe

Penance? What have you done?

I've never protested against

any injustice

That's my sin

I shouldn't have accepted it, surely

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