The Gardener Page #10

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us to live away from each other

''Tied in the oath, we have suffered

for six months. Release me of the oath''

There you are

C'mon

Over there. The waiting room.

- What will we do in the waiting room?

''We'll leave our luggage there,

go out for a walk...''

and celebrate.

- Celebrate?

You forget...? What does the sign say?

- Vijaynagar

This is the city here we had started

our lives together. C'mon

But our trains...?

- We'll think about it later. Come

This has grown into such a big hotel!

lt used to be a 2-storeyed building

l wonder whether another hotel

has come up in its place

''lt still has the same name.

Come, let's take a look''

There's a party this evening.

Look into the arrangements

lt's the same hotel

See? That painting was there

even then

''lt wasn't there, it was over here''

There used to be a staircase here.

Your son went missing...

and we found him here. l hope

you remember our room number?

How can l forget that?

This is my wife

Actually we were just passing by

and it occurred to us...

''that 41 years ago, on this very day,

we had come to this hotel''

That was the beginning

of our married life

And that was the day

this hotel was born

So why don't we get together

and celebrate this special day?

''No, we'd rather...

- Please stay. lt's my request''

lt's an expensive hotel...

lt's our good fortune that we have

in our midst its oldest guests

Your presence will add to the

hotel's glory. Please don't refuse me

But...

- No ifs and buts

lt's an honour

to have you with us

Please come

This is your room

''lf there is anything you need,

please call me directly''

The two of you are the guests

of honour at tonight's special dinner

l will wait for you

''Karan, where have you been? l've been

trying to reach you since this morning''

But there was no trace of you!

Has Mummy reached there?

Where has she come? l've been

to the station thrice already

l don't know where she has gone.

But has dad come there?

No. And that is why l'm so upset

l called Ajay and Sanjay's place.

The two of them have left

l wonder where they've gone.

They are really...

Forget it. Trouble avoided in

my house for at least a day

Sit

''You've really wilted, Pooja''

Our children are not ours anymore.

They're strangers now

Perhaps there was something lacking

in my upbringing

You mustn't say such things

''What's all this, mister?''

The owner has sent dresses for you.

You may keep whichever

''Today you will

wear a tie, won't you?''

''No, l will have it put on''

''For this very moment, l...''

''To the gardens

you have brought the Spring...''

''the climes are no longer deprived''

''My search of many lifetimes

ends here''

''Moments of separation

are past''

''The Caretaker dreams dreams

that were once shattered''

''God is the Caretaker...''

''Shanti, come on...''

''You're crying?

- Yes, l'm crying''

''When you read this,

you will also cry''

What's written in that?

''lt isn't written, Hemant.

He has poured his heart out''

''To be honest, only a man who can

starve for his wife, can write this...''

a man who can fall ill

thinking about her

Only he can write it

''When you expect,

you don't find love''

When you get so much of it at a place

you least expect it from...

you don't know how to handle it.

- l must say something

One must never pin hopes on anyone

''When hopes are dashed,

it causes a lot of agony''

True. So what now?

''Let's go to the station, pick up our

luggage and head for our destination''

''Yes, that's what we will do''

''Go to the station,

pick up our luggage...''

and head not for two different

destinations. Only one

''Except death, no power can

separate us now''

We will live together

But where will we go?

Wherever life takes us

''Over there, right now''

To have an ice-cream?

- l've worn a tie after months

So let me sweeten my tongue

l have a nice round cone

What are you looking at?

lt's a dream that was

never fulfilled

When we had just got married...

l had dreams of owning a car.

That l'd return from the office...

''honking away at the gate,

and you'd come running down...''

''l'd take you by the hand and

we'd go on a long, long drive''

That we'd stop somewhere and have

some snacks and ice-creams...

but our dreams remained unfulfilled

in trying to fulfill our childrens'

But never mind

What do you think of the car?

- We don't want to buy it

We were only taking a look.

- Sir. l'll give you its catalogue...

''with the features. Please come.

- l told you, mister''

We don't want to buy a car.

- Why not take a test drive?

''Try it, sir.

- How about it?''

''So what you think about the car, sir?

- lt's a wonderful car''

lt's really very nice.

- So let's go inside

l'll give you more information...

- l have already told you

''We don't wish to buy the car.

Honestly, l can't buy it''

''A car is no big deal nowadays, sir.

Think about it, and you have the keys''

l'll try and arrange a loan for you...

- You're forcing yourself on us!

''l told you, we don't want the car.

We don't have the money to buy it''

''ln that case, why did you sit

in such an expensive car?''

Get going... get lost!

- Hey... what are you doing...?

''What misbehaviour is this, mister...?

- Father...''

My son! You...?

- My respects

When did you arrive?

One second

''Alok, listen to me...''

You know whom you just pushed?

''lt was my father!

- Let him go, my son''

Where have the two of you been?

''Ever since l've arrived in lndia,

l made so many phone calls...''

but they were not answered.

l couldn't take it

''So l went to your house,

but l found it locked''

Even Uncle's house was locked.

l got terribly scared

l used to make a call every

morning and evening...

and pray to God to take me

to my father and my mother

God has listened to my prayers.

You must come home with me

Someone's waiting for you

- All right. Let's go

l'm coming... what is it?

The gods you worship every day...

l've brought them with me

My respects.

- May you be happy forever

You took so much of time

to give me your blessings

We had everything here...

but it still felt so incomplete

You have given me everything today.

My family is complete

What?

- The customary gift

''Here you are, dear...''

it's a customary gift. Keep it

Take it. lt's God's gift

Our parents are so irresponsible

We're worried sick and he's

just not bothered about us

What is it with him...?

He has nothing to do anyway

But we're employees. How long can we

take days off like this?

Enough now. How long can we wait?

They'll come back when they want to

''Mother, father...

dinner is ready''

''You ought to have called me, dear.

l was doing nothing''

Why must you work when your

daughter-in-law is around?

Please sit down

''Here, father. Please sit here''

''But that chair is meant

for the head of the family, son''

''That's you, father''

''Papa, that's Sanju's chair.

Please sit in the other chair''

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