The Gardener Page #7

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with the workload of

a multinational like ours?

''ln your days, there wasn't any

competition nor any tension''

But we've got to keep up

all nights to survive

So you think things were

very easy for us?

''That we had no tension in our lives?

Of course, there was the tension''

''But despite that, we gave the

best of our output to our work...''

''we worked hard for a living,

earned respect...''

l brought up four sons to lead a

life with their heads held high

''Yes, dad. But you will

have to admit, dad...''

''that your sons had the ability,

the skill and the talent...''

with which they paved a way for

themselves and achieved their goals

''And built this house.

That's not all, dad''

''With my presence, l have

also secured my future...''

so that l don't have to beg

before anyone when l grow old

''What happened, dad?

Why're you looking at me like that?''

''You have to agree, whatever we are

today, it's on our own steam''

''ln any case, what have

you done for us?''

''that your sons had the ability,

the skill and the talent...''

''with which they paved a way for

themselves and achieved their goals''

''And built this house.

That's not all, dad''

''With my presence, l have

also secured my future...''

''so that l don't have to beg

before anyone when l grow old''

True...

what have we done for them?

lf we have fed you children...

and ourselves gone to bed

on a hungry stomach...

what have we done for you?

lf we have killed every

little desire we had...

to fulfill all your...

''to fulfill all your needs,

what have we done for you?''

lf we have sacrificed

our present for your future...

what have we...

still done for you?

We have done nothing

for anyone

Nothing at all

''Walking in your footsteps when we

were taking the vows, l thought...''

''l was your shadow''

''But you took my hand

and said...''

''you are not my shadow,

you are my better half...''

''my companion for life''

''Separated from you,

l feel so incomplete''

''Neither is it the same 7

in the morning anymore...''

''nor is it 5:
30 of the old times''

''Nor even do l find the tea

any sweet without you''

What happened?

- ls everything all right?

Oh yes. l received a letter from

my wife and couldn't stop my tears

''For the first time in 40 years,

we have been separated from each other''

See? He's missing sister-in-law

See how he misses his wife.

And look at you!

''That's not true, darling. l shed tears

too, when l'm separated from you''

Really?

- Tears of joy!

Stop joking and learn

something from him

Uncle Raj can miss his wife and cry

even after 40 years of marriage

Will you also miss me

like this?

''Now look, children.

lf your love is true...''

it remains fresh and attractive

till you breathe your very last

''After listening to you, the kids have

forgotten about Romeo Juliet...''

and become your fans.

- Oh yes. And they must too

All the legendary lovers died

pining for their beloveds

But our mota bhai has been living

with his beloved for 40 years

The world ought to know

about this love story

''You ought to write, Uncle.

- Yes! Why don't you write?''

''Write about it, mota bhai...

- But l'm not a writer. l can't write!''

At least try... try!

''The world ought to know

about this love story''

''You ought to write, Uncle.

- Yes! Why don't you write?''

''Write about it, mota bhai...

- You must! You must''

''Times of the past,

l think of...''

''whenever l'm alone''

''Silence speaks to me...''

''and l cry,

away from prying eyes''

''lt's ages since l have smiled''

''Tears are now my lot''

''You and l are separated...''

''what has life come to?''

''You are the only one l see,

everywhere l cast a glance, my love''

''Sleep eludes me,

l can't stop thinking about you''

''Without you,

l cannot live anymore''

THE CARETAKER:

''Payal, you're late again today?''

What happened?

Why're you yelling?

''Make it clear to your mother, daddy.

Ask her not to play mummy with me!''

She keeps taunting me

and intruding...

''Payal, my child...

- Please be quiet''

And please stop interfering

in my personal life. Okay?

Why're you targetting

my poor daughter?

Payal is my daughter too...

- Mama!

We have enough troubles

in our lives already

Why're you creating more problems?

l say it because there

ought not to be anymore problems

Payal is a girl...

- Times have changed

There's no difference

between men and women

Times never change for a woman

''lt was my duty to caution you,

and l did''

We know our duties! l beg you...

don't say anything to Payal again!

''Sanju... wake up, please''

What happened?

- You can drink and go to sleep

But what about me? Papa has hit upon

a new ruse to disturb me

''Go and ask him to stop

making that noise, please''

l've got to get up early and

do the chores. l need to sleep

Dad... what are you doing

in the middle of the night?

l couldn't go to sleep.

So l thought...

''You get less sleep

at this age anyway, dad''

But that doesn't mean you

won't let the others sleep

At least think about Reena.

She's the first to wake up...

get Rahul ready

and cook for all of us

Please... it would be nice

if you could think about her

God! He's going to get me

killed someday!

''Preetam!

- Yes, brother-in-law?''

''Come here, pipsqueak!

- Coming''

Didn't l ask you to write the accounts?

- That's what l have done

ls this the accounts

or a love-letter?

l will write just as much as l can!

- You know nothing... nothing!

Why're you yelling at him?

''Look at him. He's scolding me!

- Why're you scolding my Jittu, Hemant?''

Your Jittu's going to

drive me bankrupt some day!

ls this the accounts

or the will of a pauper?

Where does he find the time?

The poor chap is busy all day

How will he find the time? He keeps

hovering around the girls' tables!

See? Wasn't he flying?

Who'll write the accounts now?

- Let me write it

l will! Mota bhai will

You will keep the accounts?

- Why? Can't l ?

''l'm your mota bhai, after all.

- True... but on one condition''

You will quietly accept

whatever l put in your pocket

''No, that's not happening. lmpossible.

- No...?''

So this is not happening either.

Let me go to prison

Makes no difference.

- All right. You win. l lose

A typewriter?

- Yes

l started writing at the

children's behest the other day

But l can't bring about the mood at

home. lf you don't mind the noise...

How can you say such a thing?

Do you think l call you mota bhai

only for effect?

lt comes from the depths of my heart.

Sit wherever you want to

''ls that place okay?

- Sure, go ahead''

Anywhere you wish to.

- lt's all yours

Keep punching away at the typewriter.

lt's as melodious as our music anyway

l'll get you some tea.

- Please add a dash of ginger

Wow! That's one step worse!

lt isn't worse...

it's for the better!

''She doesn't know, l deliberately

make mistakes in the proverbs''

''Whenever she corrects me,

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