The Gardener Page #9

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She wanted to return early''

But l insisted that we enjoy

for a little while more

''Hear that?

- This is amazing, Mama!''

You're worried about enjoyment

and it has ruined our sleep!

l told Kiran to go to bed.

But how could she get any sleep?

''She's a mother, after all.

- Why would your mother worry about us?''

She has only her fun to pursue

And you were lecturing me to

keep my family under control!

So where's your discipline?

Neither is your mom worried about her

age nor the respect of this family

''Come on, grandma''

Grandma... l'm a very bad girl.

l'm terrible

''l always nursed contempt for you,

But you gave me only love.''

''My child, you don't keep track of

what you give and take in love''

Love is to be given and l...

l love you very dearly

Here you are to enjoy

the early dawn meal!

''l've explained to you several times

that this fast of ''Karva Chauth''...''

is meant for women and you...

- Listen... listen...

Why do you women observe

this fast?

So that we can have our husbands

for seven births

All right. And l

observe this fast...

so that you will meet me

every time l am born

''l won't improve, l know''

''Here you are, mota bhai.

Tea with a dash of ginger''

''No, sis. l'm fasting today''

l'll have something only after

l've seen the Moon

Today's my fast too. Karva Chauth.

- Mine too

Yours...? You too...?

- Yes

For sister-in-law...?

Hemant...

''l'm dying of hunger, Sanju''

''Don't talk of dying, love...

let's go and eat''

But you said we were going out!

l haven't cooked anything

Don't be angry.

Let's go out

What will grandpa eat?

''Whenever he returns after nine,

he already eats at the cafe''

''The Moon is out, mota-bhai.

l've done my ritual...''

so take a look at the Moon

and l'll serve the dinner

''No, Shanti-behn. Pooja must be

trying to telephone me at home''

Let me first talk to her.

l'll eat later

My respects!

- May we always be there for each other

''You saw the Moon?

- Yes, l did''

Did you drink some water?

What are you looking at?

''You look at your Moon,

l'll look at mine''

''And hurry up, please.

My throat's drying of thirst''

How can l drink any water

unless l've seen my Moon?

''This year, l just didn't get

to see my Moon''

Will you only keep talking?

lmagine l'm with you

Go on. Have some water

All right. Hold on

l've had water

l've had some too

Now have something to eat

Wait

What a plate-full of food!

What has your daughter-in-law

prepared today?

''What's this...? Potatoes.

Cauliflower, peas and cottage cheese''

And this is yogurt raita

and laddoos

There are jalebis and puris too!

Let me break a piece of puri

and put it in my mouth

Fantastic!

Excellent food!

You can't even tell a lie

You will never improve

Never

''Excuse me, sir...

- Yes?''

Your mother is here.

May l send her in?

''No, serve her some tea.

l'll be coming out''

How often have l told you not to

bring family fights into my office?

And that's just what has happened.

What's Mama doing here?

l'm sick of all this!

''l'll have a word with her, okay?''

l know it. There must be something

cooking between mother and son

They must be badmouthing me

''Kiran, l had not gone there

to badmouth you''

Don't try to act innocent

What do you want...?

Why're you bent on ruining the

peace and happiness of my family?

''That's just what l come to ask,

leaving all my work in the office''

''lf you had any doubts, couldn't you

have waited for me to come back home?''

Where was the need

to come to my office?

l've asked you a question.

Answer me

Why don't you speak?

lt was the mother in me

that took me there

This almond halwa...

you have always loved it

''On every birthday of yours,

l have prepared it for you''

And today is your birthday

''l prepared the halwa this morning,

but you left early for the office''

l thought l'd go after you

How was l to know that my love

would prove to be my crime?

So you want to prove that only

you remember his birthday?

l had made all the arrangements

to give him a surprise

But you've ruined all my efforts!

''You've made her cry, haven't you?

Are you happy now?''

You can see her crying...

''but your mother's tears,

her love and affection...?''

can't you see anything

of that at all?

There's no point in asking you

this question

Because you have forgotten

that you are my son

But l will always remember

that l am your mother

''Sister-in-law, Karan here.

- Yes, Karan?''

''ls Rohit there?

- Yes, one moment''

lt's a call from Karan

''Yes, Karan? What's up?''

''What else, brother? l called to

remind you that six months are up''

lt's our turn now to

welcome mom and dad

''Karan, what are you

reminding me for?''

This is just what is causing

fights in my family every day

Pooja...?

- You? My respects

How are you?

You've called after so many days

''You're keeping well, l hope?

- Yes, l'm okay...''

''l was a bit ill for a few days,

but l'm all right now''

l know why you must've taken ill.

You must've had something cold to drink...

and not taken care.

You mustn't have taken your medicines

l've told you so often...

- Won't you let me say something?

Now listen...

What's the day after tomorrow?

- Our wedding anniversary

''Yes, our wedding anniversary.

Wouldn't you like to meet me?''

Now listen carefully.

l'll explain

You and l are leaving our

respective places tomorrow

''ln a matter of five minutes, our trains

will cross the Vijaynagar Station''

Whoever gets there first will

get down and wait for the other

But...

- No buts!

''We're meeting the day after.

Just wait for me, okay?''

Grandpa...

May l say something?

''Sure, go ahead, son''

Don't come back here ever again

What's this?

- A small gift for you

''l must leave now, Hemant-bhai''

''lf it wasn't for you, what would

l do with my loneliness?''

Thank you... thank you very much

Don't say that

You're the one who says such things

You don't realise what you have

given me. l found an elder brother

You know what that means?

lt means shelter

''And only he who does not have

shelter, realises what it means''

Here you are...

What...?

- No way!

l know you're a proud man who will

not accept any charity...

but this is your hard-earned money.

You have maintained our accounts...

and this is the payment.

Go away now...

''or l won't let you go,

if you stay another minute''

People are watching...

- Let them watch

What will they say?

''They'll say, although we're old,

our love is still going strong''

''Pooja, these six months without you

were spent like six lifetimes''

l had forgotten what

it means to breathe

See? One look at you

and my heart is beating again

You could teach them a lesson

or two in playing with words

''Not just words,

about love too''

Congratulations on our

wedding anniversary

To you too

But l have nothing to

give you today

''You do, Pooja.

Only you have it''

Take back the oath that compelled

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