The Householder Page #3

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to engage himself

in philosophical questions.

Keeps the mind fresh and active

for his work.

You can take this towel

to my guest room.

You can hang it on the rail

near the window.

Thank you.

I sit alone up there all day...

and then he comes.

You must visit us often.

I also feel ill.

I don't know why.

- You feel ill?

- Yes. In my head.

I feel very dizzy.

Everything goes round and round like this.

Oh, Romesh, just go.

Just go and see if the windows

are shut in the bedroom.

Go, son.

Um, it looks like rain is coming.

I'm in a hurry, Ma.

Go, son. You are my good son.

God bless you.

Go.

Um, listen.

- [ Whispering ]

- Mm-hmm.

I think, child, I'll have to take you

to a lady doctor.

Doctor? Oh, no.

It would cost money.

- My husband, he -

- { Romesh ] The windows are shut.

Why did you send me for nothing?

{ Men Laughing ]

{ Hindi Song On Radio ]

[ Laughing Continues ]

{ Man On Radio Speaking Hindi ]

Today I took your wife

to a lady doctor.

Uh, just go upstairs.

She has something very nice to tell you.

Hey, what's the secret?

Let us also hear.

Shh! God willing,

soon there will be three of you.

- Go. Go to her.

- { Man On Radio Continues ]

Um - I -

Is it true what Mrs. Sehgal said?

Uh, well, say something.

Uh -

But -

But how can I support a baby?

It is difficult enough for me.

For you it is easy.

No worries.

- You don't care.

- It's not my fault.

- Then whose fault is it?

- Yours. Who else?

Don't talk like that.

Tsk, tsk.

It is very indelicate.

Ladies should never talk like that.

Where are you going? Huh?

Where are you going?

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

Get water.

And this boy,

he was again playing in the streets.

- Is there no work for him in the house?

- We don't need a servant.

Huh? What are you saying?

Don't need a servant?

How will it look

if you were to do the sweeping?

The wife of a college lecturer.

- Oh.

- And you're very disrespectful.

Is this the way

to talk to your husband?

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

What are you doing?

Don't leave these on my table.

- I'll call my mother. She will teach you.

- Yes, yes. You send for her.

Then she can cook your food

the way you like when I'm gone.

- Gone? Where?

- Gone home. Of course I'm going home.

Every girl in my condition

goes home to her mother.

- At the end. Not in the beginning.

- At the beginning also!

What do you know about it?

- You're not going.

- Of course I'm going!

- I forbid it!

- He forbids it!

At once I will send a telegram

to my mother.

At once. I'm going.

Let her come.

- Then we will see how you talk to me.

- Yes, yes. Go and send your telegram.

- She will teach you how to talk to your husband.

- Go and call her.

She and you can be

very happy together here.

I'm going alone to the station.

Please forbid me.

Just forbid me!

Go on. Say it!

Say it! ''I forbid you.''

{ Horn In Distance ]

I think she must have got

the telegram by now.

She'll be packing her things.

When Mother comes,

it'll be much easier for you.

I'm going now to see Raj.

You know Raj.

He's the boy who was in college

with me in Ankhpur.

Uh, I've told you about him.

He's the one whom I see every Wednesday

evening outside the Golcha Cinema.

You know.

Raj will be able to advise me.

He's been married for three years

and he already has a child.

So he knows everything.

But - But you must

take something at least.

You've eaten nothing all day.

At least a cup of tea? Huh?

I'll make it for you.

I'll just bring it.

Don't you touch anything

in my kitchen.

You must eat something at least...

and especially in your condition...

you must drink a lot of milk.

I'm going now.

Will you eat when I'm gone?

The food's lying there,

and it's still hot.

Shall I bring anything

from the bazaar for you?

I'm going.

What was so important

that you couldn't wait till Wednesday?

Now that you've come,

you can sit down.

Namaste.

Babli, don't eat that.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

- Chi, chi, chi, chi, chi.

- Babli, don't cry.

Come to Uncle. Come, come.

She's a very naughty girl.

All day you have to be after her. Come.

Have you got no work in the house?

Going, ''Quack, quack, quack,''

when we want to be alone.

- Quack, quack.

- Take her inside.

What does he think?

Women can be very troublesome.

You have to keep them in check-

and the children, too.

You will learn

when you'll have one of your own.

That is exactly what I've come

to talk to you about.

The milkman is here

asking for his money.

Tell him to come another day.

Hmph. Why bother me?

He says he's waited long enough.

That is all it is in married life - money.

For your pan and cigarettes,

there's always enough.

Money's my problem also.

You see...

now, my wife,

she's expecting a baby...

and my salary is very low.

Only 1 80 rupees a month.

Why don't you ask for a raise?

That would be

very embarrassing for me.

In government service,

every year we get five rupees increment.

I wish I could get a job

in government service.

It's not so easy

to become a government officer.

You could take Babli for a nice walk.

Am I her ayah? Hmph.

They come like lambs, and before long,

they are tigers at your throat.

My wife won't even speak to me.

He's taking you now, my sweetie.

Don't cry.

Do you think, you know, only to

make my wife feel better with me -

do you think I should buy her a present?

Certainly not.

There is no use spoiling women.

Hmph!

Come.

Oh. Tsk, tsk. Come.

Uh...

it's very hot.

- Why don't you put the fan on?

- Makes too much noise.

Don't you feel hot with so much hair?

- What do I do? Cut it off?

- No, no.

Look. I've got this for you.

- I don't want.

- Only just look.

Ladoos.

- Ladoo?

- Mmm. Very good ones.

Made with pure ghee.

I don't want.

Just taste. Only once, huh?

Ow!

[ Chuckles ]

You're very hungry.

- Why are you so hungry?

- I'm not hungry.

Only for sweets.

Only sweets.

Please take it away.

I'll be ill.

No, no. Only one more, huh?

Just one. Look.

I will eat half,

and you eat half, huh?

You eat half.

[ Chuckles ]

You don't know

how I long for sweets.

I want to eat them all the time.

Why didn't you tell me?

I would bring it.

I think when women are,

you know, like I am...

they want to eat these things.

- I've heard like this.

- Mm-hmm. It's biological.

It happens to women.

{ Mrs. Sehgal ]

Indu.

Prem bhaiyya?

There is a telegram for you.

- No bad news, I hope?

- No. It's from my mother.

- She's coming by tomorrow's train.

- Oh, then it's good news.

At such times,

the mother is needed.

Oof!.

- Is this a tonga or a bullet car?

- [ Prem ] Chokra.

If anything breaks,

you better take care.

Fifteen hours I've sat in the train.

[ Groans ]

It's no joke at my age.

Now, you be careful with that.

Look, look, look what he's doing.

It's your favorite pickle, my son.

The mango pickle.

I made it with my own hands.

It took me two days.

And I have brought some of

your favorite apple biscuits.

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