The Householder Page #6

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She was dancing round and round...

and smoking a cigarette.

Yes. She was blowing smoke...

and dancing and shaking herself.

And her feet were going up and down

and up and down and up and down.

- Like this?

- No. Not like that.

Yes. Like that.

Going round and round.

A-And blowing smoke.

Hmm. So this is how you behave

when I go to the temple to pray.

Today I had offered

special prayers for you -

to bring blessings to this house,

for your service.

Hmm. Here are the fruits and flowers.

What is all this giggling

and laughing about?

Is this the way

for a married woman to behave?

I thought you came

from a good, respectable family.

You mustn't encourage her

in all these things.

You must be strict.

She's now the wife of a college lecturer.

Her father-in-law was the principal

of a government college.

You must teach her respect.

She must remember all these things.

Indu, what are you doing?

Why are you taking these things out?

Are you packing something?

Where are you going?

But you can't go.

Can't go? You will see tomorrow.

1 1 :
00 train.

Indu, please listen to me.

I've listened enough

to you... and to your mother.

I-Indu, please, l-look.

Mother is old, and old people are

sometimes difficult in the temper.

- Y-You must not mind her.

- Oh, let her be.

Let her sulk and cry.

You come here.

Go. Go to her.

Indu.

Best quality, cheapest price.

- How much?

- Rupees 30.

Uh, see this. Rupees 25 only.

You can take this blouse piece.

- This is rupees four a yard.

- Four rupees?

Really, you shop people are all the same.

Only swindle money

out of people's pockets.

Are you buying for your sister?

No. For my wife.

Why do you show such stuff?

- Bring down that.

- This red one?

What color will suit your wife?

- I don't know.

- He doesn't know.

Is she dark or fair?

He doesn't know

if his wife is dark or fair.

He knows,

only he won't tell us.

Show him the best you have.

For a pretty, fair girl,

pink is best.

Or lilac.

Yes, pink. Like this.

- Have you been married long?

- Any children?

- Four rupees, four annas.

- What four rupees, four annas?

The correct price is three rupees a yard,

not four rupees, four annas.

- But I'm selling at cost.

- You pay him three rupees.

Because you are such a good customer.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

You come, my son.

See what I've prepared for you.

Today you'll have a meal

which you'll remember for a long time.

- Ma, where is Indu?

- Gone away.

Do your work.

Finish off the biscuits in the middle.

[ Speaking Hindi ]

All your favorites.

Wait till you taste them.

[ Thinking ]

Why did you go away?

What hurt did I do

that you had to go away from me?

When are you coming back?

Already you have been gone three weeks.

Son.

I called you.

Didn't you hear me?

I've made something

wonderful for you.

A surprise. You'll see.

Thank you, Ma.

You see, in the beginning,

I didn't care for her.

Now I miss her very much.

I know it's bad

to think of anyone so much...

but I can't help it.

All the time I see her before my eyes.

When I speak,

it is to her I'm speaking.

Perhaps you'd like to come with me

to a place where I sometimes go.

- Where?

- Someday soon I'll take you there.

It's for her.

See how it shines.

{ Mother ]

Chokra...

is there no work for you

in the house?

Standing there like

uncle of the family.

- Here, son. Have your tea.

- I'm going out, Ma.

- But you've just come.

- It's very urgent.

But at least drink your tea.

I have to see a friend of mine.

An American friend.

His name is Ernest.

Go, my son. Go.

Who am I to come in your way?

{ Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

On Speakers ]

{ Man Singing ''Ode To Joy''

On Speakers ]

Ah. My Gupta.

- Prem Sagar.

- [ Chuckles ]

You have no name, my dear friend.

You're not an individual.

You're part of the ocean

of eternal continuity.

- What is this ocean?

- The absolute.

[ Chuckles ]

The absolute, the infinite...

the eternal.

You see this splendid monument?

- It is indeed very nice.

- Uh - Uh -

Pure Jaipuri, of course...

but I have a theory.

Yes. A little theory.

Uh, come this side, please.

Come over here.

Look. You see how

the world mountain...

heaves itself into forms

comprehensible to man?

Five thousand years

of man and nature.

Dig. Dig deep into this ancient,

rocky heart.

[ Vocalizing In Unison

With ''Ode To Joy'' On Recording ]

Excuse me.

I came to see my friend Ernest.

[ Vocalizing Continues ]

{ Continues ]

Oh, hello. It's you.

Have you come about the room? I could

let you have it a bit cheaper if you're short.

Uh, is Ernest here?

I've come to see him.

He's meditating.

That's always the first step, isn't it?

Meditate. Concentrate the mind.

Allow the eternal essence

to knock at the door.

I don't suppose he'd mind, though,

if you went in.

He's in there. Do go in.

Thank you.

Are you, uh, sure

you wouldn't like to see the room?

Uh, no, thank you, please.

Prem!

[ Inhales, Exhales ]

Guess what happened to me.

I had an experience.

A light came - a radiant light.

I was sitting here in this very room

in a lotus pose...

when suddenly, just here,

it uncoiled, up and up.

And when it got to here, wham!

Yes.

Ernest, I wanted to speak to you.

You see, I also have a problem.

- A spiritual problem?

- N-No. Not quite spiritual.

You see...

my wife has gone away.

And I miss her very much.

Nonattachment, Prem.

That's the answer to your problem.

Nonattachment

to the things of the world.

I know.

- But I miss her-

- What is the world?

I'll tell you. The world is maya.

The world is illusion.

- I know. But she's so -

- The world is a shadow.

How can you attach yourself

to a shadow?

Only the infinite is real.

Only the eternal, the essence.

That's the answer. The essence.

Just to catch a drop of it.

Just a little drop.

Any letters?

She doesn't write.

Your shirt's torn.

When she comes,

she'll make one for you.

[ Sniffles ]

[ Sniffles ]

- Ma?

- When you're old and nobody wants you,

you're better to die.

- Ma, please.

- When you're young, it is so different.

You have your husband,

your children, your home.

But, Ma, you still have us -

all of us.

Ushi, Kanta, Mohini and I.

Your sisters, God bless them,

they're all married.

They have their homes,

their husband, their children.

What need have they of me?

Of course they have

great need of you.

And I also.

You have your wife, son.

What wife can ever

take the place of a mother?

No, no, no.

Your heart is with your wife now, son.

So be it. God's will.

When you're old,

you must expect this.

Ma.

I bought it yesterday.

I wanted it to be a surprise for you.

Why spend money

on an old woman like me?

What should I do with such finery?

Is it for some young girl?

- Some young, happy bride?

- It suits you very well.

You should bring such things

for your wife, not for me.

I bought it for you.

[ Singing In Hindi ]

{ Singing Continues ]

{ Ends ]

Eat, boys. Eat.

Enjoy all the good things given us.

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