The Namesake Page #2

I can't go.

I can't bare to see them in mourning.

You can't be this way.

Think of your mother.

Think of your son.

They need you to be strong.

Not your ordinary guy.

You can write Gogol.

Gogol is your namesake.

Today, he is respected

as one of Russia's

most brilliant writers

but in his own lifetime,

he was understood by no one.

Mr. Gogol himself might say

that he was an eccentric genius.

Gargle, way to go!

Mr. Ecks, Dean, I'll

see you both after class.

Thank you. Out! Come on, out!

Thank you, gentlemen.

Gogol was reputed to be a hypochondriac.

He was deeply paranoid, frustrated,

friendless, he never married,

and he fathered no children.

Towards the end of his life,

he proceeded to commit

slow suicide by starvation.

Did you guys know all the stuff

about him when you named me?

That he was paranoid,

suicidal, friendless, depressed?

You forgot to mention

that he was also a genius.

I don't understand why you guys

named me after someone so strange.

Don't talk back to your father.

And don't call us guys.

When I close my eyes

and listen to you both,

I feel like I've given

birth to strangers.

Just because you are graduating does

not mean you can behave like this, Gogol.

So, I am two inches away from her.

Her luscious lips part.

And just as I am about to kiss her,

she looks at me and she says,

"What's your name?"

Gogol Ganguly. End of seduction 101!

Jane loves your name. Gogol Gangu Lolly!

Don't you even go there, man.

Of all the freaking Russian

writers in the universe,

why'd they have to go

and choose the weirdest?

What the hell is wrong

with Leo or Antwerp?

You know, I just want

to sit them down and be like,

Gogol is your favorite

author, don't mind...

- ... sh*t!

- What?

I have to think! Oh sh*t!

Good bye, Air India!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

They have been here for two hours!

- This is our son, Gogol.

- Sorry I'm late.

Mr. and Mrs. Majunda. They just

moved in to New York from London.

They are of the same age also.

Oh I am sure.

Hi.

Hi.

What're you reading?

Mo Jou Priestess.

In French.

You want to go watch some TV?

I detest American television.

Gogol, come here.

Come, my boy, eat something. Eat

Why are your eyes so red?

Ashima, give me some chilies.

Mosi, I promise you there are no

evil eyes in the Unites States of America.

That is what you think.

You be careful where you are going.

- What is the name?

- Hale.

There'll be plenty of girls in this

Hale place who would want to trap you.

Have as much fun as you want.

But... marry a Bengali!

- How do you feel now?

- Yeah, I am good.

- Thank you.

- Good.

Listen.

I have never given any presents

apart from what your mother buys but

for your graduation I

have something special.

Thanks, father.

I ordered this just for

you from the book store.

I hope you like it.

Very nice.

You know, I feel a

special kinship with Gogol

more than with any other writer.

You know why?

Yes. Gogol is your favorite

author. I know, Baba.

No, apart from that.

He spent most of his adult

life outside his homeland.

- Like me.

- Right.

But...

there... there is another reason.

- Hello?

- Hmm?

What's the other reason?

No other reason.

Okay. Good night.

Good night, Baba.

We all came out of Gogol's Overcoat.

One day you will understand it.

Your attention please.

India Airlines announces the departure

of its flight IT-408 to Calcutta

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of

the Indian Airlines and the captain,

we hope you enjoy your flight.

Take off the luggage.

- Gogol!

- Hi, Dadi Ma!

Take her size!

Go buy two pairs of slippers from Bata.

Please take your present.

For you, mother-in-law.

A sweet for a sweet.

What's wrong with you?

I want to go home!

I have something else

to cheer you up with.

Here.

The calendar says that there

are only... 89 days left to go.

What is wrong with you? What

are you? Hot or hot here?

- Have some ancient air conditioning.

- Go away!

You are going out?

Jogging!

- Jogging?

- Running. On the street.

I'm training.

- Training?

- Yes.

Don't worry, Dadi Ma. I won't go far.

Quick. follow the young master.

He's gone running on the

streets. Keep an eye on him!

Can you do that?

I can do anything. I know English.

Why have you been following me?

There is something I always

wanted to ask you but...

never had the courage.

all these years ago, why did you...

say yes to me?

You were the best of the lot.

At that time, the

widower with 4 children

and then compromise with one.

I also liked your shoes.

Oh, okay.

You want me to say... I love you?

Like the America?

Yes.

Yes.

I am soaking, Sonia. You actually

look better than after I shoot you.

Shut up!

Why don't you get in, my American

sahib? Sonia can sit on my lap.

Being pulled by another human

being is for feudal lords.

I don't want to be part

of anything like that.

Ma!

Get ready, we are going tomorrow.

We have gone to the

Garden a hundred times.

To Agra, to see the Taj Mahal.

Are you serious? You're not kidding?

- That's awesome, Ma!

- Oh good!

It's a wonder of the world.

We should have had taken a plane.

Don't worry. Everything is fine.

What is fine?

I've always wanted

to come here with you.

Just imagine how much Shah

Jahan must have loved Mumtaz.

To make this for her.

Other husbands also

love their wives, Ashima.

Only we cannot afford

to build Taj Mahal.

Hey, guess what.

I really want to major in architecture.

What about engineering?

Come on, Baba.

Architecture has everything.

It's got engineering,

drawing, aesthetics.

Our family Shah Jahan!

Let's go, Sonia.

Look!

Gangrene!

What the...!

I am going to catch the

racist punk who did that!

So, I have been thinking

a lot about my name.

Gogol's fine. I might

have got used to it.

But too much of Gogol in a resume

or credit card after that!

What are you trying to say?

I'd like to change my

name back to my good name.

What is done is done. Now

Gogol has become your good name.

It's too complicated

now. You're too old.

Anyways, you have

only yourself to blame.

Oh yeah! My fault that

I was four years old?

That's right, Kaalu.

Everything is possible in America.

Do as you wish.

I'm home.

- Hi Nick.

- Hello.

Hi dear. How're you doing?

- Have you got it?

- Yes.

- Congratulations!

- Thank you, Daddy.

Thank you all so much for

coming. This means so much to me.

Drinks! To celebrate!

- Hey.

Hi.

- You like it?

- Yeah, its beautiful!

Oh, I want you to meet

the young Indian architect

who has so captured Max's heart.

This is Pam Bridge, my dear college

friend, and this is Nikool Ganguly.

How do you do?

It's very nice to meet you.

You're always welcome.

How big were you when

you moved to America?

I was actually born in

New York. I am from here.

I once had a girlfriend who went

to India. Came back thin as a rail.

Sure.

Do your parents want you

to marry a nice Indian girl?

I don't care what they want.

This is what I want.

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