The Waiting City Page #4

So, what are you saying?

That because I can't have a baby

the normal way,

I shouldn't be a mother?

You're a barren woman.

And this is child of my mother India.

I see.

- Krishna.

- I -

Krishna, there's actually

no medical reason

why we can't have children.

It's nobody's fault.

No, I don't know

if I'm gonna be a better mother

than your mother India, Krishna.

I just -

I'm willing to take the risk.

Come, come.

Mind your step there.

Mind your step.

Hey, his heart's in the right place.

We'll see.

This is the closest

that we've ever been to you.

Hello? Hello!

Is that a yes?

Don't know.

He says not today.

It's a Muslim holiday.

Aren't the sisters Catholic?

Yes, but we all celebrate,

no matter what religion.

"Delite luxery resort. "

Our very best hotel in Bolpur,

Mrs. Bens.

Managed by my brother's

wife's family.

Let's just see the room first,

all right?

It's very Indian.

What?

You don't suppose

there's another hotel?

Krishna would be a bit upset.

I think he's trying

to make money off us.

What's wrong with him

making money?

He's helping us out.

Besides, I thought

we were doing this trip

so we could understand

Lakshmi a bit better.

Ben, there's a chicken on the bed.

- There's not.

- There's a chicken on the bed.

- Really?

- Yes.

Hey. Hello.

Come here.

I think you're

in another room, man.

It's chanting, babe.

Lakshmi, this is the sound

of people praying.

Don't.

Don't look.

This is your mum,

and she's cranky.

You going okay in there?

Yep.

Very sanitary.

Mr. Bens?

Yeah?

- Please come.

- Sure.

Where are you going?

I hope this isn't the part

where the gullible foreigners

are lynched by their trusty guide.

Hey, careful, huh?

Ooh, snake.

- What?

- Yeah, a snake, see?

Quickly.

Come, come, come, come.

Ooh!

Whoo!

Oh, I thought you forgot.

Thank you.

Happy birthday.

Thank you.

All right.

Ma?

- My mother.

Hello.

My wife, Sharmilla,

and my baby, Neelu.

And my son. My son.

Hello.

Hey, little man.

Hello. Nice to meet you.

She wants to know

into what age you are turning.

Um... tell her a woman

never reveals her age.

She is saying she likes your hair.

Mr. Bens, not too spicy, no?

- Very good, Mrs. Bens.

- Very good.

Oh, no!

Out!

I want a divorce.

Mrs. Bens, out, out, out,

out, out. Out.

No, one more.

Come on.

Come on, bring it on.

I have no idea

what that meat was.

Yeah, I don't know.

It was pretty tasty, though.

It says here that "adoptive parents

must prepare initially

for punishing behavior,

insults, cruelty, and abuse. "

Sounds like a marriage.

Happy birthday.

It's an antique wedding sari.

It's real silk,

with gold-beading detail.

Put it on.

Now?

Yeah.

Arm out.

There.

Okay.

Let me have a look.

I like this place.

Lakshmi's mother

must have sat right here.

Sit, sir.

Please sit.

Welcome.

What can I do for you?

Sister...

Sister, we've adopted

a little girl, Lakshmi,

and she was here two years ago.

We were wondering if it's all right

for us to look around,

just to help us understand her

a little better.

This is where the babies

first sleep when they come into here.

They're so sweet.

Yes, very so.

How do you get them?

Do they just give them to you?

Leave them in a basket

on the doorstep?

The stork brings them to us,

my child.

What do you think?

So, this is where you used to play.

Ben.

She remembers Lakshmi?

Yes. Beautiful, they say.

Please.

We would love to give Lakshmi

any information

about where she comes from

and who she is.

Do you know anything

about Lakshmi's mother?

It's time to pray the Angelus.

You're welcome to join us.

Yeah, sure. Okay.

Please excuse me.

You know I'm not Catholic, Ben.

Do it for your mother.

# As I kneel before you #

# As I bow my head in prayer #

# Take this day #

# Make it yours #

# And fill me with your love #

# Ave Maria #

# Gratia plena #

# Dominus tecum... #

Lakshmi.

Remember Lakshmi?

Um... Lakshmi ma?

Lakshmi's mother?

Lakshmi ma?

Lakshmi's mother?

Did you know Lakshmi's mum?

She is a good woman?

Bhalo ma?

Lakshmi ma, bhalo?

Did somebody - somebody -

did somebody hurt her?

Was it - was it because

she was - was a girl baby?

Okay. Okay.

You okay?

Now, come.

Please hurry.

Please hurry, before the sun

is settling into the water.

Come.

Most beautiful place.

The river is here.

Mrs. Bens, here!

Here!

Come!

Here is the most important part,

especially for you.

This is the ghat

for the barren women.

You must be sending a prayer

into the holy river

before the sun settles.

Special for barren women,

you understand, no?

I think this is pointless, Krishna,

because I don't believe in God.

Oh, don't make a deal of it.

I'm not making a big deal out of it.

I'm just saying

that I don't need hepatitis.

No God?

I'm sorry, I-I just - I don't.

I don't believe

in miraculous virgin births,

I don't believe

in elephants with six heads.

I- I'm sorry.

Just, no God.

But if you don't believe in God,

what matter does it then

to touch the waters, Mrs. Bens?

Hmm.

Just need to be touching

with the waters, Mrs. Bens, huh?

Mm-hmm.

Very good, Mrs. Bens!

She'd better not get sick, Krishna.

- It is holy water, Mr. Bens.

- Mm-hmm.

Very good, Mrs. Bens!

Very good!

Fee!

Fee, what are you doing?

You are so beautiful.

Well, I saw a pig,

and it had a little piglet.

And then I saw a goat,

and that had a little -

what do you call it?

Kid.

Kid.

And then it's like

every animal I saw,

every person, even,

seemed to have a little one.

You're smiling.

You know, today, I thought

that one of those strange

Ganges dolphins

was gonna swallow you

or you'd been caught

in a rip or something.

That was a transcendental

experience for you.

What were you thinking

when you were under the water?

I was thinking that nobody

told me it would be this hard

to have another baby.

What? What do you mean?

I was thinking about Lakshmi's mum

and how she had

to give her baby away.

And how we were gonna have

a baby of our own

and I gave it away.

I'd just put the deposit

on the house.

I was this far away

from senior associate.

- You'd just...

- Wait.

...got the studio together, jobs

were starting to come in for you.

Wait, wait.

You were pregnant?

Ben...

You'd just come out of hospital

with that depression.

I just thought that

when the time was right...

we'd have another chance.

So you got rid of it?

Look...

I have to tell the truth.

We have to see things

for how they are.

You can tell me anything.

There's nothing to tell.

F***.

The other day,

I was teaching my son English.

"A" is for apple,

"B" is for Mr. and Mrs. Bens.

My family would love

to see you both again.

In fact, they are coming with me

to my cousin's wedding.

Perhaps my two Australians

would be liking to join me as well?

Special guest?

No matter.

I am only a small man,

and Calcutta is such a big city.

It's full of, you know, famous

artists and musicians, poets.

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