The World of Apu Page #3

I don't know where I'm going,

But I do know why:

I want to be free

I'm taking my novel with me.

I'll send it to you if I finish it

You may publish it

if you like it enough.

Yours, Apu

What have you thrown in my food?

I'll teach you a lesson, my lad!

He's bitten me

Wait and see

what your grandfather will do

You'll tell grandfather?

Just wait. You need a good hiding

He'll bash you if you do

Who will bash me?

My father. He lives in Calcutta

Father! That's a good one!

We haven't seen his pigtail

these last five years

Do fathers have pigtails?

He's not shown up once,

even to see his own son

He's sent three money orders.

Perhaps he calls that doing his duty

Where is Apu?

I was dead against the marriage

It was you and your aunt

who took my daughter...

Do you know where Apu is?

I'd just like to know

Somewhere in Central India, working

in some coal mine, the vagabond

And the boy takes after him

Always running around

and getting up to mischief

When your aunt was alive

she could manage him,

but it's too much for me

Do you know Apu's address?

Whatever is on his letter

Do you think he'll come back?

Not that heartless brute

When did you get back?

I went to my uncle, looking for you

- What are you doing here?

- Working

- Since when?

- About a year

So far from home?

I didn't come here for a job

I arrived here in my wanderings

I had to fill my stomach

- Has it been filled now?

- More or less

How is the novel getting along?

I threw it away

Why throw it away?

What's the use?

Come along

Are you going to stay here?

- I'm thinking of going away

- Where?

Anywhere. Perhaps abroad.

I'm saving up

Going alone?

- Who else is there?

- Kajal

Your son

So that's what they called him

- Go back home

- Why?

The boy needs someone

to look after him

There's such a thing

as a father's duty,

or did you throw duty away, too?

Who says I don't do my duty?

I've sent money

- Is that all you can do?

- I can't do any more

Don't you love your son?

No

How can I love him?

I've never seen him,

to me he is unreal, untrue

For me he doesn't exist

You must have lost your senses

Anyway, I've done my duty.

The rest is up to you

Come here for a moment

My train leaves at seven

Come here

Please do something for the boy,

put him in a home or something

- Do that yourself

- No, I can't

- It's not possible for me

- I can't understand why not

There is something

which I can't forget

Because Kajal exists...

Aparna does not

I've sent money

and I'll send more if necessary

More than that, I cannot do

I have no love for him.

He is like a stranger

If you think

he is not being looked after...

...make some arrangement for him

Shall I give you money now?

I've no time. I have to start

a new job on Monday

Who is it?

Who do you want?

I'm Apurba

Have you come to fetch him?

I've arranged to leave him

with friends in my home village

I'm going away

He's upstairs

He's been feverish,

but he's better now

I'm your father

What are you doing?

You might have killed the boy

Won't you make friends with me?

I know lots of good stories

Ghost stories,

stories about demons...

...kings, queens, princes

and winged horses

Want to hear them?

I'll leave this jewellery with you...

...in case you want to send him

to boarding school

It seems to be the only way

to be relieved of his burden

Can't you take him with you by force?

As his father

you have the right to do that

No, I couldn't do that

I knew it. I knew all along

that you could do nothing

What do you want to say, Kajal?

Where are you going?

Will you come with me?

Are you going to Calcutta?

If I did, would you come with me?

Would you take me to my father?

Certainly

Will he be cross with me?

Why should he be?

He'll never leave me?

Never

Who are you?

I'm your friend

Will you come with me?

Grandpa will be angry

Grandpa won't know, I won't tell him

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