The World Unseen Page #2

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At "The Royal".

If you can believe it.

I don't know who they

think they are.

And this is my other

sister-in-law.

This is Miriam.

Hello.

It took me a while

to get used to it.

Paris must be such a nightmare

to get used to.

I meant that it

wasn't home, at first,

for either of us.

But then I realised that

there were no gossiping neighbours,

no list of rules,

no need to stay home

if I wanted to work.

We were very sorry to hear

about your father's illness.

He gave us

his blessing, finally.

I suppose death can give you

a different perspective

on what's important.

And now eating here

with all of you and

at the time

that seemed impossible.

Aren't you afraid?

Of what could happen

if you get caught?

My husband is an idealist.

We have no time for idealists

these days.

We have to be practical.

Get what we can

whenever we can.

You know, my husband and you,

you could be twins.

We are twins.

Why couldn't you tell me?

Men never tell you anything.

Miriam, why don't we

get my brother

to take us

to the "Location Caf"?

I used to sneak out and go

over there all the time

on my school breaks.

I should stay and help.

Bhabhi, you go, I'll take care

of the children.

Farah can make us tea.

Is that the Harjan girl?

She's young and she

owns this place, huh?

With a partner.

Imagine at her age to be the

partner of a business

and a good business too!

Sunday is always her

busiest day.

I think she's done well

for one of our girls.

So do I.

She's not totally

one of our girls.

Have you ever seen one

of our girls with such...

with such curly hair?

Are you saying

that she's part black?

That's her grandmother, Begum.

The child is Amina's mother.

There was a big scandal.

She messed around

with the Africans.

Should I pretend to be horrified?

You know, plenty of white people,

including some of his family,

would sit there one day, just like

you, all self-righteous,

and accuse my children

of being half-Indian.

That's not

the same thing.

It's exactly the same thing.

How can you

live here, Omar?

How can you bear

to be in this place?

South Africa is my home.

You wanted ten pence worth...

here you are...

I'd like to serve someone

over here, please.

WHITES NON-WHITES

ONLY ONLY:

I love South Africa.

What do you love about it?

The freedom, the space.

It's not like India.

No, it's not.

It's much worse.

And God help anyone

who tries to fight it.

I fight it. And I think

you probably did too.

I fought so hard

I had to leave

with bruises on my face.

Do you still like "koeksisters"?

Yes, I do.

And have you had any since

that were better?

Never.

Good. I'll send some over.

They're frying now.

Amina, this gentleman here

is looking for

someone to help

build him a garden.

You want it or know

someone who would?

I want a vegetable garden,

behind my house,

back with a shop.

I can do it.

I want a big space.

I need enough to sell

not just to eat.

If you want me

to do it, I can.

Can you come early?

How about seven?

Hello.

That's the patch I'd like you to do.

Mummy, why is she wearing trousers?

Because she works outside.

Don't forget their lunch.

Thank you, Robert.

Robert, give the young lady some chapatis

and some tea when she starts working

and there's fig jam

in the fridge, yeah?

Come.

Good morning.

Hello.

Say hello to the lady.

Hello, Ma'am.

Come on!

Bye!

I... I brought you some food.

Thank you.

It smells delicious.

I wish I could cook so well.

But you work in a caf.

All Jacob's recipes.

Well, then you should learn.

So my mother tells me.

Your mother's right.

What will you do

when you get married?

I don't know, I suppose

I'll have to

find someone who can cook.

Have you eaten?

Why don't you join me?

I have to mind the shop.

I just want

to know you better.

I'm just a housewife

and a mother.

And doesn't a housewife have

thoughts and feelings

and wishes,

just like everyone else?

You were the first person to

smile at me at the caf...

...in eight days.

I count it!

What's this?

Poetry.

I can't take it.

Don't you like reading?

I love reading.

I mean I used to...

I used to read a lot...

Please, keep it then.

Stay for dinner.

I should get going.

No, you can't

drive at night.

I'll be fine.

No. Maybe in town

but here...

The roads are just tracks.

Stay.

If you're going to stay,

you should come inside.

Your husband's not back yet?

He works late in Cape Town.

Usually he stays at his sister-in-...

brother's place.

The daal was delicious.

Do you want some more?

No, I would like to

clean up though.

There's hot water

in the bathroom. Come.

What are you doing?

I couldn't sleep.

Me neither.

Let me get you some tea.

I'll make the tea,

Miriam.

Miriam is always

getting the tea for everyone.

Tell me...

Has anyone ever

looked after you?

When did you come

to South Africa?

Seven years ago,

after I got married.

Me too!

Our first evening

off of a boat from India

and we walk straight into

the Indian congress protest.

There were sticks and guns

and policemen. I was...

...terrified.

I was there.

Protesting The Ghetto Bill.

I thought we could overthrow

the government in two weeks.

Is there anything

that you don't do?

I have to give people

something to talk about.

Do you ever think about getting married

and having children instead?

Yeah, it's that word "instead"

I don't like.

Why can't a woman do both

if she wants to?

It's not usual.

No. But neither am I,

and neither are you.

Where did you learn

to think like this?

My grandmother...

My mother's mother...

The picture in the caf?

She lived here once before

she was sent back to India.

You must have heard

someone's version of the story.

There's always gossip...

Tell me the story. The real story,

if you don't mind.

I'd like to tell you.

I think you'd understand why my

grandmother was so important to me.

What happened to her?

She was 19,

with one child already.

And shame and dishonour of being

rapped, she tried to hide it.

But she became pregnant.

As soon as the baby was born,

my mother,

they realised

it wasn't her husband's.

What did they do to her?

They put her

on a train to Durban,

to get a boat to Bombay.

Hold him out so I can kiss him.

Please... Please...

No!

No! Stop! Stop the train! No!

No! Stop! No!

I can't imagine

losing a child like that.

It broke her.

She didn't have one choice

to make her whole life.

And for as long

as I can remember

she always warned be about the dangers

of being oppressed in a marriage.

Is that why you

haven't gotten married?

That's not the only reason.

Miriam?

Yes?

Nothing.

You should go,

the baby needs you.

Sam? Yasmine!

Auntie Amina was showing

us the garden.

Are you ready for school?

Did you eat?

Auntie Amina gave us some

breakfast.

Here we go.

OK.

I've never imagined

I'd be so domesticated.

I've never imagined anything else.

OK, kids. You ready for school?

Come on.

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