We Bought a Zoo Page #3

to you about.

Come...

Stop! Wait right here.

Do not step inside. I'll be back.

Now you can come in!

Kaveriamma.

- Yes?

Oh... what are you doing?

I can't express how happy

l am to see you Mohan.

Let Gita come.

I'll tell her I've won the bet.

Bet? What bet?

Gita always said

"Your Mohan has forgotten you, Amma."

Really?

But I would always retort:

"No, he will come to meet me."

And then we had a bet!

If you did come, she would have to

treat me to an ice cream.

Ice cream? Kaveriamma!

Why?

- Because you haven't changed a bit!

You haven't lost your

appetite for ice-creams!

Why not?

Why not? Are ice creams meant only

for kids? Can't we oldies enjoy it?

Sit!

All right, you win. And by the way,

who says you're old?

So... who is this Gita?

Don't you remember?

You often played with her as a child.

She used to visit our Delhi house

with her mother.

Gita...

Are you referring to that

'Gitlee' by any chance?

Yes!

You called her that.

And this is Nandan

Gita's younger brother.

But we lovingly call him Chikku.

- Chikku! Hey Chikku!

He has faked a tummy ache today

so that he can miss school.

How old are you?

- Eight.

Which school do you go to?

I study in Navjeevan Paathshala.

My roll number is 6

and I am in the fourth standard!

The motto of our school is

Books are a source of knowledge

and knowledge is strength.

Your school seems to be a good one.

Why haven't you gone today?

- I had a stomach ache.

Really?

Was the pain here?

Or here?

Would you like to see my school?

- No, not now.

I want to talk to Amma.

- No! Let's go right now.

All right Chikku.

Mohan, why don't you

go visit the school with Chikku.

You can meet Gita as well.

She teaches there.

Ok, but I thought Chikku had a

stomach ache!

Ache? Oh yes!

It was there, but it just went away!

Let's go to my school now!

That's Uncle Postman!

Not just postman my dear

...I'm the plough and the bull, field

and seed, crop and the grains.

I am everything here!

I sort the letters, seal them

and distribute them as well!

When on my bicycle, I'm the Postman

and in my chair, Postmaster.

The name is Nivaaran Dayal Shrivastava.

How can I help you?

Can I call America from here?

There is no ISD here, but you can get

connected through Mizwa village.

By the way, there is no bank, no bond,

and no registry in this village.

I apologise, for the trouble

earlier today.

That's ok. You live abroad, right?

- Yes.

I too happen to know some English.

What can I do for you?

Very good.

Look Mohanbhaiyya this is my school!

I'm impressed, Chikku!

It was in 1942 that

the slogans of the 'Quit India Movement'

were first heard in Bombay.

From Bombay to Lahore (in Pakistan),

Lahore to Peshawari...

the Indian revolutionaries and the

British soldiers were locked in conflict!

Blows were dealt in succession,

bullets were whizzing and ricocheting.

But through all of it our protests were

on, and we never raised our hands!

I got hit by a bullet on

the shoulder as well.

Then they arrested us and

threw us in prison

... we kept protesting- Inquilab zindabad!

(Long live the Revolution)

Dadaji, did you have a beard then?

- I wish I did!

Then the bullet would have got stuck

in my beard and got lost!

I... am... going!

I... am... going!

We... both are... going!

We... both are... going!

We... all are... going!

We... all are... going!

Very good! Kamala, now you repeat...

I... am... going!

It's you!

I must have misunderstood your

directions and got lost.

Excuse me! This is a school

and a class is in progress.

I'm sorry.

Mohan bhaiyya this is Gita didi.

And didi didi, this is Mohan bhayya...

He has come from Aamkarica!

- Not Aamkarica, Chikku! America.

Chikku, what are you doing here?

I thought you had a stomach ache!

Amma asked me to show

Mohan bhaiyya the school so I just...

So you are Gita! Remember me?

I used to call you 'Gitlee'

when we were kids.

The children are

supposed to be studying.

I'm sorry.

Now I understand.

Mathematics, Geography...

Oh yeah, by the way...

...you forgot your 50 rupees

at the bookshop!

Thank you, will you please go now?

Yes. I'm very sorry.

I... am... going!

I... am... going!

Very good.

What's this?

This is a foot massager, that'll take

care of your aching feet.

There is no electricity at the moment.

- Why?

We have power failures quite often.

- Oh, when will it resume?

Nothing can be said for sure.

This happens 3-4 times a week.

Who are they?

Gita's parents Shanta and Jagmohanji...

Who started the school in Charanpur.

When Chikku was only five,

Jagmohanji passed away.

Gita was studying in a college

in Delhi at that time.

As soon as she graduated,

she came here...

...to help her mother with the

running of the school.

But Shanta's health was on the decline,

till a point when she sent Gita to the

Old Age Home to fetch me.

Before dying, Shanta entrusted

the upkeep of Gita and Chikku to me.

Thanks.

Why did it take you so long, Gita?

- I had to correct a few test papers.

Thought I may as well finish it there.

Didi, didi, look what

Mohanbhaiyya got for me!

Guess what I'm going to

cook for you Mohan!

Very nice.

Your favorite tadka daal,

aloo ki sabzi and kheer.

Wow!

Gita! Now you will have to treat me

to an ice-cream.

You lost the bet.

Oh Kaveriamma, I've missed your food.

The kheer was especially good.

I knew you would like it.

Enough about me.

Now tell us about yourself... and America.

Everything's fine in America.

I have all the comforts.

I have all that I could ask for.

I'm glad to hear that.

And how is your nasha going on?

(nasha - Hindi slang for drugs)

Nasha?

Why? Have you quit it?

Nasha?

Nasa? NASA?

That's what I meant.

My work at nasha... I mean NASA

is going very well.

So, you're an astronaut?

No.

I'm a Project Manager for

Global Precipitation Measurement! GPM.

Global Precipitation Measurement.

Very good.

Look at this Mohan bhaiyya!

Wow! Very good. You are a great artist!

Chikku, you bunked school today.

And, you have to catch up with studies.

Good night Chikku!

- Say good night!

I owe you an apology.

Apology? For what?

I'm sorry...

...that I wasn't there to take care of you

What are you talking about?

Let me talk Kaveriamma!

I'm sorry... that I wasn't there to

take care of you.

I'm sorry... that I was not there

when you needed me most.

I'm sorry... that you had to go

to an Old Age Home.

Not another word now!

Son...

...these are all matters of destiny.

I have everything...

Everything, but you!

I miss you very much Kaveriamma.

Will you come with me?

Where?

America.

No, I'm fine here!

Just come with me, you'll love it there.

You'll get a lot of rest and peace.

It's a much better life there.

Let me think about this.

Come on now...

You should go to sleep here.

Here?

If you don't mind,

l will sleep in the caravan.

Now what new machine is this?

One that puts you to sleep!

Something like that!

Good Night.

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