We Bought a Zoo Page #5

Can I have a word with John

regarding this? Is he there?

Don't worry about that

l will take care about that.

See you then.

- Bye.

Jai Ramji ki.

(Lord Ram be praised).

Well, well... the village lingo's getting

a hold on you. Jai Ramji ki! Bye. - Bye.

One moment.

How much was that?

Five hundred eighteen rupees sir!

One moment sir.

Sir, you just mentioned

the word "internet".

I've heard the word "international".

But 'Internet'? What's that?

I think I've heard it before.

Internet... Internet is a medium

through which we can...

...connect and communicate

with people in any part of the world.

No Post-office needed!

This is called e-mail.

E-mail! Really?

Fantastic!

If this e-mail is somehow

installed in this village

I'll be in seventh heaven.

- How is that?

Because then I wouldn't have

to deliver any letters.

I would just sit here and

email them all.

Email is indeed the summum bonum

it would break the walls that...

...separate home and the world.

Thank you sir.

- Okay.

Time to get up!

Kaveriamma, don't wake me up!

Haven't slept like this in years.

Get up. We have

a lot of work to do now.

The guests will be here at eleven.

The house needs to be cleaned.

What's going on?

Who are the guests?

A potential groom is coming to

see Gita with his parents.

What?

They are from Azamgarh.

- Gita's marriage?

Yes!

- Yes?

Gita's marriage...!

I forgot to tell you last night.

About two months ago, Vishwasji,

the boy's father had written to me.

Now finally they'll be here today.

But what is the need for all this?

- What do you mean?

I mean... I mean what's the rush?

She's just a child!

What a strange thing to say!

Come on, get ready.

Why should I get ready?

As if they're coming to see me!

This is Gita.

- Namaste!

This is Raghunath.

- Namaste!

Please sit.

Excuse me; I'll just be back.

I've heard... you run a school here.

- Yes.

We have a business in chemicals.

Really.

The demand that you are making

is not acceptable to me.

Teaching is my profession

and my passion.

And I'd like to continue

this work even after marriage.

A woman's hands are full just

with the household chores.

I disagree! I'd like to take care of the

house as well as work.

Let me tell you, that we would not like the

women of our household to work outside

Besides I fail to see why you would

want to keep working after marriage?

What if I say the same to your son?

My parents too have brought me up

with equal love and affection...

they expect me to live my life with

self-esteem,

independence and self-reliance.

If your son has a desire to be something

in life, to make a mark in society

then why can't women

have the same desire?

Be it in any field women are

making their mark equally.

There's more to a woman than

just wearing bangles.

And after marriage, aren't the house

and the children as much...

...a responsibility of the man

as the woman?

Why can't the husband and wife

work as a team?

Why should one of them sacrifice

more than the other?

I don't accept the demand of not

being allowed to work after marriage.

You mean... are you rejecting

this proposal?

I have nothing else to say...

This is how the new generation thinks.

We should not carry this

matter any further!

I'm sorry Shardaji, Vishwasji.

It's all right.

I'm upset with what happened today.

- But I felt I was right.

I don't think you should have

expressed your views in this way.

Whatever it is, this is

against my principles.

Kaveriamma, Gita is right.

But Mohan, he was a nice boy.

You can change people's views

about life over a period of time.

Well, you do have a point there.

- No, I couldn't have changed him.

Habits can be altered over time but

narrow opinions and beliefs cannot be.

I'm absolutely sure

that their next demand would

be the dowry amount.

Quite possible. I completely

agree with you.

This thinking is imbedded in our culture

& tradition and it hampers the nation.

Excuse me.

Without culture and tradition the

country would be left with no soul.

But Mohan, we are not talking

about the country.

I know Kaveriamma,

but it's all connected, isn't it?

What is this soul you talk off Gita?

We are plagued with problems.

Will you disagree, when I say that

illiteracy is rampant?

That we have administrative problems!

We are yet under-developed.

That's true! Illiteracy and

poverty are hand in glove!

Kaveriamma, your village has

not even got electricity yet.

Caste discrimination, overpopulation,

unemployment and corruption...

...our state of affairs is pathetic.

Pass me the salt.

You have drifted from our topic. But since

you've brought this up, let me tell you...

...the Government is trying to find

solutions for these problems.

Yes! Yes! We'll see how much good

their solutions will bring.

The infrastructure that the Government

has is not enough to cope with even...

...1/4th of the existing population,

The Government has always failed

in satisfying the peoples' needs.

The Government is making policies,

making efforts.

What do you mean by 'efforts'?

Just to make resolutions and

collect funds for them

is that where the

Government's work ends?

Whether this money even reaches

the grassroot level...

...whether the common man benefits

or not from their resolutions...

...are they not responsible

for that as well?

Yes they are.

- Then...

But what do you think the

Government is, after all?

The Government is a system, of

which the public is also a part.

You, me, this village... all of us!

Now if the system is lacking

in certain things, then...

...to rectify its weaknesses

is our responsibility as well.

God helps only those

who help themselves.

Yes Kaveriamma, but things

are not going to change here.

Because no one wants to change!

It's easy for you to criticize.

But are you doing anything about it? No!

Excuse me.

At least, I am not defending

the government like you.

I'm building satellites to help

technology advance.

For everyone mankind!

Some more curry?

- No!

But you are doing it all there.

I'm doing all that I can here,

at the village grass root level.

I'm trying to make this a better place!

Gita... you too are a typical Indian!

You Indians can't take criticism.

You Indians?

Sorry, I mean... we Indians...!

Anyway, we are aware that not much has

changed in our country in a long time.

But I still want to try

and make a difference.

You have given up all hope.

No I haven't..

Yes you have!

- No I haven't!

She's really a fighter, isn't she?

You're no less yourself!

Now what is to become of this girl?

He was such a nice boy.

There are other boys...

- I know

But it is not easy to please Gita.

She has too many expectations.

To top all this, there is the school case.

And until both these problems are solved

you won't be able to leave with me.

I have a plan...

let's split up the work.

I'm the boy... I mean...

...you find a boy and

l will find children for the school.

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