039: S1E5: 26 MISSED CALLS: THE HUNGER

Black clouds are covering the view of mountains. It has been continuously raining since last night. “Tad, tad, tad” sound of drops is coming from their tin roof. Water is flowing from the tapered roof like a fall. There are temporary streams of water flowing from left and right of their house.

Roopali and Sonali are helping their mother cook festival food. Today is “harela”, a local festival. Maternal grandmother and grandfather were supposed to come today. Radio is saying the roads are closed due to landslides on the way. Mother is worried. Unwanted thoughts are coming to her mind. Few years ago, on a similar day, she lost her husband to a road accident. She is looking out for them at the gate every now and then. Vipul is going out, drenching himself in the rain. Mother asks him to go a little further and look for grandpa and ma. After a while Vipul comes back with a big silver aristocrat suitcase in one hand and a big clothing bag in another. After him, grandpa comes with a big black umbrella and grandma with a colourful folding umbrella. Everyone touches their feet. Mother makes tea for them. While Roopali opens the suitcase to see gifts for themselves. There are 3 sweaters - one for everyone except Sonali who gets the old sweater of Roopali. There is a saree for mother, a suit for Roopali and a pant-shirt for Vivek. Sonali starts crying and she feels that she always gets to wear old clothes of Roopali. Mother scolds Sonali for making a scene on the festival day. Roopali says,” you can wear the new sweater first”. “But that's loose for me,” Sonali replies, sobbing. “No one has ever got new clothes for me, all my life I have been wearing Roopali’s old clothes,” says Sonali and throws away all the clothes outside in the rain.

Grandpa opens the other bag which is full of sweets, fruits and homemade snacks. They open the Bal mithai box and give it first to Sonali. Roopali did not eat sweets because she is still on a partial hunger strike. She wants to tell grandpa that she wants to study further.

Mother to grandpa, “father, find a suitable boy for Roopali, we shall get her married after a few years.”

Roopali - “no way, I want to study further.”

Mother - “but there is no degree college in our town, I cannot send you to another city.”

Roopali says in a loud voice, “why can’t I go, other girls are either going to hostels or living on rent in other cities for studies.”

Mother scolds in an even louder voice, “learn manners, is this how you speak in front of elders.”

Grandma - “we did not allow our daughter to study higher and got her married at a young age. This is customary.”

Roopali - “we are at this stage because you did not educate your daughter. She had to stitch clothes of neighbours to make ends meet. If she would have been properly educated, she would have …”