Gangaa

Episode 4

Sudha is trying to read a holy book when everyone is asleep but her mind is not really here. Pishi Ma points out at the same. Sudha feels her whole life has lost its meaning. Everything looks worthless now. That little girl called the scriptures a lie! She refused to beg and live her life. Her disgust / hatred was so very obvious in her words. The way we all have been living our lives, it is even worse than death for her. we all are walking dead in her eyes. Where has she come from? Pishi Ma replies that from the same place with the same angst, unrest and questions, where you had come from. Sudha reasons that she accepted everything, whatever the Guru ji said or whatever is written in the scriptures. I accepted all the rules. I am living my life like a widow should. I never complained to anyone. Pishi Ma
 nods. But you would have surely asked yourself the same questions lot many times. Is it right to accept the customs set by society for us? Is there no respect for what we women think? Sudha says we have to follow them if we have to live in the society. We cannot go against it. Pishi Ma suggests her to wait for a few days. Ganga will understand and accept the rules of our Ashram in some time. She is a kid after all. Sudha denies. Ganga is not a kid. She is a widow. The sooner she understands it, the better or life will become unbearable for her.

Next morning, Ganga walks around the Ashram cautiously to avoid meeting or getting caught by anyone. She hides when Pishi Ma passes by. She again hides when she hears Sudha’s voice. A lady holds her feet in sleep thinking her to be Mamta. Please get me some water. Ganga changes her voice and agrees to bring it for her. She runs to Sudha’s office. She smiles as she notices her clothes and jewellery.

Ganga thinks of her Gauna and how all the ladies of her village had helped her dress up. She was so happy to show it all to her Bappa. Ganga drapes her wedding saree over her shoulder once again. She recalls an instance where her Bappa was making a braid. He shows her the mirror afterwards. My daughter looks like a princess now. Ganga smiles looking at herself in the mirror. She tries to make a braid. Sudha notices her thus and is taken aback. Why are you wearing colourful clothes? Whom did you ask before touching them? ganga retorts that she doesn’t need to ask anyone as they are her clothes only. Sudha repeats that a widow has nothing of her own. She forcefully takes the saree of Ganga and throws it away angrily. Ganga and Sudha look at each other challengingly. Ganga asks for her clothes. Sudha extends her hand to touch Ganga’s hairs but Ganga holds her hand. Don’t touch my hairs! Sudha decides to teach her who a widow is and how she lives. She takes Ganga to the Ghaat. All the other widows follow them too. Ganga notices Niranjan heading towards the Ghaat in a boat. Sudha brings her to a barber and tells him to make Ganga bald. Ganga shouts in denial. Leave me. Ganga refuses to go bald as she wont look good that ways. Barber opens his razor and sharpens it over a little piece of stone. Ganga looks at it.

Niranjan is distributing blankets and medicines to the needy. Raghav ji reminds him that they have to reach court before its noon. Niranjan nods.

Sudha tells Ganga to sit quietly. The barber readies his razor and touches Ganga’s head to cut her hairs when she hits him with her legs. Ganga runs away. all the ladies try to catch her but in vain. They finally make a circle around Ganga so she is unable to escape. Ganga remembers how she used to play Kabaddi back at her village. She smiles and starts saying Kabaddi Kabaddi. Sudha is surprised. As soon as the ladies close in on her she runs away again. She finally hides behind Niranjan.

Nirajan is surprised to see Ganga. I left you in that Ashram of widows yesterday. Sudha comes panting there. Raghav ji returns with the mobile. Sudha calls Ganga but she declines to come to her. Sudha tries to move forward but Niranjan stops her. what’s the matter? Ganga tells him that Sudha wants to cut her hairs. I don’t want it, I will look very bad. Please save me Babu. Sudha tries to pull her towards her but Niranjan interferes again. Sudha explains that Ganga has lost her husband. Ganga very innocently says that she has not even seen the face of her husband. I was very small when Bappa got me married. My husband and Bappa died in the stampede at the Ghaat yesterday. Why should I cut my hairs for that? She requests Niranjan to stop them. Sudah talks about the custom of their society and of Ashram’s rule. You will have to get it done. Ganga points at Mamta’s hairs. Not everyone has to do it. Niranjan notices the wounds in Ganga’s hands. Ganga tells him that she (Sudha) hit me with a stick. Niranjan is shocked

Ganga doesn’t mind getting beaten again but please tell her not to cut my hairs. Niranjan questions Sudha who tells him how Ganga insulted food, Guru ji, Gods and scriptures. We have to follow rules in the Ashram to maintain discipline or everyone will start throwing tantrums. Ganga reasons that she dint insult anyone. I only said that I wont eat the food that you get after begging people. Niranjan tries to make Sudha understand but she stays put. Sudha refuses to keep Ganga in her Ashram if she doesn’t want to get her hairs cut. Ganga flatly refuses to stay there. Pishi Ma asks her where she will go then as she has no home to go to anymore. Ganga doesn’t mind it. Bappa used to say that world is very big. Sudha agrees. You wont return to the Ashram then. She leaves with all the other ladies.

Raghav ji asks Ganga what she will do now, where will she go to. Ganga says I don’t know and walks away. Raghav ji and Niranjan look on as she walks away. Ganga’s words echo in Niranjan’s ears as he continues to look at her. he calls out for Ganga, asking her to stop. He runs to her and says, your Bappa was right. The world is very big but it isn’t safe. Will you come to my home with me? raghav ji tries to dissuade him but Niranjan gestures him to wait. My home is not that big but you can live there happily. Ganga asks him if he will also tell her to cut her hairs. He shakes his head. She agrees then and leaves with Niranjan and Raghav ji.

Raghav ji tries to make Niranjan understand as it will create a problem at home. We can leave her at the Ashram again. they will manage it amongst themselves. Niranjan reminds him of the marks in Ganga’s hand. they have beaten her and you want me to leave her there again? she will stay with us till we find some good place for her. we will see what happens. I cannot leave her on the road. He pays the rickshaw driver and takes Ganga to his home.

Ganga is amazed to see Niranjan’s big and beautiful house. Such a big palace in a narrow lane! Raghav ji says this is Chaturvedi Sadan. Ganga remarks that even the Sarpanch of her village dint have a house like this. he is still so arrogant. He will go all quiet if he comes here. Niranjan smiles. How many people live here? Niranjan says, me, my wife, our two sons, my mother, and our cook. Ganga counts it on her fingers. Only 6 people live in this big mansion! Niranjan nods. He takes her with him to make her meet everyone.

A lady is scolding someone as they couldn’t find a girl in Banaras (for some puja). She notices Ganga and goes quiet. Ganga hides behind Niranjan as she looks at the lady.