Some kids run excitedly to fly kites. A girl eyes a kite which is stuck on the top of a tree. Her forehead is filled with vermilion. She tries to free her kite but gets hurt in the process. She tells her father that she was checking whether the Kite is really good or not. the seller is a thug. Gave me a kite for Rs. 10. I won’t give him any money if I lose in the competition. Her father (Varun Shukla) smiles and says Winning or losing isn’t determined by thr kite, but the one who flies the kite is more important than the kite even. It’ss all a game of how much you pull / lose the kite and when. He makes her kite ready. She runs off to be with her friends. Her father is concerned, but she runs away happily.
Kite competition: Her friends have been waiting for her. They praise
her for her skills.
Village head, Sarpanch’s son, Munakka comes there with a big kite. I have gotten this from Banaras. It is made in China. No one will be able to cut my kite today. Gangaa’s friends warn her to be careful. Sarpanch announces a special gift – Bicycle, for the winner. Gangaa looks at the bicycle happily. All her friends are happy too. The one who will win this competition will be really lucky. One of her friends say I will ask my father to bring a similar bicycle for me. Gangaa remarks that her father cannot buy it for her as he doesn’t have that much money. But I want this bicycle, Rani. I will win this competition. Her friends point at Munakka’s big branded kite. Gangaa repeats her father’s words. Her father nods at her proudly.
The competition begins. Gangaa and Munakka are the only ones in the end. Gangaa eventually succeeds in cutting Munakka’s kite. She wins the competition. Her father hugs her proudly and makes her twirl. Gangaa looks at the bicycle and imagines herself riding it, with all her friends following her excitedly. Her father brings ice cream for her, but she has her eyes set on the ice cream only.
Munakka is announced the winner. Gangaa drops her ice cream in shock. Her father too is taken aback. Only one or two people clap all the while. Munakka wears his goggles and drives off in his new bicycle. Sarpanch announces a gift of Rs. 1000 for Gangaa as she too has played well. People prod her to go and collect it, but she stays put. She finally heads to the stage. Her father stops her from taking money from Sarpanch and says She had won bicycle not money. You have a big heart that you want to do a favour on a poor man’s daughter. But this poor man’s daughter only needs her right, and not a favour. Can you get her her right? People on the stage protest but Gangaa’s father politely tell them to let it be if they cannot respect a poor man’s daughter. Don’t insult them by giving her alms at least. Gangaa leaves with her father.
At night, Shukla packs a bag. He is quite emotional as it is Gangaa’s Wedding Ceremony tomorrow. He thinks My daughter will go to her in-laws place now. The traditions of the world are very weird. My little daughter will have her Wedding Ceremony in such a young age. He wipes his tears and then guides Gangaa to be good with her in-laws. Gangaa asks him why he didn’t let her take the prize. I had won but didn’t get anything. He sweetly explains to her how she would have lost even after winning the game if she had taken the prize. A poor man’s wealth is his self-respect. A gift is of no use in the absence of self-respect. She yet again asks for her bicycle.
He takes her with him and shows her the moon’s reflection in the water. She is amazed to see it. The entire moon has come down in the water. Her father tells her to try and catch it. She tries, but is unable to do so. It slips from the corners. She says this isn’t a real moon, but just the reflection. He shows her the real moon up in the sky. It is just an illusion in the water, which seems real to us, but it isn’t the truth. Similarly, the bicycle, the competition is nothing but an illusion. Your real triumph will be when you hold the real moon in your hands; and win something bigger than even a bicycle. She asks him if it will happen for real? He nods. Whatever you try with all your heart, will happen for sure. If you didn’t get the bicycle even after winning it, then it indicates that a bigger victory is waiting for you in the future. Gangaa smiles finally. I will get even a bigger bicycle. He holds her one hand (right palm) first and calls it her self-respect. The other hand (left palm) is your strength. When they will come together, then they can get hold of the entire sky, including the moon and the stars. She talks about the bicycle again. He advises her never to lose her self-respect.
The next day, the neighbouring women and friends ready Gangaa for her Wedding Ceremony. Vidai song plays in the background… Gangaa’s father is in tears. Gangaa shows him her jewellery. Her father gifts her a wooden cycle (toy). He then tells her to sit in the jeep. She requests him to come with her but he denies. You will go alone to your in-laws place just like your friends had gone to. Gangaa insists and ends up crying. She refuses to leave without her father. He consoles her. He tells the groom’s father that Gangaa’s mother died when Ganga was mere 3 years old. She hasn’t lived without me since then. This is why she is a little scared. I wonder how she will be able to live without me. The groom’s father asks him to accompany them. Gangaa gets happy. She asks her father numerous questions about Banaras. Title song plays as they all leave for Banaras… Gangaa and her father look around thrilled.
They reach Gangaa ghat. Ganga has not even seen her groom. Will he be like Munakka? Will he tease / trouble me too? Gauri Ma has heard my prayers. I had wanted a tall groom only so that he could get Imli from me from the trees. Her Father-in-law offer her sweet, She feels hesitant. Why is he calling me Bahu (Daughter-in-law)? My name is Gangaa. Gangaa confirms it with her father. Gangaa doesn’t like being called Bahu. She notices the boat. I want a ride too. Her father tells her to take a dip in the holy water first. Gangaa’s father sends her with her Father-in-law for a minute. He buys bangles for Gangaa.
Gangaa finds her father buying bangles and stops to see him thus. People suddenly start running helter-skelter. Gangaa notices it all in shock as people fall in the process. Gangaa calls out for her father. A random guy picks her up. Gangaa’s father is unable to find her or her in-laws anywhere. Many people got trampled on as people run around to find a safe place or to exit from the Ghaat. Gangaa is lying on one of the stairs of the Ghaat and she is shouting for her Bappa (father). Police tries to control the situation but it looks a little tough for them too.
Gangaa gets up after a while when it’s all calm. She notices a lot of people (mostly dead) lying around. Their family members are crying sitting next to them. Gangaa walks around and finally finds her Bappa(father). His hands are full and his head has been injured too. She shakes him to wake him up but in vain. Her Father-in-law calls out to her. Your Bappa won’t say anything to you now. Plus your husband too died. This year Gangaa Maiyya (river) took my everything from me. He cries. Gangaa tries every possible way to wake her father up. She holds his head and her hands get smeared of his blood. She looks at her hands in shock.
She recalls the last Holi when she had put colour on him. He too had picked up colours, but then stops seeing her. You are already coloured in so many shades. There is no blank space left on your face. She shows him her bare hands. There is no colour here so you can put them here. He makes a circle shape around her wrist (bangles with different colours). She too asks for bangles of all colours, just like her Maiyya used to wear it. He promises to bring lots of colourful real bangles for her on her Gauna. Ganga excitedly goes to tell it to her friends.
Gangaa’s Father-in-law cries for his son. What will I tell your Amma? I had gone to bring our Daughter-in-law and lost our son. it should have been me instead. Gangaa carefully keeps her father’s head back on the stair and goes to her Father-in-law. Why isn’t my Bappa waking up? Her Father-in-law tells her that everything is over now. I was so happy when we came for the wedding ceremony, but we will have nothing but dead bodies to carry back home. You have got hurt doubly. You lost your father and became an orphan; and then you lost your husband too which makes you a widow.
Police Inspector comes there with ward boys and stretcher to pick up the dead bodies lying around. They pick up Gangaa’s Bappa. Gangaa runs to them. Where are you taking my Bappa? Inspector replies that he will return the dead body to the family once the counting is done. Gangaa retorts that it isn’t a dead body but her Bappa. She cries for her Bappa while he is taken away by the police. Her Father-in-law tries to make her understand all along. Your tears cannot bring your father back. Her Father-in-law has a hard time controlling her as she runs after her father’s body while he is taken away.
At the medical camp, men and women are told to stand on the opposite sides. Gangaa clings onto her Father-in-law. He ultimately has to take her with him. They are standing in the line of getting compensation for their dead ones. They notice a lady all shocked and acting like a mad person. She has lost her entire family in the stampede. Gangaa’s father frees himself from Gangaa’s grip and walks out of the line. Gangaa follows him, but he tells her to go and sit. I will be back in a while. He goes away then. Poor little girl sits down next to a family, looking all scared.
Gangaa’s Father-in-law walks and hides behind a truck and cries his heart out. A guy (from the organizing committee) notices Gangaa all alone. He wonders aloud if anyone knows her? She immediately gets up and starts looking for her Father-in-law in every possible corner. Gangaa runs in the lanes of Banaras.
It is night time. Ganga comes to the Ghaat and witnesses the aarti. She finds broken bangles on the ground and recalls the whole incident again. She looks at the crowd keenly and notices her Bappa standing amongst them. She finally smiles. He too gestures her to come to him. She runs up to that spot but her Bappa is not there. She calls out for him and slips in the process while she is looking around. She is about to fall when someone holds her hand.
Two more people (a doctor and another guy – Raghav) comes there and they tell Gangaa to walk carefully. It is good that Niranjan Babu got hold of you or you would have slipped in the water. Niranjan signals them to stop. Next he asks Gangaa if she is looking for someone? Have you lost someone? She nods; my Bappa. He says that her Bappa might be in some camp. We will go and look for him right away. But Gangaa’s words surprise him. My Bappa is dead. He asks her if there is someone else with her. She tells him about her Father-in-law. He thinks that her husband’s age would be equal to her age only. She yet again shocks him by saying that her husband is dead too. Niranjan tells Raghav to take the girl to the registration office as her Father-in-law must be looking for her. Raghav suggests him not to get involved in all this, but Niranjan stays put. I will only return after making this girl meet her Father-in-law only. Raghav ji nods reluctantly. Niranjan assures Gangaa that she will meet her Father-in-law. Gangaa leaves with Raghav ji.
Raghav ji brings Gangaa to the medical camp. He explains to the guy in charge about Gangaa’s situation. He asks her questions about her family. They check the register. Ganga hears her Father-in-law’s voice. He is at the other desk. He tells the person in charge about Gangaa’s father’s death (the name and details) and of his son’s death too. He lies that his Daughter-in-law (Gangaa) died too. Gangaa was walking towards him but stops in her tracks in shock. Her Father-in-law asks for the person in charge of his son’s dead body. Raghav ji notices Gangaa standing tensed. He asks her if she knows anyone out of the people standing at the other desk. Gangaa’s Father-in-law is stunned to see her. Gangaa finally shakes her head in negative. Her Father-in-law leaves from there hastily.
Doctor is thanking Niranjan for it’s because of him that they could handle such a situation. Raghav ji returns with Gangaa. He says She is weird. She went there and said that her Father-in-law is dead too. Niranjan is surprised. He says She looks scared since She lost everyone. It won’t be good to leave her alone there. He is not in a mood to let her stay there all by herself. Raghav ji and the Doctor advise him not to get involved in any of this. Hand her over to an orphanage. Niranjan agrees. Raghav ji addresses Gangaa, as a girl which irks her. Why are you calling me that? My name is Gangaa. Take it properly and then I will come with you. Niranjan smiles and supports her. He says It won’t be wrong if you add sweetness to your words. He tells Gangaa to go. Orphanage people will take good care of you and you will be safe there. Raghav ji finally talks somewhat nicely to her calling her your highness. She leaves only when Niranjan nods back at her assuringly.
Read Next: Friday update on Gangaa, 19th October, 2018
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