Gangaa is playing with pebbles. Niranjan and Madhvi comes there. He too sits down on the floor beside her. He asks how was your fast? She tells him that it isn’t a tough task to keep fast. He asks her if she has kept fast earlier as well? She shakes her head. Bappa used to say that fasts and prayer are mostly done by the elders. It is a feast for a poor person when he is able to eat something, and it is a fast when his plate is empty. Niranjan is proud of her. Your Bappa was right. It is a fast when a person stays hungry even if he has everything. Rich people keep fast to go to heaven, while poor people are compelled to stay hungry to sustain themselves. He leaves. Madhvi asks Gangaa if she understood anything that Niranjan had said. Gangaa says I understood a little. They smile. Gangaa adds that Sir(Niranjan’s) voice is just like honey. Whatever he will say will be only sweet and nice. I was staring at him continuously while he was talking. His eyes shine like stars. Bappa used to say that the eyes of a truthful person shines brightly. Madhvi is impressed. Gangaa remembers something and runs upstairs.
Gangaa is folding clothes when Sagar comes there. I want to say something. He fumbles, wondering how to say it. He gets an idea and takes her to where the wheat has been spread. He writes down the word sorry. She cannot read it though. You tell me what you have written? Sagar is in a fix. She tells him to let it be. I know you are fooling me. She turns to go when he gathers courage and says sorry to her. She doesn’t know what it means. She mistakes it for saree. He laughs hearing her explanation, but then explains the right meaning to her. She tells him that she doesn’t want sorry. He asks her what she wants then?
Sudha is venting out her anger by washing clothes. Pishi Ma observes her keenly. That girl was not wrong. One should not be this much short tempered. What was the need for you to get into an argument with her? Sudha replies that it is Gangaa who engages in a verbal duel always. She always makes me feel as if we are lower than her in some sense or other. She overlooks our Old years penance as if she is the only one who is smart amongst all of us. I don’t know what happiness she gets by troubling us? Honestly speaking, I have no answer to any of her questions or any of her words. This is why I lose my cool! She is all the more hyper to see Gangaa standing there. Sudha leaves the clothes and walks up to where Gangaa is standing. What are you doing here?
Gangaa says I have come here to collect my saree and jewellery (of her Gauna). Sudha repeats that they are of no use to her. What will you do with that? Sagar calls out for Sudha. He tells her that it is none of her concern. Gangaa can do anything with her stuff. Give them back to her. Sudha is surprised that Sagar is taking Gangaa’s side. Pulkit too walks inside in their support. Please return Gangaa’s stuff to her. Sudha sticks to her point and Pulkit says the same lines for her. Sudha is taken aback. Gangaa yet again asks for her saree and jewellery. My Bappa had bought them for me. Sudha agrees to give them all back to her. We widows anyways don’t need any of it. The kids get happy. Sudha gets Gangaa’s stuff. Take it, I too will see what you will do with it. Gangaa checks all the items and is content. She too tells Sudha to watch out for sure. Pulkit and Sagar smile. All the three kids leave. Sudha looks hurt.
Gangaa happily watches her jewellery. She recalls the day of her wedding ceremony when she was really happy wearing all of those jewels. Pulkit tells her to come home first. Your stuff will stay with only you. You can look at them later. Gangaa ties the potli(handle) around her waist just like her Bappa had taught her to. Pulkit packs the rest of her stuff and gives it to her. They all head home.
Maid is massaging Amma ji’s feet. Maharaj ji is watering plants. He advises her against keeping such kind of tough fasts. Amma ji refuses to give up the fast which she has been keeping for years just because she is getting old. How will I face my Lord when I die? Maid is surprised at the fact that Gangaa could keep such a tough fast. She is clever. Maharaj ji talks in Gangaa’s favour. Amma ji nods. It is only good for her if she learns to follow all the other rules of how the widows should live their lives. She is very naughty. She never listens to me. Madhvi says she isn’t naughty but upfront. She always lives by her words. Amma ji talks about how they shouldn’t pamper such girls too much or they will do whatever they feel like.
Sudha calls Amma ji and informs her of everything. Amma ji looks shocked / angry by the time she ends the call. Where is that girl? Where is Sagar and Pulkit? Do you (Madhvi) have any idea?
The kids are enjoying kulfi(ice cream). Sagar asks Gangaa if she is happy now? Are you still angry with me? Gangaa teases him by saying that she will think and then tell him. Sagar is confused. Pulkit tells him to think of what they will tell Dadi. Sudha must have called her by now. Dadi will be angry with us. Think of how we will face her! Sagar nods. The kids get into thinking mode.
Amma ji paces as she waits for the kids. I will punish that girl. She has crossed her limits. I am not going to take it. Madhvi adds that kids make mistake, Gangaa too is a little girl. Raghav ji greets everyone, but notices the tensed expression on Amma ji’s face. Niranjan too comes there, all set to leave for court. He talks to Raghav ji about one of their client. They turn to go when Niranjan notices everyone’s mood. Is there some problem again? Amma ji dismisses it. It’s a household matter. We women will handle it. You anyways have to think of a lot of things. Niranjan and Madhvi look at each other.
The kids reach outside their house very carefully. They are scared of Amma ji’s anger. Sagar gets an idea. Dadi only gives up when Papa says something. He will save us from her. Pulkit and Gangaa agree. He always supports honest people. Gangaa wonders what will happen if Amma ji finds out that we all are heading directly to Sir(Niranjan’s) room. Sagar assures her that they both are with her.
Niranjan looks at Madhvi for some clue, but Amma ji tells him to go to work. He leaves. Maid, Maharaj ji and Madhvi too head to their tasks.
The kids notice Niranjan leaving in his car and are dejected. They wonder how they will tackle Amma ji now? Pulkit says we have to be strong now. Plus we haven’t done anything wrong. We will tell her the truth. They enter inside. The corridor is empty so they think that Dadi is maybe in her room. They think of going upstairs when Amma ji calls out for them. They all turn to face her. Where are you coming from? She signals to Gangaa to come closer. Gangaa walks towards her. Gangaa walks towards Amma ji when she asked her to. Madhvi questions the kids. Where did you disappear to without telling anyone? Dadi was so worried. Amma ji interrupts her. Don’t scold my grandsons. Gangaa is to be blamed. You took them with you, right? Where did you go to and why? What’s in that bag that you are hiding behind your back? Amma ji and Gangaa fight to take or keep the bag. The saree and the jewellery fall on the floor in the process. Everyone is taken aback to see all that. Maid walks forward to pick them up, but Gangaa clearly tells her to stay away. Amma ji deduces that they all belong to Gangaa. This is your Wedding Ceremony’s saree? Gangaa nods. Bappa had brought it for me. Sagar tells them how Sudha had forcefully kept them with her. We had gone there to bring that only. Why will Sudha keep something that doesn’t even belong to her? Amma ji signals to him to wait / stop.
She sits down with Gangaa on the floor. Did you go to Ashram to bring your clothes and jewellery? What was the need for you to go there? You could have told me. I would have called them up and your belongings would have been here in no time. They are really nice, but what will you do with them? Will you wear them? Gangaa accepts it that she loves red saree, bangles and jewellery. My Bappa had brought them for me with love, but Sudha snatched them all from me. Amma ji agrees to let her wear it if she doesn’t like white saree. Maid is shocked, but Amma ji stops her from interrupting them. She turns to Gangaa again. You got married once. You must know that one cannot wear these clothes just like that. She tells Pulkit to call a rickshaw. We are going to the temple. Madhvi is tensed. She tries to ask Amma ji about it, but gets no reply. Amma ji and Gangaa leave in the rickshaw. Everyone is concerned for Gangaa.
They reach the temple. Gangaa too wants to know why they have come to the temple. Amma ji gives no reply and they go inside. Gangaa is mesmerised seeing Ma’s idol. We didn’t get any flowers or offering. Please tell me now what are we doing here? Amma ji asks her if she knows who this Goddess is. Gangaa nods. She smiles as she notices her lovely appearance, her attire. Amma ji keeps indicating to her that Ma is married. You are not ready without vermilion. Now you tell me what’s the point in dressing up incompletely? You will have to have vermilion in your forehead if you really want to dress up properly. Amma ji requests the Priest to give her a little vermilion for the girl. The priest is offended after noticing Gangaa (widow). Gangaa questions him about it. Why can’t I have Ma’s vermilion? He explains that it is a sin for a widow to dress up, put vermilion in her forehead, and so on. Ma’s vermilion cannot be put on a widow’s forehead. Gangaa reasons that the vermilion belongs to Devi (goddess) Ma, who are you to say no? Bappa used to say that everyone has a right on God’s Prasad. A few ladies feel Gangaa is too arrogant. We would have taught her a lesson if she was from our family. Amma ji and Gangaa look at each other.
Amma ji explains the facts to her. God accepts everyone, but a widow is never allowed to put Devi Ma’s vermilion in her forehead. This is the punishment of a widow. You are no different. Gangaa says why will she punish me? I didn’t become a widow by my will! Amma ji says it is as per everyone’s destiny, you must learn to accept it, no one can fight with their destiny. Gangaa looks at her sadly. She refuses to accept it. Bappa used to say that our fate is in our hands. Everyone is stunned by her bold words. Amma ji tells Gangaa to show her her destiny. We cannot change what had been written in our destiny. We are widows and we have to live only like that. Gangaa says that isn’t so. Amma ji tells her that her Bappa was wrong. Not just in your hands, but it is also written on your forehead that you are a widow. Gangaa declines. She rubs her forehead vigorously so she can erase that, if in case it is indeed there! Amma ji insists that she cannot erase what has been written for her. You won’t be able to do that in this birth at least. Priest too calmly tells the same to her. He gives her flowers and Sweets and says You cannot get vermilion. Amma ji suggests Gangaa to take what she is getting and asks her to think it to be your destiny and accept it. Whatever happened with you happened as per Devi Ma’s wish. Gangaa still refuses to accept it as it is not Devi Ma who has said that to her. It was only the priest. Amma ji is irked. I, priest and everyone else in the world is good for nothing. It is just you and your Bappa who knows everything. Gangaa agrees. A Maiyya (mother) loves her kids so much. She makes her kids wear new clothes, get all dressed up, then why would this Maiyya tell her kids to wear white clothes? Amma ji and everyone look at her in amazement / speechlessly.
Read Next: Friday update on Gangaa, 2nd November, 2018
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