Hello! Wishing you all a happy vacation. A video on the middle of chapter nine of ‘Ripples Roping Memories’ is presented by me.
Rani returns home. Dad comes to receive her at the station. On the day of exam, Rani remains cool. Hari, as usual sells her text books. Rani pays money to get her text books from Chitragaon Book Depot. The exam center is at Vanavli. There is tight security around. Rani has forgotten her spectacles. Cousin Karnesh comes rushing in with her specs. He requests one of the security guards to handover the specs to Rani. Rani writes her paper well. Rani thinks of Karnesh as a good cousin. Karnesh does not express his feelings openly. However, aunt Hema and aunt Ragini advise Rani to be cautious about him. ” Beware of Karnesh. He is a shrewd and cunning person.” Sometimes aunts insult him right on the face. Karnesh giggles and keeps quiet.
The farewell party is unique for Rani. Autographs are given and plays are staged. Students are given snacks. Many of the classmates cry, shedding tears all of a sudden. One of Rani’s classmates clings to her and cries saying, “Sweet Rani, we will not be together again.” Rani is not moved. For Rani, it is a chance to come out of the dark hole of privation. She wants to become independent. Shehnaz Zariwala, Suvarna Ovhal and Rani go to a theatre to watch a Hindi movie. It is a good, light comedy of rumors leading to confusion. Songs contribute to the jovial nature of the film. It relaxes and entertains Rani’s mind.
Vacation begins. Rani visits uncle Balan’s house in Belami which is on the outskirts of Shimpli. The house is near Prem theatre. Many houses are huddled together. Shopkeepers are Sindhi speaking men. They are refugees of divided India. Women put papads or wafers to dry outside the house. Cots are used to dry pappads. Women are dressed in colorful Punjabi suits. Few old ladies are in white sarees. Young girls are trim, neat, fair and they have their hair nicely oiled and plaited. It is nice to look at their shining lipsticks and black kajal. One lady is putting clothes to dry outside the house. There are shops selling genuine ‘mawa’ or milk condensed into dough. Rani reaches uncle Balan’s house after watching the interesting colony of the Sindhi people.
Uncle Balan is darker than other uncles. He has a slight upturned nose. He works for Swann International. His marriage takes place at South Indian Samaj in Sagarpur. The bride is from Sainagar, Sagarpur. Bridegroom is welcomed on the previous day. Next day, during muhurtham, tirumangalyam is tied around the bride’s neck. Three knots are to be tied which are important. A movie about friendship is shown during a function at Swann International in Ambatwadi. A blind man sings about the values of friendship. The song becomes popular. ‘ Koi jab raah na paye, Mere sang aaye, Ke pag-pag deep jalaye, Meri dosti mera pyaar, Meri dosti mera pyaar……’
Balan is a dandy and a tiff with the goondas is not difficult for him to manage. He takes the initiative for good work. His wife resigns from the job of a receptionist when she gets a baby girl. Baby Anupama cries for her mother all the time. Mrs. Balan is a fair woman with long hair, having a pleasing smile on her face but she is a bit reserved. She is a self sacrificing, self effacing personality, deeply religious and ritualistic. She celebrates every festival with great devotion and detail. She converts and convinces her husband to her way. A rough tongued, vibrant and violent Balan becomes a sober god fearing man. The couple gets a son called Satish who is extraordinarily brilliant and active. Hari attends the birthday function of cousin, Satish. Unfortunately Satish is struck by cancer. Uncle Balan spends a lot of money at the Swann company hospital to save his only boy child. The child utters sentences when it nears its death. ” Papa, there is no light. I think it is put off. Tata, I am going.” The sorrow creates a great void in the lives of the couple. Uncle Balan transforms into a whining, depressed and prejudiced man.
Thank you for listening. I come again with a video on the end of chapter nine. Goodbye!
( Video can be viewed on You Tube by typing ‘Ripples Roping Memories’)
