Hello everybody! Best of wishes for the Christmas season. Here is a video on the beginning of chapter nine of ‘Ripples Roping Memories’.
Rani prepares for High School Board Examination with renewed vigor. The house is in a cluttered state. She reads for the exam pacing the room and the balcony. She stamps or kicks things which come in her way. Hari pilfers her text books and sells it to watch cinema. Rani’s parents request her maternal grandparents to allow her to stay with them for a month to study for the exam. Grandparents reply, “It is better for a child to stay with its parents than with anyone else. It is our sincere advice.” Fortunately, Rani’s paternal grandfather agrees to accommodate Rani for a month. Rani packs all her books and clothes in a big bag and proceeds to the station. Dad escorts her till the station. Rani boards a Shimpli bound train. She gets down at Shimpli and takes the lane to Solo talkies as directed by her dad. A South Indian lady in nine yards saree spots Rani and speaks to her. “You are Rangesh’s granddaughter, I suppose. Your face and features are like him.” Rani says, “Yes”. The lady guides Rani to her grandfather’s house. Aunt Maya is there with her children. Grandfather is resting on his bed. A small room in the upstairs is allotted to Rani. She revises or browses whatever she has studied. Rani hears aunt Maya talking to her husband in the room on the right hand side. Rani understands that aunt Maya is pregnant again. Her eldest son Naresh is on job and has to go to office. Many chappaties have to be rolled. Aunt Maya knows that Rani is unwilling to do so. She tells Rani, “No need to study all the time. Go down in the kitchen and roll out chappaties.” Chappaties are thick and big. They are baked without oil. A white cloth is used to press the sides of chappaties. Chappaties puff up well. Aunt Maya tells Rani to tear a bit at the sides. If layers are seen, then it is cooked.
Before Rani gets up in the morning, grandfather has the radio on. Rani listens to the lovely English tune as she goes down for brushing her teeth and having her tea. Grandfather listens to the International English News. He comments when Rani passes through the front room, “What will girls like you do after getting educated?” He believes that girls are born to be married and cannot be bread winners. Rani does not reply her grandfather. Grandfather is strict about postures. At night, he sees to it that Rani does not sleep curving her body. A tiff takes place between Aunt Maya and the grandfather. Aunt Maya comments, ” I have to look after this old man who cannot adjust with any of his daughters in law.” Grandfather replies, ” Keep quiet. It is you who have axed my family.” Rani does not understand these words.
One day Subbu uncle comes with his wife. Aunt Maya and people in the house are laughing and talking. All of a sudden, the words of aunt Maya sparks off a quarrel. Aunt Mala tells, ” What is the use of increasing number of children, one, two, three, four and so on.” Aunt Maya wild with anger says, ” You are jealous because you have only one kid. God has given me children. They are God’s gifts.” Aunt Maya knows how to extract money or favors from others. She is close to the brothers who assist her financially like Mr. Seshan and Mr. Picchu. During functions, she says, “What is the use of having so many brothers if I don’t get gifts from each one of them?” May be such demands are in keeping with the Indian tradition.
Aunt Maya tells Rani that children portrayed in a particular Hindi film are as naughty as her brothers and sisters. Rani goes to the Solo talkies to watch the film. Rani finds the children portrayed in it can neither match the mischievous nature nor the naughtiness of her brothers and sisters. However she likes a particular song in the film which is set to Hindustani Classical Music. The song is, ‘Beeti na bitai raina, Birha ki jaai raina, Beeti na bitai raina, Birha ki jaai raina, Bheegi hui ankhiyon ne, Lakh bujhai raina, Beeti na bitai raina…..” Aunt Maya highlights the good qualities of her daughters. Grandfather likes Jyoti in particular. He buys toy utensils for her to play.
This much for this video. Thank you for listening. We meet again for the next video. Till then goodbye!
( Video can be viewed on You Tube by typing ‘Ripples Roping Memories’)
