FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

October 1942 FILM INDIA more natural to call her that) was not complaining. She wasn't the sort who would. I was the first person, besides Professor Hussain, she had talked to. since her arrival in Bombay. It was but natural that everything was being blurted out. Soon after her entry into her aunt's house, it was apparent that all was not as it should be. It seemed the uncle wasn't doing well in the office. And so the maid servant was dispensed with, and Madhu was made to do the housework, except washing vessels and clothes, so that "when you get married you'd know how to look after h's house." She would be woken up at five every morning She had to prepare tea, get the water ready for bath, buy vegetables, come back and cook; have a bath, snatch a meal and rush to college. In the evening again she would have to cook the meals and then she would get very tired and rest her tired lids before long. So that although she had been in Bombay since June, (and now it was February) this was the firs time that Madhu wa> seeing t'v sea. while the sun was sett ng, and the play of the rays on the crest of the little wavelets delighted her heart considerably » « * Next week Madhu sat for her exams and returned to her Bapuji. Her name appeared at the bottom of the successful candidates' list. I was expecting her to fail miserably, but then, of ourse, I hadn't reckoned with the angel in the garb of Professor Hussain. Madhu returned 'n the middle of June and joined the Intermediate class. But now she lived under a constant shadow. Due to her poor examination results her scholarship was in danger of being stopped. And, in the meanwhile, her aunt's house had become a veritable hell. Her uncle had taken to drinking and many a t me he failed to return home at night. And hen her aunt would get very wild and throw things about, and scold and abuse Madhu for no fault of hers. And so 'life' went on till January, which month brought them bad news all round. Madhu s scholarship ceased. Her uncle had swindled his firm of five thousand odd rupees and spent the money in drink and such like, and was now about to be prosecuted. There was much debating and d scussion on how to handle this. Late into night, almost every day. "I would feel happy if first it was you — " said she coyly. they would talk and talk. And more often than not, the uncle and aunt would end up in a free fight. Madhu was not being sent back. She was doing all the housework, which her aunt had no desire to do. Besides, her fees for both the terms had already been paid. And sne volunteered to walk to. and back from college to save the tram fare. And then her father retired and had henceforth to manage, as best as could be, on a pension of ten rupees per month. So that for Madhu. the starvation line extended from one end of the horizon to the other. « * * But now her aunt, who with all her faults was a dauntless fighter, took charge of the situation and tried to find a way out. She wen and saw Sethji, her husband's employer, more than once and in the end prevailed upon him to come to their house, to see "if there wasn't a way out". But things were hopelessly dismal, and there seemed to be no way out, said Madhu unless—. "Unless what. Madhu?" I asked. We had walked across to the Ova! and were sitting on one of the benches. Some college boys were playing cricket, while their girls watched. And the setting sun's rays trickled through the leaves of a palm tree to dance on Madhu's face. And a tear drop from each eye fell on to the books in her lap. "Unless what, Madhu?' | nsked again. "Sethji wants a wife." I do not know how long we sat silently. The sun was no more and a stray star or wo had already started twinkling. An almost inaudible whisper, "He is sixty and has already got a wife." "Madhu, is there no way out?" "Yes. Suicide." "No other alternative?" A very long pause. I could almost hear the struggle going on inside her. And every now and then h tear would drop on the books in (Con. on page 65) 61