Khirkeeyaan Episode 2 - Nepal at Home
Cinematographer: Shaina Anand
Duration: 01:14:28; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 182.771; Saturation: 0.002; Lightness: 0.449; Volume: 0.206; Cuts per Minute: 2.900; Words per Minute: 132.118
Summary: KhirkeeYaan is an exploration of an open-circuit tv system as a local area network communication, micro-media generation and feedback device.
It employs security apparatus, otherwise used for surveillance and 'secret' use. Television sets and cheap surveillance equipment, coupled with an RF modulator, mics, audio mixer and metres of coax cable were laid out to form collaborative conversation systems for the 'use' of the community-at-large. TV's and electricity, consent and participation were sourced on-site(s) often drawing from a multitude of sources.
Khirkeeyaan's seven episodes were generated through seven sets of installations in different neighbourhoods in and around Khirkee Extension, New Delhi over three weeks, during Shaina Anand's associate residency at Khoj studios in April, 2006. For more on the Khirkeeyaan project, see
http://chitrakarkhana.net/khirkeeyaan.htm
Arun and Ramesh, the caretakers at Khoj, live in a room on the terrace of Khoj with their wives Nirmala and Sunita and Ramesh’s squashable one-year old daughter Durga.
Aastha, a young sculptor, who has been working at Khoj on their community art initiative, has been teaching art at the Gyaandeep School in the same lane and was acquainted with some Nepali kids. She got to know that a new immigrant had arrived in Khirkee extn, and was living in the lane opposite. Knowing that Nirmala and Sunita hardly get out of Khoj and mingle with the community, she thought it would be nice to connect four Nepali women together, so that they could talk with each other. Under the pretext of welcoming Yamuna, the new arrival, cables were laid from the top room of Khoj to the lane opposite. For more on episode 2, see
http://chitrakarkhana.net/Khirkeeyan/K2.htm
Bunnu: I'm not getting it.
(Sound off.)
Khirkee Extension, Delhi
Nepali
The four screens, clockwise from the top left, show Laxmi's mother's house, Yamuna's house, Geeta's mother's house and Nirmala/Sunita's house respectively.
art
cctv
community media
television
women
Ajay: What happened? Yes... it's very far.
Controller: Nothing will happen, nothing will happen, put it comfortably. Nothing will happen.
Ajay: Nothing will happen?
Controller: Pal, I'm not telling you. I'm telling Bunu.
Geeta: Ajay!
Ajay: What happened?
Controller: That part of your microphone had come off so...
Geeta: Ajay! Are you listening? Why are you looking away, 'baatameez' (scoundrel)?
Ajay: What happened? Yes... it's very far.
Geeta: I'll kick you so hard you'll fly.
Ajay: Hey 'Kali' (dark girl).
(Geeta sings and dances.)
Ajay: 'Kali'? Hey 'Kali'! 'Kali'...
Bunnu: (Continues singing)...Ajay farted. 'Phus' (sound of fart)!
Ajay: Geeta, don't talk too much.
Geeta: Yes, I'll not talk much but I'll blow your brains out.
Geeta's father: Geeta give the phone. Geeta... Hey Geeta!
Geeta: Yes!
Geeta's father: Tell your mother to talk to me.
Geeta: Yes! I'll tell her in a bit.
Geeta's father: Yes! Hurry up and tell her.
(Geeta starts singing and dancing again.)
Geeta's father: Hey Shalima! Shalima?
Controller: Say, 'Thulima' (elder mother).
(Everyone laughs)
Ajay: Shalima and 'Thulima'.
Geeta's father: Hey Shalima!
Bunnu: Yes. Yes tell me what's up?
Geeta's father: Hey you! Shut up, I'll hit you in the ear.
Bunnu: Yes sure, I will get hit. I'm not saying anything... but I will get hit.
Geeta's father: Hey Bunnu, just give the phone.
Bunnu: Yes, yes what happened...?
Geeta's father: Give her the microphone.
Geeta's mother: Say fast.
Geeta's father: Why are you laughing excessively? Talk... excessively fat (unclear).
Geeta's mother: Hey Smarty.
Geeta's father: Yes!
Controller: Recognised who it is!
Geeta's mother: (Inaudible)... did you eat?
Geeta's father: You've become too fat... like a buffalo.
Geeta's mother: What?
Geeta's father: You've bloated up even more. What have you eaten?
Geeta's mother: You ate alone?
Geeta's father: You have eaten so much that you have become a buffalo. What are you talking about?
Geeta's mother: So you didn't give... and you, you've become a bull.
Geeta's father: Oh ho... You have become too much of a buffalo.
Arun: Hello? Ramesh... Ramesh? Rame...
Nirmala: Ramesh is not here.
Arun: Ramesh is not there?
Nirmala: No.
Arun: What is your name 'baini' (younger sister)?
Nirmala: Nirmala.
Arun: Huh?
Nirmala: Nirmala!
Geeta's father: What a nice name... Nirmala.
Arun: Nirmala?
Nirmala: Yes.
Arun: Okay. Are you from Bengal?
Nirmala: Yes.
Arun: Sorry?
Nirmala: What is he saying?
Geeta's father: Assam! Hey... hey...
Arun: Hello. Hello who? Recognise who it is. This is (unclear). (Laughs) hello.
Geeta: Hello big papa.
Arun: Yes my child.
Geeta: You are big papa, aren't you? Why are speaking in a girl's voice? Are you a girl?
Arun: I speak with a little voice, don't I?
Geeta: Yes. I can see you on the T.V.
Arun: I hardly know how to play act like you.
Geeta: Bunnu 'didi' (sister), Bunnu 'didi'.
(Bunnu laughs.)
Geeta: You have reached there?
Geeta's father: I study in class one... I study in class one.
Controller: Laxmi (Bunnu) why are you dancing all over the place?
Bunnu: Hello Arun 'bhaiya' (brother).
Geeta: Yes Arun 'bhaiya', how are you?
Geeta's mother: Arun 'bhaiya' is dead.
Bunnu: Hey Geeta.
Geeta: Yes. Who are you?
Controller: Hit you on the head with a shoe sole (rhyming in Hindi).
Bunnu: Bunnu!
Geeta: Bunnu? Bunnu's Sunnu.
Bunnu: Let's hear a song Geeta.
Geeta: I don't know a song.
Bunnu: Let's hear it come on.
Geeta: "Let's go sir..."
(Fades off laughing)
Geeta: (Singing) Cry, I will cry, so sad (unclear)... what happened, just tell me what happened... (Unclear) not telling what happened. Mother... (Inaudible).
Bunnu: Hey auntie. Auntie!
Controller: First smile and then later sing.
Geeta's mother: What?
Bunnu: Give the 'Pepsi'.
Geeta's mother: In this?
Aastha: Okay listen up everyone. Listen to me everyone. Only the 'didis' (elder sisters) will stay. Geeta and the rest will leave the rooms.
Aastha: These people want to talk amongst themselves. So there will be nobody in the frame. Is that okay? Okay? I'm going to point out all those who have to leave.
Geeta: Yes, all right.
Aastha: This one has to leave... leave... that one has to leave... Geeta has to leave... this one has to leave. Even I am leaving.
Controller: Come on everyone out.
Aastha: Let's go, let's go!
Bunnu: Who all need to leave?
Aastha: Aside from 'didis', everyone has to leave.
Bunnu: Do I also have to leave?
Aastha: Who 'I'?
Bunnu: Bunnu.
Aastha: Yes.
Controller: Bunnu get your cap along and come to me.
Aastha: Bunnu you leave. Give the microphone to 'didi'.
Bunnu: Which 'didi'?
Aastha: The one sitting next to you.
Bunnu: Okay her... all right.
Controller: Give her the microphone.
Geeta: Bunnu!
Bunnu: What?
Geeta: Bunnu, you go away, I'll go away too. You get out!
(Bunnu laughs.)
Geeta: Get out from here! Get out from here. Okay?
Bunnu: Hey daughter of an Englishman!
Geeta: Hey Englishman's son... I'll kick you and you'll fly...
(Fades off making sounds and gesturing).
Controller: Let's go.
Geeta: Don't feel shy...
Bunnu's mother: How many hours will this go on?
Geeta's mother: Hey Auntie!
Geeta: Hey Auntie!
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Geeta's mother: Speak up fast. I'll sleep.
Controller: Laxmi.
Bunnu: Yes?
Controller: Leave now.
Bunnu: Madam has asked me to sit.
Controller: No they did not allow you. Move from there.
Bunnu: Then they said you sit next to 'didi'.
Controller: All right then.
Geeta's mother: Speak up fast.
Bunnu's mother: I'll speak, I'll speak.
Geeta's mother: I'm getting late here.
Bunnu's mother: (Laughs) No sleep today or what?
Jamuna: What?
Geeta's mother: No.
Bunnu's mother: What?
Geeta's mother: (Yelling) Haven't!
Bunnu's mother: Talk softy.
Geeta's mother: Why don't you hear then? I've said it three times already... quickly speak.
Geeta: Bunnu!
(Bunnu waves)
Bunnu's mother: All these images of us will reach lots of places, just you see. It'll reach our village as well.
Geeta's mother: Yeah right, as if it will.
Nirmala: Hey Bunnu?
Bunnu: Yes?
Nirmala: Come here.
Bunnu: I'm coming... where?
Nirmala: To our place.
Bunnu: I'm sitting here next to 'bhauju' (sister-in-law).
Nirmala: Get 'bhauju' another 'didi'.
Jamuna: Which 'didi' do I get?
Nirmala: The one who was sitting next at the side of you, earlier on. Only her legs could be see.
Jamuna: Which 'didi'?
Nirmala: The earlier one... next to you... get her.
Geeta's mother: Hey Auntie!
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Geeta's mother: Your fan can also be seen.
Bunnu's mother: What can be seen?
Geeta's mother: Your fan.
Bunnu's mother: Yeah...
Geeta: Can you see our fan?
Nirmala: (Laughing) who is that?
Geeta: Your fan can be seen.
Jamuna: I'm scared of speaking. I don't know what to say.
Geeta: Yes?
Bunnu's mother: Our fan can be seen. Can yours be seen too?
Geeta: Can't!
Nirmala: Geeta!
Geeta: Yes! How are you?
Nirmala: Good. How are you?
Geeta: Good. I'm good.
Nirmala: What are you doing?
Geeta: I'm talking.
Nirmala: You are talking?
Nirmala: Let's hear a Nepali song.
Geeta: I've already sung a song.
Nirmala: I haven't heard it. Lets hear another one.
Geeta: "I'll cry" that one?
Nirmala: Let's hear it, lets hear it quickly.
Geeta: "I'll cry"? (Unclear)... stop... stop.
Nirmala: Not in Hindi, in Nepali.
Geeta: But I speak in Hindi.
Aastha: Bunnu. Bunnu, you are in the frame, can you move to the side?
Geeta: Okay I will.
Bunnu: Okay. Like this?
Aastha: Yes. Okay...uh...
Aastha: And... 'didi'... now... uh... this 'didi' (pointing), who is new... Right? From Nepal? How long has it been since you have arrived?
Jamuna: Two months.
Aastha: Do you know the rest of them here?
Geeta: Yes... knows, so...
Jamuna: I know the fat 'didi'.
Aastha: What?
Geeta: Yes I know.
Jamuna: I know Bunnu... you were saying...
Aastha: Okay get acquainted with the rest of the people here and... All of you have come from Nepal so...what issues and problems you face... you are new here, you have to talk about all that, okay?
Geeta: Okay.
Aastha: Geeta... Geeta where is mummy?
Geeta: Mummy is coming, coming from the outside. Ma! Ma, come fast or else it will be too late. There is someone who wants to talk to you. Okay, I'm giving her the phone.
Aastha: Okay 'didi', now you guys talk okay? We are leaving. Hey Geeta, come down. I'll get Geeta and come.
(Geeta screaming in the background.)
Geeta's mother: Say quickly... whatever one has to say.
Bunnu's mother: (Laughing) how many hours... Why don't you hold the microphone and sing a song.
Geeta's mother: What?
Bunnu's mother: Why don't you hold the microphone and sing a song... 'dichao', 'dichao'!
Geeta's mother: Yeah right... sing a song.
Geeta: Mummy! Mummy... Deepak uncle is... Deepak uncle is taking my father's name and saying 'buroh' (old man).
(Geeta starts singing and dancing.)
Bunnu: (Off-screen) they are saying only the four women should talk and share their pain and issues.
Geeta's mother: What will happen if women talk about it? Will they come and put a salve on it? Will they come to put a salve on it?
Nirmala: What visages, only in our camera! Our camera is not fine. Now we are here...
Bunnu's mother: It's going up sometimes, down sometimes.
Nirmala: (Laughing) she is saying "up sometimes, down sometimes".
Controller: Aren't you having fun going up and down?
Bunnu's mother: Why are you putting it up and down, just go down.
Controller: Aren't you having fun?
Bunnu's mother: All you do is put someone above at times and below sometimes.
Geeta's mother: As if it's any fun with women on women.
Bunnu's mother: (Laughing) yes.
Geeta's mother: Then what is he saying... he is saying, "aren't you having fun going up and down?" As if it's any fun with women on women.
Jamuna: Eventually, all we are doing is laughing and laughing.
Bunnu's mother: Everyone has been asked to leave from here.
Geeta's mother: Ajay is always itchy (Gets horny). He will not leave.
Bunnu's mother: She has gone to remove people from there.
Bunnu's mother: Who's neck?
...
Hey 'Kali' (dark girl)... will you cry? Hey chubby!
Bunnu: I will not cry 'gori' (fair girl).
Bunnu's mother: Chubby?
Nirmala: Put it from there. Take it out from there.
Nirmala: It's come.
Bunnu's mother: They asked Bunnu to leave from there.
Nirmala: Put it from there.
Bunnu's mother: All three are gone.
Nirmala: (laughing) now here.
Bunnu's mother: Sometimes here sometimes there.
Controller: Now how are you finding it 'didi'?
Bunnu's mother: God knows 'bhai' (brother)... (Laughs)
Bunnu's mother: How one should find it... All you do is put the image here or there at times.
Jamuna: Hey 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Jamuna: You had been put this side.
Controller: Shaina madam. The camera on top is also not coming on.
Bunnu's mother: What are you saying?
Jamuna: You were put on this side.
Bunnu's mother: 'Acha' (okay).
Jamuna: Now you are on that side.
Bunnu's mother: We are either here or there... in two-three places constantly.
Jamuna: Is there a banshee sitting behind you?
Bunnu's mother: Yes!
Jamuna: ...or what?
Bunnu's mother: (Laughing) yes there is.
Jamuna: I...
Bunnu's mother: Go! Bunnu this...
Geeta's mother: Give it.
Jamuna: It's not appearing here.
Off-screen voice: Take it out.
Jamuna: Do you want to sleep?
Bunnu's mother: You want to start next month right? Which Karate do you want to play?
Off-screen boy: On the 23rd.
Bunnu's mother: Let it happen. No need to play, enough.
Off-screen boy: What is the use of me playing when... (Unclear).
Bunnu's mother: God knows when these people's video will appear.
Bunnu's mother: You are not going to play forever. Play as much as you want in a day.
Ajay: Look nobody is speaking to you anyway. Give it to me. Hello! Hello! Hello 'kanchi' (Little girl).
Geeta's mother: Ajay is getting itchy (Getting horny).
Off-screen boy: (Laughing) Leave it, leave it. Auntie. Auntie?
Geeta's mother: What?
Off-screen boy: Don't you know how to speak anything else? 'Charini' (Horny woman)!
Geeta's mother: 'Charah' (Dirty boy).
Off-screen boy: Auntie?
Ajay: 'Charini'!
Geeta's mother: 'Charah'!
Off-screen boy: What happened is it hurting?
Ajay: 'Charini'!
Off-screen boy: Leave it, leave it.
Geeta's mother: Yes it's hurting. Come over here?
Ajay: Okay, I'm going to sing a song. It's called 'yaaaaeee'.
(Baby makes a noise.)
Ajay: Hey who said that?
Geeta's mother: You sound like you are going to start begging.
Ajay: 'Allah ke naam pe deyde' (Give in the name of the lord).
Off-screen boy: You seem to have put a nice friend to sleep on the bed there.
Geeta's mother: What?
Ajay: Both of you look like a good match.
Off-screen boy: Look at what she is doing with her leg.
(Boys laugh.)
Ajay: Look with her fist... Ram, ram! Telling you, you, you.
Geeta's mother: (Taunting) Yeah... Say, say, say!
Ajay: Not you.
Geeta's mother: Say, say, say.
Ajay: What to say?
Geeta's mother: Weren't you saying, "Ram, ram"?
Ajay: Not you. Someone else.
Geeta's mother: Then?
Off-screen boy: To the Auntie beside.
Ajay: Sing a song now.
Off-screen boy: Auntie!
Geeta's mother: Yes?
Off-screen boy: The other Auntie... the Auntie digging her nose.
Jamuna: Me?
Off-screen boy: Yes!
Jamuna: Why did you call me?
Ajay: Talk. Talk amongst yourselves.
Bunnu's mother: Those people have not yet appeared. Only when all four appear, will we talk.
Ajay: 'Woh lamhe', sing that song.
Bunnu's mother: Why will he not go? Find him a job then we'll see if he goes or doesn't go.
Jamuna: For whom?
Bunnu's mother: Find him a job, then we'll see if he goes or not.
Jamuna: Hey 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: If he doesn't go I'll give him a solid kicking. Find him a job.
Jamuna: Hey 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: What will he do for two months? How will he buy the books? Where is grandpa's money?
Jamuna: Hey Bunnu's mother.
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Jamuna: Who are you saying should get a job?
Bunnu's mother: What?
Jamuna: Who are you saying should get a job?
Bunnu's mother: Ajay should.
Jamuna: I see. Who is Ajay?
Bunnu's mother: Our son.
Jamuna: I see.
Off-screen boy: This guy wearing the red t-shirt.
Geeta's mother: The adolescent one.
Ajay: Yes, you were referring to? 'Woh lamhe'... must sing that song.
Bunnu's mother: When does this get over? Those people's video is not even appearing.
Jamuna: I'm getting completely fed up.
Bunnu's mother: Yeah...
Geeta's mother: Lets go to sleep.
Bunnu's mother: Yes look at the watch. Have to leave for work at four thirty, and their charade is still going on. Neither is anyone one of them coming. They should just hurry up and put it on.
Jamuna: They were saying two o'clock and it's already three, four o'clock.
Bunnu's mother: That's what!
Geeta's mother: It's already four o'clock...
Ajay: Or they should have started early in the morning.
Off-screen boy: What else?
Ajay: Yesterday...no. If they had done it on Sunday, everyone has a holiday on Sunday.
(Ajay clears his voice and starts singing 'Woh Lamhe'.)
Ajay: What? I'm saying Tuesday is not a holiday.
Bunnu's mother: There is far more work on Sundays. Whose?
Ajay: Ramesh sir... (Unclear).
Bunnu's mother: Keep hanging on to the bottle, you.
Geeta's mother: Got to fill water.
Bunnu's mother: God knows how much water you need. You're bloated by drinking water.
Geeta's mother: Hahaha, got to fill water.
Bunnu's mother: Are you going to drink water while talking? Haha.
Geeta's mother: I said I need to fill water!
Bunnu's mother: Heh!
Off-screen voice: Where's Geeta's house?
Jamuna: Right here?
Ajay: Oh oh, why so thirsty? Where've they gone?
Ajay: 'Kali'! 'Kali'...
Ajay: [bowing] Ram Ram!
Rahul's mother: Auntie, who are these... arrived?
Ajay: Who is it?
Rahul's mother: Look, look.
Ajay: Who, this?
Rahul's mother: No no these, look, look.
Jamuna: Is this the one who is called Ramesh? The one wearing the red vest?
Bunnu's mother: Oh, they're connecting them.
Ramesh's wife: Hello. Hello.
Bunnu's mother: Now get out.
Nirmala: Hello.
Bunnu's mother: Hello.
Nirmala: We have come back. Our camera got damaged.
Jamuna: The wire was not damaged was it?
Nirmala: No, now it's fine.
Nirmala: She is not letting me sit. Here, you sit. (laughs) she will protest. She wants only that.
Bunnu's mother: These people's camera itself is malfunctioning all the time, what?
Nirmala: What to do Auntie? Here our...
Bunnu's mother: Tell them to do it properly. Tell them to hurry up.
Nirmala: Okay, okay.
Bunnu's mother: Damn!
Nirmala: What is the hurry? It is such a nice T.V and everyone is going to watch you.
Bunnu's mother: Yes, yes... we don't have to go to work right? Just keep staring, right? Staring at each other and sit here all day.
Bunnu's mother: Has Aastha gone?
Nirmala: What?
Bunnu's mother: Has Aastha reached the office?
Nirmala: How should I know? What's the name of that elder sister up there?
Bunnu's mother: That elder sister up there?
Nirmala: Yeah.
Bunnu's mother: Dunno. Hey elder sister sitting up there, what's your name?
Jamuna: Whose name did you say?
Bunnu's mother: Your name.
Jamuna: Mine?
Bunnnu's mother: Yeah.
Jamuna: My name's Jamuna.
Bunnu's mother: Jamuna.
Nirmala: (Echoing) Jamuna...
Bunnu's mother: Has it started, the time for conversation?
Controller: Recording's started; now all of you may talk with each other.
Bunnu's mother: And what are we supposed to do with these people sitting around here?
Nirmala: They say we should chase them off.
Bunnu's mother: They won't buzz off, what can we do?
Nirmala: You see him sitting behind you? They're saying, send that brother outside.
Bunnu's mother: They're saying you should go out.
Suresh: Achha (okay).
Controller: Hey elder sister?
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Controller: Look at the camera, the camera.
Bunnu's mother: What else are we going to look at then?
Controller: Everyone should look at the camera and talk.
Bunnu's mother: Look at the camera and converse?
Controller: No, look at the camera and converse. Don't pray to it.
Bunnu's mother: The camera or the television screen?
Controller: Do you see the camera up there?
Bunnu's mother: Yeah.
Controller: That's what you should look at.
Bunnu's mother: Right. Hey, 'Kanchhi'.
Geeta's mother: What!!
Bunnu's mother: They say to look at the camera and talk.
Geeta's mother: Do they want us to light incense too?
Bunnu's mother: [Laughs] they say look up and talk, towards the camera.
Geeta's mother: Tell them the incense stick hasn't got a hard-on as yet.
Bunnu's mother: Hey Jamuna.
Jamuna: Yes?
Bunnu's mother: Look up and talk at the camera, they say.
Jamuna: Oh.
Bunnu's mother: See the camera fitted on the television?
Jamuna: Yeah.
Bunnu's mother: That's what you're supposed to look at and talk.
Jamuna: Oh, okay.
Bunnu's mother: [Laughing] right, let's start.
Jamuna: How to start, not a word comes to my mind.
Bunnu's mother: Start, start [laughs].
Geeta's mother: Say what rice you ate, what vegetables you ate, how you ate it, how you crapped it out and tell it all.
Jamuna: Oh, that's what I should say?
Kanchhi: That's right.
Bunnu's mother: [Laughing] whatever you have to say, speak up fast. Hey witches hurry up and speak.
Nirmala: You mustn't say such things, only nice, nice things.
Bunnu's mother: Huh?
Nirmala: Only nice things.
Bunnu's mother: Says who?
Nirmala: I say. We can't utter the things that you all say.
Bunnu's mother: Who says not to speak like that?
NIrmala: I say.
Bunnu's mother: Right. But why not? They won't understand. We can say what we like?
Nirmala: [Giggles] but then again, we can't reply in the same manner.
Bunnu's mother: Why not?
Jamuna: 'Didi'. Listen here, sister.
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Jamuna: Listen up; this is what they want us to say.
Bunnu's mother: Yeah.
Jamuna: Each of us has to introduce herself. And then we're supposed to talk about our joys and sorrows.
Bunnu's mother: Talk about our sufferings, eh?
Jamuna: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: How are we supposed to speak about it?
Jamuna: [Interrupts] I don't know how, no words come to me.
Bunnu's mother: Say I came to Delhi in such and such year, the different jobs we worked at, the different places we stayed at, tell all...
Jamuna: Yeah.
Bunnu's mother: [Continuing] ...how we lived when we first came to Delhi. How we suffered. Those things.
Jamuna: First of all I suppose, our names are our introductions.
Bunnu's mother: [Shouting] she's forbidden you, Astha didi has. Your mummy's no more, she's dead! Now, now... don't know where Geeta's mummy gone off too, she keeps going off.
Rahul's mother: She's here, gone to fill the bottle with water.
Jamuna: Didi?
Bunnu's mother: Yeah
Jamuna: One of them's sleeping.
Bunnu's mother: That woman, she's just like that, the demoness [laughs].
Rahul's mother: Oh Auntie?
Bunnu's mother: What's up?
Rahul's mother: [Sitting up] what things are you saying!
Bunnu's mother: Sleeping like a demoness are you? Spreading your legs! I'll...
Jamuna: We're talking in OUR language, not in yours. We're saying nice things about you.
Rahul's mother: Auntie, auntie!
Bunnu's mother and Jamuna: Yeah?
Rahul's mother: Who're you calling a demoness?
Bunnu's mother: The beauty, of course.
Rahul's mother: Beauty? I'm beautiful?
Bunnu's mother and Jamuna simultaneously: Yeah, you're beautiful, you're nice.
Rahul's mother: Huh?
Jamuna: You're pretty.
Rahul's mother: You're going to heap all the bad things on to me? By talking in Nepali?
Jamuna: Yeah.
Jamuna: You know, in our Nepali language, it's polite to call someone a demoness.
Rahul's mother: I see.
Geeta: I want to speak. I want to speak.
Geeta: Hello.
Nirmala: What's happening?
Nirmala: Jamuna 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: They are irritating me... What?
Jamuna: Hello.
Bunnu's mother: and Jamuna: What?
Nirmala: Tell us about yourself.
Jamuna: About myself?
Bunnu's mother: [Exasperated] she won't listen, what am I to do?
Geeta: Rahul's mummy, Rahul's mummy, pick it up. I want to speak to you.
Ajay: Hey!
Bunnu's mother: What did Aastha didi say? Didn't she say everyone is to go outside? Then go to your own house, not here. You also go.
Ajay: Miss ram, ram!
Jamuna: About myself... My home is over there... my husband is from there itself.
Bunnu's mother: My home is in Jalpaiguri. From Jalpaiguri I came to Delhi.
Nirmala: Whose home is in Jalpaiguri?
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: Your home is in Jalpaiguri?
Bunnu's mother: Yes! My home is in Jalpaiguri. Jaipur (?) Tea Garden, West Bengal.
Nirmala: You are from Bengal?
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Jamuna: Where is your home?
Nirmala: Our home is also in Bengal.
Jamuna: Which place?
Nirmala: In the Jalpaiguri District.
Jamuna: Okay but which place in the Jalpaiguri District.
Nirmala: What?
Jamuna: Which place?
Nirmala: G.T. Tea (?) Garden.
Jamuna: What?
Nirmala: G.T. Tea (?) Garden.
Jamuna: I see. In my case, my parent's home is in Ashabari. Washabari Tea Estate and my in-law's home is in Deopara Tea Esate.
Geeta: Hello big mummy.
Bunnu's mother: Yes child.
Geeta: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Nirmala: Hey Geeta.
Geeta: Yes. How are you? Are you fine?
Nirmala: You don't sit inside. Go outside.
Geeta: Why?
Nirmala: Children are not allowed. You mother is shutting your mouth.
Geeta: Yes. I had gone to your house...
Jamuna: Hey 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Geeta: Yes I'm fine.
Jamuna: I'm about to break into a fever, what is this.
Geeta: Bunnu!
Bunnu: Yes!
Bunnu's mother: One can't speak anyway, with all these children squawking around.
Jamuna: God knows for how long.
Bunnu's mother: Yeah.
Jamuna: I'm feeling fed up of this.
Bunnu's mother: What?
Jamuna: I'm fed up.
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Jamuna: Could have slept for some time.
Bunnu's mother: Ask Geeta's mother's household. Those guys don't speak. They sit there in a trance.
Nirmala: We try to talk to Geeta's mummy but she never listens.
Jamuna: Hey Geeta's mummy. Now Geeta's mummy can't hear us.
Bunnu's mother: Hey Geeta's mummy!
Geeta's mother: Here talk.
Geeta: What?
Bunnu's mother: Give it to your mother!
Geeta's mother: Say my mummy has fever.
Geeta: My mother has fever.
Nirmala: Call the doctor home.
Geeta: We don't have money itself, how do we get?
Nirmala: There is a big safe there. Tell them to take it out from there.
Geeta's mother: Say we'll not take from the safe out right now.
Geeta: We will not take from the safe out right now...
Geeta: now say, why have you stopped?
Nirmala: Let us talk to your mother.
Bunnu's mother: We don't want to talk to you. We want to talk to mummy.
Geeta's mother: Tell them mummy will talk now. Listen.
Geeta: Mummy will talk now, listen.
Geeta's mother: She is listening.
Geeta: Mummy is listening.
Nirmala: Let us talk to Mummy.
Geeta: What? I don't want you to talk to mummy.
Suresh: I'll stand like Auntie's bodyguard here. I'm your bodyguard.
Bunnu's mother: You guys stop joking... doing such non-sense. Look at this... with the bamboo. Unnecessary... Aastha will just get angry.
Geeta's mother: Who is it?
Geeta: Who is that?
Suresh: Your grandpa.
Geeta: Who had come?
Bunnu's mother: Okay talk fast.
Nirmala: We are talking.
Bunnu's mother: I'm good. Give it to Ramesh wife.
Ramesh's wife: What to chat about?
Bunnu's mother: 'Ghanta' (balls).
Geeta: Give it to your child for a second... the microphone. I want to talk to your child.
Bunnu's mother: Talk about where you have come from.
(Laughter in unison.)
Jamuna: Hey 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Jamuna: We have become old sitting here but our introduction is happening now.
Bunnu's mother: Even after becoming old, we are becoming new now.
Ramesh's wife: That's what. Now talk!
Bunnu's mother: Here we are the only ones continuously talking.
Jamuna: What to say?
Ramesh's wife: We don't know what to say either.
Jamuna: Not a word comes to my mind.
Bunnu's mother: Say, "I'm newly arrived in Delhi. I don't know how to speak in Hindi. I have to speak in Nepali". Say stuff like that.
Jamuna: It's hardly been 15 days since I arrived in Delhi. It'll be a month this Sunday.
Bunnu's mother: What all you ate after coming to Delhi. All the kinds of places you lived in.
Jamuna: I've been to Delhi before.
Bunnu's mother: What kind of places did you share your joys and sufferings... Tata (elder-sister)!
Jamuna: Before, I came to Gurudwara, New Friend's Colony.
Bunnu's mother: And then, from there where did you go?
Jamuna: From there, Malviya Nagar. That... what?
Bunnu's mother: Khirki Gaon!
Jamuna: I've reached Khirki Gaon, see. I've never even heard of this 'gaon' (village).
Bunnu's mother: Where all did you work. Say everything (laughs).
Jamuna: What are they doing? Taking so much time.
Bunnu's mother: We have to talk and then they'll come and take it.
Nirmala: We talk here and they are recording there.
Jamuna: What?
Geeta's mother: First you people finish talking and only then will I talk.
Bunnu's mother: Then do so.
Nirmala: Keep talking, they are recording there.
Geeta's mother: First you talk... like the two of you were doing so.
Bunnu's mother: So talk the two of you.
Nirmala: 'Bhauju' doesn't know how to speak much.
Jamuna: Oh, I don't know?
Geeta's mother: Why? Didn't she learn?
Nirmala: She feels shy so...
Geeta's mother: What?
Nirmala: She feels shy to talk.
Geeta's mother: She feels shy?
Nirmala: She feels shy!
Jamuna: No, this thing... has this thing of ours started or not?
Bunnu's mother: It has! That is why I'm telling you to speak up!
Jamuna: I see. It's started?
Bunnu's mother: Yes, it started long time ago.
Geeta's mother: Shyness... you need to leave shyness outside and come in.
Bunnu's mother: Where outside?
Geeta's mother: There... near the 'mandir' (temple).
Ramesh's wife: She hasn't even seen the 'mandir' yet where will she leave it?
Geeta's mother: Throw shame near 'Sai Baba's Mandir' and come.
Jamuna: I see. Well one does feel shy, initially.
Ramesh's wife: You'll forget it soon. Just arrived in Delhi...
Jamuna: I've known the ongoing in Delhi before as well, but still...
Ramesh's wife: I have no clue. I've just arrived...
Geeta's mother: We too are newly arrived people.
Jamuna: You guys have been here for a number of days then.
Ramesh's wife: You were the first to come and stay here.
Geeta's mother: We arrived just few days back... by a few days I mean eight years, just few days back.
Jamuna: I... I've been here before. But my husband arrived a few days back.
Geeta's mother: Whereas we arrived a few days back, but it's been eight years.
Jamuna: Oh it's been eight years? 'Ambo' (My god).
Bunnu's mother: For the first year we stayed in the Sainik Farm. From Sainik Farm we went to Pancheel and then from Pancheel we came to Khirki Gaon.
Jamuna: I see. I don't know what to talk about now.
Bunnu's mother: What should we talk about now?
Nirmala: Talk about yourselves now.
Jamuna and Bunnu's mother: About myself?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: What should I say about myself? I don't remember anything, about myself.
Parallel conversations:
(Conversation between Nirmala and Jamuna)
Nirmala: Just like you came from Nepal to India.
Jamuna: Me?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: The last time... what date was it? It was the 19th.
Nirmala: Only one person can talk.
Jamuna: What?
Nirmala: First Jamuna will speak. What?
(Conversation between Bunnu's mother and Geeta's mother)
Geeta's mother: Auntie?
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Geeta's mother: We are to speak about all the trouble our landlord gives us. All that he says and does, we are to talk about that.
Bunnu's mother: Who says so?
Geeta's mother: The 'didi' is sitting here.
Bunnu's mother: All that the landlord does?
Geeta's mother: Yes. He troubles us, accuses us of all kinds of things, all that we are to speak about.
Bunn's mother: What else does the landlord do? He take 800 rupees as rent. Doesn't clean the drain when it is full. Doesn't give us electricity. There is no toilet or bathroom. What else to do?
Rahul's mother: There is the bathroom tension, the water tension, but the landlord is only bothered with taking the rent.
Bunnu's mother: Who told you?
Geeta's mother: Aastha 'didi' had come. She left. She is probably coming to your room now. Hurry up and talk!
Nirmala: You talk first.
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala:' Chema' (mother's-sister) will talk first.
Bunnu's mother: So talk.
Nirmala: 'Chema' you speak first.
Bunnu's mother: See, I'm speaking.
Nirmala: You get out of there.
Bunnu's mother: What all does the landlord do. Doesn't give electricity. Doesn't give a toilet... (Laughs). What?
Jamuna: To whom?
Bunnu's mother: What are you saying?
Geeta's mother: They're telling Ajay. Ajay's come to make love to me.
Ajay: Don't talk too much!
Bunny's mother: Then what is Ajay doing there amongst females?
Geeta's mother: He says he is going to make love right now, in the afternoon. I told him to come at night.
Jamuna: Even I've got someone next to me. Has just came and sat down.
Bunnu's mother: Who? Ritwik?
Jamuna: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: Ritwik will make love to me. He was saying so sometimes back.
Jamuna: Is that so?
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Jamuna: In that case you would be my granddaughter-in-law.
Bunnu's mother: Yes. Tell Ritwik.
Girl in blue: [Bowing] namaste, namaste.
Geeta's mother: 'Ham nahin samjhte' (We don't understand).
Girl in blue: [Bowing] namaste, namaste.
Bunnu's mother: Now where's Aastha gone to? How many hours is this going to go on?
Nirmala: Two hours.
Geeta's mother: I didn't ask.
Bunnu's mother: Huh?
Nirmala: Two hours.
Bunnu's mother: How much are we supposed to talk in two hours?
Ramesh's wife: Talk then. We haven't talked at all.
Nirmala: In two hours totally we are supposed to talk about what has or hasn't happened with all of you. That kind of talk... your situation. Like a story.
Bunnu's mother: What?
Jamuna: Your voice is not being heard.
Geeta's mother: Expand your vocal cords and speak.
Bunnu's mother: Talk properly. Can't hear.
Nirmala: I can't talk louder than this.
Bunnu's mother: Talk louder (laughs).
Nirmala: Now if I talk like this, 'hooooo' only then will you oeople hear me.
Geeta's mother: Put force into it. Force!
Nirmala: What?
Geeta's mother: Say it doing 'joor lagayera haisa' (Put force and heave a sigh).
Nirmala: (Laughs) Perhaps one thing I can say doing 'joor lagayera haisa' and then the rest?
Bunnu's mother: Talk slowly.
Geeta's mother: Only then will the sound come out.
Bunnu's mother: Talk slowly and the sound will travel to the office.
Nirmala: If you listen slowly... slowly, then maybe it will be good for you.
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Geeta's mother: Okay.
Bunnu's mother: So then 'Kancchi' your face looks so big, look (laughs).
Nirmala: Say, say. Auntie you say first.
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: You talk about yourself first.
Bunnu's mother: I spoke about myself already.
Nirmala: That's all?
Bunnu's mother: What else to say?
Nirmala: You came from Nepal to India.
Bunnu's mother: Came to India.
Nirmala: Came to India. How and what things happened in Delhi. All those things you have to say.
Bunnu's mother: What happened when we came to India? After coming to India we came to Delhi. After Delhi we came here. Here we had two kids.
Nirmala: What is the person behind saying?
Bunnu's mother: I don't know what the person behind is saying.
Nirmala: Say, say.
Bunnu's mother: I said! Had two kids! Became old staying in Delhi and what else to say?
Nirmala: Talk about joys and sufferings.
Bunnu's mother: What to say on joys and sufferings?
Nirmala: You video will come on T.V.
Bunnu's mother: What about joys and sufferings.? When we came to Delhi we didn't have plates, then we accumalated, we bought vessels for cooking, bought buckets, together as husband and wife. What else to do?
Nirmala: Your... (Unclear).
Bunnu's mother: Together as husband and wife we worked, collected household goods. We faced hardship, and now we are living comfortably in Delhi. So what else to say?
Nirmala: Done?
Geeta's mother: Before she used to eat rice in silver and now she eats rice in gold.
Jamuna: It was before one used to eat rice in gold, right? In Nepal.
Geeta's mother: Used to eat rice in silver before and now eats rice in gold. Due to sufferings before, use to eat rice in sliver and now due to comfort, she eats rice in gold.
Jamuna: Oh due to suffering now?
Geeta's mother: Yes.
Jamuna: Well we are still eating rice in silver, here.
Bunnu's mother: Tell that Astha to hurry up. It's time to go for work.
(Together)
Geeta's mother: Ritwik has come here to make love to me.
Nirmala: This is not Astha ma'am's work now.
Bunnu's mother: What?
(Together)
Geeta's mother: Ritwik has come here to make love to me.
Nirmala: This is not Astha ma'am's work now.
Bunnu's mother: What did you say?
Nirmala: This is not Astha madam's work. Shaina madam is working this.
Bunnu's mother: Diana?
Nirmala: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: Diana ma'am has come again?
Nirmala: Yes. Shaina ma'am just arrived.
Bunnu's mother: Shaina... okay.
Jamuna: Have to go to work 'didi'. Hurry up and say.
Bunnu's mother: Hurry up and talk then (laughs).
Nirmala: What do you want to talk about?
Jamuna: What to talk about?
Nirmala: I too have been here for a year... how much? It's been a year and two months.
Bunnu's mother: Okay.
Jamuna: One year, two months?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: Since I've come, it's been just 22 days.
Nirmala: 22 days?
Jamuna: Yes.
Nirmala: Initially I used to stay in Gurgaon.
Bunnu's mother: Yeah.
Jamuna: At Gurgaon?
Nirmala: Yes. It's been six months since I arrived at... Malviya Nagar. It's been six months. In the last six months our life is going smoothly. What else to say?
Jamuna: It been 15 days since I arrived. But it's been two months since my husband came.
Jamuna: Didn't feel like coming but still... had to come... thinking about the difficulties in the village. What to do... one doesn't feel like coming by leaving one's village, one's home.
Nirmala: That's what.
Jamuna: You don't feel like coming. But still you have to come.
Nirmala: Well it's best to share your joys and sufferings with your husband itself.
Jamuna: I like the village itself. With or without the joys and sufferings. However it maybe. I don't like it here.
Nirmala: Do you have children?
Jamuna: This is someone else's village. Someone else's country. Your village is your own.
Nirmala: (Softly) What am I to say 'bhauju' (sister-in-law)... these people don't say anything. See 'Chema', she is playing with something.
Jamuna: So? Where is your home?
Nirmala: My home is in Jalpaiguri.
Jamuna: Jalpaiguri?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: How many years has it been since you have come here?
Nirmala: Coming here... it's been one year two months.
Jamuna: I see. We will go back during 'Dasai' (Festival). I will not come back. Only my husband will.
Nirmala: We will probably go back in December.
Jamuna: In December? I see.
Bunnu's mother: (Laughing) When will Geeta's mother go back home?
Geeta's mother: When the cat grows horns.
Jamuna: When will the cat grow horns?
Geeta's mother: We'll have to see when it grows and then I'll go.
Bunnu's mother: So when are you going home?
Geeta's mother: Who?
Bunnu's mother: You.
Geeta's mother: Next year.
Bunnu's mother: Where is everyone else? Hurry up, speak, shut the T.V and let's go.
Geeta's mother: Talk fast!
Nirmala: What to say?
Bunnu's mother: Now what to say? Enough now tell them it's enough. How much do you want to speak now?
Geeta's mother: Okay then. Come on now. Shut the T.V and everybody gets down to their work.
Jamuna: It's almost time to go for work.
Bunnu's mother: Tell them to shut it. It's over.
Nirmala: Who do I tell? There is nobody up there.
Bunnu's mother: Then? What should we leave it all here and go for work (laughs)?
Geeta's mother: Should I leave it and go? You'll be able to see even if a thief breaks in (laughs). You'll see all that he steals.
Bunnu's mother: Don't do it! Hitting with the stick! What kind of creature this Ajay is! Aastha will yell, you know. What?
Nirmala: Who is that person showing the stick?
Bunnu's mother: Ajay.
Nirmala: Ajay! If you come again you'll get a thrashing.
Jamuna: What?
Nirmala: If you come in the middle, you'll get a thrashing. Don't you feel embarrassed coming in between women?
Ajay: You are all my 'bhaujus', and Aunties here.
Nirmala: The women are speaking here and he is dropping in.
Bunnu's mother: Yes let him speak.
Jamuna: Doesn't he feel ashamed?
Nirmala: Yes... apparently he doesn't.
Bunnu's mother: He lives amongst women, how will he feel ashamed?
Jamuna: I feel very lazy.
Bunnu's mother: Why?
Jamuna: I don't know why. I just don't like it.
Bunnu's mother: (Laughs) If you feel lazy, just keep sleeping. Geeta's mother is feeling really sleepy and her eyes are closing. For a person who sleeps and wakes at six o' clock, she is completely haywired.
Geeta's mother: I have so much work left to do.
Bunnu's mother: Do you know our T.V video is going to your Nepal and your mother will say,'"my daughter" and watch it.
Jamuna: You know this video which we are talking in, god knows where all it might reach. I don't think we'll see it even.
Bunnu's mother: What else. We have to tell them to show it in our respective villages.
Jamuna: Have no clue what this head is going to look like.
Geeta's mother: What if we end up looking scary like ghosts then the people who are watching will also run away.
Bunnu's mother: You know how they show it in 'Phauji' (a serial), talking like this? Thats how they might show us.
Jamuna: This is like taking our interview.
Nirmala: What?
Jamuna: It's like taking our interview.
Nirmala: That's how it is.
Bunnu's mother: We are giving interviews. How many years it's been since we've come to Delhi? It's been sixteen years since we arrived in Delhi.
Jamuna: Even if people praise Delhi, but Delhi is a horrid place.
Bunnu's mother: Yes. Delhi is not a nice place.
Jamuna: A very filthy place. It's not a nice place.
Nirmala: Well just the way the village is... Delhi is not going to be like the village.
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Jamuna: It used to be good in the village. We'd go to pick leaves, to do 'typing' (jokingly). Here you just stay at home, eat and sleep.
Bunnu's mother: Well here we go to use the computer.
Jamuna: (Laughing) Yes?
Bunnu's mother: (Jokingly) back in the village you'd do 'typing', here the computer.
Jamuna: Here the computer is used.
Nirmala: In Nepal you used to work in the tea gardens? Towards the Siliguri side?
Bunnu's mother and Jamuna: What?
Nirmala: Your house is towards the Siliguri side?
Bunnu's mother: My house is Jalpaiguri, West Bengal!
Nirmala: Not yours.
Bunnu's mother: Whose?
Nirmala: Jamuna 'didi's'.
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: That Jamuna 'didi's'.
Bunnu's mother: Jamuna 'didi's'?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: Oh my home? It's Jalpaiguri only. From Jalpaiguri...
Nirmala: Yes.
Juman: ...the fare is twenty rupees. It takes me twenty rupees from Siliguri.
Nirmala: Oh towards the Darjeeling side?
Jamuna: Yes.
Nirmala: The tea gardens there?
Jamuna: That's towards the Darjeeling side.
Nirmala: Even we are from there.
Jamuna: 'Wasabari'.
Nirmal: 'Wasbari?'
Bunnu's mother: (Laughs) ask Geeta's mother about her home.
Nirmala: What?
Bunnu's mother: Ask Geeta's mother about her home.
Nirmala: I'll ask her in a bit.
Bunnu's mother: Now talk to Geeta's mother. You can't just speak to us.
Nirmala: 'Chema'.
Jamuna: Geeta's mother is so sleepy; don't know how she feels.
Bunnu's mother: Ask here where her village is. To Geeta's mother.
Nirmala: 'Chema'
Geeta's mother: Speak.
Nirmala: Where is your home?
Geeta's mother: My home is in Nepal.
Nirmala: In Nepal?
Geeta's mother: Yes.
Nirmala: In which place is it?
Geeta's mother: What?
Nirmala: Which place is it in?
Geeta's mother: Kakarbhitta.
Jamuna: You know in Kakarbhitta...
Geeta's mother: Yeah...
Nirmala: You are Meenu's own 'Chema'?
Geeta's mother: Yes. Meenu is my 'maili didi's' (second eldest sister's) daughter.
Nirmala: I see.
Bunnu's mother: She is Meeu's 'sautini ama' (step-mother).
Nirmala: I had a friend there... In case we go home and then to Nepal someday, we'll visit you.
Geeta's mother: Yes.
Jamuna: There are loads in Nepal. You should come. There are lots of Nepalis. You should come.
Nirmala: My husband is also from Nepal.
Jamuna: From Nepal?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: I see.
Geeta's mother: Which place?
Nirmala: Dading.
Geeta's mother: What?
Nirmala: Is in Dading.
Geeta's mother: Dading?
Nirmala: Yes.
Geeta's mother: Dading takes a number of days to reach from our place. It takes two days.
Nirmala: Yes. You are towards the Hiteuda side.
Geeta's mother: Hiteu... Yes.
Bunnu's mother: Did you marriage happen through love?
Nirmala: Yes?
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: It was a love-marriage wedding?
Nirmala: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: Even ours happened like that. (Laughs) Only these two got married otherwise. That is why they have put the love-marriage ones on top of each other and the otherwise-married ones on top of each other.
Jamuna: Hey 'didi'.
Bunnu's mother: Yes?
Jamuna: The 'didi' wearing the black 'chunni' (stole) is probably not a Nepali.
Bunnu's mother: No she isn't.
Nirmala: Me?
Jamuna: Yes.
Nirmala: Yes, I am not a Nepali.
Jamuna: Don't think so... only speaks Hindi. Speaks Nepali uncomfortably.
Nirmala: I said it properly, I cannot speak Nepali.
Jamuna: Oh, why? Staying in Delhi, have you forgotten you own language?
Nirmala: No because I am not a Nepali, which is why I cannot speak Nepali.
Jamuna: I see.
Bunnu's mother: Then what 'jaat' (race) are you?
Nirmala: What?
Bunnu's mother: What 'jaat' are you?
Nirmala: There are no 'jaats' here which is like that.
Bunnu's mother: But what are you? 'Adivasi' (tribal), 'Madesi' (plainsman), Bihari or what are you?
Nirmala: We are 'Munda'.
Bunnu's mother: I see.
Jamuna: Oh you are 'Adivasi'?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: Oh, seems you can speak a bit of Nepali.
Geeta's mother: Shouldn't she be able to, considering she is a Nepali's wife?
Jamuna: I see.
Nirmala: Even our 'bhauju' is Nepali.
Jamuna: We are Nepalis.
Nirmala: I know.
Geeta's mother: We are completely Nepali from top to the bottom.
Nirmala: From your faces itself one can make out you are Nepali.
Jamuna: Oh what?
Nirmala: Looking at your faces, one can make out that you are Nepali.
Jamuna: Well, mostly one can recognise us with this. Right?
Nirmala: But in Delhi not everyone wears it.
Jamuna: I wear it.
Nirmala: 'Chema' hasn't worn one.
Geeta's mother: I have put it on.
Bunnu's mother: So have I.
Nirmala: Only today you've put it on.
Bunnu's mother: I always have it on.
Geeta's mother: I always have it on as well.
Bunnu's mother: I wear only the 'sindur' (verimilion) at times.
Jamuna: For Nepalis this is the 'mangalsutra' (symbolic necklace wore by Hindu women after marriage).
In unison: Yes.
Bunnu's mother: That too without gold.
(Laughter in unison.)
Bunnu's mother: Here the 'mangalsutra' are with gold. In the village, the 'mangalsutra' is without gold.
Nirmala: Okay I'm done talking. Talk to 'bhauju'.
Bunnu's mother: Okay give.
Ramesh's wife: So why haven't you worn gold after coming to Delhi?
Bunnu's mother: If 'buro' (husbands) gave us, only then we'd be able to wear. 'Buro' doesn't give us, how are we to wear one?
Geeta's mother: But 'Buro' has given a very big gold. He has keep it. It is too big.
(Laughter in unison.)
Bunnu's mother: If 'buro' earned enough only then can one wear gold.
Geeta's mother: What if that too is stolen?
Bunnu's mother: Who will take it?
Geeta's mother: He has hidden it like this...
Ramesh's wife: If they take it then let them take it. It's all good if they take it.
Geeta's mother: How is it good if they take it?
Jamuna: Whatever... let them take it if they have to.
Bunnu's mother: Nobody will take 'buro's' gold. They won't be able to.
Ramesh's wife: Someone might be able to. How does one know?
Bunnu's mother: They can't.
Ramesh's wife: Will be able to.
Bunnu's mother: Even if someone takes it, at night it'll only come back to you.
(Laughter in unison.)
Ramesh's wife: What if someone takes it with the 'buro'?
Bunnu's mother: Won't take it, won't take it.
Geeta's mother: They'll take it for the afternoon and it'll come back at night.
Ramesh's wife: What if they take it along with the 'buro'?
Bunnu's mother: What can you do then? Those who have to take it will take it.
Geeta's mother: Tell them cut just that off and leave the 'buro'.
Jamuna: In that case, 'buro' will have to head towards heaven.
Geeta's mother: What will happen? He will just grow another one.
Bunnu's mother:(Laughter) they will take this video to a Nepali village and they'll say, "oh look at the Nepalis".
Geeta's mother: Whereas they have nothing else to say apart from vulgarisms.
Bunnu's mother: Before she left Astha told me to say there is no salt nor is there oil in the house.
Ramesh's wife: Oh?
Jamuna: So how many people are there in your house?
Ramesh's wife: Who are you asking?
Jamuna: You.
Ramesh's wife: In my house there or here?
Jamuna: Back in the village.
Ramesh's wife: Only four of us.
Jamuna: Okay. Who all?
Ramesh's wife: Eh... My in-laws, us, husband and wife, who else. Nobody.
Jamuna: I see.
Nirmala: Two daughters.
Ramesh's wife: Two daughters.
Jamuna: Me too.
Bunnu's mother: Six in total.
Ramesh's wife: It's become six people.
Bunnu's mother: We don't have in-laws. They have gone up to get salt (dead).
Jamuna: Your in-laws have gone to plant the millet (dead). In our house, there is my mother-in-law and father-in-law, two 'amajus' (husband's elder sister) and... Three 'amajus' and three children and the two of us. In my own house, two mothers, one father and eight sisters.
Bunnu's mother: You can obviously have just one father, not four.
(Laughter in unison)
Bunnu's mother: Everyone can just have one father, not four obviously.
Jamuna: We are eight sisters. I am the youngest. I have a twin.
Bunnu's mother: I have two 'jethajus' (husband's elder brother).
Ramesh's wife: Yes.
Bunn's mother: One 'Nanda' (husband's younger sister), one 'amaju'.
Ramesh's wife: How many...
Bunnu's mother: Four people... we are a family of four to eight people.
Ramesh's wife: Tell us about here itself. You don't got to Nepal, what will you have to say about Nepal?
Bunnu's mother: Of course we'll go to Nepal. Why not? We've bought our own house and land there. We're going.
Jamuna: Listen to me, why should one leave Nepal? Your own country?
Ramesh's wife: Seems like they have pretty much left it. Only we don't like it here in Delhi.
Bunnu's mother: Who has left it?
Ramesh's wife: You have.
Bunnu's wife: We haven't left it at all. We'll finish educating our children and... (Inaudible).
Jamuna: We find our country very nice.
Ramesh's wife: It's been a long while since you've come here.
Bunnu's mother: We've kept coming and going. How have we left it?
Ramesh's wife: Really?
Bunnu's mother: If we didn't keep going there then one could say we've left it.
Ramesh's wife: Apparently you don't go to Nepal at all. You're just saying for the sake of it.
Bunnu's mother: My home is not in Nepal. My home is in India.
Ramesh's wife: Then why do you say you are from Nepal?
(Together)
Jamuna: Apparently, it's been eighteen years since 'didi' has come...
Bunnu's mother: Because when you speak Nepali, eveyone calls you a Nepali.
Jamuna: It's been eighteen years since 'didis' have come. So then hasn't an era gone by? An era has gone by.
Bunnu's mother: Yeah it's gone.
Jamuna: As if to say it's not.
Bunnu's mother: I am saying it's gone.
(Laughter in unison.)
Bunnu's mother: For Geeta's mother it's been five years since she arrived.
Ramesh's wife: Yes...
Bunnu's mother: I mean seven years since Geeta's mother has come.
Ramesh's wife: Are you going to speak for others as well?
Bunnu's mother: She doesn't speak. Sometimes she scratches her leg, sometimes she scratches here. (Laughs) So much time has gone by.
Ramesh's wife: 'Chema' will speak for herself how much time...
Bunnu's mother: Hey 'Chema'! Speak!
Geeta's mother: Quickly say. I mean quickly ask.
Ramesh's wife: Quickly say.
Bunnu's mother: Speak.
Geeta's mother: What all do I say? I have one father and I have one mother.
(Laughter in unison.)
Jamuna: Don't speak like that. Say nice words. Say it nicely.
Geeta's mother: There is my mother and father... I mean my mother-in-law and father-in-law, two brothers-in law, one elder sister-in-law, two younger sisters-in-law, that's it... And the two of us, husband and wife.
Jamuna: I don't have any younger sisters-in law nor do I have any brothers-in-law.
Ramesh's wife: Mixed them up... you mixed up your mother and father, and, mother-in-law and father-in-law, all of them in one.
Geeta's mother: From my parent's side of the family; there is my mother and father, two younger brothers and two elder sisters. Five in total. The children make up five and with the parents we are seven.
Bunnu's mother: From my parent's side; there are two younger brother, two younger sisters. Two younger brother's children; three children of the elder one... including all of them, totally we are some nine-ten people.
Jamuna: We are too many to count, can't even finish counting. What is the point of counting?
Bunnu's mother: You have to count from the top of the line... one, two, three, four, five, six, etc.
Ramesh's wife: If they were living downstairs then we could just display them.
Jamuna: That's what.
Geeta's mother: From fourteen to fifteen of them, fifteen-sixteen leave, so how would you go, fetch them, count them and then show them? Night will fall by the time you finish asking their names.
Ramesh's wife: Okay Nirmala talk now, I'm finding it tedious. Now what should we talk about. There is nothing to talk about.
Bunnu's mother: Tell them the conversation is over, now shut it.
(Together)
Geeta's mother: Say, "the conversation is done. Shut it now. It's time to go and cook the rice (food) now".
Jamuna: Enough now. Have to go for work.
Bunnu's mother: Yes, yes.
Ramesh's wife: There is nobody here, who do I tell.
Bunnu's mother: Tell Ramesh?
Nirmala and Ramesh's wife: Not here.
Bunnu's mother: Don't we have to go for work? It's been two hours... one hour... it's been so many hours now.
Nirmala: What time do you leave?
Bunnu's mother: It's time for me to move now. It's five o'clock now.
Ramesh's wife: It's not yet five o'clock.
Bunnu's mother: At least by five I have to make a move. Everyone has to.
Ramesh's wife: Go to your work place and tell them today you were busy speaking on T.V (laughs).
Jamuna: I suppose will have to say, "Today we had an interview and that is why we got late".
Geeta's mother: What if they say, "don't eat your rice (food) either", then?
Jamuna: What?
Ramesh's wife: Then we'll not eat rice (food) all together. We'll talk all night on the T.V.
(Laughter in unison.)
Nirmala: Auntie!
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: You should have told them, "today we are being interviewed". We are not coming to work today, you should have said.
Bunnu's mother: Yes. I didn't know in the morning. Or else I would have told 'buri' (old woman) about it and come.
Geeta's mother: Tell her through the T.V.
Bunnu's mother: 'Buri' won't be able to see it.
Ramesh's wife: Instruct her through the T.V, what needs to be done in the house.
Bunnu's mother: She must be sitting there, chanting, "Hari Ram, hari ram".
Ramesh's wife: Tell us where the house is, we'll let her know.
Geeta's mother: I'm telling you tell her through the T.V.
Ramesh's wife: You cannot see the house from the T.V. God knows where it is.
Geeta's mother: You'll be able to see Auntie.
Bunnu's mother: Where can you see the house? Here, you can only see four people's home.
Ramesh's wife: Yes. I was wondering if it was inside there somewhere.
Bunnu's mother: Oh no, I'm feeling fed up now. Call them.
Jamuna: Yawning excessively now.
Ramesh's wife: Demonstrate a nap for us.
Geeta's mother: Earlier on we did so nicely demonstrated a nap.
Bunnu's mother: Then later on T.V we'll be seen sleeping. They'll say, "were they speaking or sleeping?".
Ramesh's wife: You don't get to play all the time. Today we are playing.
Jamuna: I see.
Bunnu's mother: But then you get to play at night with your husbands.
Ramesh's wife: No we don't play.
Geeta's mother: Since the beginning?
(Laughter in unison.)
Bunnu's mother: There at two lads, I keep playing with them.
Ramesh's wife: No... Look at her finger.
(Laughter in unison.)
Ramesh's wife: We don't play. Who plays after having children?
Geeta's mother: You must be playing sometimes? Even if you don't play in the afternoon, at night for an hour or so you must be playing.
Bunnu's mother: Then without playing how did those two get produced?
Geeta's mother: If not for an hour, you must be playing for five minutes.
Ramesh's wife: No way. Don't know how to play.
Geeta's mother: Don't know?
Ramesh's wife: No.
Geeta's mother: Then without knowing how did those two come out?
Ramesh's wife: These two... (Laughs) that happened by mistake... accident.
Geeta's mother: Did you play by mistake?
Bunnu's mother: That just happened by itself it seems.
Nirmala: Somehow it happened in your sleep, without your knowing.
Bunnu's mother: So the sperm was left on the bed?
Ramesh's wife: From what?
Bunnu's mother: From the bed.
Ramesh's wife: Actually since two of them have happened, we've decided not to play.
Bunnu's mother: We play always.
Geeta's mother: Or maybe you've finished playing.
Jamuna: It's not good to play too much either.
Ramesh's wife: Yes, if you play too much also...
Geeta's mother: Perhaps finished playing, who knows.
Ramesh's wife: Yes we don't play.
Remeshe's wife: Everyone will understand our talk. Later they might...
Nirmala: Two people will understand.
Bunnu's mother: Which two people?
Nirmala: How can I take their names now?
Bunnu's mother: Even if they understand let them understand. What will they do after understanding?
Geeta's mother: There are those two Madrasis.
Ramesh's wife and Nirmala: Yes.
Geeta's mother: Those two.
Bunnu's mother: What they understand Nepali?
Nirmala: Yes.
Geeta's mother: What will they understand by 'playing'? God knows what was played? Not that they'll think of the same thing.
Bunnu's mother: By the time we yell here and there it'll be over. It'll finish.
Bunnu's mother: What are you saying? Are you saying, "Bunnu's mother has a mole here"?
Ramesh's wife: No we are talking about ourselves.
Nirmala: I'm saying my lips are burning.
Ramesh's wife: So speak!
Bunnu's mother: How much to speak? If there is nothing left to say, then what to speak about.
Jamuna: What to speak about? There is nothing left to say.
Ramesh's wife: Not supposed to speak too much in the morning. In the morning you exhausted... Who is that standing on the side?
Ajay: What happened?
Ramesh's wife: What happened?
Ajay: Huh?
Ramesh's wife: Nothing has happened yet.
Ajay: Speak properly with me.
Ramesh's wife: Nothing has happened to you yet (laughs).
Bunnu's mother: Later on it will happen, right?
Ramesh's wife: Oh, nothing is going to happen.
Ajay: Drink tea.
Bunnu's mother: I'll send him over later.
Nirmala: Auntie!
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: Tell us about your marriage.
Bunnu's mother: About my marriage, we came and were married at Kalkaji.
Ramesh's wife: Where?
Bunnu's mother: Kalkaji 'mandir' is where we were married.
Ramesh's wife: Is that so?
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Ajay: And your weddings?
Ramesh's wife: Where are you going to get your son married?
Bunnu's mother: Nearby, in Sai Baba's temple.
Ramesh's wife: Is that so? You must invite us on the day of the wedding.
Bunnu's mother: Of course, I'll call everybody.
Geeta's mother: .....so you're Ajay's sister-in-law by relation aren't you?
Ramesh's wife: Yes.
Geeta's mother: Then even you'll do.
Ramesh's wife: [Laughing] no... I'll....ha, ha.
Bunnu's mother: It's okay to get married with one's sister-in-law.
Geeta's mother: Yeah.
Ramesh's wife: No we don't marry our husband's younger brothers.
Geeta's mother: He's saying he wants to, over there.
Ramesh's wife: No we're not willing....He's already said... he's already said that he has another girl elsewhere.
Bunnu's mother: He told me yesterday, mummy I want to get married with my elder sister-in-law and when I asked him which one, he said Ramesh's wife.
Ramesh's wife: No, if he sees my daughter he'll get scared off.
Geeta's mother: He'll say I've got the principal and the interests in one go, that's what he'll say.
Jamuna : Lo the tea's arrived at our place.
Ramesh's wife: What did you say he'll say?
Geeta's mother: He'll say I've got the principal and the interests in one go, that's what he'll say.
Nirmala: You're lucky, you get tea and we don't.
Jamuna: You'll get tea
Bunnu's mother: Why don't you order some from downstairs? Our mouths are worn out by this great interview. If they don't give us even tea then what's the use of doing the interview?
Ramesh's wife: Even if we have tea, our mouths are going to burn for a bit.
Jamuna: Listen, if we keep getting tea then we'll want to do this interview over and over again.
Bunnu's mother: Hey little brother, are we done?
Geeta's mother: We've been given tea.
Jamuna: Tea's coming.
Geeta's mother: He's given us tea and gone.
Jamuna: Given you tea and gone?
Ramesh's wife: The tea is arriving at Auntie's house.
Bunnu's mother: The tea will also get to you.
Jamuna: Auntie, you might scald your tongue, drink slowly.
Bunnu's mother: It's such sweet tea.
Ramesh's wife: Drink slowly. It's hot.
Geeta's mother: It's okay if your upper part gets scalded. If you scald your lower part then it'll really hurt.
Jamuna & Ramesh's wife: Wow.
Jamuna: Don't say such things, don't say such things.
Bunnu's mother: Hey brother, come here.
Ramesh's wife: Now why are you calling little brother inside?
Nirmala: Who's come?
Bunnu's mother: Tell them it's enough... how much do you want us to talk? Tell them it's time to go to work.
Bunnu's mother: Don't say that, they have to go to work. Tell them to pack up.
(Geeta's mother singing)
Jamuna: Geeta's mummy doesn't saying anything.
Bunnu's mother: Hey Kanchhi, they're going to take tea to Geeta's mummy.
Geeta's mother: I never drink tea.
Bunnu's mother: Hey give it to Rahul's mother.
Jamuna: Have tea today.
Ramesh's wife: Today you ought to have some.
Geeta's mother: And if I die?
Nirmala: Auntie's just had something cold and her heart's gone cold. Have some tea and your heart will become warm.
Bunnu's mother: Whose heart has gone cold?
Ramesh's wife: Auntie's.
Bunnu's mother: Auntie's heart will become warm later.
Geeta's mother: They'd given a long bottle of tea...
Nirmala: What?
Geeeta's mother: They had sent a bottle of tea...
Nirmala: No, we rummaged and looked and only saw the mouth.
Bunnu's mother: Auntie's heart is cold now, but it'll become warm later this evening.
Jamuna: Hey sister wearing the black stole, how did you feel marrying a Nepali?
Nirmala: Nice.
Jamuna: You liked it?
Nirmala: Yes.
Jamuna: Are Nepali's nice?
Ramesh's wife: If you like the man, then everything about him is nice.
Jamuna: If you think he's nice then you can do what you like?
Nirmala: Nepalis are nice that's why I married a Nepali.
Jamuna: Nepalis drink a lot.
Nirmala: That's right.
Bunnu's mother: The Nepali might beat you wham, wham with a bamboo.
Nirmala: No, my....
Ramesh's wife: [Interrupting] my husband doesn't beat me.
Nirmala: My husband doesn't beat me...
Bunnu's mother: Not now but later wham, wham.
Jamuna: Not as yet but in the coming days.
Nirmala: Who can see the coming days, nobody can tell what will happen then. So far he has been so loving that I pray to God that he should always love me this way.
Jamuna: Too much love can also be a bad thing.
Jamuna: They say you'll separate, you know.
Nirmala: Well, if that's what written in my fate, then so be it.
Bunnu's mother: Look at Geeta's mother, they keep on separating and reuniting.
Jamuna: Now let's chat, drinking tea.
Bunnu's mother: Geeta's mother wasn't given any tea.
Geeta's mother: They gave me something cold.
Jamuna: Listen here didi.
Geeta's mother: Yes?
Jamuna: Throat's gone dry talking so much, now here I'm having tea.
Geeta's mother: I've been given something cold and you something hot.
Bunnu's mother: If they coming again then we must now ask for something cold.
Off screen voice: Keep drinking and talking.
Geeta's mother: The lid is not opening.
Jamuna: If only they'd brought something cold instead of the tea.
Bunnu's mother: Get them to open it.
Nirmala: What've you done? Look!
Bunnu's mother: What are you warming? Whom are you giving food now?
NIrmala: 'Chema'?
Bunnu's mother: What?
Nirmala: Tell us something, you're not saying anything.
Bunnu's mother: Who?
Nirmala: You.
Bunnu's mother: I'm speaking.
Nirmala: No, it's been so many days that we've been sitting in Khirkee but we haven't spoken even once.
Bunnu's mother: Then you have to come over.
Geeta's mother: But we have to go to work.
Nirmala: I've only seen your faces but I never heard your voices, how you speak?
Bunnu's mother: Then you ought to come.
Geeta's mother: We go off to work.
Bunnu's mother: Come during the day, during the day to watch television.
Controller: Do you want to hear a Nepali song?
Jamuna: We don't get the time.
Geeta's mother: We have lots of our own (songs).
Jamuna: We have to go to work, there's no time to sit.
Nirmala: You go to work?
Jamuna: We go to work. Both of us.
Bunnu's mother: (Singing) on the down slope... ha, ha, now I'm going to sing a song.
Geeta's mother: Sing on.
Bunnu's mother: (Singing) leading the way...
Jamuna: No don't sing that song.
Bunnu's mother: Why not?
Jamuna: Sing the other one; (singing) you heart has changed...sing.
Bunnu's mother: But I can't sing that one.
Jamuna: Sing it.
Bunnu's mother: I don't know that song.
Jamuna: I'm sure the sister wearing the black stole would know it.
Nirmala: Who?
Jamuna: I'm sure you know it.
Nirmala: I don't.
Bunnu's mother: I only know that one: Leading on the upslope, trailing on the down slope.
Nirmala: I can't sing.
Bunnu's mother: I can sing a bit.
(Nepali music)
Jamuna: Now is it over?
NIrmala: Now it's your turn.
Jamuna: I should sing? Tell me what to sing. What should I sing?
Controller: You're getting late for work?
In unison: Yes.
Controller: Then get going.
Jamuna: Oh.
Ajay: Hello.
Controller: Hello.
Ajay: Recognise me?
Controller: You're getting late for work, isn't that so?
Bunnu's mother: Yup!
Controller: What do you want to do then?
Ajay: We'll dance.
Bunnu's mother: Tell them to remove it.
Controller: Shall I remove it?
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Controller: Right then.
Ajay: "To the picture, you....". Hello?
NIrmala: Shall I sing a song? Shall I?
Bunnu's mother: Yes.
Nirmala: (Singing) I love you, I don't know anything else.
Bunnu's mother: I'm going to sing a song, okay?
Nirmala: Okay.
Jamuna: Enough, enough.
Bunnu's mother: (Singing) leading on the down slope, trailing on the up... It's done, I've finished.
Geeta: Auntie, hey Auntie.Oh Auntie!
Bunnu's mother: (Singing) remain your beloved friend...la la lala la.
Jamuna: There are people here, I'm so embarrassed.
Jamuna: I'll sing, okay?
Ajay: Please sing.
Jamuna: [singing] lover... ha, ha, ha.
Ajay: Sit back a bit.
Jamuna: Back?
Ajay: Yeah, now sing.
Jamuna: What song should I sing, don't know any.
Ajay: You don't? A short one? Hello, hello.
Kid: Hello.
NIrmala: Hello, now it's over.
Ajay: It's over?
Jamuna: Over
Ajay: Yes now it's over. (Singing) show me a glimpse.
Jamuna: Can I put it down?
Ajay: It's shut down.
Arun: Hello brother?
Hrithik: Who?
Arun: Hrithik? Hrithik?
Hrithik: Yes?
Arun: Sing a song.
Hrithik: I'm coming over okay.
Nirmala: Hey brother? Hello!
Jamuna: (Singing) in the battle for love.
(Hrithik sings.)
Nirmala: Shut it. It's over.
Hrithik: What?
Arun: Why? It's over. Program's over.
Bunnu's mother: Over? We're leaving.
Controller: Say bye bye.
Bunnu's mother: I sang a good song that time, in Hindi. Listen to it.
Aastha: Sit down for a couple of minutes in front of the set, would you?
Off-screen voice: (Singing) show me a glimpse.
(Girl in blue sings.)
Girl in Blue: Enough? What?
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