I took my washing bundle and my youngest child with me to wash the clothes this morning. My youngest child was the quietest child I have had until now, he doesn’t cry as much as his brother or sister did. I was still curious about Nathan’s new wife; hopefully I will meet her today at the washing place.
“Good Morning, Kali” Janaki greeted me. Kunthi never greets me; she is a bit full of herself.
Luckily I met Rukhmani, the person I was eagerly waiting to meet. She was younger and thinner than me. She seemed like a nice person and she was a very nice person indeed. I think she was much better than Kunthi at least, despite the fact that she was so kind and helpful whenever I needed her.
Kunthi and Janaki met her and we soon went on the topic about her. I thought Nathan would have told her that he built the house for her all by himself; however she was very astonished to hear that her husband had made the house for her all by himself. I think she hated Kunthi form the beginning because the first time she saw Kunthi, she would have thought Kunthi was a bit full of herself by the look of her eyes. We soon became good friends and my friendship with her is still good.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The unusual chilld - Sacrabani
Sacrabani, the most unusual child I’ve seen in my whole life! A child as fair, as white as milk! He cannot stand the sunshine in his eyes when he has to adapt to sunshine for a living! A child with pink eyes! All this is so unusual and strange. The whole village is very curious about that little kid. Ira’s child is the talk all over the village now! Although people think Ira should be ashamed about what she did. But the majority of the people also think Ira’s husband did not do good abandoning her.
I went to look at the child and I was disrespected by Selvam. He talks big for a young man. I am very displeased with him because disrespecting old people are not the manners I would teach my children. I think Rukhmani should have been careful with what she taught her children and writing and reading are not very useful things to teach your children. At least Rukhmani said something to him. He had said all that to me just because of that unusual child.
Even though Sacrabani is unusual he is a very sweet child. He is polite and is very innocent. I hope he would overcome the truth that he doesn’t have a father. I think Ira is very brave and would be able to handle Sacrabani by herself.
I went to look at the child and I was disrespected by Selvam. He talks big for a young man. I am very displeased with him because disrespecting old people are not the manners I would teach my children. I think Rukhmani should have been careful with what she taught her children and writing and reading are not very useful things to teach your children. At least Rukhmani said something to him. He had said all that to me just because of that unusual child.
Even though Sacrabani is unusual he is a very sweet child. He is polite and is very innocent. I hope he would overcome the truth that he doesn’t have a father. I think Ira is very brave and would be able to handle Sacrabani by herself.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
We've started a new Family Blog!
We've started a new Family Blog!
(Family Members:
Ann Dang - Ira & Kunthi
Betty Wong - Selvam & Biswas
Khushbu R. - Rukmani & Kali )
(Family Members:
Ann Dang - Ira & Kunthi
Betty Wong - Selvam & Biswas
Khushbu R. - Rukmani & Kali )
The Day of My Marriage
“Get dressed quickly!” I was standing beside the mirror, looking at myself and thinking what lay about my future. ‘A woman’s marriage day is the best day of their life’ people say, however I was 12 years old and thought that wasn’t really true. “All my sisters had a grand wedding why not me?” “Why do I have to marry a farmer?” These questions kept staging me. My mother came to pick me and take me to the mandap (marriage place), I could see the anger and the sadness in her eyes, and I knew she wasn’t happy with the match. I was dressed in a red sari and gold ornaments which were once my mother’s. It wasn’t as much as my sisters though.
We got to the mandap and I sat beside my going-to-be-husband. The priest sat at the opposite side and there was a fire in the middle. Fire is known as a god for Indians when they marry .First we both put rice and oil in the fire, and then we took seven rounds around the fire. Everybody was throwing flowers at us. Then Nathan and I took my parents’ blessings. After that we went into the garden to have dinner. 
Everybody went to the garden to have dinner; there was rice, dhal, fish and pancakes for dinner. It was very less compared to my sisters wedding’s dinner. I heard some people sitting beside me say that the marriage was below me. I just ignored them but later I heard some more people talk about it, it was then hard to ignore. After everyone finished eating it was time for me to leave my house, where I have lived for 12 years. After that I had to perform a ritual, which was that I had to throw rice at the back while I walked forwards. My mother had given me loads of stuff which was on the bullock cart already. I took my mother and father’s blessings and got up on the bullock cart having no idea of what lay ahead of me.
By KUNTHI
Listen, Rukmani and Nathan, like every one in the village, I’m starving. I need rice immediately. And I know both of your secrets very well. So you’d better say “yes” when I ask for rice, or I will tell the entire village about it.
And I mean RICE! Rukmani, RICE, not RICE WATER!
You’d better be prepared. Because I will come to your house this afternoon.
And I mean RICE! Rukmani, RICE, not RICE WATER!
You’d better be prepared. Because I will come to your house this afternoon.
Kuti...
My lovely little brother Kuti left us also. He didn’t survive even with the money I earned.
But what happened really happened. The starvation is like a devil which is a hard thing for the poor people to get rid of. Without the our God’s will, nothing would happen to the miserable people like us. And we learned from mother that one should always endure the pain, so that your soul would be cleaned. Sometimes I doubt that, but in this nearly hopeless situation, I am pretty well aware of the fact.
But what happened really happened. The starvation is like a devil which is a hard thing for the poor people to get rid of. Without the our God’s will, nothing would happen to the miserable people like us. And we learned from mother that one should always endure the pain, so that your soul would be cleaned. Sometimes I doubt that, but in this nearly hopeless situation, I am pretty well aware of the fact.
I'm Biswas..Hahahahahaha
I'm Biswas, the evil Biswas!
I'm evil, but I have lots of money.
I'm rich so even if I'm evil, people would always respect me and consider me as their god.
Hahaha! This is the truth! Rukmani and Nathan, I know the truth is unpalatable.
While as it is called the "truth", you have to accept it.
But, still, Dear Rukmani, if you need any help, if you need money, I'll be willing to give you a hand. Though you were extremely rude to me when you wanted me to buy your stuff yesterday!
Hahaha! I'm the evil but rich Biswas!!
Hahahahahahahahahaha...
I'm evil, but I have lots of money.
I'm rich so even if I'm evil, people would always respect me and consider me as their god.
Hahaha! This is the truth! Rukmani and Nathan, I know the truth is unpalatable.
While as it is called the "truth", you have to accept it.
But, still, Dear Rukmani, if you need any help, if you need money, I'll be willing to give you a hand. Though you were extremely rude to me when you wanted me to buy your stuff yesterday!
Hahaha! I'm the evil but rich Biswas!!
Hahahahahahahahahaha...
Aching
I am still aching.
Last night, mum just beat me up. She said that she thought I am our best neighbor ever—Kunthi, so… I don' t know if it' s true or not, but I think I deserved to be beaten up by either mom or dad. But I' m not guilty for what I did; I know what I should do for my brothers and my parents. I don' t really care about myself after being abandoned by my husband. I don’t miss him at all. And I no longer care.
And I hope dad would eat something. He' s really mad at me. It' s not his fault, nor mine. Not anybody' s.
Last night, mum just beat me up. She said that she thought I am our best neighbor ever—Kunthi, so… I don' t know if it' s true or not, but I think I deserved to be beaten up by either mom or dad. But I' m not guilty for what I did; I know what I should do for my brothers and my parents. I don' t really care about myself after being abandoned by my husband. I don’t miss him at all. And I no longer care.
And I hope dad would eat something. He' s really mad at me. It' s not his fault, nor mine. Not anybody' s.
Worst Day of My Life
Today seems like the worst day of my life. My husband abandoned me because I am barren. That is really unfair—I thought, but he would not listen. And I am pretty sure that he will get himself another woman.
I don’t know if that sorrow could ever leave my heart. So many memories came into my mind: the happy childhood;then I grew up as a cheerful young woman; old granny found me a husband; the wedding—I can still see the color of the bright red sari that I was wearing…and the excitement, nervousness… but now they’re all gone. And never will they come back.
And I no longer care.
I don’t know if that sorrow could ever leave my heart. So many memories came into my mind: the happy childhood;then I grew up as a cheerful young woman; old granny found me a husband; the wedding—I can still see the color of the bright red sari that I was wearing…and the excitement, nervousness… but now they’re all gone. And never will they come back.
And I no longer care.
Oh Yeah!!
Exellent! Kenny is the kindest person ever! He said I could be his assistant in his hospital! That means I could earn money to support my family and help Mom and Dad relax a little bit.
I guess they may disagree with me being an assistant in Kenny hospital, as they want me to learn how to farm and follow what they do. But... I'm old enough to make decisions, and I don't, honestly, want to lead a life same with theirs. Since farming every single day is too boring. I need to create something more significant, at least, fun, in my life, and also make my parents live better. They've already done a lot for us.
I guess they may disagree with me being an assistant in Kenny hospital, as they want me to learn how to farm and follow what they do. But... I'm old enough to make decisions, and I don't, honestly, want to lead a life same with theirs. Since farming every single day is too boring. I need to create something more significant, at least, fun, in my life, and also make my parents live better. They've already done a lot for us.
The Unusual Child - Sacrabani
Sacrabani, the most unusual child I' ve seen in my whole life! A child as fair, as white as milk! He cannot stand the sunshine in his eyes when he has to adapt to sunshine for a living! A child with pink eyes! All this is so unusual and strange. The whole village is very curious about that little kid. Ira’s child is the talk all over the village now! Although people think Ira should be ashamed about what she did. But the majority of the people also think Ira’s husband did not do good abandoning her.
I went to look at the child and I was disrespected by Selvam. He talks big for a young man. I am very displeased with him because disrespecting old people are not the manners I would teach my children. I think Rukhmani should have been careful with what she taught her children and writing and reading are not very useful things to teach your children. At least Rukhmani said something to him. He had said all that to me just because of that unusual child.
Even though Sacrabani is unusual he is a very sweet child. He is polite and is very innocent. I hope he would overcome the truth that he doesn’t have a father. I think Ira is very brave and would be able to handle Sacrabani by herself.
I went to look at the child and I was disrespected by Selvam. He talks big for a young man. I am very displeased with him because disrespecting old people are not the manners I would teach my children. I think Rukhmani should have been careful with what she taught her children and writing and reading are not very useful things to teach your children. At least Rukhmani said something to him. He had said all that to me just because of that unusual child.
Even though Sacrabani is unusual he is a very sweet child. He is polite and is very innocent. I hope he would overcome the truth that he doesn’t have a father. I think Ira is very brave and would be able to handle Sacrabani by herself.
To Dear Sacrabani
My Dear Sacrabani,
I heard that you asked your Mom "what is a bastard" and "do you expect me to born".Suddenly, all the memories during the time when you were just born came into my mind. People from the villiage flocked into our house to see you, as they had heard from others that you had milkwhite skin and pink eyes. Even though Ira, your mother acted like a gentlewoman, I knew she was, in fact, quite angry about those people's actions.
When Kali, who is even Mom's pretty good friend, also came to see you. I felt her words extremely incomprehensible. She said something like how could a human child have such unnatural white skin and pink eyes.
How could she make such statement???
No doubt, I controverted. I really seriously think the COLOR DOESN'T MATTER. How does it matter?! No one could tell whether a color is right or not.
Anyway, my dear Sacrabani, I still love you no matter how. No matter what they say, those are just other people's opinions. Remember that even if all of the people abandoned you, I won't.
I heard that you asked your Mom "what is a bastard" and "do you expect me to born".Suddenly, all the memories during the time when you were just born came into my mind. People from the villiage flocked into our house to see you, as they had heard from others that you had milkwhite skin and pink eyes. Even though Ira, your mother acted like a gentlewoman, I knew she was, in fact, quite angry about those people's actions.
When Kali, who is even Mom's pretty good friend, also came to see you. I felt her words extremely incomprehensible. She said something like how could a human child have such unnatural white skin and pink eyes.
How could she make such statement???
No doubt, I controverted. I really seriously think the COLOR DOESN'T MATTER. How does it matter?! No one could tell whether a color is right or not.
Anyway, my dear Sacrabani, I still love you no matter how. No matter what they say, those are just other people's opinions. Remember that even if all of the people abandoned you, I won't.
The Temple
Nathan was already awake when I woke up. I could see that the short nap had done some good for him because I could see that his eyes were not as tired as before. We gathered all our belongings and got up. Just then one old man came to us and he said that there was a temple nearby where we could get some dinner and have some sleep. I was glad that we found some good place to sleep. The sensation of hunger kept hunting me but I had to ignore it. So we made our way to the temple, we could see many old people making there way to the temple too. They kept eyeing us, after all we were strangers for them and we did not belong in the city. Nathan found it hard to ignore so we slowed our pace and let the others go first. When we heard the bells we started to walk to the temple. The temple was lit by many lamps. It was very bright there, and the statues of the gods were just very comforting to look at. The priests started to sing the devotional songs, everyone
else joined them. Nathan and I too started to sing with them. It was the first time that we had sung devotional songs because in our village we didn’t have this and the temple there was very small. The devotional songs took about 1 hour and after that everyone started to push and each other and made their way in the garden for the dinner. We were not that surprised when we saw that because we had seen this all for the whole day on the streets of this deserted and fast city but the thought of meeting my son was still overwhelming.
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