Roshni
A ray of hope!
[Scene 1: Mundane]
On the outskirts of Bhopal lies the small town of Mandideep. The Government Rail Manufacturing Plant at Mandideep has been in the news lately for protests over labour rights and false promises of salary hikes. All employee accounts of this Plant are handled by the Jan Sampark Bank which happens to be the only bank in the village. Purshottam works as a security guard at the firm’s CEO office seven days a week to earn bread for his family.
Every morning, Jyoti puts in the coal, spreads a newspaper, and lays both blue collared shirts on the bed of bricks. She irons the shirts calling out, “Sugam, did you get ready? Papa ki aur apni shirt leta jaa, maine istree kar di hai (Take yours and your father’s shirt, I have ironed them).” Roshni was preparing lunch for Ramesh and Sugam, when Sugam shouts from the bathroom asking, “Didi mera tiffin bana diya kya (Sister, have you prepared my Lunchbox)?”
Jyoti yells, “Roshni, Sugam ko school chodd kar aa phir papa cycle lekar bank jayenge (Roshni, go and drop Sugam to school, then only your father will take the cycle to Bank).”
Roshni peddles her brother every day to school and greets him goodbye! She pretends to return instantly, but instead peeks through a hole in the school wall to see the activities happening around. Her heart tells her to go in but her mind tells her to return home.
[Scene 2: Brace with reality]
The manufacturing plant was geographically diverse and had people from different states coming and working there.
A dark-complexioned man wearing seemingly-expensive specs and crisp formals walked inside the bank and asked Purshottam in jumbled Hindi, “Ae Bhai, ye Branch Manager kidhar milne ko hoga? (Where would I have to go to meet the branch manager)?”
Purshottam replied in an animated voice, “maine kya theka lekar rakha hai sabka? (As if I am paid for all the free information). Tum logo ko theek se Hindi bolni bhi nahi aati aur mai tumhe sab kuch detail mai bataun (You people don’t even know how to speak Hindi properly and expect me to provide all the details).”
A few minutes later, a lady in a green saree appears, carrying a cheque book, and enquires in Hindi, “Guard Sahab, mujhe cheque clear karwane ke lie kisse milna padega (Guard Sir, whom will I have to meet to get this cheque cleared)?”
Purshottam responds with a slight smile and entertaining voice, “Aap sidhe jakar counter 3 par Ghanshayam ji se mil lijiye, ya aap mujhe de jaiye, mai khud hi submit karwa duga (You can proceed straight to counter 3 or, in fact, give it to me. I will get this submitted).”
Later on Monday evening, he received bashing from the Branch Manager for his communication, and his position in the Branch was already under scrutiny as he staunchly misbehaved with out-state people.
After reaching home that evening, Purshottam shouts at Jyoti, “Khana khana hai, mujhe bhukh lag rhi hai (I want to eat food. I am getting really hungry.)”
Jyoti, frightened by his voice, rushes to the kitchen to prepare food for him.
His pitch increasing with every word that comes out of his mouth,“Mujhe batao khana kab milega, mai jaldi aa gya matlab mujhe khana naseeb bhi nhi hoga ab, kucch karte bhi ho ghar mei maa-beti milkar (What if I came early today, don’t I deserve to get an early meal? Tell me when I will get to eat food. Do you mother-daughter duo even do anything at home)?”
Roshni gets frightened by Purshottam’s tone and heads to the kitchen to assist her mother.
Purshottam fidgeting back and forth across the dining chair lights a bidi as Jyoti brings the Thali to the table. He puffs the bidi smoke on Jyoti’s face and Jyoti starts coughing. He pulls off the chair making a screeching noise and looks at the Thali. He takes a big bite of the chapati and starts abusing Jyoti.
Purshottam ghasts, “Mera to bhagya hi foot gaya tujhse shaadi karke (My fate died the day I got married to you).”
Roshni, helpless as usual, ignores the conversation and locks the door for Sugam to sleep and goes back to console her mother after Purshottam starts snoring loudly while asleep on the palang (bed).
[Scene 3: Trapped to complement]
Roshni confronts Jyoti, “Aap ne hamesha papa ki tarafdari kyu ki hai maa (Why have you always taken Papa’s side, Maa)?”
Jyoti responds, “Yadi mai inka saath chhod deti to tumhe aur Sugam ko kaise paalti beta, kiske paas jati, kisse madad mangti (If I had left him, how would I have raised you and Sugam, who would have helped this woman)?”
“But Maa, you possess all the capabilities of being a good mother. You have been a great mother!” says Roshni. “Papa did not let me study, but you have always tried to help and support me behind his back. You got me admitted to the school after changing my official name. And I studied and passed all classes by myself. You ended up selling your jewellery to make me take private classes. Every evening, I’d get the daily newspaper from Dev Bhaiya’s Tea Shop. Reading it made me socially aware and more than anything, it introduced me to the stories of empowered women and inspired me to dream big.
[Scene 4: Outbreak]
1400 hrs.
Roshni turns the frequency dial on the radio as she starts to listen to the news with her notebook to take notes from today’s conversation as the speaker reads out:
“Fresh news coming in from Mandideep Rail Manufacturing Plant. There has been an outbreak of riots, and the labourers have gathered in large numbers to protest against the rejection of salary hikes that were promised to them.”
The protestors entered and vandalised the Jan Sampark Bank. It was quite a spectacle in the history of Mandideep. There were notes flying in the air. Purshottam after receiving a couple of blows on the face and shoulder makes his way outside the premises. He is unable to comprehend what just happened.
While returning home, Purshottam stopped by at a local liquor store. He hands over a 100 Rupee note asking, “Bhaiya ek Narangi dena (Please give one Desi orange liquor).”
As Purshottam made his way to grab the bottle, his hands were shivering due to the blows he had received. He let go of the change, put the bottle in his trouser pockets, and bought a bundle of bidis and a Match Box.
Purshottam lit the bidi in haste, his eyes grew big, hands shaking while he picked a glass of water. He mixes the Narangi and sips all of it in one go.
Thak thak thak…Thak Thak thak…(Door banging heavily).
Purshottam pushes Jyoti away as she anxiously opens the door wide open.
Purshottam rocks on the floor as Roshni rushes back to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. He throws the Glass at Jyoti, she is saved by her quick reflex action.
Purshottam screams in anger, “ye sab tere karan hua hai, teri baddua lagi h mujhe. Ab kya Karunga main, mai barbad ho gya (This all has happened only because of you, your lady-luck is vicious for me. What will I do, it’s all over)!”
Jyoti rushes back to the kitchen to start preparing a meal hoping that Purshottam might be hungry. She fills up a fresh glass of water from the Matka. “Dheeraj rakhiye, hum kucch na kucch karke is gehen samasya ko hal kar lenge (Please have patience. We will get through this problem some way or the other).”
“Tu padhaegi Sugam ko, tu degi Roshni Ka dahej (Will you fund Sugam’s studies, will you gather the dowry for Roshni)?
Jyoti gets closer to Purshottam’s feet, tears drizzling down her cheeks.
Sobbing, she replies, “Ha Shayad meri hi galti thi, par sharaab peene se baat nahi suljehgi, baccho par galat asar hoga is baat ka (Yes, maybe it was all my fault. But alcohol won’t solve anything. It will, instead, have a bad influence on the kids).”
Purshottam Slaps Jyoti and she falls on the floor instantly. His temper was boiling, and all his anger flared with the alcohol and he kicked Jyoti in the back.
“Now you will teach me what’s wrong and what’s not? I should have silenced you much before. You are worthless in this house. Neither you can do anything by yourself in this house, nor you can encourage Roshni to get married. Is there literally anything that you can do right?” bashed Purshottam.
[Scene 5: Crescendo]
There was an eye between the two wooden doors separating the living room and the bedroom which was witnessing all of this. Roshni heads to ensure that Sugam has slept while she locks the room and makes her way into the living room. She always felt the need to voice out her opinions but it was her inner silence that prevailed every time she felt to push herself to drive a persuasive conversation rather than a one-sided debate in this house where only her father could speak. It was after the first stroke on Jyoti’s face that all her hesitance and all her silence broke off in a second. It was in this very moment she gathered all her courage as she locked the bedroom and came out and screamed at her father for the very first time in her life!
“Pitaaji, ye koi tareeka hai maa se bartaav karne ka (Father, is this the way how you should behave with mom)?”
Purshottam, unable to distinguish who is speaking, his eyes flickering constantly as his nerves have finally started relaxing, erupts, “Ye kon bola, ab is ghar mein do aurate ho gyi hain kya, ya phir mera nasha bol raha hai (Who said this now? Are there two women in this house now, or is it the liquor speaking)?”
Purshottam laughs dramatically as he advances towards Roshni.
Roshni remains as silent as a statue as Purshottam talks to her in the face, “Arey waah, mere bitiya rani kitni badi ho gyi h. Aur jab itni badi ho gyi h to ab shaadi bhi kar le na, ye gyaan apne sasural mai apne pati ko dena, waise bhi tu kabhi humari sagi thi hi nhi, mere sar se tera bojh tab hi utrega jab tu jald se jald iss ghar se vida ho jaye, ek bada bhoj hai tu meri chaati par (Oh my god, I am delighted to see how mature you have become, but, if you are really that mature, don’t you think you should get married too. Girls are false-blood in any family just like you and they should get married as early as possible. It will relieve the load that I have been carrying on my chest for all these years).”
Roshni counters, “Aapne kabhi ye nhi socha hi ki ghar mei Patni bhi utna hi kaam karti hai jitna ki Pati, aapke uniform ki istri se lekar, aapka khaana, ghar ko swacch rakhna, ration lekar aana aur aapki seva karna, ek aurat hone ke naate mai apni maa ka paksh aapke saman rakhti hu (Did it never cross your mind that women work equally as men in the house, from ironing your uniform to preparing food to maintaining hygiene to bringing ration so that you can do your job effectively? As a woman, I want to speak on behalf of my mother today).
Purshottam’s eyes grew big as silence swept the room, “Maine kabhi iska zikr nhi kia iska matlab ye nhi ki tum kucch bhi bakti jao (I never mentioned this, but it does not mean that you will speak shit in front of me).”
“Mai roz 5 km cycle chalakar jata hu, waha 12 ghante baithta hu, upar se neeche tak logo ki pareshaaniya sunta hu aur yahan tak ki hafte mai teen din night shift bhi karta hu. Yadi mai ye sab nhi kar rha hota to to aaj ye sab bolne ke layak bhi nhi hoti (I drive 5kms everyday, sit there for 12 hrs listening to the issues of every kind of person, I even work overnight for 3 days in a week and had I not been doing this, you would not have been in a position to speak to me like this).”
“Itihaas gawah hai is baat ka ki ghar ko sirf mard hi chalate hain and aur sirf islie unki samaaj mei jyada izzat hoti h (History has it that it is the men who have always run the house and that is why they deserve all the respect in society).”
Roshni, as calm as the wind, puts forth another argument:
“Apko lagata hai ki samaj aapki izzat sirff islie karta haina kyuki aap naukri karte ho, aapne kabhi mujhe padhane ka mauka diya, aapki naukri bhi padhkar hi lagi thi na (You believe that society respects you because you are the bread winner of the house, right? But did you let me study all this while? You yourself got your job through attaining higher secondary education, isn’t it)?”
“Aur rahi baat chowki-belan ki to mai aapko pranaam karte hue ye yad dilana chahti hun ki ye wohi aurat hai jisne Sugam ko bhi janm diya tha, jisne hasi khushi aapke saare atyachaar sahe, jisne kabhi aapse alag hone ki khwahsish vyakt nhi ki, jisne hamesha khud se pehle aapki khushi ko aage rakha aur sampatti ke lie sawaal nhi uthaye. Aur vo bhi aurat thi jisse aap janme tha, naki aapka gurror. Khair ye gurror jayaz hai, kyuki aapne kabhi wo mehsoos hi nhi kiya, toh aap kaise samajhte (And if it is only about the household chores, with due respect, let me remind you that this is the same lady who gave birth to Sugam, the one who always puts your happiness above hers while she silently torments under your torture and yet, never thought of abandoning you. Life came to you when you were in a woman’s womb and she brought you to the world. Your arrogance speaks for you because you were never put under the oppression that a woman lives and endures all her life, no wonder you do not understand her pain).”
Purshottam was fuming now. “Tujhe samajh bhi aa rha hai kya bake ja rhi hai tu? Meri naukri nhi rhi aur tujhe ye bebuniyaadi shikayat h mujhse! Jab tak mai naya kaam nhi dhudh leta, Jyoti ke mayke se aaye hu jevraat girvi rakhne honge khajanchi ji ke yahan (Do you have any idea of what you are blabbering about? I have lost my job today and you have a problem that I did not let you study. Do you even understand the gravity of the situation? Until I find new work, we will have to mortgage Jyoti’s jewellery that she brought as dowry).”
He shouts at Jyoti, “Where is the jewellery?!’’
Jyoti murmurs in fear, ‘‘Mai dekhti hu (Let me see).”
Roshni intervenes, ‘‘Maa bas karo (Maa, enough)! Aur kab tak chup rahogi (Till when will you suffer in silence)?”
Purshottam furiously pushes Jyoti again and shouts,“Kya chupa rhi hai mujhse bol, bata warna maar maar ke sab bahar nikalwa lunga (What is it that you are hiding, I have other ways of letting it out and you don’t want a good beating, do you)?”
Roshni breaks the passage as Purshottam approaches Jyoti. Purshottam pushes Roshni again but this time Roshni holds her courage and shouts loudly, ‘‘only when you stop abusing my mother, I will tell you where has it gone and why was this done.’’
‘‘Where the fuck is the money, I need it right now!’’
‘‘You would have never come to know this but today, it was imperative because enough is enough.’’
Roshni puts her final stroke, “You do not need to work from now on, I will make sure that I earn the bread for my family.”
Purshottam looks at her, almost petrified. Roshni continues, ‘‘Maa sold off her jewellery and made arrangements to secretly educate me all this while. She brought me newspapers to learn from about the world and practice reading. I’d read them while keeping it all hidden from you. I also went to school after getting my name changed. I wanted to study. I wanted to become something. It was only after getting an education and learning through those newspapers that I got to know about the Mudra Scheme. I could figure out a plan for the family. The scheme states that families that come under Low-Income groups can avail mortgage on zero percent interest up to a certain value, and I figured that this is lesser than the money you will require till the time I get my posting…I want to support this family, Papa. I want to support you and Maa and Sugam, and I can. All I needed was a chance. You couldn’t let me have one, so Maa did. I am thankful! But, I won’t have any grudges or complaints against you if you just sit for a while and trust me in this moment. Have faith in me!’’
Roshni rushes back to the room to bring the stamp and asks her father to put his thumb’s impression on the form that she had brought.
Purshottam, awestruck — or rather, shocked — at this unanticipated revelation, puts up his shivering hand to the stamp and just when he puts it closer to the paper, something stops him. His stand starts to shiver, he is not able to comprehend how he misbehaved with Roshni and Jyoti all this while.
While seeing it all unfold, he can’t stop himself from sobbing. “Tune aaj is parivar ke liye wo karke dikhaya hai jo shayad ek ladka bhi nhi kar paata. Mai aaj se is ghar ke saare bade chote faislo mai tumko shaamil karna chahta hu, Roshni. Mai tumhari mafi ke layak toh nhi hu lekin mai pashchataap karna chahta hu (What you have done for this family today, even a son would not have been able to do. I want you to take part in and make decisions for our family and household from now on. I do not deserve your forgiveness but only repentance can heal my guilt).”
About the Story
An ongoing issue within majority of households in Madhya Pradesh, where I come from, is the impact of illiteracy and how it shapes the cognition of the society towards various social issues like gender problems, domestic violence and deaths. Illiteracy and absence of women’s voices in the family and public discourses also leads to orthodox beliefs and superstitious practices for a major chunk of rural societies. The repercussions of such practices block the availability of spaces for democratic deliberations between the male and female members of the household.
The instances in this story are shaped by real experiences from a patriarchal society, while the plot focuses on a key argumentative debate between a daughter and father faced with a family crisis. This story aims to sensitize all about gender equality and representation in all spheres, from education to work opportunities, and the world such an equality can conceive.
About the Author
Utkarsh Budholiya is a Young India Fellow, who is passionate about Sports, Films, and Social Issues. He started his career as a software developer at an American Firm after pursuing engineering. However, films like Swades, Wake Up Sid, and Karwaan became key inspirations at making him quit his prestigious job to pursue a completely off-beat career path. After gifting himself a camera from all that he had saved during his professional career, he jumped into the freelancing ocean with unduly waves and challenging tides, but his courage and persistence took him farther than he could see. He came to YIF to explore stories about society, polity, and equity in the nation, and he feels that his writing class has given him the essence of becoming a well rounded storyteller.
