Close to the city of Paithan, in a small village called Sauviragram, which lay along the banks of the great river Godavari, lived a woman named Ilaa. Being cotton farmers, her family was well to do, but not among the richest in their area. It was the harvest season, and cotton had to be picked from the plants. The wholesalers and traders from Paithan would be arriving in just a few weeks, carrying gold and goods for barter. They would exchange what they carried for the cotton that the farmers grew. The bales of cotton had to be ready in time! Work was at its peak! But Ilaa was not to be found in the fields. She wasn't working. Instead, she was sitting by the banks of the great river Godavari. 'I am sick of this!' she grunted loudly.
And she held a letter from her sister shikha in one hand
Shikha asked her elder sister to intervene in the matter of her marriage because her mother was hurrying to get her married before she is too "old". Since they were not able to collect enough wealth for her dowry, they had to marry her into the barbers or shoe makers.
Ilaa received the letter a few days ago but knowing she is married and her opinions matters next to nothing in her maternal matters, she hadn't even replied to shikha at all. She thought that her sister, at least, deserved the courtesy of a reply from her, therefore she had planned to ask her brother-in-law Ramanujum to write the letter for her, him being the only person in house who could read as well as write. While passing by the Godavari, she remembered the days she spent in her father's home with shikha before getting married. The two sisters would at bank of Godavari and fantasize their future husbands. Obviously she couldn't let that happen to her sister. She had decided to discuss the matter with her mother and, perhaps, talk to her husband about the matter.
She had made her mind. So she returns to her husband. But it wasn't the right moment to discuss such a sensitive topic as her husband was having an aggravated dialog with one of neighbor farmers. She asks to go home as she wasn't feeling well. After having received the permission she leaves for her 'home' where she was living with her husband ishwarprasad with her in-laws.
Ilaa went to her mother-in-law Shila who was know to be an infamous gossip 'girl'. Ilaa couldn't tell her where she was headed so, instead, she lied to her that she was not feeling well and needed to see 'Ved ji' who lived at end of town. Having received the permission Ilaa appreciated herself in her mind for her cunningness. She went to Varanda and ignited 'chulha' where she cooked few chappatese for her in-law's and for her journey. She carefully packs an additional pair of clothes and food in a bag. She takes the money given by her mother-in-law and put it in her blouse. She then sets a course for her 'home'.
While walking along banks of Godavari, Ilaa remembered how brilliant Shikha was. She would read the books her brother brought from city. Shikha would show off her good sanskrit to her sisters though she was nothing compared to their elder brother Rajan. She would talk hours about the characters and stories. Her favorite was Lopamudra from Vedas the brilliant women who made her husband realize his duties towards her. May be Ilaa needed to do the same. Being her husband it is his duty to help her in every way. May be he needs to be more understanding and less aggressive. Some times, she was so frightened of him that she wouldn't even cook while he is sitting in varanda because he will shoot at her for making so much smoke.
She was in midst of her memory lane when she is pulled by a soothing voice calling her name "Ilaa". She looked back to find an elderly women waving her hands. As she moves towards her she recognizes the face of old kaki, the women who would tell young girls the tales from her youth and always warn them about city men.
Kaki: Have you come to visit your mother?
Ilaa: Yes, I was going to Vedji so i thought why not pay a visit to family.
Kaki: It is very nice of you thinking about you family, specially after your brother, most girls just forget about them after marriage.
Ilaa: Bad I feel bad I can't visit much often.
(Inside her, she was drowning in ashame)
Kaki: Visiting your mother is a good thing but you shouldn't forget it isn't your home anymore, your place is with your husband and his family. forgive me if the old meera has hurt
your feelings. I ain't saying these things out of ill will.
Ilaa: Kaki don't embarrass me. I know you always think for better of us.
(Ilaa knows in her heart that kaki is indeed a good women)
After saying goodbye, Ilaa leaves for her parent's home.
Sun was still high in sky when Ilaa saw the crop dancing in her parent's fields. As she enters through the front gate, she is once again lost in memories of her siblings in the field. All of them playing in field except Rajan who was there for studying. Their family had enough money and every one was happy. Scenario had changed when a few moths back the news came from city that her brother had passed away. Her father's weak heart couldn't take it after all it was his only son who died and he too joined him.
Rajan was studious type. He even got a well paying job in city. He helped father in paying for dowry and wedding expenses for four sisters. He would been so happy to see his little sister getting married.But this was God's will.
As Ilaa was about to cross the well a dog came running towards her. She turned white in fear. The dog would have attacked her if it wasn't called back by a lad.
The lad introduced himself as Bhanuj and asked her reason for visiting their house to which Ilaa was stunned "your house?"
Bhanuj : Yes! Our farm. My father own this land.
Ilaa: What?
(Ilaa was confused and wondering whether she was gone so long)
Ilaa: When did you bought this land and where is the family- my family who lived here?
Before any more syllables could be exchanged between, her sister Shikha comes to scene.
Shikha: Its alright Bhanuj, she is my sister.
Bhanuj: Then you should tell her not to wander into some one else's property
Ilaa: your..
Before Ilaa could complete her sentence, shikha pulls her away from lad and his dog.
Shikha: What are you doing here? Did you come alone?
Ilaa: What is that boy and his dog doing in our fields?
Shikha: We don't live here anymore. And they are our tenants.
Ilaa: But why? and where do you live now?
Shikha: It is really difficult for two women to make ends meet in this male driven society. After Pitaji and Rajan were gone, it all came down to maa who wasn't in no shape to work in fields so she gave the farm to a local farmer binod, on contract.
We live across the village now.
I asked Mr. Ambani to deliver my letters on new address. We should get going if you want to reach home in time.
Ilaa: I really never thought about how you were managing all this.
Shikha: Don't be embarrassed, you have your family to take care now.
Ilaa: what were you doing there?
Shikha: I met kaki who told me you are in village the first place you would go So here I am. Actually I was hoping for a letter but, I see, you took the issue personally.
Ilaa:I should have come earlier.
Shikha: Atleast you came, all other sisters haven't even replied; probably they are busy in their own lives. [There was this sad fake smile on her face.]
Ilaa: What the deal with this farmer, they aren't on contract like you said, are they?
Shikha: No; they are but they are not.
Ilaa: what does that mean?
Shikha: we are here, you would like to meet maa first.
Ilaa knew her sister was hiding something and it had to do with this Mr. Binod. Shikha always suspect Ilaa capable of instantaneous aggression may be thats the reason she didn't want to discuss this with her.
On entering the home, Ilaa came to realization that this room was even smaller than the one in which her in-law's keep their equipments. The blackened walls and rooftop told Ilaa this room also served as the kitchen. They had made a change room in the main room by hanging an old bedsheet from rope nailed in walls at both end. A wooden stool was all they had in name of furniture. Old clothes with stitching marks were lying at one corner, probably what mother was doing for earning money. A piece of broken mirror, bottle of oil and a comb were the only beauty products i could locate. A bunch of old books and writing stuff was right there lying in a corner. Shikha always the book worm. It was Kalidas she was reading.
Ilaa asked maa if she is planning to get Shikha married to a barber Gajender?
Maa: I am only trying to do what is best for my child. After some time when shikha is old, nobody would want her. She won't even get married.
Ilaa: Then marrying her to a man who can provide for her!
Maa: I would really want to do that only if one such family existed that won't demand dowry which I fail to provide for her in this conditions.
You know the only reason I hadn't already fixed her marriage is because I lack resources for her dowry. I have enough for Gajender but not for a city boy and I don't think I will have that much in a decade and your sister can not for that long.
Ilaa asked maa what made them live in this condition. And what happened to their property.
she talked like a person who has lost everything in life, and probably because she has, except us if that counts.
Maa: Some devil sat his eyes on our eyes. First Rajan, then your father. And now our farm is taken from us.
Ilaa: taken from you? But you are the owner of that farm after pitaji how can he take that?
Shikha: He didn't we gave him everything.
Maa: When we did we weren't aware that he is such a snake who would take our farm and won't even give the shade he promised on contract.
Shikha: It is a common practice to lend land to farmers who would in return give 80% of revenue to the landlords at end of season. But Binod was aware of our family's condition. And he planned to exploited us .
We agreed on a fare 50-50.
Ilaa: Why did you even gave him the land? you could have hired worker?
Shikha: Having workers doesn't make work effort less, it also requires hard work. After father passed away, maa couldn't work because of health problem and she didn't want me to work in fields as it will deteriorate my beauty she says.
Maa: And he didn't even gave us that.
Ilaa: He threw you on road and nobody said anything?
Maa: No man came to help us but only to exploit the us.
Ilaa:But why live like this? Shikha could get a job in city.
Maa: We couldn't let the same thing happen to shikha that happened to Rajan.
Ilaa: Why don't you file complaint against him in panchayat?
Shikha: We did but that thug produced false paper work with royal stamp that states he bought land from our father prakashchand before he died.
Ilaa: You could have asked us or any other relative. They should have helped you.
Maa: Everybody believed your father sold his land to that Binod because of a piece of paper with royal stamp. Nobody believed us they just pitied on us. We need nobody's pity . Her mother was too proud to take money from relatives. We could ask our daughters to help us. You aren't ours any more, You belong to some else.
Her mother was too proud to take money from relatives
Ilaa: Obviously he planned this all along. He never wanted 50%. It was his sole purpose to take over farm. You don't need pity. We will get back what is rightfully ours.
Shikha: How?
Ilaa: My brother in-law is appointed in royal court. He is good man. He will help you.
Maa : It is not right to take help from daughter's home.
Ilaa: We are not asking favor but telling him to his job. He is a man of law. It is his duty to make sure people follow law. This is only way people will respect the king. And once you collect enough wealth at the end of this season you will find a good match for shikha.
Maa: If that day comes, no one will be happier than me.
Next day
At evening a man pays visit to Binod at his farm and tells him he is a man of law and wouldn't do anything against it but he knows the documents he has are fake because there is no record of purchase of this land at registration office. So, either, he goes back to his original 50% or he will inform the royal court of his mischief and serve rest of his life in jail.
Two days latter Ilaa's mother and sister move back in their home and start receiving monthly instead of seasonal payment from Binod.
Two days earlier
After having a little chat with her mother and sister, Ilaa leaves for her home in oder to reach there before stars illuminate the sky.
Ilaa reaches home and asks her brother-in-law how soon he thinks he will make it into royal court.
Ramanujum tells her it will take 1 months minimum before he get appointed at Royal court.
Ilaa wasn't disappointed but she as never wanted to involve her in-laws. If she did, it would become hot topic of gossip in her whole area through her mother-in-law.
She just wanted to give her family some hope. She had a vigilante plan in her mind.
Ilaa remembers how Lopamudra made her husband realize his duties toward her.
That night
She seduces her husband to allow her to shave his beard and mustache in a specific manner. she collects the mustache in a bag.
Next day, Ilaa takes her husband's permission to visit her mother and stay a night there.
She packs a pair of her clothes along with her husband's and the bag filled with mustache.
And then sets a course for her 'home'
At that very Evening
Ilaa dresses as a man using her husband's clothes and shaved off mustache. Her back crushing work in fields made her hands look more manly. Working in fields under burning sun had taken its toll on her face, made it rather rough, but she couldn't have know how this was going to help her. The actor inside her kicked in and with an aggressive tone of voice, she succeeded at her disguise.She pays visit to Binod who has never seen her before.
The darkness and Ilaa's perfect disguise made a fool out of Binod.
Disguised Ilaa visits Binod at end of each month to collect the rent.
After a month
Ilaa (giving Shikha exchange goods): Here, take this. This month's rent.
Shikha: will you come with us?
Ilaa: where to?
Shikha: Maa has finalized a match and we will be visiting there home. He is educated and lives in city. Hope this is it. You better come your are like good luck to me.
Ilaa: I will come for sure.
shikha sees marriage as an opportunity to escape from her insecure and unpleasant life but Ilaa knows nothing changes
Shikha asked her elder sister to intervene in the matter of her marriage because her mother was hurrying to get her married before she is too "old". Since they were not able to collect enough wealth for her dowry, they had to marry her into the barbers or shoe makers.
Ilaa received the letter a few days ago but knowing she is married and her opinions matters next to nothing in her maternal matters, she hadn't even replied to shikha at all. She thought that her sister, at least, deserved the courtesy of a reply from her, therefore she had planned to ask her brother-in-law Ramanujum to write the letter for her, him being the only person in house who could read as well as write. While passing by the Godavari, she remembered the days she spent in her father's home with shikha before getting married. The two sisters would at bank of Godavari and fantasize their future husbands. Obviously she couldn't let that happen to her sister. She had decided to discuss the matter with her mother and, perhaps, talk to her husband about the matter.
She had made her mind. So she returns to her husband. But it wasn't the right moment to discuss such a sensitive topic as her husband was having an aggravated dialog with one of neighbor farmers. She asks to go home as she wasn't feeling well. After having received the permission she leaves for her 'home' where she was living with her husband ishwarprasad with her in-laws.
Ilaa went to her mother-in-law Shila who was know to be an infamous gossip 'girl'. Ilaa couldn't tell her where she was headed so, instead, she lied to her that she was not feeling well and needed to see 'Ved ji' who lived at end of town. Having received the permission Ilaa appreciated herself in her mind for her cunningness. She went to Varanda and ignited 'chulha' where she cooked few chappatese for her in-law's and for her journey. She carefully packs an additional pair of clothes and food in a bag. She takes the money given by her mother-in-law and put it in her blouse. She then sets a course for her 'home'.
She was in midst of her memory lane when she is pulled by a soothing voice calling her name "Ilaa". She looked back to find an elderly women waving her hands. As she moves towards her she recognizes the face of old kaki, the women who would tell young girls the tales from her youth and always warn them about city men.
Ilaa: Yes, I was going to Vedji so i thought why not pay a visit to family.
Kaki: It is very nice of you thinking about you family, specially after your brother, most girls just forget about them after marriage.
Ilaa: Bad I feel bad I can't visit much often.
(Inside her, she was drowning in ashame)
Kaki: Visiting your mother is a good thing but you shouldn't forget it isn't your home anymore, your place is with your husband and his family. forgive me if the old meera has hurt
your feelings. I ain't saying these things out of ill will.
Ilaa: Kaki don't embarrass me. I know you always think for better of us.
(Ilaa knows in her heart that kaki is indeed a good women)
Rajan was studious type. He even got a well paying job in city. He helped father in paying for dowry and wedding expenses for four sisters. He would been so happy to see his little sister getting married.But this was God's will.
The lad introduced himself as Bhanuj and asked her reason for visiting their house to which Ilaa was stunned "your house?"
Ilaa: What?
(Ilaa was confused and wondering whether she was gone so long)
Ilaa: When did you bought this land and where is the family- my family who lived here?
Bhanuj: Then you should tell her not to wander into some one else's property
Ilaa: your..
Before Ilaa could complete her sentence, shikha pulls her away from lad and his dog.
Ilaa: What is that boy and his dog doing in our fields?
Shikha: We don't live here anymore. And they are our tenants.
Ilaa: But why? and where do you live now?
Shikha: It is really difficult for two women to make ends meet in this male driven society. After Pitaji and Rajan were gone, it all came down to maa who wasn't in no shape to work in fields so she gave the farm to a local farmer binod, on contract.
We live across the village now.
I asked Mr. Ambani to deliver my letters on new address. We should get going if you want to reach home in time.
Ilaa: I really never thought about how you were managing all this.
Shikha: Don't be embarrassed, you have your family to take care now.
Ilaa: what were you doing there?
Shikha: I met kaki who told me you are in village the first place you would go So here I am. Actually I was hoping for a letter but, I see, you took the issue personally.
Ilaa:I should have come earlier.
Shikha: Atleast you came, all other sisters haven't even replied; probably they are busy in their own lives. [There was this sad fake smile on her face.]
Ilaa: What the deal with this farmer, they aren't on contract like you said, are they?
Shikha: No; they are but they are not.
Ilaa: what does that mean?
Shikha: we are here, you would like to meet maa first.
Ilaa asked maa if she is planning to get Shikha married to a barber Gajender?
Ilaa: Then marrying her to a man who can provide for her!
Maa: I would really want to do that only if one such family existed that won't demand dowry which I fail to provide for her in this conditions.
You know the only reason I hadn't already fixed her marriage is because I lack resources for her dowry. I have enough for Gajender but not for a city boy and I don't think I will have that much in a decade and your sister can not for that long.
Ilaa asked maa what made them live in this condition. And what happened to their property.
Maa: Some devil sat his eyes on our eyes. First Rajan, then your father. And now our farm is taken from us.
Ilaa: taken from you? But you are the owner of that farm after pitaji how can he take that?
Shikha: He didn't we gave him everything.
Maa: When we did we weren't aware that he is such a snake who would take our farm and won't even give the shade he promised on contract.
Shikha: It is a common practice to lend land to farmers who would in return give 80% of revenue to the landlords at end of season. But Binod was aware of our family's condition. And he planned to exploited us .
We agreed on a fare 50-50.
Ilaa: Why did you even gave him the land? you could have hired worker?
Shikha: Having workers doesn't make work effort less, it also requires hard work. After father passed away, maa couldn't work because of health problem and she didn't want me to work in fields as it will deteriorate my beauty she says.
Maa: And he didn't even gave us that.
Ilaa: He threw you on road and nobody said anything?
Maa: No man came to help us but only to exploit the us.
Ilaa:But why live like this? Shikha could get a job in city.
Maa: We couldn't let the same thing happen to shikha that happened to Rajan.
Ilaa: Why don't you file complaint against him in panchayat?
Shikha: We did but that thug produced false paper work with royal stamp that states he bought land from our father prakashchand before he died.
Ilaa: You could have asked us or any other relative. They should have helped you.
Maa: Everybody believed your father sold his land to that Binod because of a piece of paper with royal stamp. Nobody believed us they just pitied on us. We need nobody's pity . Her mother was too proud to take money from relatives. We could ask our daughters to help us. You aren't ours any more, You belong to some else.
Her mother was too proud to take money from relatives
Ilaa: Obviously he planned this all along. He never wanted 50%. It was his sole purpose to take over farm. You don't need pity. We will get back what is rightfully ours.
Shikha: How?
Ilaa: My brother in-law is appointed in royal court. He is good man. He will help you.
Maa : It is not right to take help from daughter's home.
Ilaa: We are not asking favor but telling him to his job. He is a man of law. It is his duty to make sure people follow law. This is only way people will respect the king. And once you collect enough wealth at the end of this season you will find a good match for shikha.
Maa: If that day comes, no one will be happier than me.
Next day
At evening a man pays visit to Binod at his farm and tells him he is a man of law and wouldn't do anything against it but he knows the documents he has are fake because there is no record of purchase of this land at registration office. So, either, he goes back to his original 50% or he will inform the royal court of his mischief and serve rest of his life in jail.
After having a little chat with her mother and sister, Ilaa leaves for her home in oder to reach there before stars illuminate the sky.
Ramanujum tells her it will take 1 months minimum before he get appointed at Royal court.
She just wanted to give her family some hope. She had a vigilante plan in her mind.
That night
She seduces her husband to allow her to shave his beard and mustache in a specific manner. she collects the mustache in a bag.
Next day, Ilaa takes her husband's permission to visit her mother and stay a night there.
She packs a pair of her clothes along with her husband's and the bag filled with mustache.
And then sets a course for her 'home'
At that very Evening
Ilaa dresses as a man using her husband's clothes and shaved off mustache. Her back crushing work in fields made her hands look more manly. Working in fields under burning sun had taken its toll on her face, made it rather rough, but she couldn't have know how this was going to help her. The actor inside her kicked in and with an aggressive tone of voice, she succeeded at her disguise.She pays visit to Binod who has never seen her before.
The darkness and Ilaa's perfect disguise made a fool out of Binod.
After a month
Ilaa (giving Shikha exchange goods): Here, take this. This month's rent.
Shikha: will you come with us?
Ilaa: where to?
Shikha: Maa has finalized a match and we will be visiting there home. He is educated and lives in city. Hope this is it. You better come your are like good luck to me.
Ilaa: I will come for sure.
shikha sees marriage as an opportunity to escape from her insecure and unpleasant life but Ilaa knows nothing changes
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