'And her emotions are not able to bear the negative environment of your house.'
'Aah!'
'I can be friends with Chintan.'
'You’re such a cutie.'
'You just give us the'
‘good family certificate for school.
'That depends on you, Mr Somnath.'
'Vishnu is leaving us.'
'He was asking for money for the new house. I refused.
'There’s value in a family.'
'I think you should plan a family now.'
'What is your problem?'
'There’s no connection between both of us.'
'We don't want such customers. - Papa, I’ll handle everything. You won't have to bother.'
'Pinky, don't act smart with me.'
'What kind of children have you birthed?'
'Pooja and Vishnu like the chole that I make.'
'Do you mean to say that now I have to serve my own food too?'
'I would find happiness…'
'In the little things.'
'That’s love, right?'
'Are you happy in your marriage?'
'Things change with time, don't they?'
'I feel as if I'm losing a bit of myself slowly.'
'Please don't ruin our happiness.'
'Isn't our happiness, happiness, mom?'
'Are you crazy?'
'Don't you dare call me crazy sitting here.'
'There's a lot of pressure on me to keep everyone happy.'
'This is the last opportunity to talk to the main boss.'
'Meet me next week.'
Do you work for me or for them?
'Non-negotiable' doesn’t mean ‘re’negotiable, Kaustav!
Did I send you to Hong Kong to eat momos or to handle our client?
I’ve also completed a detox myself.
‘Gulab jamun’.
Vishnu.
Vishnu, I'll cut to the chase.
How are you valuable to me?
I've been working with the company for the past eight years—
But, how are you valuable to ME?
You know, Vishnu,
I don't like yes men,
But I don't like to hear a ‘No’-- – “a no either”…
So you've seen my TED Talk.
Of course. Minute by minute.
It's great.
Dubai.
Assistant Regional Manager.
Join ASAP.
Sumit umm…
I’m an 'assistant ' here as well,
So… - Dubai! Vishnu.
You don't want it? - No, no, I...
Of course I…Yes, yes…
Any housing, perks…etc?
Perk…hmm…
Your ambition should be your perk, ‘gulab jamun’.
Hmm?
You'll get a 1BHK near the airport.
Didn’t I tell you that Barakhmba road would be clearer.
Your maps are useless.
Pinky, check who’s it?.
Hello? - How long will you avoid me, uncle?
I'm not begging, I'm just asking for my money back,
Excuse me, who's speaking? - Hey, who is it?
'Excuse you, too!' This is Karkaria's number, right?
When will you return my 10 lac rupees?
Oh hello! What 10 lac rupees?
Where did you get this number from?-- - Hey hey give that to me.
Yeah, hello Omi. I'll call you in half an hour.
Uncle… - Please, just understand, man.
Dad!?
Omi is just a guy from the market.
Everyone takes small loans from the market. It’s common. So did I .
When did you take the loan and why didn't you tell me about it?
Wow, so now I have to tell you every small thing?
Did you tell me about your mother-in-law's appendix surgery?
I found out from Ashok. - Don't change the topic, please!
And anyway, I sent flowers.
The daughter-in-law just sending fruits and flowers? Is that respectable?
Pinky, think about my reputation at least.
Just because I don't say anything doesn't mean I don't think about it.
You must keep your husband's respect.
Buddha said “that patience doesn't matter in the waiting…”
“Your behavior in the time of patience being tested,”
“Is what matters…”
After sacrificing rest, family time,
And my peace of mind,
I finally got recognised by the company for my hard work.
I've been promoted! - Hmm…?
They're sending me to Dubai as…Head Manager.
Hey!
Wow!
Habibi! Habibi! Habibi!
Head manager right away? That's great, brother!
Promotion with full perks…High-rise apartment, chauffeur-driven car. The best.
Congratulations, Papa!
So happy, baby.
See, I told you, didn’t I?
Our son has become a Sheikh of Dubai!
I am…
…so… proud…
Well, good news calls for a toast right?
Hey, where’s the...? - Papa, I've already ordered it…
Ah!
Mom, flights to Dubai are shorter than flights to Chennai.
I'll have to immediately apply for my passport renewal.
It'll be a bit hectic alongside my office, but I’ll manage.
Don't worry about your passport. I'll get it done.
You know Mr. Lehri, right?
His brother-in-law has good connections up there.
It'll be done in a snap!
Thank you, Dad. I'll apply tomorrow itself.
Yes, yes.
‘Yes, grandma.'
So… you're going eh…Okay…
So…
What’s the travel plan for you guys?
First, I'll go by myself...
I'll only get a family accommodation after settling in for a bit.
What…do you mean by 'a bit'?
Uh...
4 to 5 months…6 maximum.
To copy?
Not copying. It's coping.
Oh yes...
Our neighbour down the street. from house no. 76, Mr. Nirmal...
His wife passed away…
And after that, he started eating a lot of sweets,
Which gave him diabetes.
Yes…So Mr. Nirmal is coping with his grief by consuming sweets.
Stress, unpleasant circumstances, or any kind of sorrow…
Can push you towards unhealthy coping.
So, you mean we'll also become addicted to sweets like Mr. Nirmal?
Not really, bad coping mechanisms can take many forms.
So Megha, you're saying we're using bad coping mechanisms?
Maybe. That's what we need to understand.
None of it makes sense…
I never imagined that,
My son would leave just like that.
I’ve seen him happy after so long.
Urgh!
Should I get you an antacid?
Yes…it feels like acidity.
Uh!
We’ll need to take better care of ourselves now, Kamla.
Our son is going away.
Don’t know if he'll be able to take care of himself there.
He's not used to it.
Lehri & Lakhaniya used to quote my family as an example...
Saying, “Look how they all live under the same roof.”
Now I’m just one of them.
Should I braid your hair?
No, mom, kids do braids.
Oh really, so you’ve already become a lady at 12, eh?
Huh. - Mom.
Did you have breakfast? - Done.
Did you cross-check your timetable before packing, otherwise you’ll forget–
Yes Mom.
It's okay, I've done it already. I'll manage.
You can go.
Alex, play “Om Jai Jagdish Hare”
"Om Jai Jagdish Hare."
Look at the size of my slices, and now look at yours!
What are you doing? Is this how I taught you?
Dad, I applied for the passport four days ago.
By now, it should’ve arrived at the police station for verification.
Will you please check with them?
Hey why not try wishing your father a ‘good morning’ for a change eh?
Son, should I pack some crisps or hashbrowns for Dubai?
Maybe a bit of both...
That’s fair, you’ll have options.
Alright, see you later. - See you, son.
Both deposits add up to around…
Four hundred seventy-seven thousand.
And...
You said the gold would add another two hundred thousand?
A hundred ninety, roughly.
Can I borrow it for a moment?
It's only 37 grams of gold, ma’am.
It's 37.38…
The point-38 also has value, sir.
Hmm.
Hello. - Hmm.
Mom got discharged from the hospital. Thought I'd tell you.
Oh.
Sorry, sorry. - It's okay.
You seem a bit more anxious than usual.
Overworked?
I feel ‘underworked’, actually.
Till the time I get to move about, my mind remains numb.
By the end of the day, I'm so exhausted that I can only sleep.
What is that thing…Thinking about which,
Makes you so uncomfortable?
Everyone wants me to quickly decide…
And get back with Ashok.
There's too much pressure and I don't want to decide right now.
Is that why you over-exhert yourself?
It’ll be difficult for me to live otherwise.
But some day you’ll have to confront it, then what?
Maybe, I’ll just look the other away.
Mom! - Yes?
Uh...
I wanted to ask if you still got my engagement ring,
And the forehead pendant?
Yeah, they're in the cupboard.
How many times have I asked you to take them with you?
What are you doing?
Why are your fingers swollen?
Leave it…
Mom, stop…Let Shanti do this later.
Huh, Shanti can’t do this!
Mom, here's what you should do instead,
Pack a six month worth of supply of roti as well while you’re at it?”
Wow, I hadn't thought of that.
That’s a great idea. I'll do it.
He did his schooling and college from here.
The farthest he’s gone is… For his job in Gurugram, maybe…
Are you upset that Vishnu is leaving?
No, no, why would you say that?
In fact, I'm very proud.
When did your fingers start to swell?
It's...
been about a week or so, maybe…
Maybe it's your body's way of showing stress?
No...
Cold settles easily into my bones.
You mentioned that you're doing extra cooking for Vishnu.
I have to pack food worth six months right?
That takes extra work.
Or maybe you just aren’t able to sit still.
Because if you sit still,
The pain of Vishnu would eat you from the inside.
And you're just cooking incessantly,
So that you don't have to feel the grief of Vishnu leaving.
I don't know about that.
But, pain is my fate maybe…
My son is leaving…
How do I send him away empty handed?
The family must be happy?
What did you do to Sumit, that led to this?
Mr. Mangtani believes in my potential.
Here an assistant, there an assistant...
It's the same shit, Vishnu. - It's Dubai.
Sumit and his experiments…
At least it's better than being your lab rat here.
Good luck, Vishnu.
Good luck being Sumit's ‘gulab jamun’.
Thank you.
You know that...
The thing... actually...
Uh...
The release thing…that males...
You know, do like...
Masturbation?
Yeah, that.
It's okay. You're an adult.
There's no shame.
It's a very common stress-relief practice.
Why do you feel the need to masturbate?
I feel a sense of control.
I feel important, you know like a king.
In the moment, whatever people say doesn't affect me.
To hell with their nonsense, to hell with the world.
Nice. The part where the mother cries for the father,
But, the daughter cries for her mother is...
So moving…
Usually childhood journals get indulgent,
But yours flows like a story.
There's nothing personal in it. There's nothing personal at all.
It's all fiction.
Okay then, great imagination. - Thank you.
Uh...
See if you can include this into a short story collection…?
Check it out.
How much money can a short story fetch these days?
Uh...
For a new writer, around 30,000 max.
That's pretty low.
Why would anyone put in the effort?
No, we do try for better pay,
But you know... it's so tough.
Anyway, the ones who want to write still write, even if they get published or not.
Listen up, everyone.
This is regarding the photography club elections.
Tomorrow is the last date to file nominations for the president
of the photography club and I will not entertain any late entries.
Got it? - Yes, ma'am.
D-K, you are giving your name right?
No, I don’t even know how to give the president's speech.
Don't be a simp, man.
A photo club’s president,
Just needs to know how to click good pictures,
Which you clearly know.
Do it, man.
Yo, what's up, shutterbug?
Daani is standing for president.
Nice. Tanya will get good competition.
Hey, there’s no competition between besties.
Either ways, this teddy bear can be my number two.
Right, D-K?
Doesn't the framing of this photo look odd to you?
Really? But no one can make it out.
Babe, you finally showed everyone.
I'm so proud of you.
I just wanted to make you happy.
I checked on the internet...
Some Dubai suburbs, have cheaper rent too. You won't believe it.
I agree it'll get hectic at first with the kids,
So, let them stay here until their school year ends.
I'll come with you.
What's the point of renting a house from our own pocket?
I have savings…
Together we can afford something. - We'll see.
I think not.
Hmm...
Neeti, please. C’mon…
Have you ever seen a married couple living separately?
How can you do this to me?
What will I do in this house without you?
I'm doing all this for you.
No, Vishnu, you always think of yourself first.
That's why you just merely announced that you're going alone.
You asked me for a house in Gurugram,
I'm giving you one in Dubai!
You just have to wait a little longer.
And then you'll see…
The Burj Khalifa right outside your window.
Babe, I really love you.
I don't know what I'll do there, without you.
It's okay.
If Vishnu leaving isn't making you feel happy, then that’s how it is.
What are you actually feeling?
I'm feeling furious.
That's why all this?
I only know one way,
to calm myself,
to make the pain go away.
By giving yourself more pain?
Earlier, I felt like banging my head against the wall,
But, this is more convenient.
Everything goes blank.
All the anger, all the frustration... Gone. All gone.
Just total whiteness, no feeling.
Then it starts to feel light...
This one is my favourite so far.
Why this one?
My grandmother had the same feet. Roughened…
I used to draw in between the cracks.
She died last year, so looking at this reminded me of her.
Alright…Bye.
Uncle,
You don't have an attested copy of the Aadhaar card.
But I have an attested copy of the PAN card!
Both are required. I told you yesterday, too.
Do you know Mintulal Lehri?
He's a close friend.
You just do the job, the rest will be taken care of.
You're not listening to me. There's a procedure for passport renewal.
If the Aadhaar copy is mandatory, then it's mandatory.
I know very well what’s ‘mandatory’ and what’s not!
You want some dough under the table, I know that.
Is this the way to talk?
The ‘paperwork’ is just an excuse.
Now this file is going to stay right here. I won't even touch it…
For at least a month! Do what you want!
A month…? - Want to make it two?
Call Mintulal or whoever the hell you want to call.
Damn old drunkard! Walking into the police station on a merry morning!
Megha dear,
I've been drinking almost every day for twenty-five years.
It's not bad coping, it's just relaxation.
Everyone does something or the other to relax, isn't it?
There's a big difference between having,
two pegs after work and drinking all day.
I HAVE to drink all day!
Because all day, it stings from the inside!
I'm drunk even now.
Sorry, Megha, my child... - No, no...
It's okay, no problem.
What kind of ‘sting’?
Thoughts keep coming…
About what did I not do, to hold my family together.
I feel sad about Vishnu leaving, I feel scared…but, because of therapy…
I’ve also started to see his happiness. I get it.
Everything is messed up.
You've confused me, Megha!
Mr. Somnath…
At this age, your body can't handle this kind of alcohol abuse,
and if you don't take care of yourself,
How will you hold the family together?
A month! - I just found the wrong guy.
A corrupt guy…Acting all oversmart.
You bump into people like these, no big deal.
No big deal? I can't postpone for a month!
Dad, I asked you to do just one thing.
Are you doubting me?
Please, please. - After everything I've done for you?
I didn't that say you haven't done anything.
I never said that.
It's fine.
You didn't go drunk, right? To the police station?
Uh...
Oh no...
Tomorrow, I'll get the verification done myself.
I don't need you. - Vishnu, wait...
No, Dad, I don't need you.
I'll do it myself. - Listen…
Hey...
Oh, there's a stain, look.
“His highness” doesn't even have a clean shirt, and he's planning to go to Dubai.
What, Dad? - What are you doing?
Getting new shirts stitched,
Would easily take up to a month, right?
Then pick out some ties...
Matching ties for you.
A month would just pass in a flash.
Shoes…and rest of the shopping would itself take up a month.
You won't even know how time flies.
It's just a matter of a month. Just stay...
I...
Vishnu.
Mom, you’re up?
What happened?
It's nothing.
I have fried matthi for you. Try it.
There’s swelling on your fingers again…
It'll get better, it's nothing.
Come on.
You cooked so much in this condition?
Taste it first.
I just couldn't make it with organic flour, that's all.
I'll make more tomorrow with it, okay?
Want to try some ‘namak para’ too?
Hmm.
Looks like the whole house is pulling off an all-nighter.
I heard there was melodrama in the house today.
Yeah.
Don't think about what dad says, just focus on going.
Opportunities like these are rare.
Exactly! Getting a foreign posting isn't easy.
Hmm. - Hmm.
Wait... is that a 10 lac rupee loan on the shop ?
Yeah, Dad keeps borrowing from the market, it's normal.
Leave it. You just start planning on setting up another shop in Dubai.
I've planned a franchise.
We'll start in Delhi first,
then you'll settle there…
Call Shanti, right now! Don’t know what’s keeping her?
Mom, where’s Vishnu?
He had his morning chanting today. - Okay…
Pinky!
What happened dad?
Have the kids left for school? - Yes.
What have you done?
Om called me.
What happened– - Kamla!
Where did you get a million bucks from?
My fixed deposits and gold.
Your WEDDING gold?
Dear God!
Kamla, what kind of foolish children have you birthed?
Don’t you people have any respect for your own father!?
Do I have no respect in this house?
Do you think of me as good as dead? I am very much alive!
Dad, I just paid off the shop's debt.
Why did YOU pay it off?
Are you trying to command over me? - I'm just fulfilling my duty.
What is the big deal? - That’s what I’m saying,
Why did you have to pay it right away?
Dad, we’ll only be able to grow the business if we get rid of our debts.
Otherwise the interest would keep compounding.
Then let it! We wouldn't expand, big deal?
Look, Pinky,
I’ve kept you in house with love,
I’ve let you come to the shop,
And even let you put up that ‘snack counter’, but that's it!
Don't try to overstep your limit.
Don't try to take advantage of me.
I’m taking advantage of you, dad!?
Of course you are! Move aside.
Please.
Listen to me.
We often mistake bad coping as the cure for our emotional illness,
When in reality, bad coping is just an illusion.
One that doesn't pull us out of our emotional pain,
but pushes us even deeper into an abyss.
No matter how hard we try to escape it, it pulls us back in like quicksand,
and getting out of it becomes even harder.