Food Lore

Look, the moon.

Moon, oh moon.

Where are you off to?

Oh, I'm off to collect clay.

Why are you off to collect clay?

I would like to mould a clay pot.

Why do you need a clay pot?

To cook rice.

One love

One life

Two souls

Till death do us part

With you, I am alive

A mere shadow now

I am dying a little every day

One love

Take a seat.

Like I mentioned earlier

there's not much to do.

You only need to take care of my father

and give him his medication.

He is...

You're a good cook, right?

That was what the agent said.

What nonsense is this?

Who are you?

Let me go...

Sir, let me go! Please.

I'm really sorry.

My father can be forgetful...

He must have thought you were my mother.

He knows you're coming here to work.

He must have forgotten about it.

Look...

You don't have to be scared.

Nothing's going to happen to you here.

My father is a good man.

One love

One life

Two souls

Till death do us part

With you, I am alive

Hello? —Hello?

Can you hear me?

Hello, Anbu?

Kanna, can you hear me?

Yes, I can hear you. How are you?

I want to go back.

Then come back.

Anbu?

Anbu?

Are you there?

It's all going to be OK.

Give it some time.

What's the family like?

They're crazy.

Can you handle them?

Kanna...

What do I do without you... hello?

Hello... hello?

Lakshmi.

Hey, crazy girl!

What do you think you're doing?

This is my cow. My child.

I'm taking her home.

You can take her back

after you've paid your father's debt.

He's not my father but this is my cow.

You crazy girl!

Old lady, give me two months.

I'll pay off the debt.

Your family owes everyone money.

How are you going to pay me back?

Go away, stop bothering me.

Come, Lakshmi. Come here.

Go away.

How could you sell Lakshmi?

She gave us milk

and provided for us all these years.

Are you going to sell everything we own?

You talk too much. Just pay off the debts.

I will.

Here. Take your passport.

You're leaving next week.

I've spoken to the agent.

He'll take your first month's pay.

Who are you to decide this for me?

I'm off to work.

You need to prepare breakfast.

And give my father his medicine.

His pills are in the pillbox on the table.

Give it to him after he has eaten.

Please wake up early tomorrow

and start work without being asked.

How do I turn on the stove?

Mustard seeds...

Coriander...

Do you want to eat?

The food's ready... I'll serve it.

Please come out.

What's this?

Wouldn't everyone else be hungry too?

Don't they need to eat as well?

Go! Get me another plate!

Don't stand there like a dumb block of wood!

Go!

No...

Please send me back.

My father has Alzheimer's.

It's a terrible disease that's causing him

to lose his memory.

Little by little, his memory will deteriorate.

There will come a time

where he won't even remember

who he is anymore.

He's in bad shape now.

He doesn't know what year this is

who I am or where we live.

He remembers nothing.

As time goes by, he will forget how to speak.

That's why he behaves like this.

When my father was still himself

he never once raised his voice at anyone.

But now, he's behaving like a child.

If a small child throws his food away

would you abandon him?

It's OK. I'll take care of it.

No, it's OK.

Come and feed me like you always do

I will eat well.

My mother.

She's feeding my father now.

In my father's mind

my mother is not dead.

He talks to her all the time.

By himself.

That's all he has left.

His memories of her.

Anyway...

my mother died in a pressure cooker accident

when I was young.

He gets very agitated

whenever he is reminded of it.

Other than that

there's nothing much he remembers.

May I ask you something?

What is this for?

They say by releasing marigolds

into moving water

you can send a message

to those you have loved and lost.

They will then come in search of us.

That man is heartless.

How could you do this to me, Mother?

Your younger sister has a marriage prospect.

A boy from a good family.

So?

If the marriage happens

all our problems will be solved.

We need money for the wedding.

Why don't you go then?

You're healthy.

You're able-bodied.

You should go.

I'm not leaving my father's land.

That man will sell it and squander the money.

I'll plough the land

and figure something out somehow.

I'm not leaving.

Mother, what are you doing?

Your father threw himself into the river

because he couldn't handle the debts.

What am I to do?

Let me drink this poison and die.

What other choices do I have?

I've been dying inside this whole time.

I might as well just end my misery.

Fenugreek... fenugreek!

I've added it. —Add fenugreek!

Yes, I already did.

Digestion...

Yes, fenugreek is good for your digestion.

It reduces body heat.

It reduces hair loss... wait.

How is it? Is it nice?

One love

One life

Two souls

Till death do us part

With you, I am alive