Manorathangal (മനോരഥങ്ങൾ)

Vilpana.

When you hear the title of this story,

you will naturally assume that it is about buying or selling certain objects.

And so it is or seems to be.

What MTV Sir creates here, is an opportunity to look deeper

into the life of a woman through the activity that is known as a sale.

In the great marketplace that is life,

all of us are obliged, in one way or another,

to participate in the activity of giving and receiving.

Is this not true?

While the beautiful and educated Mrs. Gita Parekh

interacts with the various clients who arrive at her house,

her desires and hopes, her triumphs and defeats are gradually revealed to us.

Wafting over the Thaannikkunnu hill

And over the banks of the silvery Nila river

O come to me, my lonely dreams

As you wander continually over my mindscapes

Wafting over the Thaannikkunnu hill

-Hello. -Hello.

I’m Sunil Das.

I’m calling about the ad in today’s paper.

Are you coming by car?

Besant Nagar.

Come straight on Seaward Road, number 22.

-Actually, I want to buy a-- -You can come by 10.30, okay?

Okay. And...

May I know your good name?

That’s not necessary.

So, I'll...

Oye!

Besant Nagar.

Brother,

number 22?

Yes, it’s this.

I’m Sunil Das.

I had called you, an hour ago,

about the newspaper ad.

Yes, please come.

Oh, no,

-Did you step on it? -No, no!

Thank God!

They’re flowers for the puja.

The maid usually puts them away.

Are you...

a Malayali?

-Yes. -Come.

Excuse me,

one minute.

Do sit down if you wish to.

Oh God!

Shall I help you?

Yes, please, will you?

I opened it even yesterday.

My husband sent this ad just the day before yesterday.

Then he suddenly had to go on an official trip.

And now it’s I who am in a mess!

Sorry, it’s not opening.

Is there something you need urgently inside?

No. Just leave it

Ugh! It’s been ringing from morning!

Hello.

Yes, yes.

There’s a sofa and a dining table as well.

Do come and see for yourself.

22, Seaward Road.

All these hassles for no purpose at all.

No sale is going to happen.

He sent the ad without telling me.

Now I have to talk to all those who keep turning up.

The phone calls began at 6.30 this morning.

You said you’re a Malayali?

Yes.

What a coincidence!

I’m Gita. Gita Parekh.

I’m Sunil Das.

What’s for sale here?

A sofa, a dining table, a cot.

We’re selling off everything!

You must be...

You must be leaving Madras?

Yes, it’s Ahmedabad next.

A promotion transfer for him.

What do you want?

The ad had mentioned a typewriter.

Oh, that!

That's gone.

Someone who works in the next building came

and asked for it this morning.

I gave it to him.

It was very old.

That was what I needed.

So sorry.

How much is this sofa?

He wrote down the prices just as he was leaving,

on a piece of paper.

It must be somewhere here.

Where's it...

Here...

4500 for the sofa.

Four?

Is that too much?

We had all this furniture made to order when we were in Calcutta.

But now,

Mr. Parekh thinks that all these are out of fashion.

I wonder whether I too have become outdated!

Madras is a terrible city.

It drains the life-force completely out of you.

See for yourself...

It will happen to you as well.

I love Calcutta.

It is the most beautiful city in India!

Calcutta!

It was so peaceful there.

Mr Parekh…?

Please talk to them on my behalf.

We had called.

A furniture sale. Is this the right place?

Yes. Please come in.

Please...

Do you want to hear this caller’s question?

When I said the cot costs 3000, he’s asking, what’s so special about it!

Does he want to know if we’ll give him something extra along with the cot?

you please come and have a look.

Okay, thank you.

Yes, please come.

Are you Tamil?

How much is this dining table?

Ma’am, 6000.

it’s as good as new. Made to order just a year ago.

but things on sale are usually cheaper,

right, darling?

What’s the price of the sofa?

5000.

It’s too expensive!

Yes, but I like the dining table.

Give them our card.

This is our card.

If you reduce the price, please give us a call.

Sure. - Thank you.

Both doctors, with a clinic of their own.

They must be making good money.

What sort of family life do doctors lead, I wonder.

They can’t hide secrets about their bodies,

So...

Can I leave now?

So quickly?

Sit down!

No, I…

You spoke with such authority, just like Mr. Parekh.

It was a blessing from God that you thought of coming here today.

If I’d been alone in this plight, I’d have gone mad.

Come.

The view from here is so lovely!

This city...

This is not my kind of place.

I loved my house on Lake Road in Calcutta.

I was never bored, no matter how long I stayed by myself.

Nor did I ever feel afraid.

What does Mr. Parekh do?

He’s an executive in Brett and Company.

The next Indian director.

What are you doing in Madras?

I’m a journalist.

Freelancing now.

Where do you live?

Valsaravakkam.

I’ve only heard of it. Don’t know the place.

Family…?

None. I’m on my own.

Do you want something else?

A cupboard, a dining table?

There’s a good writing table.

Come, I’ll show you.

I’d forgotten about it.

Who is this genius?

My daughter.

This was her room.

Your daughter...

In London.

She won a scholarship and went to London to study Management.

Then got married and settled down there.

You have only a daughter?

Yes.

When you tire of living here, you can go to London for a change,

to your daughter.

Who knows where she is now. In London, or somewhere else?

She last wrote to tell us about the man she was going to marry.

That was when I’d just got here...

Three years ago.

Your daughter’s husband?

A German.

She had sent a photograph.

It must be somewhere here.

She was brilliant at studies.

A first rank in every subject!

400 persons wrote the scholarship exam and only two got it.

My Deepa was one of them!

Did you like the writing table?

Yes,

But...