The Hope (Asha)

Hey, faster

Speed up! - Hey, old woman!

Speed up, really?

I'm going full throttle

Step on it, moron! Or, I will stick your head on the accelerator!

He is incorrigible!

Give it here! - Hey...

Freaking drunk! - Old hag!

You drink my liquor, old hag, and you call me a drunk, eh?

Who the heck did you call an old hag? Just drive!

Be careful. Don't swirl...

Hey!

Stop veering!

Damn!

You are responsible for this!

Drive straight, will you!

Darn! - Gosh!

I'm Malti

This isn't the first time that I've slid off track

It's been a part of my life

'National Healthcare Campaign, Maharashtra. ASHA - Volunteer'

Trouble sticks like a fly in the ointment. I'm cursed for life

But my father has a different take;

If you want to do great things, do not let small things hinder you

I'm sorry

Sometimes I babble out of fear

Well, it all started with that darn cooker-whistle!

Had it gone off on time, I would've been lucky

But my mother-in-law started off even before it went off

Malti!

Hey, Malti!

Malti?

Hey, Malti!

Coming

The cooker is on. Please let me go before the lentil-soup spills

Let it spill. - For your mother to kill me?

Let me go

I'm dying for you

The cooker is on the gas! Where the heck did she disappear?

Please let me go! - Malti...

Let me check the cooker, before your mother barges in hooting!

Pent up passion, eh?

Stop going to bed early!

What the...!

Hey, Malti!

Do I go to bed early?

You are the one who is busy the whole day

You are the one who sleeps early!

And you tell me not to sleep early, eh!

Malti, I love you

Malti!

I love you too, Nilya!

Coming!

My dear...

Cat got your tongue, eh?

Soap in my eyes! - Or, is your jaw broken?

Answer me! - Water!

I'm going mad!

Water

You wretch! - Hey...

The soup would've scalded his face!

You put the cooker on the stove! Where the heck did you disappear?

Did you do that on purpose?

Did you? Here you are

Was it deliberate?

Actually, you expected me to enter the kitchen when the cooker burst

You want me to die, so that all of you can enjoy!

Right?

This must be your mother's idea to get rid of me. Right?

Right? - I once watched a movie

This was exactly the woman's modus operandi to kill her mother-in-law

What did you say, you witch? Come again? - Hey!

Just shut your mouths! Cut the crap!

I have soap in my eyes! Give me water! - Here you are

I told you not to find a bride from the countryside

You wouldn't listen

Worse, your darling son fell for her eyes, darnit!

Eyes, really? Like crap!

Welcome! The uxorious slave!

What's my crime now? - Your crime?

This is the third cooker that has exploded!

She roams about the village daily, all decked up and dolled up in a blue sari!

I told you to keep an eye on her. Alas, no one takes me seriously

Now, face the consequences

Someone please reason with her

Both of you need reasoning!

Give me water!

I'll give you water! Here!

Take it!

Water! Take it!

Water! Take all of it!

Son, the daughter-in-law is like a goddess who brings prosperity to the household!

She shouldn't be roaming around outside

Understand?

Rein your wife in while there's still time

Or, you know what Bhika's daughter-in-law did

She divided the family!

Don't worry, dad

I will talk to Malti. - Good

Hey!

You can't fool me

I want to play with my grandchild this year!

What? Get that? - Yes

The henpecked husband!

Malti...

Malti...

Malti!

You played mama's boy well!

I have no qualms about your job

This house belongs to you, so do I

Take care of the house and handle me as well

I'm doing just that. What about your parents?

They are old-fashioned. Don't take them seriously

Once she has a baby,

the smarty-pants will stop roaming!

Don't tell me. I'm busy. Tell your son

Just turn a deaf ear to them and go about your business. What say?

You know, when you wear that blue sari and go to work in style,

I swear, you look ravishing! - Really?

Damn! Don't you trust me?

Cross my heart... - No!

Hey, Nilya...

I hope you are going to work today

Or, are you taking the day off?

Coming, dad

Are you there? - Yes

Hey! Both of them left empty-stomach!

Hungry!

They didn't even carry lunch today! - I will deliver lunch myself

Stop yelling at me! I have work to do

My husband, my father-in-law! I know what to do

Hey, they are my family too!

Lunch. And yes, watch your tongue

My son and my husband are mine too

Thank you Get lost!

Did you sign in? - No, I have to go now

Malti...

Greetings, Rambhau. - Greetings. Come up here

You instigate my customers right in front of my shop

No way, I swear. I never tell anyone that you adulterate the goods

Keep it low!

Won't you rest until you take down my shop?

Lord Ram! - What?

Not you, I called out to God. Lord Ram!

I prayed to Him for your business to flourish

I have no one but you

Stop apple-polishing me. How much do you want?

That's all?

Take it

Thank you. I'll repay when I get my salary

Beats me, Malti. Why do you do this job?

You can't even save a few bucks

So much for wandering about from village to village!

Why don't you work in my snacks factory?

You will also get your salary on time

This job isn't easy

Life isn't easy either

But if the job gives you satisfaction, you see God in it

It's true that I don't get my salary on time,

but what matters is my conscience. It lets me sleep peacefully at nights

I talk to people, I advise them, I help treat their diseases. I can't describe

the satisfaction I get out of that

But, I must say. Malaria, cholera, diarrhoea...

The satisfaction of fighting against them is far more compared to selling chips

This blue sari gives me a different identity altogether

Trust me, you should also try wearing it

Are you serious?

Are you asking me to wear a sari? Now look;

I want this money and the balance 70 bucks as soon as possible

Of course. 70 bucks isn't buying me the Taj Mahal!

Right, right. Smarty-pants!

Am I right, Jyoti? - You are never wrong, dear

I think, your husband doesn't carry lunch on purpose

Why do you think so? - He likes to look at you

Doesn't he watch me at home?

Watching his wife at home is not the same as seeing her alone outside

Shut up. You are raving

Come on!

Shouldn't you be selling flowers at the market? Why here?

The market is nearby. But, people do come this way,

and they buy from me

Besides, of late, I've been having trouble walking

What's your problem? You look hale and hearty

Ma'am, I'm pregnant

Oh, my God!

You are pregnant

at this age!

What's your name?

Pushpa

Pushpa, I am Malti, and she is Jyoti

We are ASHA volunteers

You should visit the government hospital for a check-up once

Which month?

Sixth month

It hurts when I pick up heavy stuff

That is why, you must visit the hospital once

Less or more, pain is pain, dear

Understand? - Yes

Sir, you must buy flowers for your wife today. She looks so beautiful!

You bet