Gundamma Katha (గుండమ్మ కథ)

GUNDAMMA KATHA

Argh! Hey Lakshmi, is it already morning for you?

Why are you banging and making noise in the midnight?

Won't you let us sleep?

As the rooster has crowed, I thought its dawn.

You dumb face, I think even the rooster is like you.

It would have crowed being jobless. It's not even 3 am!

Leave it here and go look into cleaning.

Ok aunty.

Argh!

What about that domestic worker?

He refused to work here and left.

Did he? I thought so. Else who would work under you?

Go, make it quick!

My fate! I had to look at his face as first thing in the morning.

Hey, what are you doing dear?

Time's up, bring it quick!

Why rush? What's the urgency?

What do you know? There's no coffee without our milk.

There's no coffee hotel without coffee.

And without the hotel, there's no survival of the people here.

The sooner we supply our milk, the faster every one gets to their work.

It's not just a business, it's service to the nation in a way.

-Very funny! First look into our service. -What's that?

When is our son going to return?

Is he in another city to return if you write a letter?

He's in jail. I have checked out, he wouldn't come any sooner than 2 months.

Is it? If Gundamma's daughter gets married before he returns?

How will she? Am I not here?

I am sending back every alliance right from the doorstep.

What do we get by that? We want our son to get married to her.

If we don't let anyone come, having no other option she would choose us.

When I ask you too, to be in good terms with her, you wouldn't listen.

Huh? I would never talk to her.

I wouldn't enter her house until my son is married.

That's fine, but how much water did you mix? He's cribbing about it.

Water? Who the hell said that? I will punch on his nose.

No, not me. The hotelier is saying that.

Give the money.

The big moustache person is on the 14th Pesarattu (Mung bean dosa)...

-1 plate idly, 1 Pesarattu. -One single Pesarattu.

Here's the milk!

Aww! What's this? It's just water.

These days, our buffalo is drinking more water.

Is it? Ok, let me tell this to our proprietor.

What would you tell? You would anyhow mix water later. I did it for you

-So you don't want money? -Why?

You would anyhow spend it later, so I would do it for you.

Please, we both are good friends. Aren't we?

Yeah! That's the way!

Sankarayya, prepare a double roast Pesarattu.

Put loads of onions, chillies and ginger.

Why do you put such small one? I will prepare for myself, you leave.

Yea...Big moustache! 40 paise!

Always a torture!

Hey, what was that arrogance?

-Is this how you serve? -All I know is this.You can eat or leave!

Silk shirt and family 25 paise.

-What do you say? -Hey!

Hey what's this? It's really difficult working here.

Hey, you have to good and obedient with the customers.

My speech is speed and work too. Who are they to comment?

Hey, control yourself.

That's not in my blood, you can go and serve.

-Shall I serve? -Yeah

You are the server, ans you ask me to serve? Leave right away. Go!

Huh! Go out first!

I'll go by myself, who are you to say that?

Look, I have given one plate idly to him and 1 plate Pesarattu to the other.

Serve him ginger pickle and Sambar for the other.

Sir, I need to buy buffalo's feed, give me Rs10 immediately.

I don't have!

Huh? You take the milk but deny the payment?

You give the milk and eat stomach-full here. You calculate, you owe me actually.

We'll look into that later. Give Rs 5 atleast.

I don't have. If you lessen your food expense, can't you buy that feed?

Very funny! You and your philosophy!

Oh! I didn't read the newspaper today.

Will you pay for it atleast?

A man dies as he comes under a train.

Will the train die if not the man? Is this a news?

Having consumed poison a family of 4 expired.

Very good, atleast the population is lessened.

60 die in plane crash.

Damn! Bloody news paper! Full of death news.

When wife commits suicide due to her husband's torture,

they fake it as a hunger death.

That too on the front page in bold letters.

Bloody paper! And who would buy to read this?

-Did you give coffee to Saroja? -She is sleeping aunty.

Ok, let her sleep peacefully.

Today is Friday, give her a head bath.

You please tell her, she wouldn't listen to me.

Why wouldn't she listen if you tell in the proper manner? You can't even do it.

Ok, What's for breakfast today?

-Upma (SouthIndian dish). -Yeah, ofcourse. It's easy isn't it?

Can't you prepare her favourite Vada(SouthIndian dish)?

-I will do it now aunty. -Then go, why are still here?

You left a step daughter for me, and left to heaven happily like a king.

I am struggling to get on with this house.

-Sister... -Ah!

Death and deaths! The whole news paper has nothing else.

They could have printed some good news too.

Sis, let's give an ad in the newspaper saying 'Groom Wanted' for Saroja.

What? An ad in the newspaper? To show we are desperate?

What else can I do? How many more alliances can I get?

Already I am going around all the nearby villages sis.

Until this moment I didn't know that we have such good reputation in the country.

Wherever I go, when I say it's Gundamma's alliance...

they are getting frightened and refusing the alliance.

Asking me upfront if you have killed brother-in-law by poisoning.

-Huh? My god? -Yeah sis.

There's a bad propaganda about you.

Who got such a filthy idea? Whom did I harm?

Why someone else, it's someone within the house.

You step-daughter Lakshmi...

should have gossiped with the neighbours.

Why would they keep quiet? They spread across the village.

Very true brother! She has become a headache lately.

Until she is here, my daughter wouldn't get married.

All of them are seeing her and refusing my daughter.

Find some idiot for her brother, we shall get her married.

That's not a big deal. We can do it anyway.

Think about Saroja.

You are a single lady. Where can you go and find the groom.?

So I would say you better get her married to my son.

I have told you umpteen times.

If you want to talk about your son's alliance, never step into my house again.

I can take care of my daughter's wedding.

I sent Mr Sastry to Ramabhadrayya's house to seek his son.

Oh it it? Nice alliance. My wife keeps taunting so I had to ask you.

Anyhow, what will your daughter eat at my house?

Mom... Coffee.

I shall send right away dear. Lakshmi... Hey Lakshmi...

You want Ramabhadrayya's alliance? I too will see how you would.

The girl looks much better than the photo.

She learnt a bit of English too.

Her father is not alive.

Her mother alone brought her up with utmost love and pamper.

The house runs on the mother's rules.

You need not hesitate in the matter of dowry.

Hmm. Does she have any other children?

One son and one step-daughter.

She wouldn't give anything as dowry for that girl.

All the property goes to the younger daughter only.

How much are they planning to give as dowry?

Including the cash and jewellery it would sum up around 1 Lakh.

The house and farms which are on the mother's name would go to this girl.

If you want anything else, you may ask. I will convince her.

She is very determined to make alliance with you.

But I have two sons. Whom is he seeking?

Your wish. She doesn't mind you choosing her for either of them.

Moreover, she wishes to get the son-in-law her home to stay along.

To stay with her?

Yeah. But if you don't like to send your son to stay there,

you may talk to her directly.

The girl looks good, ready to give huge dowry too.

Then why did you come this far away, haven't you got any alliance nearby?

What can I say? Gudamma has a step brother Gantayya there.

He is ruining all the alliances and sending them away.

-Why? -He wants to get girl married to his son.

So why don't they get married to him then?

Favourable for relationships and the property too.

God! He has all the bad habits.

Right now, he's in jail.

Is it? Fine. I will visit and see the girl.

Please send a letter before you arrive.

Address is written on the back side of the picture.

Gundubogula Gundamma

Gundubogula? What is Gundamma's husband's name?

Mr.Venkatramayya.

Isn't their native Durgapuram?

Yes. After his first wife's demise...

He came to stay with in-laws of his second marriage.

He isn't alive now.

Fine. I will come and meet them.

-Would you write a letter before arrival? -Yes.

Venkanna.. get me my walking stick and the shawl.

-Where's brother? -Left for the animals farm.

-Where's brother? -He just left this way.

Come brother, sit.

-What's up? -Nothing much.

-Had a cinema programme today. -That's very good.

Son!

Son... Dad is calling you both.

-Why? -Not sure.

Bro, Dad has been seeking alliances for us lately.

Its very good. Come on!

Why have you called us dad?

To talk about your weddings.

We are getting a lot of alliances offering huge dowries.

But I dislike taking dowry.

Daughter-in-law who give dowry, will come with pride and authority too.

But we don't need such ones.

We require one who can take care of the home,

and who shares our grief too along with happiness.

Sure, please seek such girls.

I called to tell you this.

Today there came an alliance from Gundubogula Venkatramayya's family.

He helped me a lot in my earlier days.