Bheela’s Blog -086
09 July 2022
Episode 85 Recap
Oshin visits Sakata on her way back to Tokyo. Kayo is in miserable condition as her husband cheats on her. Oshin feels fortunate to have Ryuzo in her life.
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Episode 86
FLASHBACK CONTINUES
Oshin returns to her home in Tokyo. She is in a happy mood and almost runs to reach her door carrying some flowers she plucks on the way.
‘Welcome back!’ an office worker of Tanokura company greets her.
‘Thank you!’ Oshin replies to him and enters. Ryuzo and Genzi are busy at work. Hearing her footsteps, Ryuzo turns to the door and exclaims happily to see her.
‘Oshin, you are back!’ says Ryuzo.
***
Genzi prepares fresh tea and serves Oshin and Ryuzo. All of them sit in the dining area.
‘Thank you for letting me go home,’ says Oshin; she is grateful to Ryuzo and Genzi, ‘my mother sends you her blessings and best wishes. Thank you so much!’ Oshin bows to Ryuzo in gratitude.
‘She must be heartbroken,’ says Ryuzo.
‘At least I was able to tell my father about our marriage,’ Oshin is excited and wants to share everything with Ryuzo.
‘You were able to tell him?’ Ryuzo is pleasantly surprised.
‘He was so happy, and I am glad,’ says Oshin.
‘That is good to know! He was so angry when he came over that night,’ Genzi comments, thinking of Sakuzo’s last visit to their place, ‘I still remember it well.’
‘He had a lot of spirits. I wish I could have seen him again. We could have had drinks and talked,’ says Ryuzo.
‘He wasn’t allowed to drink, but he insisted. He wanted to celebrate our wedding. That night he took a turn for the worse. But he died peacefully. He was happy.’ Oshin shares each event of the visit to her village. Ryuzo listens to her attentively. Genzi brings in tea cups and a glass vase putting the flowers Oshin brought with her.
‘Please don’t trouble yourself for me; I should be serving you!’ Oshin protests as Genzi lovingly gives her the teacup.
‘No, you are tired. My job is complete now that you are back. Your husband didn’t enjoy my cooking; he was in a bad mood in your absence,’ Genzi spills the beans as Ryuzo laughs.
Genzi laughs and says, ‘I am thrilled to have you back; please rest today. I must go and take care of business.’ Genzi gets up and laughs; he wants to give the couple some private moments.
‘Thank you,’ says Oshin.
***
‘You had a tough time,’ says Ryuzo after Genzi leaves the room.
‘I have done my duty; I have no regrets. That new house got completed, too,’ Oshin says enthusiastically.
‘It’s finished! At least your father got to die in his new house! You have done your duty to your parents. Oshin, you did good!’
‘I am relieved now, and I will be able to think and live more for myself. My mother told me to take good care of you and to be happy.’
‘Oshin, I am happy for you!’
‘I won’t think about my home anymore. I am a Tanokura from this day on. I will be with you forever. And I will bear you fine children. I am ready to live in Tokyo until I die. Please be good to me,’ Oshin makes declarations and then bows to Ryuzo again.
Ryuzo laughs at Oshin’s theatrics; he gets up and sits close to Oshin. He pats her shoulder and says, ‘Oshin! I will never let you go. We will be together till death do us part! Just as Genzi said, I am no good without you.’ Ryuzo, too, gets emotional.
‘If my continuing to work is a problem, I will quit. I won’t have to send money home anymore,’ says Oshin, who now wants to devote herself to Ryuzo with complete dedication.
‘That is all up to you; if you enjoy working, I won’t complain. If your heart is in our marriage, it will go well. That is all I could ever ask for,’ Ryuzo has a heart of gold; all he wants is Oshin’s happiness.
‘Thank you,’ Oshin says and feels fortunate.
‘Someko was here asking when you are coming home. She says the other hairdressers are expensive and aren’t any good. You have your clients waiting. It would be best if you took care of them,’ says Ryuzo; he too gives Oshin a fundamental lesson of business to keep the clients happy.
‘Yes,’ Oshin nods.
‘You have changed; you even speak differently!’ Ryuzo notices that Oshin has some burden lifted from her mind and is talking more freely with him. Oshin’s resolve to dedicate herself to Ryuzo is visible on her face!
‘I am trying harder to be a good wife to you. I am trying to get rid of my Yamagata accent. I can’t talk like a village girl forever.’
Ryuzo has a hearty laugh. He says, ‘it doesn’t matter how one talks; it is one’s heart that counts.’
‘If I don’t get rid of my accent, I can never forget about Yamagata,’ says Oshin. She wants to start afresh, moving away from her past hardships. Ryuzo laughs with mock seriousness.
Genzi watches them from the living room door. He, too, laughs and is happy for the couple.
***
The girls at the café make a loud noise seeing Oshin back from her village.
‘I am sorry for being away for so long,’ says Oshin; she bows in greeting to the girls.
‘Your father died?’ asks Someko.
‘But at least you have a fine husband; you won’t be lonely,’ says Oshigeko.
‘Will you quit your hairdressing job?’ asks Someko; she is usually worried.
‘Of course! She is the wife of a businessman now. It would be disgraceful. Her husband would never allow it!’ says young Oyae with infinite wisdom!
‘No, I will keep working,’ declares Oshin.
‘Awwww!’ the girls exclaim in unison.
‘My husband says I can continue. He is supportive of a woman having a job,’ says Oshin with pride for Ryuzo.
‘That sounds just like him! He is a good man; he also treated us with respect. He never tried anything with us like the other customers. That is what a real gentleman is,’ says Oshigeko; they all have respect and fondness for Ryuzo and are never shy of praising him repeatedly.
‘You sure got yourself a good man!’ says Oyae.
‘We should all have a wedding celebration for them.’ Says one of the girls, excited!
‘Yes, let us have a big party! You two haven’t had a proper celebration yet, have you?’ Someko plans for them.
‘We have been busy,’ Oshin is hesitant.
‘We will invite all his friends, too,’ says Someko.
‘But her father just died!’ Oyae remarks! She is young but always comes up with some wise thoughts.
Someko brushes aside and says, ‘Her father will be happy that we are celebrating with her! It is okay, isn’t it?’
‘I don’t need a big party,’ Oshin protests.
‘Just leave it to us!’ Someko interrupts her and starts planning. She says, ‘I got you two together. I am like your matchmaker!’ All the girls burst out laughing.
‘Listen to this older woman,’ Oyae pulls Someko’s legs!
***
Oshin is back home, and she prepares the bed getting ready to sleep. She lights a mosquito coil.
(I remember we used to have these coils called Kachhua chhap agarbatti, a very popular mosquito repellent)
‘Sure, let them arrange a party as they wish!’ says Ryuzo as Oshin informs him of Someko’s plan.
‘But your father gave us money to have a proper party; we should pay for it,’ says Oshin.
‘There is no need for such formality. I would rather have real friends to help us celebrate.’ Ryuzo also is against a big show-off now and has become more practical.
Ryuzo closes the door and comes close to Oshin, and she feels happy in his proximity. She says, ‘we are finally a couple.’
‘Yes, a lot happened! There were times when I almost gave up. We are finally together.’ Ryuzo admits.
‘I owe it all to you,’ says Oshin.
Ryuzo takes Oshin into his arms and holds her tight. He says, ‘we are a real couple; we will be husband and wife now.’
***
Oshin gives her life and soul to Ryuzo that night. She feels so fortunate to be with him.
***
Genzi wakes up early and is startled to look at the new couple. Oshin is applying the shaving cream on Ryuzo’s face, giggling like a school kid.
‘Not all over my face!’ says Ryuzo.
‘Don’t move!’ Oshin warns him. Genzi watches them and is delighted to share the happy phase of his young master’s life. He feels somewhat embarrassed and moves away.
Oshin folds the sleeves of the Kimono Ryuzo is wearing to make it easy to shave. She enjoys being close to the man she has started loving so dearly. She takes a rag and cleans the dining area to prepare it for breakfast.
‘Oshin, shouldn’t you go to see your hairdressing teacher, Ms. Taka?’ says Ryuzo.
‘I was waiting for things to settle down first.’ Oshin replies.
‘Maybe we should go together,’ Ryuzo suggests. He feels responsible for Oshin’s social duties too.
Oshin is delighted to hear him; she jumps and runs close to him.
‘You will come with me?’ she asks.
‘I want to thank her for having taught you. We are husband and wife now. Let us go today,’ Ryuzo is enthusiastic about taking Oshin on social visits.
Oshin feels shy and happy at the same time. These are some of the most beautiful moments of her life.
‘We can walk down the street together,’ says Oshin, counting her blessings of happiness on account of Ryuzo’s small gestures.
‘That is what it means to be a married couple.’ Ryuzo replies with excitement, and he cuts his cheek while shaving. Oshin is alarmed; she gets the medicine box to apply a disinfectant.
***
Oshin and Ryuzo walk on the lane leading to the place where Oshin spent over three years learning hairdressing. They stop to watch the children play on the street. Oshin holds a sweet box she brought for Ms. Taka.
‘So, you are married now? That is great!’ Ms. Taka exclaims, just like Ms. Kuni, she too is thrilled to see Oshin progress in her life.
‘Thank you for all you have done for Oshin,’ says Ryuzo and bows in gratitude.
‘I should thank her! She worked so hard. And I haven’t been able to do much for her,’ Ms. Taka remains humble.
‘You gave me the chance to work for myself. I am grateful,’ Oshin, too, bows down with respect for Ms. Taka.
‘I hear you have been very busy doing hair. I was happy when I heard,’ Ms. Taka has a broad smile when she speaks.
‘I owe it all to you. I have been meaning to visit, but I couldn’t make it,’ says Oshin.
‘The other girls would have been very jealous of Oshin,’ Ms. Taka looks at Ryuzo and tells him, ‘That is why I sent Oshin away.’
‘Being a hairdresser must be very rough,’ Ryuzo says; he understands the difficulties of running a business in a big city like Tokyo.
‘It was worse in the old days. One would study for up to six years; then, one still had to work for free for four years. I remember working for free for ten years. Times sure have changed.’ Ms. Taka shares her experience.
Oritsu, the young apprentice, brings a tray with tea and serves it to Oshin and Ryuzo.
‘Thank you,’ says Oshin, and then she asks, ‘Are the other girls out?’
‘No, they all quit; it is just Oritsu now. I am trying to get her to learn Western-style hair, too,’ says Ms. Taka; she is anxious about her falling business but puts up a brave smile.
‘No, I can’t leave you all alone by yourself,’ Oritsu responds.
‘You don’t want to be left behind the times,’ warns Ms. Taka. She then looks at Oshin and says, ‘we have so few customers wanting the traditional Japanese hairstyle. The economy is to blame, too. Moreover, the Japanese style takes time and money! Western styles are cheap and easy, too. But they can’t learn western style here. I can’t blame the other girls for leaving.’
‘It is just the two of you?’ Oshin is sad to hear this.
‘We only get geisha now; I can handle it alone,’ says Ms. Taka with a fake smile. She realizes that Oshin would quickly understand her situation, and she changes the topic, saying, ‘I shouldn’t be talking so gloomy! We have no customers, do we?’ She asks Oritsu. She turns to Oshin and says, ‘let us drink!’
‘No, please don’t bother,’ says Ryuzo.
‘I am happy to have you; please stay,’ says Ms. Taka. She takes a deep breath and then continues, ‘Oshin, a woman’s happiness is with a man she can rely upon and to whom she can trust. Don’t be like me.’ Taka tries to hide her emotions.
Taka seems so lonely. Oshin can feel the changing times.
What will happen next? We will know more in the next Episode, no. 87, soon!