Bheela’s Blog -112
15 January 2023
One of the workers is injured, and Oshin stitches to finish the job. She is pleasantly surprised to see Kayo at her doorstep.
Kayo informs Oshin that Kota is in Tokyo, and she left her home in Sakata to live in Tokyo and wait for Kota.
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https://medium.com/@bheela-wadehra/bheelas-blog-111-5904b23a1a34
Episode 112
FLASHBACK CONTINUES
Genzi, as usual, sweeps the front area with his long broom. The morning sun is just up. Sunrays fall on his face, and he feels happy about this. He suddenly hears a noise from the house and looks up.
‘Is this Takakura residence? I am sorry to bother you so early in the morning. I am calling for Kota.’ Kayo is on the phone, and she is trying to get connected with Kota. After a pause, she continues, ‘he is still asleep? Please leave a message for him to call me. I am at Nihonbashi; the number here is.’
(Nihonbashi is the area where Tanokura house is located. It is about 4 km south of Ueno station in Tokyo)
Hearing the sound, Oshin and Ryuzo come out to the front area where the telephone is connected.
‘Who is she calling so early in the morning?’ asks Ryuzo as he rubs his eyes.
Oshin catches Ryuzo by his arm and takes him inside.
‘What is the matter?’ Ryuzo is puzzled.
‘She is calling Kota Takakura,’ Oshin informs Ryuzo, whispering.
‘Takakura?’
‘She told me she wasn’t going home to Kaga-ya.’
‘She is calling that former lover of hers?’ Ryuzo is agitated.
‘Good morning! ’ says Kayo, coming out of the hall. She enters the dining area and sits next to the table. She says, ‘I am sorry to cause such a commotion.’
‘Don’t do this!’ Ryuzo sits next to her and warns her.
‘If you do, what will happen to Kaga-ya?’ Oshin joins, too. She sits opposite Kayo and tries to convince her.
‘I don’t care about Kaga-ya,’ Kayo remains defiant and continues, ‘I called Kota to meet him. I will see him no matter what it takes. I have just got to see him!’ Kayo is desperate. She continues, ‘I left him to go back to Sakata. I have not seen him since. And that is my biggest regret. I want to see him and bare my soul. Now I will finally be able to talk to him! That is why I came out here. Please help me.’ Kayo openly shares with Ryuzo and Oshin and bows to them, seeking their sympathy. She says, ‘I have decided to be with Kota!’
Ryuzo cannot understand fully. He disapproves of a married woman going back to her ex-lover.
Meanwhile, the phone rings, and Genzi answers, ‘yes, this is Tanokura Company. Thank you for your continued business. Yes, the merchandise was finished yesterday.’ Kayo is hopeful that the call will be from Kota but gets disappointed.
‘Oshin, you would better be with her if she plans to meet the Takakura. Only you can stop them from making a mistake,’ Ryuzo is concerned, and he instructs Oshin.
‘What is the use of trying to stop her? I was responsible for sending Kayo back to Sakata to get married. She wanted to wait in Tokyo for Kota. I lied to her. I told her that Kota never returned. That is why she gave up and got married. It is my fault that she is unhappy,’ Oshin finally shares with Ryuzo and is full of regrets. She says, ‘I can’t do anything to stop her now.’
Kayo keeps waiting next to the telephone set for a call from Kota. Finally, a call comes.
Oshin hangs the diaper on a bamboo rod, and Kayo comes out to the backyard.
‘Kota just called! I am meeting him for lunch,’ says Kayo, and she runs back to the house to get ready.
Oshin feels a little jealous of Kayo. She might have been with Kota if things had turned out differently. She feels Kayo has taken Kota from her. Now they are about to be with one another. Oshin is envious of Kayo’s boldness as she routinely goes about her daily chore. She takes a deep sigh.
Kayo is ready and steps out of the Tanokura house. Oshin comes out of the house and watches Kayo running out through the lane.
Ryuzo returns home and, taking his hat out, tells Oshin, ‘I just saw Kayo; she said Takakura called her. He knows Kayo is already married, so why would he want to see her?’ Ryuzo is upset. He hands the hat to Oshin as he enters the house.
‘There is nothing we can do,’ Oshin remains calm. She walks to the kitchen when Ryuzo follows her. Ryuzo seems to be very pleased.
‘Oshin, we got the land!’ he announces, ‘our bid has been accepted. The land is officially ours!
Oshin looks anxious. She knows that this would mean taking a huge risk. She asks, ‘are we taking a loan?’
‘This is our big chance here in Tokyo. We can’t let it slip away.’
***
Kayo reaches the restaurant where Kota calls her to meet. She sits with a glass of shake. Kota arrives, and he sits opposite her.
‘Don’t worry,’ Kota tells the waiter and looks at Kayo.
Kayo greets Kota and says, ‘you look very well. It has been so long.’
‘I am glad that you called; I have been wanting to see you again,’ says Kota, and he orders a milkshake for himself, too, from the waitress who stands at their table to take an order.
‘I visited Sakata several times. But I learned that you were already married.’ Says Kota looking at Kayo.
‘You didn’t forget me?’ Kayo gets hopeful.
‘I never got to bid you a proper farewell. It has been bothering me; I am glad that we finally met,’ says Kota, and he hesitates.
‘I shouldn’t have left without telling you,’ says Kayo.
‘You did the right thing; you would have been unhappy here in Tokyo.’ Kota says awkwardly.
‘Life in Sakata was hell. I didn’t have it easy in Tokyo. It was hard waiting for you to come back to me. But I now know waiting for you was my happiness. I didn’t realize it until I went back to Sakata. I hadn’t received any news from you, so when I heard you were back in Tokyo, I just had to come and see you! I don’t ever want to return to Sakata. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to see me. But you hadn’t forgotten. We meet again, and I will never waver again. I have cast everything off. It will be like the old times.’ Kayo gets emotional as she spells out all she has in her heart.
‘I am sorry, I didn’t come for that. I just wanted to apologize to you. I realize I can’t make any woman happy,’ Kota tries to clarify his stand by coming to the point. He continues, ‘but I still became involved with you. I just had to apologize. I made a mistake. I know I can’t expect you to forgive me. But I wanted to tell you!’
‘You regret that we were ever together?’ Kayo demands to know.
‘No, I will always cherish the memory. But I refuse to cause you further unhappiness.’ Says Kota.
‘What about your work? Asks Kayo.
‘My work isn’t just with the farm workers; Japan is now a fully capitalized society. My work is just beginning. As things worsen, a family would be a burden to me. What we had then, I will never have again. I am grateful to you for the memories. Thank you!’ Kota clarifies his position.
‘Is that what you came to tell me?’ Kayo is upset and disappointed.
‘It is important to me. We parted before I had the chance to tell you,’ says Kota.
Kayo understands the situation. Her face becomes grim.
***
Oshin picks up the dried clothes and hums a tune. Ryuzo, too, sings a song in his room.
Kayo enters; she is hurt and angry.
‘Welcome back,’ says Oshin.
Kayo doesn’t reply; she turns and climbs the stairs to go to her room. Oshin follows her. Kayo closes the door after entering the room hurriedly.
‘Ms. Kayo!’ Oshin calls out.
‘Leave me alone!’ Kayo replies curtly.
***
Oshin strolls in the lane with Yu on her back, tied firmly with a belt. Oshin watches the sellers as they pass by, and she walks merrily. As she takes the lane to her home, she comes face to face with Kota.
‘You seem very happy with your baby,’ says Kota as he looks at Oshin and then at Yu.
‘Ms. Kayo is back; won’t you come over to see her?’ Oshin asks.
‘I am glad to see you so happy,’ says Kota, ‘you are lucky to have married a good man. I betrayed you. I couldn’t make you happy. But I want you to be happy forever. I will always be thinking of you no matter where I am.’ Kota could not express it, but Oshin understood his feelings completely.
‘I am leaving on a trip again,’ Kota continues as he prepares to leave, ‘but I will come to see you when I return. So please stay happy and cheerful.’ He then turns and walks fast.
Oshin hadn’t expected to see Kota again. She is so moved that she can’t speak. But Oshin knows that he still loves her. She enters her home delighted. Some men can never fully express their love. Oshin now knows this.
***
‘What is with Kayo? Women sure are hard to understand!’ Kota comments and sits next to Oshin.
‘We are happy, aren’t we?’ Oshin looks at Ryuzo lovingly; Yu is still on her back. She continues, ‘and this happiness will continue forever.’
‘Of course, we are just beginning!’ Ryuzo responds cheerfully. He touches Oshin’s cheek and forehead lightly. Oshin feels joyful as she turns to look at Yu.
Where is Oshin’s life heading? What about Kayo?
We will find more in the next episode, number 113, soon.