Bheela’s Blog -113
22 January 2023.
Episode 112 Recap
Kota agrees to meet Kayo, and they meet up at a restaurant. Kota clarifies to Kayo that he does not have feelings for her and wants to apologize. Kayo is upset.
Oshin thinks about Kota, too. Kota comes and meets her and expresses his love for Oshin subtly. He is happy to see Oshin having a happy life as a mother and a wife.
Oshin feels delighted as she relishes being with Ryuzo and Yu.
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Episode 113
FLASHBACK CONTINUES
Kayo doesn’t say anything after she meets with Kota. She refuses to get out of bed. Oshin doesn’t know why, but she can sense that Kayo is extremely hurt. Oshin quietly peeps into the room where Kayo is asleep from time to time to check on her. Oshin cannot bring herself to ask why Kayo is so upset.
Oshin returns to the dining room after looking out for Kayo and sets up the table for breakfast.
Ryuzo enters and sits next to Oshin. He asks, ‘Kayo is not up yet? What happened? Should we get her to see a doctor? She hasn’t eaten at all. What will we tell Kaga-ya-people if something happens to her?’
‘Let us give her a little more time,’ says Oshin, remaining calm, ‘Nothing will happen to her.’
‘Let me know if there is anything I can do. I won’t go out today,’ says Ryuzo, and he gets up.
Oshin picks up the dishes and gets up, too. As she approaches the Kitchen, she finds Kayo waiting for her. She is startled and is unable to say anything.
Kayo gives a smile to Oshin, greeting her. She says, ‘I am sorry to cause you so much concern. I will be going home to Sakata now,’
‘Ms. Kayo, you can stay here as long as you like. I can call Sakata and let them know. So, stay here.’ Oshin is relieved to see Kayo smile and make this decision.
‘I thought it over all night. I realize how foolish I have been. And, Oshin, I am hungry!’ says Kayo, smiling. Oshin bursts out laughing, and Kayo joins her, too.
‘I have nitsuke vegetables and miso soup. I will heat it all up,’ says Oshin, taking the meals out of a basket.
(Nitsuke is a Japanese way of cooking vegetables and fish. It is prepared by stirring and steaming the vegetables with spices)
‘I can do it myself,’ says Kayo.
‘I will get it for you,’ Oshin places the bowls and other cutlery on the dining table in front of Kayo.
‘Oshin, Kota loves you,’ Kayo starts speaking abruptly, making Oshin halt and feel awkward. Kayo continues, ‘he wanted to see me only to ask about you! I knew, but while living with him in Tokyo, I thought he had gotten over you. I am such a fool! He always had only you in his mind. I had been dreaming my silly dreams for years.’
Oshin tries to interrupt Kayo, but she doesn’t stop. She says, ‘I am not blaming you. Maybe you had it worse off than me. But after I realized it, it all seemed silly. I will go home and be good to my family. And I will have a baby, too!’
‘Things will get better with a baby,’ says Oshin, holding Kayo’s hands. Oshin is always hopeful.
‘Seeing you, I can believe that! But I will have to have a baby for Kaga-ya’s sake. Otherwise, that baby my husband had by his mistress, will take over the business! I won’t let that happen! Kaga-ya is all I have left now. I must have an heir for Kaga-ya!’ says Kayo, full of sincerity.
‘I am glad you feel that way.’
‘I am glad I got to see Kota,’ confesses Kayo, ‘If I hadn’t come out to Tokyo, I probably would have ruined my life dreaming my dreams. I don’t regret though. I have had my chance at love. The love of my youth. Shouldn’t that be enough?’
Oshin nods in affirmation.
‘The days of my youth are over now! I will concentrate on running the Kaga-ya business! I will start over with my life,’ announces Kayo. She gets tired of her speech and says, taking a deep breath, ‘I am so hungry!’
Oshin passes a bowl of noodles to Kayo, overwhelmed by her care for Kayo. Kayo hurriedly fills her mouth with large portions of the noodles. Oshin keeps looking at Kayo lovingly.
***
Ryuzo carries Kayo’s suitcase, and Oshin comes to see them off. Kayo goes home to Sakata that night. But Oshin can see how lonely Kayo really is.
***
Oshin and Ryuzo are ready to sleep. They lie down next to each other, each in their own thoughts.
‘I am glad; I was apprehensive. Kayo did the right thing by going home,’ says Ryuzo, looking at the roof.
‘Human beings grow stronger with each hurdle they conquer in life,’ says Oshin philosophically.
‘That is how it has been with us,’ says Ryuzo and turns to look at Oshin. She turns to his side, too.
‘I won’t oppose building a new factory now. Please do as you see fit. I was just afraid of losing my present happiness. If we fail, we will start all over again. As long as we trust each other, nothing can overcome us.’
‘That is the Oshin I know! Isn’t that what you have always taught me?’
‘Compared to Kayo, we are fortunate. We are true husband and wife now. I am not afraid of anything,’ says Oshin, and extends her hand to Ryuzo. Ryuzo holds her hand tightly and says, ‘With you, I can do anything!’
Oshin touches Ryuzo’s fist with two fingers playfully, and Ryuzo catches one of the fingers. They laugh out loud.
***
They are now in debt. By the end of August, their factory is done. Ryuzo returns home, sweating. It is the peak of summer. The girls are working on the sewing machine and wiping their sweat with their hands.
‘Thanks for working on such a hot day,’ Ryuzo enters and addresses them. Then he looks at Genzi and says, ‘We will have a grand opening on September 1st!’
Turning to the girls, he continues, ‘Soon, you all will be working in a big, spacious factory!’
‘Congratulations!’ the girls say in unison.
‘It will be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There will be a recreation room, too. You could use it for after-work activities,’ says Ryuzo with excitement.
Oshin is stitching a cloth, sitting in the backyard area to get some breeze. She welcomes Ryuzo as he enters.
‘Don’t use the needles around the baby! What if it should poke him,’ says Ryuzo; he always has concern for Oshin and baby Yu.
‘Don’t worry, I have to get this done today.’
Ryuzo is tired; he lies flat on the floor beside Oshin and stretches himself.
‘Why don’t you shave?’ asks Oshin, looking at Ryuzo’s beard.
‘Not until our grand opening!’
‘It is almost done!’
‘I promised myself I wouldn’t shave until all is done, and nothing can go wrong. I will shave on September 1st,’ declares Ryuzo.
‘We will simultaneously celebrate the new factory and our business’s anniversary?’ Oshin realizes that their business started on the same day.
Ryuzo gets up with a start and says, ‘I think we can! All the sewing machines should be in by then. And we won’t even have to make the down payment on them for another month. By September 2nd, we will be working there!’ Ryuzo has all his plans chalked out, and he is excited to share them with Oshin.
‘You have worked so hard and lost so much weight! I had meant to tell you to stop, but you have done it! I am so glad. I am glad that I didn’t stand in your way. You are a wonderful man!’ Oshin gets emotional and continues, ‘I even like your beard!’ She keeps her palm on Ryuzo’s beard, choking herself with happiness.
Ryuzo comes forward and takes Oshin into his arms. They hug each other close and cry with joy.
***
Ryuzo and Oshin make a plan to celebrate the completion of the new factory on schedule on September 1, 1923. They clean and decorate the premises. The girls place cushions in a row in the hall. They greet Oshin and Ryuzo as they enter, wearing fine clothes. Genzi follows with Yu on his back.
‘You shaved!’ Itoko, the senior tailor, comments as she looks at the clean-shaven Ryuzo.
‘Congratulations!’ All the girls congratulate the Tanokura family on this happy occasion.
‘Thank you all! We will have a party here from noon,’ says Ryuzo.
‘This is grand!’ observes Genzi as he looks around the new place and continues, ‘Maybe, I should move here, too.’
‘We will build a new house with an annex to be your retirement quarters,’ Ryuzo shares his dream.
‘You have done well. I have no more regrets in life,’ says Genzi.
‘I wish Genzi could join us at the party, too,’ says Oshin.
‘I don’t like formal gatherings. I would rather babysit,’ Genzi is happy to be with Yu.
‘I am sorry,’ says Oshin.
‘You would be unable to attend to the guest properly with the baby. I will take care of Yu,’ Genzi is wise as always.
‘Yu seems to like you more than us,’ says Ryuzo.
‘He is like my very own grandchild. I would rather go back to direct the guests here,’ says Genzi.
‘Thank you so much,’ says Oshin.
They come out to the entrance. It has started raining heavily.
‘Too bad it is raining,’ says Oshin looking at the sky.
‘But there is wind, so the rain will blow away.’ Genzi is ever so hopeful. He opens the umbrella and gets ready to leave.
As Oshin comes out tapping Yu’s mouth, Genzi says, ‘Don’t get your formal kimono wet.’
‘Be careful on your way home.’ Says Oshin.
‘Yes, yes,’ Genzi replies cheerfully.
***
Today is the happiest day in Oshin and Ryuzo’s lives. Who would have guessed the calamity is set to strike just a few hours from now? Oshin looks at the sky.
What calamity struck Japan on September 1, 1923? How will it impact Oshin’s life?
We will know more in the coming episode, number 114, soon.