Bheela’s Blog -119
12 March 2023
Episode 118 Recap
Daigoro introduces Oshin to the family members. Ryuzo shares the grim news with the family that he has lost everything. His elder brother gives him cold shoulders.
Oshin is exhausted by the journey. Ryuzo tries to help with diaper washing but gets a nasty response from his mother.
Daigoro talks to Oshin to encourage her. This gives her some strength to start over. Ryuzo tells her they have no option but to live in Saga for good. Oshin’s heart does not approve, but her head tells her she must give her best to win over the family member’s love. She wants to restart her life!
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Episode 119
FLASHBACK CONTINUES
Oshin picks up the toy Ken had gifted Yu and thinks about her last days in Tokyo. She unpacks, but her mind is elsewhere.
She is startled by the sound of the door as Ryuzo enters after having a bath.
‘The bath was great! I hadn’t bathed in days. Go take a bath yourself later,’ says Ryuzo. He is wearing a fresh Kimono and feels better.
‘That Kimono!’ Oshin looks at him admiringly.
‘It is my father’s. Mother altered it for me. I am so thankful to them,’ says Ryuzo, smiling.
‘It looks good on you,’ says Oshin.
‘I am glad I am home! Mother is bathing Yu now. She likes him. She is going to give Heikichi’s old clothes to Yu. I am glad we are here, for Yu’s sake, too,’ Ryuzo is cheerful and relaxed.
‘In Tokyo, one can’t take baths now,’ says Oshin; she still thinks of Tokyo.
‘My parents are preparing a celebration for us. Hurry up and change!’ says Ryuzo.
Oshin looks at him with a smile.
***
The Tanokura family gathers in the dining area. Small stools, one for each person, are placed with plates and bowls kept on them.
Daigoro and Ms. Kiyo, the parents, sit on one side. Daigoro sits and counts the seats.
‘We are one setting short!’ Daigoro comments.
‘There is one for Ryuzo,’ replies Kiyo.
‘Where is Oshin’s seat?’ asks Daigoro.
‘She is eating separately,’ says Kiyo.
‘But this is a celebration for both of them!’ protests Daigoro.
‘We must set things right from the start. Tsuneko has never joined us before either.’ Kiyo replies curtly.
‘Aah! Sorry to take so long!’ Ryuzo enters, bows to everyone, and sits. Oshin sits next to him.
‘Thank you for letting me rest today,’ says Oshin as she bows to all, ‘I was able to get a good sleep.’
‘I washed the diapers myself, but don’t ever make your husband do the wash again! I always washed even when I was down with a fever!’ Koyo taunts Oshin from the start.
Ryuzo tries to stop her, but his mother is unstoppable; she says, ‘I have put Yu to bed in my room.’
‘Thank you very much,’ says Oshin, bowing again.
‘Sit down, start eating; I am starving!’ announces Ryuzo’s sister, Atsuko, as she enters the dining room.
‘She insisted on staying for dinner,’ says Ms. Kiyo.
‘I will be spending the night here, too,’ says the daughter, and all of them laugh.
‘You can join Tsuneko; she will teach you what to do,’ says Ms. Kiyo, looking at Oshin.
Oshin gets ups and goes to the kitchen awkwardly.
‘Ryuzo, you can start!’ says his mom.
***
Oshin enters the kitchen; she watches Tsuneko, the wife of Ryuzo’s elder brother. Oshin bows to her.
‘Women eat after the men,’ says Tsuneko as she approaches Oshin. She continues, ‘it is different here than in Tokyo. The women bathe last, too.’
‘I am sorry I couldn’t help in the kitchen today. I will do my best starting tomorrow. Please teach me what to do,’ says Oshin; she tries to make friends with her co-sister.
(In India, we call the husband’s elder brother’s wife ‘Jethani.’ It is a bitter-sweet relationship but is based on sisterhood.)
‘Maintaining the house is my job. Otsugi, the maid, helps too,’ says Tsuneko; she keeps a distance from Oshin.
‘I can cook as well as anyone.’ offers Oshin.
‘Cooking is the job of the eldest son’s wife. I don’t want you meddling in it. Mother might scold me if I let you help. The lesser son’s wives have other tasks to perform.’ says Tsuneko.
Oshin starts to understand the family dynamics. She feels offended by ‘lesser sons,’ but she controls herself.
***
Oshin prepares to bathe, but she is startled by the sound of her mother-in-law passing by in the next room.
She sits outside the door and says, ‘Thank you for the bath.’
‘Oshin, come in here,’ says her mother-in-law.
Oshin opens the sliding door and sits in front of Ms. Kiyo, closing the door behind her.
‘Things here are very different from Tokyo. You must be surprised. Remember, I won’t treat you as a guest,’ Kiyo starts her sermon, ‘if it were just my husband and me, I wouldn’t grumble. But Fukutaro is the head of this household, so be sure to mind Fukutaro and his wife. If you plan to stay with us, you and Ryuzo must work. We must be fair to Fukutaro.’
‘I realize that!’ says Oshin.
‘Good, then I will say no more. I sure don’t want the harmony disrupted here. That is why I am acting as the devil’s advocate.’
‘I am so sorry to cause you concerns. I am willing to do all I can. I can do people’s hair and sew.’
‘You don’t need to do that. You and Ryuzo will both be working in the fields. We have opened a new farm plot. Fukutaro says you two can work it. It might be hard work for city folks. But you will have to manage. We will assign a farmhand to you. So do as he guides.’ Kiyo diplomatically says that Oshin and Ryuzo must work to stay in the household.
Oshin worries for Ryuzo as she knows he isn’t accustomed to hard labor.
***
A kerosene lamp is placed in the corner of the room Oshin and Ryuzo are using. It is bedtime, and Oshin puts loose nightwear on Yu. She shares with Ryuzo her conversation she just had with Ms. Kiyo.
‘She wants you out in the fields?’ Ryuzo is taken aback.
‘You will have to work in the fields, too. Hasn’t she told you?’ replies Oshin.
‘No, I haven’t ever worked in the fields. We had farmhands doing all our work. My brother does a lot of farming now,’ says Ryuzo. He starts sharing his family background with Oshin, saying, ‘we were big landlords until my grandfather’s days. But my father failed many business ventures and had to sell off some of the lands. We aren’t as well off as we used to be.’
‘Things must be tough here, too,’ says Oshin.
‘Mother never complains, but my father has a mistress, too,’ Ryuzo shares the darkest secret with Oshin.
***
It is early morning the following day. Oshin wakes up and goes to the kitchen. Tsuneko is already there, blowing air into the burning wood as she starts the furnace.
‘Good morning. Can I give you a hand?’ Oshin greets Tsuneko.
‘Go wash diapers or something; you will be too tired when you come back,’ says Tsuneko, without replying to Oshin’s greeting.
‘I can do your wash, too,’ says Oshin.
‘Just do your wash,’ replies Tsuneko.
‘Where is the soap?’ asks Oshin.
‘You will have to use your soap. Mother didn’t give me money for your soap. She used half my soap yesterday to wash Yu’s diapers. She only gives me a minimal allowance,’ says Tsuneko.
‘I am sorry,’ Oshin understands the situation.
Kiyo enters the kitchen, and Oshin greets her.
‘Oshin, this is for you to wear in the fields. There is one set for Ryuzo, too,’ says Kiyo, handing the field clothes to Oshin.
‘Thank you,’ says Oshin.
‘We have to give you everything,’ Kiyo starts her taunts right in the morning. She goes on, ‘Maybe your people back home can send money? But they provided you with no dowry either. Too bad you couldn’t have come from a better family. Your mother couldn’t do much anyway. But all mothers love their children,’ Kiyo leaves the kitchen after spitting all the venom she could. Oshin swallows the harsh words, and even Tsuneko looks on with contempt.
***
Oshin washes diapers without using any soap. Meanwhile, Ryuzo and Fukutaro have their breakfast.
‘Eat a lot; farm work is tough,’ says Ms. Kiyo. She takes the empty bowl from Ryuzo, goes to the kitchen, and refills. Oshin also eats her breakfast sitting in the kitchen. Once Kiyo finishes refilling the bowl and goes to the dining area, Oshin lifts the lid to take a second helping.
‘For a skinny girl, you eat a lot!’ Kiyo doesn’t spare a chance to insult Oshin. She watches Oshin trying to take some more. Oshin freezes.
‘I am not saying you shouldn’t. Go ahead and eat; you will need the strength.’ Ms. Kiyo continues.
‘Thank you, I am done,’ says Oshin closing the lid. Oshin gets the message her mother-in-law tries to convey.
‘Why is she so upset?’ Ms. Kiyo tells Ryuzo; she is in the process of driving Ryuzo against Oshin.
***
Fukutaro walks towards the field, followed by Ryuzo and Oshin.
‘Kozo, show them what to do,’ says Fukutaro to the young farmhand couple working in the field. After instructing, Fukutaro goes off.
‘I have heard about your troubles in Tokyo,’ says Kozo, the farmhand man. The bad news spreads fast in the village. He bows to Ryuzo and Oshin.
Ryuzo looks at Kozo carefully and recognizes him.
‘So, it is Kozo!’ Ryuzo pats Kozo’s shoulders and is delighted. He tells Oshin, ‘We used to play together as kids! You have a wife now?’ Ryuzo addresses the woman standing next to Kozo.
‘Her name is Sawa,’ says Kozo shily.
Sawa removes her scarf and bows in greeting.
‘She is so pretty!’ says Oshin, admiring Sawa’s beauty in simplicity.
‘She sure is!’ Ryuzo appreciates her, too. He kicks Kozo and teases him, ‘where did you find such a fine wife?’ They have a hearty laugh together.
‘This is my wife,’ Ryuzo introduces Oshin to the farmhand couple. They bow to each other.
‘You will be working in the fields, too?’ asks Kozo looking at Oshin. She is carrying Yu on her back.
‘We are freeloaders,’ says Ryuzo truthfully.
‘That is too bad,’ says Kozo.
‘I will be all right in the fields,’ says Oshin, walking close to Sawa and telling her, ‘I am Oshin; nice to meet you!’
‘I brought a basket for your baby,’ says Sawa as she bows to Oshin, they walk to the basket placed in a flat area near the field. The basket is made of straw.
‘It will be too hard to work while carrying him,’ says Sawa.
The kindness of the peasant woman touches Oshin. ‘Thank you,’ says Oshin.
‘He is so cute,’ Sawa helps Oshin untie the cloth and carries Yu’s to her lap, stroking him lovingly. She places Yu gently in the basket, and Oshin looks on happily. Meeting a kind woman in the field is the brightest moment for Oshin since she arrived at Saga.
Oshin is impressed by Sawa’s beauty. She feels good about being with her in Saga. She hopes that things will be better. Both women look at Yu and feel happy.
What will happen now? Will Oshin and Ryuzo endure the hard work in the fields?
We will know more in the coming episode, number 120, soon!