Bheela’s Blog -136
17 Mar 2024
Episode 135 Recap
Oshin continues to get a cold shoulder, and unfair treatment from her mother-in-law, Ms. Kiyo.
Tsuneko is unable to bear the situation and she reveals to Oshin about the superstition. Oshin is now scared pf what action Ms. Kiyo might take.
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Episode 136
FLASHBACK CONTINUES
‘Tsuneko told you?’ Ryuzo is taken aback when Oshin tells him about the superstition the Tanokura family is discussing. Oshin and Ryuzo take a break at the field when Oshin shares the message with Ryuzo.
‘Now I know why your mother isn’t speaking to me,’ Oshin replies as she sips water from a cup after her afternoon meal.
‘Why did she have to go and tell you?’ Ryuzo is frustrated and upset.
‘Maybe she is nicer than I thought,’ Oshin looks at the positive side of Tsuneko’s behavior, she says, ‘I used to think she was so selfish.’
‘She shouldn’t have told you,’ Ryuzo isn’t convinced, ‘you will only feel worse about things. I think she is trying to force you out.’
‘You shouldn’t take it like that,’ says Oshin, ‘What would have happened if I didn’t know? She is just worried about me.’
‘You are being too naïve.’
‘I am glad she told me. At least I can prepare myself to face your mother.’
‘Oshin, maybe you should think about leaving,’ Ryuzo now starts worrying. He lies down on the grass and closes his eyes.
‘If I have to leave, I would like us to return to Tokyo together. We could start our lives over in Tokyo.’ As Oshin mentions Tokyo, it brings sparkle to her eyes.
‘Think about it! You are pregnant! Yu is still a lot of trouble, too! This is no time to talk about it,’ Ryuzo gets alarmed, and he gets up as he continues, ‘I am prepared to bury my bones here, I have finally gotten to join the cooperative. In 10 years, I will get to own my own land. I will be able to leave land for Yu. If I go to Tokyo, I will never get to come back. Not even if we were to starve there.’ Ryuzo is too fixed on getting the reclaimed land and Oshin takes a deep sigh as she realizes that Ryuzo won’t change his mind.
‘Then I have no choice but to remain here. I can’t go to Taka because I can’t do hairdressing yet. And I can’t go to Miss Kayo to have my baby,’ Frustrated, she gives in and says, ‘Let us quit talking about it! I have nowhere to go!’
***
Ms. Kiyo and Tsuneko sit post dinner with their sewing at the backyard room. Oshin enters and sits in front of them.
‘Thank you for the bath, I have put out the fire, too,’ says Oshin, thanking them. ‘Is there anything else I can do?’ she asks.
‘Oshin, I have good news for you! Someone is willing to take you in. Since you won’t go back to Yamagata, we have little choice. We can’t force you. But, there is a savior. They will take you in until you have the baby. The man used to be one of our sharecroppers. Now he has his own farm. He feels an obligation to us, so he is willing to let you stay there at their place.’ Miss Kiyo has all planned, and she shares the arrangement she made with Oshin. Oshin remains speechless with shock.
She then recovers and asks, ‘Does Ryuzo know about this?’
‘It doesn’t concern him, it is you who is going! You just have to agree to it. You are not taking Yu, so it is just you.’ Kiyo replies coldly.
Oshin cannot take it anymore, she gets up slowly and walks away. Tsuneko watches Oshin going with the corner of her eyes. Oshin goes to her room and sits on the floor; she is hurt and humiliated. Tsuneko enters, peeps in from the door and says in a hushed voice, ‘Oshin, you should be glad you have a place to go. Don’t take it as if you were being sent away. Think of this as a way to escape this house. It won’t be a vacation, but it will be good for you.’
Oshin has already made a resolve. Ignoring Tsuneko, she walks past and reaches the room where Kiyo is still sitting.
‘I would like to refuse your offer, I am a Tanokura wife. I will have my baby here. Please allow me,’ Oshin speaks out in front of her mother-in-law in one breath and bows to her.
Tsuneko comes running behind her and sits next to Oshin.
Ms. Kiyo is stunned! She looks at Oshin and asks, ‘You mean you won’t do as I ask?
‘I don’t know why I have to leave this house,’ says Oshin with her head down.
‘I told you, Oshin!’ Tsuneko tries to pacify Oshin.
‘I don’t believe in silly superstitions like that!’ Oshin remains firm.
‘You knew the reason, yet you dare to disobey?’ Ms. Kiyo dares Oshin.
‘If it made sense, I would go along, but.’ Oshin tries so that Ms. Kiyo reasons out, but Ms. Kiyo doesn’t take this well. She shouts at Oshin, saying, ‘I will not allow my son’s wife to disobey me! Just do as I say!’
‘I can’t go along with something that doesn’t make sense!’ Oshin responds.
‘Maybe it is just a superstition to you. But I am old-fashioned. I don’t want to think I am silly. But I really need you to do this for me,’ Ms. Kiyo tries emotional blackmail. But Oshin doesn’t budge. ‘You still won’t go?’ Ms. Kiyo demands to know. Oshin remains quiet with her head down.
‘I understand, I understand very well. Then you are no longer my daughter-in-law!’ Ms. Kiyo, hurt, gets up and goes out of the room.
‘Oshin, you should apologize,’ says Tsuneko, alarmed by the situation, she pleads, ‘It is best if you do as she says!’
Oshin remains calm. She tells Tsuneko, ‘Thank you for being concerned about me.’
***
Ms. Kiyo slides open the door and enters the room where Ryuzo is asleep. Ryuzo wakes up by the sound.
‘I have never been so humiliated!’ Ms. Kiyo blurs out, flushed with anger. She cries out, dropping to her knees; she keeps her head down on Ryuzo’s lap.
‘Mother!’ Ryuzo lifts Ms. Kiyo by her shoulders but she continues to sob. She says, ‘I suffered for 15 years under my mother-in-law, but I never disobeyed her. Wives are supposed to be like that. Tsuneko has never talked back to me!’ saying, she starts howling again.
***
Ryuzo goes to Oshin’s room where she sits, her head down. Ryuzo closes the door behind him and sits next to Oshin.
‘My mother told me,’ he says to Oshin. After a pause, Oshin asks him, ‘Should I have done as she said? Wasn’t I supposed to have a choice?’
‘Don’t go if you don’t want to,’ says Ryuzo, coming closer, ‘but there is a better way to refuse. You didn’t have to just spurn her.’ He then sighs and says, ‘What is done, is done. But, I hope you are prepared to face the consequences.’
Oshin nods in the affirmative. She is clear about the choice she made.
‘I don’t plan to divorce you, but mother says you are no longer a Tanokura wife.’
‘She has never recognized me as being one anyway. She has even taken Yu away. And we still sleep in separate rooms. All I do is work in the fields. If that is how she wants it, fine. Things can’t get much worse than this. I am ready to face it,’ says Oshin, taking a deep breath as she speaks.
Oshin continues, saying, ‘No matter what she does, I am not leaving here. No matter what she says, I am still your wife! I will have my baby here, as a Tanokura wife!’ after this declaration, Oshin looks at Ryuzo into his eyes. They find the trust and love still alive between them.
Ryuzo smiles and says, ‘Then go ahead!’
‘Don’t worry, I promise not to complain,’ Interrupts Oshin.
‘You sure are headstrong!’ comments Ryuzo, laughing, he pokes a finger to Oshin’s forehead lovingly.
‘I have survived this far,’ Oshin replies.
‘You would better at least apologize to Mother,’ Ryuzo tries again for a truce.
‘I haven’t done anything to have to apologize for! I am prepared to face the consequences. I don’t need her or anyone else. I will do my best as a Tanokura wife and I will have my baby by myself. If I work hard, I will get fed, won’t I? That is all I need,’ Oshin remains firm on her stand. She gets up and touches her belly softly. She continues, ‘Mother will feel better after Atsuko and I have our babies.’
Oshin then sits next to Ryuzo, resting her head on his arms. She finds some comfort and says, full of hope, ‘and maybe some day, she will accept me as a Tanokura! I will persevere till then.’
Ryuzo nods, smiling.
Oshin has persevered thus far, and she is determined now. Oshin doesn’t have any idea, what a huge price she would have to pay for her stubborn pride.
For now, both Ryuzo and Oshin find solace in one another’s proximity.
What is that price Oshin will have to pay? We will find more in next episode, no 137, soon!