THAT NIGHT
Every time I feel the baby turn,
I wonder about the little one's laughter, sleep and its wailing.
The baby has been moving all morning. I think it misses Daddy.
Hello, baby. How are you? How are your grandparents?
Daddy will be there soon.
Our baby can recognize your voice. I feel its excitement.
Give the phone to your father, if he's around.
-Shree! -What?
-Is Dad out there? -Nope.
-Have you eaten? -Yes, I have.
-When are you coming? -We just left.
We're hiding there, Aunty. Don't tell Sarath.
-Is your dad not around? -Let me get him.
Praveen, if you don't eat, you can't go play.
-Sis, have you seen Dad? -Ask Mom.
Open your mouth or I will call your daddy.
-But Daddy won't answer your call. -After what she's done, he won't.
Mom, where is Dad?
-Outside, with the flower decorators. -Okay.
-Don't go there now. -Hari wanted to talk to him.
You can address your husband by name in your city.
We show them respect.
Your education has made you forget our ways.
Your aunt has come. Don't go out while she's there.
Why?
She's been fuming ever since we mentioned your baby shower.
Come on, it's just our aunt!
Praveen, let me clean your face. Don't run.
-Aunty. -Did you finish eating?
-Yes. What baby is in your tummy? -What baby would you like?
Go on, tell her.
What do you have inside? A baby girl or a baby boy?
-You don't want a baby boy? -No, I want a baby girl.
Why do you want a baby girl?
-She won't ask for my gun. -Okay, then a girl it is.
Mom, aunty is getting a baby girl.
-How are you, dear? -I'm well, Grand-Uncle.
You forgot about us these past two years.
You put your father through hell.
You must do as he says.
Sumathi's husband dropped her here this morning.
He is coming to the venue with his family tonight.
Won't his presence upset our people?
-We must handle it. -Is Dad out here?
Sumathi, can you get the door?
Who is it, honey?
Come in.
Show him in.
You like fruits, so…
Please sit.
Ask him to sit down.
Sit.
-I'll leave you two to it. -Okay.
Your sister's husband found a photo of yours.
He said you were with child.
He must have seen it on Facebook.
He got me this address from some colleague of yours from abroad.
Here.
-What would you like to eat? -I have already eaten.
Leave it there.
I never thought you would abandon us.
I saw what Grand-Uncle and our villagers did to Moorthy's sister.
You were there, too.
You didn't stop them.
I was scared, Dad.
If you had asked me first,
and left if I refused, I could have made peace with it.
You are Daddy's favourite!
I never imagined you would make such a big decision without my approval.
Would you have agreed, Dad?
-Here, drink this juice. -No.
You haven't eaten anything since morning.
-Just drink up. -Have it, dear.
In many ways, he is just like you.
Sumathi, what time is your yoga class?
Eleven o'clock.
They make us take yoga classes
to have a normal delivery without a lot of allopathic medicines.
I practice it every day.
You must leave now or you'll be late.
Do you want to shower, Dad?
Here.
-Dad. -Yes, dear?
I'll be back.
-What? -He wants to talk to you.
No, he's here. Hold on.
-Hello? Yes. -I have reached my hometown.
-We'll come directly to the event hall. -No problem.
That is fine. There's time.
That needs to go to the venue.
-Fool! -Dad?
Here.
That goes to the event hall.
Uncle, did you speak to Shanmugam?
-We don't want him sabotaging-- -I'll deal with him.
Moorthy! Why are you here? You weren't invited.
We don’t need an invitation. Family will turn up uninvited.
-You can't violate the norms. -Boys, leave now. We'll talk later.
Is he exempt from our community's code?
Wasn't he present at my sister's arbitration?
I was there because your father called me. Did I call you now? Please leave.
-This is not becoming of an honorable man. -Just go!
We will talk this out later. Go away! They just don't get it.
-Let's gather our men and deal with this. -Stop it!
Don't get worked up. They're just kids.
Kids these days are easily influenced.
Uncle, ask Shanmugam to stay out of this.
-He's instigating everyone. -I'll handle it.
-Sumathi. -Dad?
Get some rest, Dad. I'll be back in two hours.
What would I do here on my own? I'll come with you.
Hold on!
Hello. Where are you?
Bye, take care.
-Bye. -Okay.
Hold on! Come now.
Come.
Slow down! Watch it.
Get in, Dad. I know what I'm doing.
Please hold the bag.
Both hands near your chest. Take a deep inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Now slowly come to cat and cow.
Legs wide open.
Hands front.
Take a deep inhale.
Look up.
Exhale, down.
Inhale…
and exhale.
Come to warrior. Hands up.
Take a deep inhale…
and exhale.
Today's class is over. I'll see you all tomorrow.
-Dad, where are you off to? -No, I…
-Hi, aunty. -Hi, dear.
-My dad is here for the delivery. -That's great.
Careful.
Are you hungry, Dad?
-Mom, has Dad been ill-tempered lately? -Obviously.
When his children go astray, it's his head that hangs in shame.
You mean it's my fault?
-Of course it's your fault. -Why would you bring that up?
Are the three of us not your daughters? You only care about her.
She is here now. Go on and coddle her.
Let's go, boy.
The rest of us don't matter, now that she's back.
She did as she pleased and now she's concerned?
Don't mind her, sis. You know how she is.
Does your husband take care of you?
Why should Hari take care of me? Fine!
Why should "my husband" take care of me? I can do it myself.
-Dad said you live in a big house. -It's not a big house.
But we have made it cozy with all the things we like.
Hold on. Shree! Shree!
-Do you own the house? -Yes.
We took a bank loan in both our names.
-What? -Could you please bring me my phone?
Get it yourself! I'm not your servant.
Shree…
you have changed.
I haven't changed. You have.
I'll thrash you! Do as your sister says and get her phone.
Don't mind him.
He was unable to even go to college at that time.
His peers mocked him so much, he couldn't even step out of the house.
That's the living room. This is the kitchen.
That's our bedroom, and this is our baby's room.
We have bought toys for the baby!
-Sis, you drink? -Sometimes. With him.
Will we ever get such a great life?
-Does drinking make life great? -No, all this freedom.
Study well, and you will have your freedom.
After you eloped, Dad pulled us out of college.
Why can't you study from home?
Dad said education led you astray and forbade us from studying.
-Dad. -Yes.
-Dad, can I ask you something? -Yes, dear.
Where were you planning to go, leaving me behind at the yoga class today?
You have an important job.
You have bought your own house.
You drive a car.
When I would take you to school…
you would reach up to hold my hand.
I'm so proud that my girl has grown so tall that I must reach up to her.
You have built this life for yourself.
Nobody has any right over this.
Out here, you don't need to worry about the society.
You should just lead this life.
You don't need an old-fashioned man like me.
But won't my baby need grandparents?
Just like you held my hand and took me to school,
you must take my baby to school, Dad.
Tell my baby bed-time stories, just like you used to tell me.
This one time, when a teacher hit me, you came to school and fought for me.
Be there for my baby, just like you were there for me.
That's what I want.
Hari.
Dad.
This one.
Here.
This is the happiest I've seen Sumathi in the two years we've been married.
Most nights, she would wake up in the middle of the night.
She slept so peacefully last night.
There's nothing like the strength and happiness of a father's presence.
She chose you over all of us.
And I went on with my life like she was never born.
But when I heard that I'm going to be a grandparent, I couldn't carry on.
We are upset with our daughter.
Not our grandchild.
I can see that you take good care of her.
But…
our family and well-wishers must get together and throw a baby shower
for the baby's well-being.
I want to organize a baby shower at my house.
You said you let go of everything and came here for your grandchild.
I'm the father of that child.
You hesitate to even drink a glass of water that I offer you.
How will your relatives accept me being there?
That won't work.
If you ask her, she will say she wants to come with you.
And I do want her to be happy.
Instead of your house, host it at a neutral venue, like an event hall,
and I will bring my family, too.
Fine.
Okay.
-Aunty, I want some fryums. -Here, kiddo.
-Mom, I don't want any pickle. -Mom, for me?
-Come here, boy. -Not now. I'll eat later.
Shree.
Come. Please.
Here, kiddo.
-Put the phone away. -I'm sorry.
You went through a tough time because of me.
It's okay. I felt bad when you returned and acted like nothing happened.
You are happy now. That's all I care about.
Forget about what I said this morning.
Here.
Everybody, eat and leave to the venue. Let her get some sleep.
-Will you eat? -No.
-Why? -I'm not hungry.
Dad, you must not skip a meal.
It's been so long since we ate together.
-You watch. He will come now. -Come, Dad.
He can never say no to his favorite daughter.
Sit properly.
-Eat your rice. -I don't like this.
You don't like Grandma's food?
-Is that it? -I only like noodles.
Grandma, for me?
Finally, my house feels like home again.
All this time, we carried so much hurt, couldn't look each other in the eye.
We were faking smiles and fooling the world.
Grandma, feed me and then talk to her!
Why didn't you keep some water handy?
Get her water.
-Wait. I'll get it. -Grandma!
Hold on, girl. Why are you in a hurry?
Don't scold the child. Here you go, sweetie.
Mom, we can handle your granddaughter only for a day or two.
-Why would you say that, sis? -It's such a pain to feed her.
When I refuse to feed her,
she complains to my mother-in-law that we leave her alone
and lock ourselves up in the bedroom. And the old woman sulks for days.
She hates it when my husband and I spend time together.
Don't disrespect your elders.
After 13 years of marriage, you still lock yourselves in the bedroom?
Not in front of the children!
-Kids these days know everything. -Thanks, Dad.
So, you still chug your water down?
Our aunt would be so pissed if she saw us all eating together.
-Some more? -I'm done, Mom.
Are you done?
-What about you? -No.
Okay, leave to the venue. Hurry up.
-Boy. -Yes, Dad?
Take them.
But why, Dad?
Everyone wants an air-conditioned room. We fixed one only for you.
All our relatives will be there. Shall I go there, too?
No, you sleep here.
Let everyone else go. We'll go in the morning. Get going.
Shree, help me up.
We're going that way. Will pick it up.
Will your husband be there?
There's no way he will come.
So that's what Praveen meant.
Clean this up and pour water on the leftover rice.
Sumathi, you can turn on the air-conditioner.
The fan will do, Mom. I don't need the air-conditioner.
-Here, hold this. -Roll up the mat, girls.
Praveen, get ready. We must leave.
Mom, I am sleepy. Carry me.
No, I have to carry these bags.
Your in-laws won't mind that I'm wearing your jewelry?
They won't know. You can wear it.
Mom, can you please get me some water?
-You'll try to fool me. -No, I won't. Come.
In spite of opposition from our community, you are throwing her a lavish baby shower.
You didn't do all this for our eldest daughter.
It's going to be a long day tomorrow. Go to bed.
-What is it? -I feel like throwing up.
-Do you want me to come? -No, Mom. I'm fine.
The doctors said this nausea will stop after the third month,
but this baby is relentless.
It's making me throw up even now.
We have lived like outcasts these past two years, because of her.
Will everything be fine now?
What will be fine?
Nothing will ever be fine again.
-What's wrong? -Nothing, Mom.
Go to bed.
We have an early start. Come to bed.
Turn off the lights.
Mom!
Can't you hear her calling out? Have you fallen asleep?
I'm coming.
What's wrong?
-I feel dizzy. -Okay, come.
Mom, I can't…
Easy…
Come here, please.
Dear…
-What is it? -This has never happened before, Dad.
I can't take it, Dad.
I feel like I'm choking.
I can't breathe.
You will feel better once you lie down.
Hey, come here.
Make her lie down.
-Mom! -It's all right.
-Has this happened before? -It hurts, Mom.
Never. I can't take it.
I can't bear…
Hurry up here!
Please hurry.
You need to see this.
Stay by my side, Mom. Is there a doctor nearby?
There's a hospital on the main road. We can go there. Don't be afraid.
-Her body is turning cold. -Dad, it really hurts.
Dad, this feels bad.
-Let's take her to the hospital? -Let her lie down. She'll be fine.
She is struggling to breathe. We must take her to the hospital.
Don't worry, dear.
You have birthed four children. You should know better.
Don't frighten her.
-Hello? -What's wrong?
-Nothing is wrong. I threw up. -Did you take any medication?
-When are you coming? -I'm on my way.
-Will you reach in ten minutes? -No, an hour.
If the pain is unbearable, go to--
-Lie down now. You can talk later. -Hello?
Let her sleep.
Oh, no! She's throwing up blood.
Please, we must take her to a hospital.
Stop meddling with the phone and get her to a hospital.
I'll have Kamala's husband bring their car.
-I will call him. -Let go!
Stop it! We are not going anywhere!
-Move it! -What are you doing?
This is all your fault.
-She's our baby! -You didn't raise her right.
And now I'm answerable to the society. Get in there! Don't you dare make a sound!
-Where do you think you're going? -Dad, let me go.
Dad, my baby! Careful!
Dad, please. It hurts.
Please, Dad. What are you doing?
Let me go, Dad.
Dad.
Let me out, you heartless man! You better let me out.
What? Are you trying to threaten me?
-If my girl is harmed in any way-- -Shut up!
Where was the society when you and I raised the children?
Do you want to kill our beloved child for this society?
Dad…
Come here, for a moment.
Did you bring me down here just for this, Dad?
Please let me go, Dad.
We'll stay out of your sight. Please, Dad.
You will never even feel our existence, Dad.
-If I could let you go, I would. -Dad…
You have two younger sisters.
After what you have done, who would marry them?
Dad, I will put them through college. I will find them good boys and--
When your sister's husband found out that you were pregnant,
he abandoned her.
He wanted nothing to do with the family of a low-born baby.
Don't you dare speak ill of my child!
You have so much love for your unborn child.
I fathered four children, raised them, gave them everything. Imagine my pain.
I thought that you brought me here out of love for my baby.
If I let you go now, all their lives will be ruined.
Dad…
In my yoga class, they taught me
the baby can feel everything that the mother feels.
I feel scared now, Dad.
"Don't worry, little one. Mommy will keep you safe."
I wish I could tell my baby that.
But I don't know how to say it, because it's not true, and I'm scared.
Dad! Please come here just for a minute, Dad!
Look me in the eye once and tell me to die.
Then I shall die.
Come here, Dad.
Baby?
Dad, my baby won't move! Baby?
-I should not have trusted this man! -Baby!
My child is in so much pain!
If something were to happen to my baby, I'll kill you!
I'll kill you! Open the door! Let me out!
Dad, am I not your favorite?
Don't you like me the most? Why are you hurting me, Dad?
Uncle said if I mixed it in water, the end would be quick and painless.
I didn't know it would be so slow and painful.
-We had many plans for our baby's future. -Shree!
We even have a school picked. Planned right up to the baby's old age.
-Now it's all gone to waste. -Come here and save us from your father!
-Open the door, I need to use the toilet. -Hurry up, Shree!
Mom. Come here, Mom.
My daughter needs me. She's calling out to me.
I won't run, Dad.
-I will die, just like you wanted. -Don't hurt her!
-Please! Let her go. -But let me die with dignity.
Sumathi! Sumathi!
She is in so much pain. I cannot take this.
That is our daughter you're hurting.
How can you lead a normal life after murdering your daughter?
How will you sleep peacefully?
You're making a mistake, Dad.
An irrevocable mistake.
Hari filed a case against Sumathi's father Janakiraman, for her murder.
Sumathi's mother testified against her husband in court.
While the case was under hearing, citing the trauma of her daughter's death,
Sumathi's mother was locked up in a psychiatric facility.
The court acquitted Janakiraman, stating insufficient evidence.
With the support of social activists, Hari has appealed to the higher courts
hoping that justice will be served…