Chandapur, Varanasi:
Some kids run excitedly to fly kites. A girl eyes a kite which is stuck on the top of a tree. Her forehead is filled with vermilion. She tries to free her kite but gets hurt in the process. She tells her father that she was checking whether the manja is really good or not. the seller is a thug. Gave me a kite for Rs. 10. Don’t give him any money if I lose in the competition. Her father (Varun Shukla) smiles. Winning or losing isn’t determined by kite but the one who flies the kite is more important than the kite even. it is all a game of how much you pull / lose the kite and when. He makes her kite ready. She runs off to be with her friends. Her father is concerned but she runs away happily.
Some kids run excitedly to fly kites. A girl eyes a kite which is stuck on the top of a tree. Her forehead is filled with vermilion. She tries to free her kite but gets hurt in the process. She tells her father that she was checking whether the manja is really good or not. the seller is a thug. Gave me a kite for Rs. 10. Don’t give him any money if I lose in the competition. Her father (Varun Shukla) smiles. Winning or losing isn’t determined by kite but the one who flies the kite is more important than the kite even. it is all a game of how much you pull / lose the kite and when. He makes her kite ready. She runs off to be with her friends. Her father is concerned but she runs away happily.
Kite competition: Her friends have been waiting for her. They praise her for her skills.
Sarpanch’s son Munakka comes there with a big kite. I have called this from Banaras. It is made in China. No one will be able to cut my kite today. Ganga’s friends warn her to be careful. Sarpanch announces a special gift – cycle, for the winner. Ganga looks at the cycle happily. all her friends are happy too. the one who will win this competition will be really lucky. One of her friends say I will ask my father to bring a similar cycle for me. Ganga remarks that her father cannot buy it for her as he doesn’t have that much mony. But I want this cycle Rani. I will win this competition. Her friends point at Munakka’s big branded kite. Ganga repeats her father’s words. Her father nods at her proudly.
The competition begins. Ganga and Munakka are the only ones in the end. Ganga eventually succeeds in cutting Munakka’s kite. She wins the competition. Her father hugs her proudly and makes her twirl. Ganga looks at the cycle and imagines herself riding it, with all her friends following her excitedly. Her father brings ice cream for her but she has her eyes set on the ice cream only.
Munakka is announced the winner. Ganga drops her ice cream in shock. Her father too is taken aback. Only one or two people clap all the while. Munakka wears his goggles and drives off in his new bicycle. Sarpanch announces a gift of Rs. 1000 for Ganga as she too has played well. People prod her to go and collect it but she stays put. She finally heads to the stage. Her father stops her from taking money from Sarpanch. She had won cycle not money. You have a big heart that you want to do a favour on a poor man’s daughter. But this poor man’s daughter only needs her right, and not a favour. Can you get her her right? People on the stage protest but Ganga’s father politely tell them to let it be if they cannot respect a poor man’s daughter. Don’t insult them by giving her alms atleast. Ganga leaves with her father.
At night, Shukla packs a bag. He is quite emotional as it is Ganga’s Gauna tomorrow. My daughter will go to her in-laws place now. the traditions of the world are very weird. My little daughter will have her Gauna in such a young age. He wipes his tears and then guides Ganga to be good with her in-laws. Ganga asks him why he dint let her take the prize. I had won but dint get anything. He sweetly explains her how she would have lost even after winning the game if she had taken the prize. A poor man’s wealth is his self-respect. A gift is of no use in the absence of self-respect. She yet again asks for her cycle.
He takes her with him and shows her the moon’s reflection in the water. She is amazed to see it. The entire moon has come down in the water. Her father tells her to try and catch it. She tries but is unable to do so. It slips from the corners. This isn’t a real moon but just the reflection. He shows her the real moon up in the sky. It is just an illusion in the water, which seems real to us, but it isn’t the truth. Similarly, the cycle, the competition is nothing but an illusion. You real triumph will be when you will hold the real moon in your hands; and win something bigger than even a cycle. She asks him if it will happen for real. He nods. Whatever you will try with all your heart, will happen for sure. If you dint get the cycle even after winning it then it indicates that a bigger victory is waiting for you in future. Ganga smiles finally. I will get even a bigger cycle. He holds her one hand (right palm) first and calls it her self-respect. The other hand (left palm) is your strength. When they will come together then they can get hold of the entire sky, including the moon and the stars. She talks about cycle again. He advises her never to lose her self-respect.
The next day, the neighbouring women and friends ready Ganga for her Gauna. Vidai song plays in the background. Ganga’s father is in tears. Ganga shows him her jewellery. Her father gifts her a wooden cycle (toy). He then tells her to sit in the jeep. She requests him to come with her but he denies. you will go alone to your in-laws place just like your friends had gone to. Ganga insists and ends up crying. She refuses to leave without her father. He consoles her. he tells the groom’s father that Ganga’s mother died when Ganga was mere 3 years old. She hasn’t lived without me since then. This is why she is a little scared. I wonder how she will be able to live without me. The groom’s father asks him to accompany them. Ganga gets happy. She asks her father numerous questions about Banaras. Title song plays as they all leave for Banaras. Ganga and her father look around thrilled.
They reach Ganga ghat. Ganga has not even seen her groom. Will he be like Munakka? Will he tease / trouble me too? Gauri Ma has heard my prayers. I had wanted a tall groom only so that he could get Imli from me from the trees. Her FIL offer her jalebi. She feels hesitant. Why is he calling me Bahu (DIL)? My name is Ganga. Ganga confirms it with her father. Ganga doesn’t like being called Bahu. She notices the boat. I want a ride too. Her father tells her to take a dip in the holy water first. Ganga’s father sends her with her FIL for a minute. He buys bangles for Ganga. Ganga finds him buying banglesand stops to see him thus.
People suddenly start running helter-skelter. Ganga notices it all in shock. Epi ends on her face.
Ganga finds her father buying bangles and stops to see him thus. People suddenly start running helter-skelter. Ganga notices it all in shock as people fall in the process. Ganga calls out for her father. A random guy picks her up. Ganga’s father is unable to find her or her in-laws anywhere. Many people get trampled as people run around to find a safe place or to exit from the Ghaat. Ganga is lying on one of the stairs of the Ghaat and she is shouting for her Bappa (father). Police tries to control the situation but it looks a little tough for them too.
Ganga gets up after a while when its all calm. She notices a lot many people (mostly dead) lying around. Their family members are crying sitting next to them. Ganga walks around and finally finds her Bappa. His hands are full and his head has been injured too. She shakes him to wake him up but in vain. Her FIL calls out to her. Your Bappa wont say anything to you now. Plus your husband too died. This year Ganga Maiyya (river) took my everything from me. He cries. Ganga tries every possible way to wake up her father. She holds his head and her hands get smeared of his blood. She looks at her hands in shock.
She recalls the last Holi when she had put colour on him. He too had picked up colours but then stops seeing her. You are already coloured in so many shades. There is no blank space left on your face. She shows him her bare hands. There is no colour here so you can put them here. He makes a circle shape around her wrist (bangles with different colours). She too asks for bangles of all colours, just like her Maiyya used to wear it. He promises to bring lots of colourful real bangles for her on her Gauna. Ganga excitedly goes to tell it to her friends.
Ganga’s FIL cries for his son. What will I tell to your Amma? I had gone to bring our DIL and lost our son. it should have been me instead. Ganga carefully keeps her father’s head back on the stair and goes to her FIL. Why isn’t my Bappa waking up? Her FIL tells her that everything is over now. I was so happy when we came for the Gauna but we will have nothing but dead bodies to carry back to home. You have got hurt doubly. You lost your father and became an orphan; and then you lost your husband too which makes you a widow.
Police Inspector comes there with ward boys and stretcher to pick up the dead bodies lying around. They pick up Ganga’s Bappa. Ganga runs to them. where are you taking my Bappa? Inspector replies that he will return the dead body to the family once the counting is done. Ganga retorts that it isn’t a dead body but her Bappa. She cries for her Bappa while he is taken away by the police. Her FIL tries to make her understand all along. Your tears cannot bring your father back. Her FIL has a hard time controlling her as she runs after her father’s body while he is taken away.
At the medical camp, men and women are told to stand on the opposite sides. Ganga clings onto her FIL. He ultimately has to take her with him. they are standing in the line of getting compensation for their dead ones. They notice a lady all shocked and acting like a mad person. She has lost her entire family in the stampede. Ganga’s father frees himself from Ganga’s grip and walks out of the line. Ganga follows him but he tells her to go and sit. I will be back in a while. He goes away then. Poor little girl sits down next to a family, looking all scared.
Ganga’s FIL walks hides behind a truck and cries his heart out. a guy (from the organizing committee) notices Ganga all alone. He wonders aloud if anyone knows her. She immediately gets up and starts looking for her FIL in every possible corner. Ganga runs in the lanes of Banaras.
It is night time. Ganga comes to the Ghaat and witnesses the aarti. She finds broken bangles on the ground and recalls the whole incident again. She looks at the crowd keenly and notices her Bappa standing amongst them. She finally smiles. He too gestures her to come to him. She runs up to that spot but her Bappa is not there. She calls out for him and slips in the process while she is looking around. She is about to fall when someone holds her hand.
Two more people (a doc and another guy – Raghav) come there and they tell Ganga to walk carefully. It is good that Niranjan Babu got hold of you or you would have slipped in the water. Niranjan signals them to stop. Next he asks Ganga if she is looking for someone. Have you lost someone? She nods; my Bappa. He says that her Bappa might be in some camp. We will go and look for him right away. But Ganga’s words surprise him. My Bappa is dead. He asks her if there is someone else with her. She tells him about her FIL. He thinks that her husband’s age would be equal to her age only. She yet again shocks him by saying that her husband is dead too. Niranjan tells Raghav to take the girl to the registration office as her FIL must be looking for her. Raghav suggests him not to get involved in all this but Niranjan stays put. I will only return after making this girl meet her FIL only. Raghav ji nods reluctantly. Niranjan assures Ganga that she will meet her FIL. Ganga leaves with Raghav ji.
Raghav ji brings Ganga to the medical camp. He explains the guy in charge about Ganga’s situation. He asks her questions about her family. They check the register. Ganga hears her FIL’s voice. He is at the other desk. He tells the person in charge about Ganga’s father’s death (the name and details) and of his son’s death too. he lies that his DIL (Ganga) died too. Ganga was walking towards him but stops in her tracks in shock. Her FIL asks the incharge for his son’s dead body. Raghav ji notices Ganga standing tensed. He asks her if she knows anyone out of the people standing at the other desk. Ganga’s FIL is stunned to see her. ganga finally shakes her head in negative. Her FIL leaves from there hastily.
Doc is thanking Niranjan for it is because of him only that they could handle such a situation. Raghav ji returns with Ganga. She is weird. She went there and said that her FIL is dead too. Niranjan is surprised. She looks scared. She lost everyone. It wont be good to leave her alone there. He is not in a mood to let her stay there all by herself. Raghav ji and the doc advise him not to get involved in any of this. Hand her over to an orphanage. Niranjan agrees. Raghav ji address Ganga, ae ladki (girl) which irks her. why are you calling me that ways? My name is Ganga. Take it properly and then I will come with you. Niranjan smiles and supports her. It wont be wrong if add sweetness to our words. He tells Ganga to go. Orphanage people will take good care of you and you will be safe there. Raghav ji finally talks somewhat nicely to her. She leaves only when Niranjan nods back at her assuringly.
