"O Bua, Leave Us Some Money!": Why Have Relationships Lost Their Sweetness?
A story of family ties: when their aunt leaves after the summer holidays, Raju and Pinky chase her rickshaw, because their love was never about the money but about belonging.
Relationships just aren't as sweet any more: that is a complaint most people make, yet nobody is trying to find out the many reasons behind it, whether the relationships are within the family or in society. Today many people feel lonely even when they have friends. The truth is that everyone has become more confined to themselves; people pay attention to others only for the sake of progress and getting ahead, simply to compete with them. Three or four decades ago this was far less common, which is why relationships used to be long-lasting and deep. Just look at how family members and guests who visit the home are received and you will see it. This story is based on one such relationship.
A story of relationships
Here a nephew loves his bua (father's sister) dearly. Whenever she comes back to her parental home, that is, her nephew's house, all the children are thrilled. They are especially excited because Bua will bring them gifts and, when she leaves, will give them a little money to buy things they like from the market and to have some fun. Pinky and Raju are two such children, who wait impatiently for their aunt every summer holiday. In June their Bua arrives, and Raju and Pinky are overjoyed.
Day and night the two of them don't leave her side. Eating together, going out together and falling asleep beside her were their top priorities. After a few days, Bua prepares to return to her in-laws' home. Everyone bids her goodbye with a heavy heart. Raju and Pinky look as if they are about to lose everything. And so Bua sets off in a rickshaw. Raju and Pinky run after it for some distance to stop her, but the rickshaw slowly picks up speed. When the two begin to tire of the chase, Pinky shouts at the top of her voice, 'Oh Bua, please stop, you can go tomorrow!' But the rickshaw shows no sign of stopping, so Pinky calls out, 'Oh Bua, if you won't stop, at least leave us some money!' Only then does Bua realise that she forgot to give the children money before leaving. She asks the rickshaw-puller to stop for a moment. The rickshaw halts, the two children reach her, panting, and Bua gives Raju and Pinky ten rupees each.
The money makes them happy, but they are still very sad that Bua has left. The sadness stays with them for two or three days, and then little by little they are chirping around the house again. The two of them didn't know what relationships really mean, but their feelings and their affection show that they were so close to their Bua not for the money, but for the sense of belonging.
