RUBINA'S MACHER JHOL
MACHER JHOL: FISH CURRY
ARRE FATIMA, DID YOU GET ANY MACHH TODAY? I BOUGHT SOME RUI BUT IT IS NOT FRESH AT ALL.
​WHAT TO DO KHALA, IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAVE HAD SOME GOOD MACHHER JHOL.
WE RARELY GET ANY GOOD FISH HERE. DO YOU KNOW MUMTAZ? SHE LIVES DOWN THE LANE. HER SON SOMETIMES GETS BETTER STOCK FROM THE AZADPUR MANDI SOME MILES
AWAY.
DILLI'S FISH IS JUST NO GOOD, COMPARED TO THOSE FROM OUR POND BACK HOME. THE MACHH FROM THE PUKUR WAS SO FRESH AND SWEET! YOU CAN NEVER TASTE THAT HERE.
WE NEVER HAD TO BUY FISH. FROM THE POND TO THE PLATE, IT WAS ALL OUR OWN.
OH, AND WASN'T IT FUN WHEN ALL THE VILLAGE WOMEN GATHERED AT THE PUKUR?
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HAAN HAAN, WE WOULD CHIT-CHAT AWAY UNTIL THE SUN CAME DOWN, AND THEN, RUN BACK HOME TO FINISH ALL THE CHORES FOR THE DAY.
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THE PUKUR WAS OUR OWN PLACE: FOR WORK, FUN AND REST.
MY SISTERS-IN-LAW STILL KEEP ASKING ME TO VISIT, JUST TO RELIVE OUR OLD DAYS, SITTING BY THE POND.
YOU’VE SEEN RIGHT? HOW MEN CAN JUST SIT ANYWHERE.
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WHERE DO WE WOMEN GO?
SO WE SIT RIGHT HERE, OUTSIDE OUR HOMES.
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WE CUT OUR VEGETABLES, COOK OUR MEALS, WASH OUR CLOTHES BATHE OUR CHILDREN, RIGHT HERE. SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT ALSO FIND US HAVING A LITTLE FEAST HERE.
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WE HAVE PUT UP THESE TARPAULIN SHEETS AND UNDERNEATH, BUILT OUR OWN STOVES AND KITCHENS.
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WE STILL GO OUT TO FETCH WATER, BUT IT IS NOTHING LIKE THE PUKUR.
YOU SEE, WE HAVE NO WATER SUPPLY. SO, THESE BIG TANKERS COME HERE EVERY SECOND DAY.
YOU MUST BE WONDERING ABOUT THIS HANDPUMP HERE. OH LOOK, THE KHATTA MAKES THE WATER SO DIRTY THAT IT LOOKS BLACK.
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YOU TELL ME DIDI, CAN SOMEONE USE WATER LIKE THAT?
MOST OF THE MEN ARE OUT AT WORK, WHILE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN QUEUE UP WITH THEIR BUCKETS AND WAIT FOR THEIR
FAMILY’S SHARE.
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WHAT CAN I SAY? LIFE GOES ON AND WE LIVE HOW THE ALMIGHTY HAS DESTINED FOR US.
CAN ANYONE ESCAPE FATE? I THINK NOT.