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VASOODHA

Vasudha lives in a small rented house with her 4 children. The land lady admires the firmness with which she brings up her children while showering affection at the same time. She gets up daily at 4’0 clock, prepares breakfast and lunch, wakes up the children, sends them to school and then leaves for her work place. On lookers are astonished at her dynamism and self confidence.

One day while Vasudha was engrossed in her office routine, a co-worker taunts her about the impending arrival of the MD. Vasudha loses her cool and shouts “If we attend to our work properly we need not be afraid of either the MD or even the Lord Almighty”. The MD who was hearing the conversation from afar sends to her and everyone in the office is worried. Unperturbed Vasudha enters the MD’s room. The MD commends her boldness, out spoken and work loyalty. Vasudha is now sent for and her directions sought for every important work.

The GM of the office acts like a sympathetic person and frequently alludes to Vasudha’s travails leading a lovely existence with her 4 children. Vasudha comprehends the GM’s motives and is immediately on her alert.

One day the GM exceeds the limits of decency in talking, infuriated and disgusted Vasudha slaps him. The MD happens to witness this scene. He tells Vasudha “My daughter should have done this, however you have done it. I commend you for the same. He happens to be my son-in-law, but he is also the GM of this office, and for slapping the GM of this office I have no option but to dismiss you.” The sun has suddenly set on Vasudha’s world and she comes out of the office in daze. Her uppermost thoughts now are on how to feed her 4 children and herself. As she was walking slowly along the road, a Mercedes car draws up along her side and a voice is heard “Vasudha get into the car.”It is the MD’s car and Vasudha gets in.

The MD explains the situation prevailing in the office. “If I punish the GM my daughter’s life will be ruined. So I am unable to take any action. None should suffer due to my actions. Kindly therefore take up a job of packaging my export goods. You may sub contract the work from me and employ about 4 persons to assist you. “He gives her sufficient money as advance. Vasudha rent a bigger home and starts a packaging unit. Her income now increases and she is slowly able to diversify into allied businesses. Because of her hard work, these businesses prosper and she becomes an industrial magnate. She engages in sue course as her associate her former landlady Saraswathi.

Vasudha gets a telegram that her father has expired, but decides not to take any notice of it. However her assistant prevails upon her to go to the cremation. Vasudha now travels in her own car and as she travels, thoughts of her bitter childhood flash back in her mind.

The first 4 children of Sriramulu and Padmavathi are all girls and so they hoped that at least the 5th will turn out to be a boy. However it happens to be a girl once again- Vasudha. Sriramulu is enraged at this turn of fate and his anger is directed towards Vasudha. Padmavathi is very much perturbed but there is little she can do. Taking a cue from their father’s hatred towards Vasudha, the other children also hate her. Vasudha is now held responsible for every wrong doing in the house.

Sriramulu comes home daily in a drunken state and assaults Padmavathi in front of the children. While everyone in the house is hungry, he brings home 2 packets, gives one of them to Padmavathi and asks her to eat it all by herself. However Padmavathi distributes it to the children and remains hungry. But sometimes even Vasudha does not get those 2 morsels. Chalapathi, Vasudha’s grandfather happens to visit her house and sees the sorry state of affairs. He informs Sriramulu that he is prepared to take away Vasudha and bring her up. Sriramulu is happy that he will be rid of one burden and sends away Vasudha happily.   Chalapathi sends Vasudha to a school to be educated.

Vasudha grows up and her grandfather arranges her marriage with Sripathi, a zamindar. Sriramulu is now all praise for Vasudha and Sripathi but abuses his other 4 children. He curious favors with Vasudha saying that even though she was born as the 5th girl is about to become a zamindarini.(Cut)

Vasudha now reverts to reality. Sriramalu’s dead body is lying in his house. All are seated around the body. Vasudha pays last respects to her father and moves away. Her sisters who previously detested her own embrace her and cries. Vasudha however stares at them unflinchingly without any tears. In a short while Vasudha’s husband Sripathi comes in a drunken state, falls over his father-in-law’s body and acts as if he is greatly grieved. Vasudha takes a notice of these happenings.

After the last rites are over Sripathi tries to accost her but Vasudha spurns him.

Vasudha is at home playing with her children after a day’s work at the office.

The door bell rings. Vasudha opens the door to find Sripathi waiting. She gets infuriated and slams the door. Sripathi entreats her to let him in but Vasudha ignores him. The children are curious to know who it was but Vasudha parries the issue and sends them to bed. Vasudha goes to herbed room and as she reclines in the bed, her early married life comes to her mind again in a flash back.

Vasudha and Sripathi enter the zamin bungalow for the first time after marriage. While everyone else welcomes them, Parvatham, Sripathi’s mother commands her to change to work clothes and clear up the upstairs room. She tells Vasudha that her younger daughter Sharada was expected shortly and that the upstairs room should be made ready for her.

Vasudha cleans up the room. Sharada comes in and immediately mocks at her sister-in-law and asks her mother why she has bought a servant maid instead of daughter-in-law.Parvatham replies “your brother is living in sin with a devadasi. He and that devadasi Nagavalli’s have a child and so to uphold the dignity of the family, I looked for a suitable bride but no respectable person would offer the hand of his daughter in marriage to your brother. I have perforce to accept this pauper as the daughter-in-law. She will be a daughter-in-law only in name but her status in this house will be only that of a servant maid”. Vasudha’s grief knows no bound, but there was none to console her.

Vasudha becomes pregnant. Everyone expects that a male heir to the zamin will be born, but as it happens Vasudha begets a girl. Parvatham is enraged. She bitterly complains. In the history of the zamin the 1st child has always been a male. Only this bitch has given birth to a female. The reputation of the zamin has been smashed to smithereens.

Vasudha is pained. Her woes become compounded when Sripathi joins his mother in ranting against her. He now spends half the time in Nagavalli’s house.

Vasudha questions the absence of Sripathi but Parvatham replies “males will always be males. It is for the females to adjust to their ways. Only thus the dignity of the zamin will be upheld.”

Vasudha again becomes pregnant. Parvatham beckles “If this time also it is a girl Vasudha will be sent out of the house”. All the domestic chores like cleaning, looking after the cows etc are heaped on Vasudha, even though she is in an advanced stage of pregnancy. This time also she begets only a girl child and there is a tumult in the house. Sharada intervenes and says that action to drive her out can be taken if the 3rd child also happens to be a girl. But this time around Vasudha begets a son, but her harassment by the mother-in-law and by the sister-in-law does not cease. Sripathi also joins hands with his mother and sister in harassing Vasudha. Vasudha bears all these indignities with great fortitude but her patience is tested to the limit when she becomes pregnant for the 4th time. She discusses the situation with Sripathi but Vasudha forsakes her husband’s house and moves to her grandfather’s house along with her 3 children.

The 4th child, a male is born. Vasudha takes up small household jobs to earn for the upkeep of herself and her children and also pursues higher studies. Her grandfather passes away and she is unable to bear the taunts of her sisters. She decides to go to another town and earn her livelihood.

Vasudha takes on rent a small house in the town. The landlady is impressed by Vasudha’s determination and hard work. And through her good offices Vasudha secures a job of a supervisor in a company.

By the time Vasudha is through with her reminences, it is dawn.

Vasudha sees that her husband Sripathi is sleeping near the gate outside. Unconsciously she softens a bit. Her friend understands that the person outside is indeed her husband and allows him to stay in the guest house and queries her mother. Vasudha however denies this. As days roll by, the children understand that that person is indeed their father and socialize with him and in due course Sripathi enters the house. He requests Vasudha to forgive and forget all his faults. Vasudha softens still further and allows him to come further inside. The children are elated because of their reunion with their father. Vasudha accepts Sripathi as her husband for the sake of the children and their happiness.

She entrusts certain responsibilities to him. Sripathi who is quiet for some time slowly reveals his true colors. He creates problem amongst workers. He pledges company property and takes loans. Ultimately when the company is about to become insolvent, he dies. Vasudha is asked to repay all the loans before she could claim the body. Vasudha signs away all her property and is back on the street with her four children.

Saraswathi, her old landlady and present associate takes them to reside in her own house. She had saved about 50,000 rupees given as remuneration by Vasudha and she entrusts this amount back to Vasudha to start a new identity.

Sambasiva Rao, Vasudha’s erstwhile M.D seeks an alliance from Vasudha’s family. Vasudha agrees to the proposal but insists that the marriage be solemnized only after she regains her past status. Sambasiva Rao concurs. Vasudha works untiringly to regain her lost status.