The sun was shining on the last weekday of the first month of the fresh year. Taking advantage of the warm weather, I decided to spend 26 minutes of my time viewing a short film called “Khatoon Ki Khidmat“. I discovered it was more akin to Doordarshan’s drama “Hawa Mahal”.
It can’t be termed either a comic movie or a stimulating one. A few scenes are very impressively, naturally, and authentically depicted. When the character of the wife constantly avoids her husband, the poor, disturbed spouse finds no viable way to pacify his upset wife. She wasn’t even afraid of threats of talaq (divorce) or a husband saying he would eat poison. She would not relent or change her mind until her husband fulfilled her demand for a television set in the house. His sincerity had no direct impact on her. It was his overly-silent, deathly-pale face which expressed everything without uttering even a single word.
After that, she always reserved a harsh look for him. He felt every lash of her tongue and heard every little verbal explosion, fearful that his father would catch them. Despite the nagging and pesky attitude of his ‘better half’, he chastely admired her beautiful curves.
She softened only after the television set was bought by him, but it remains hidden at some secluded spot away from the father-in-law’s sight. Najma, the wife, goes to see the newly-bought television set which undoubtedly paves the way for the husband’s gratification.
In one scene, the distressed husband stands in front of an electronic shop selling the television. Looking at his miserable position, the shopkeeper even offers him a discount on his purchase. What remains the most adorable scene is this married son’s respect for his father. This is no longer seen in the Indian household nowadays.
The son dares not buy the television set owing to his father’s complete refutation. But prior to the film’s end, both the husband and the wife create such a drama that the old father finally obliges his daughter-in-law. Short-statured character Subedar also delights the viewers as his suggestions to the disturbed husband remain an important part of the story in some or other way. When this clever neighbour comes to meet the husband’s father, his conversation presents uncomfortable situations for the hero. It was he who concealed the television set at some isolated place. Their happiness dwindles when, later, they find the hidden television was stolen by none other than Subedar! It was a tormenting moment for the husband and wife as their whole fight was built around this item.
