Written Update 15 Nov, 2010 - Episode 1

There is a pearl-like small desert village at the border of Pakistan in Kutch, Gujarat, named Talsagra. The people's lives here are woven with colorful threads, and there is a saying that people tie their worries at the hind legs of the camel, the worries stay only as long as the camel's footsteps in the sand remain. But there are some worries that come every 1-2 years and bring life to a standstill, green farms burn, earth's chest bursts, people crave for a drop of water, this year is also like that, green fields are dying, clouds have escaped from the sky, and everyone is waiting for the Government's help.

Kesar is playing music looking for someone in the vast desert. He sights a jeep and runs to the village yelling to everyone that the government has come, saying so he runs home and tells Mota Bha. Paan Baa calls everyone to come out. Dushyant asks Kesar why he is yelling, the government is by them, they are not by the government. Mota Bha leads the villagers to the jeep.

The collector's PA steps out of the jeep who gives Mota Bha a letter from the collector (major regional government official). Mota Bha asks him to read it. The letter reads, the collector could not come due to unavoidable circumstances, it is impossible for the government to send them water, there is government land 200 miles away so the villagers can move there and should not say that the government didn't help them. The villagers get angry and grumble about the collector. Mota Bha says strongly that for 6 months they pleaded with the collector to come to the village just for 6 minutes, instead he sent a letter of 6 sentences and asked them to leave the village. Mota Bha is furious. The PA says that whatever the villagers want to give they should bring back, and extends an envelope towards Mota Bha. Mota Bha gets even more angry. Paan Baa tells Mota Bha that these people are Talsagra's guests. Mota Bha says she is right, these people have sold their souls but they have not lost their tradition. He calls a girl and asks if she is married, she says no, he says he promises that he will bear the cost of her wedding, can she give him her bangle in return. She gives it to him. He puts the bangle in the envelope and asks the PA to give it to the collector. Mota Bha is such an AMAZING actor, every single word from his lips has so much weight. I wish he had a bigger part to play now, especially now more than ever since Kesar and Gulaal both need him. Mota Bha pushes the PA with his stick and asks him to get out. Mota Bha tells Gheegha that for them Talsagra is their village, for the government it is just a dot on the map.

Dayi Baa is on the bed and Kesar is lying in her lap. The woman are on the floor doing some work. Dayi Baa talks of hope. Paan Baa says that there is just one hope, raamjaliya. Dayi Baa says that raamjaliya are heirs of meekan baba, who used to carry water on their backs and show travelers the way, raamjaliya can find water in the ground, they have a stick and when they sense water underground the stick finds it. Reva asks how will they find this person, Kesar says why not, his brother has gone to find him. Paan Baa expresses worry that her Vasant is all alone in the desert.

The men have gathered in front of Mota Bha, and Gheegha says that Vasant will definitely return with the raamjaliya. Dushyant is not as hopeful but Mota Bha believes in the raamjaliya. The women pass by, Dushyant asks his father to dig a pit in the desert, he will find greenery elsewhere, and looks at the women.

At night all the villagers pray - its such a beautiful scene and music, so powerful, and it shows how well Mota Bha ran the village that kept everyone united. Paan Baa prays for protection for Vasant. Vasant is struggling in the wind in the desert with his face covered. Vasant tells the camel that their weathering the desert storm is proof that they will find the raamjaliya. Someone yells out to Vasant from afar saying that if he wants to live he should not proceed. Vasant asks why. The man throws a stone and it falls ahead and reveals a deep pit. Vasant asks who he is, he says I am raamjaliya. Vasant is happy and overwhelmed to see him and runs and puts his turban at his feet asking him to accompany him to his village.

Both stop at night on the way to rest, Vasant asks him to teach him the skill to find water, raamjaliya says that it is a God-given gift and cannot be taught. Vasant asks who else has this skill. Raamjaliya says God knows, but he has a dream as if its God-sent, there is a girl in his dreams, long hair, deer-like walk, she is able to find water. Vasant asks who she is, he says he doesn't know but someone calls her Neerja from behind, she stops, but her anklets continue to ring on their own, that is where water is.

Kesar is again keeping a watch and sees Vasant coming on a camel, and runs shouting Vasant has returned. The villagers run to Vasant, he yells out to Mota Bha and Kesar happily. It feels like such a thrill seeing how happy everyone is to see Vasant happy. Vasant says that raamjaliya is sleeping and was determined to reach Talsagra by the crack of dawn. Paan Baa is so happy to see Vasant.Vasant carries her and turns her around happily. He carries Kesar happily and asks if he took care of the village, he says of course, the village is where he left it, it didn't move an inch, everyone laughs. Kesar is so sweet and charming, he has ras-gulla type (nice round rotund) cheeks. Vasant greets everyone, Dushyant asks if he forgot him, Vasant greets him. Dushyant tells him that had he not come today he would have gone to find him.

A villager calls out to Mota Bha, everyone runs to the raamjaliya, Vasant tries to wake him to no avail, raamjaliya is dead. Everyone is so disappointed. Mota Bha removes his turban out of respect and covers raamjaliya with it.

You have no idea how I appreciate this. Though I do feel bad that you are doing this, but like I said I am selfishly happy. If you end up not being able to do it, it's totally and completely understandable. But if you do end up with written updates for all the episodes, that would be such an amazing thing for all those who don't know the language.