Recovering 'Lost' Texts obstacles in our way, whether in anger or through sheer cussedness I do not know. But those obstacles were none too easy to overcome! He called the muscle men from his own zamindari and had our house surrounded; Gurmukhbabu also hired big-time rondos. There were clashes, the police came, and a great commotion continued for some time. 10 ....... The work proceeded with much excitement and joy. During this time, we would go for rehearsals at two or three in the afternoon, finish off there, and move on to the theater site; when the rest had gone, I would stay on to carry baskets of clay to fill the pit and the back seats area. Sometimes, to encourage the workers, I would pay them four koris per basket. The construction had to be completed as early as possible, so work went on into the night. No one knew how happy I felt in those days! With great enthusiasm, and with a lot of expense, the theater was finally ready. It must have taken just under a year. But along with this there is one thing I feel I just must mention. While the theater was coming up, they had all said, 'This theater will have your name linked with it. So even after you die, your name will live on. In other words, 'B' Theater will be its name." That had made me happier still. But ultimately they did not keep their word—why I do not know. Right up to the point when the theater was to be registered, I thought it was to be named after me. But the day they went and registered it—all arrangements were complete by then, the theater was to open a week from that day—I asked them eagerly about the name they had given. Dashubabu cheerfully answered, "Star." When I heard this, I was so deeply hurt inside that I flopped down on the spot and couldn't utter a word for two full minutes. After a while I controlled myself and said, "Good!" I thought about it later. Had their show of love and affection been just empty words to serve their own interests? But what could I have done. I was helpless! I was totally in their hands by then! And I had never dreamed they could trick me like this, act in such bad faith. The time I refused the offer of all that money did not hurt me half so much as their behavior did. Though I never said a word about it to anyone, I couldn't forget it either. I remembered it all my life. Besides, I loved the theater so much, thought it so much my own, and a new hall put up, no matter how, was such a great happening that the matter could have received no importance in any case. But in later times too, after the theater was ready, I was not treated well! They tried to quote all kinds of rules to prevent me from staying there, even as a salaried actress. And they succeeded, so for two months I was forced to sit at home. After that I was back again, thanks to Girishbabu's efforts, and my own insistence on my proprietary rights. From Amar Katha (My Story). Translated by Madhuchhanda Karlekar. Journal of Arts 6' Ideas