Onto The Stage Slighted Souls And Other Stage Plays

by BS Murthy

  Renuka: Did he have any last words for me?

  Captain Kapoor: He begged us not to harm you in any way.

  Renuka: It's a consolation that he died without feeling letdown.

  Captain Kapoor: Don't we know Renu-ji that you've chosen it as a last resort.

  Renuka: Oh, if only I was able to persuade him. But what to do when he was so distrustful of you guys. See how fake encounters discourage change of heart.

  Captain Kapoor: That's sad indeed, but Renu-ji we too are human, after all. Given that we're senselessly targeted, no denying that we too tend to be insensitive. Don't think that I'm trying to justify the fake encounters. I’m only putting them in the proper perspective.

  Renuka: How I wish his death makes both sides introspect.

  Captain Kapoor: I'm sure this poignant tale would. Well, I've orders to free you.

  Renuka: Thanks for keeping your word. [She pauses as if to know his name.]

  Captain Kapoor: I'm Captain Ranjit Kapoor.

  Renuka: Well Captain, I've better things to do than rotting in the jail.

  Captain Kapoor: And those two millions will be yours as well.

  Renuka: Are you implying that I betrayed my man for booty?

  Captain Kapoor: Oh no, Renu-ji, don't we know, you chose to risk his life to end his mayhem.

  Renuka: Well, that's the only solace I've to my sense of loss.

  Captain Kapoor: Just reconsider Renu-ji that money may be handy to help the needy.

  Renuka: True, but won't that demean me in my own eyes?

  Captain Kapoor: Hats off to your sensitivity madam.

  Renuka: Thank you Captain. Better use it for the needy families of the policemen who died at his hands. At least, that should give some solace to his lost soul.

  Captain Kapoor: It's praiseworthy really. But don't say no to the rehabilitation package.

  Renuka: It's not my rehabilitation that's on my mind now. Captain, it'sthe cause of dalit good that rules my heart. I've realized that fugitives can't improve the dalit plight from their jungle hideouts. If only we take the fight into the political arena, we've the numbers to boot. Where my man failed with his naxal bullets, I shall succeed with the ballot papers. I want to ensure that I haven't sacrificed my man in vain.

  [Captain Ranjit Kapoor, in attention, salutes Renuka, and it'sthe final-curtain.]

  Stacie Play 2

  M en at work on Women at work

  Dramatis Personae,

  Men at Work:

  Naveen (40) M aterials M anager, Bricks & Bats Ltd.

  Nayak (55) M anager, HRD, Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  Rakesh (50) M anaging Director, Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  Sunil (35), Assistant M anager, Personnel, Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  Gopal (55) Assistant, M arketing., Hares & Hounds Employees Union Balram (35) Inspector of Police.

  Sanjay (40) General M anager, M arketing, Brims & Dregs Ltd.

  Kumar (35) Assistant Finance M anager, Skins & Hides Ltd.

  Diwakar (50) Finance M anager, Skins & Hides Ltd.

  Bhagawan ( 45 ) Lawyer.

  Women at Work:

  Navya (30) Naveen’s wife and Sanjay's P.A at Brims & Dregs Ltd.

  Rachana (26) Navya's friend and Kumar's Assistant at Skins & Hides Ltd.

  Rekha (59) Company Secretary, Hares & Hounds Ltd., who with Navya and Rachana starts MAW AW, M ovement against womanizing at workplace.

  Nritya (21) Navya's sister and Nayak's Stenographer at Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  Preeti (26) Personal Secretary to Rakesh at Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  M argaret (45) M anager Personal, Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  Ramya( 40) Deputy M anager, Finance, Hares & Hounds Ltd.

  Divya (25) Receptionist, Bricks & Bats Ltd.

  Anasuya(35) M aid servant of the Naveens M ithuna: Accuser of Naveen sans appearance.

  Children at play: Ranjan (7) and Nrupa (5), son and daughter of Naveen and Navya.

  Scene -1

  [Curtains up: Drawing room of the Naveens. Nine chimes of the clock (not in the scene). Naveen is seen solving the The Hindu 'crossword'. The telephone in the hall starts ringing.]

  Navya: [Not in the scene.] Naveen, are you there?

  Naveen: Very much dear. [He goes to answer the call.]

  Naveen: It's Naveen here. [Pause] Wait a minute [Closes the mouthpiece.] Navya, Rachana is on the line for you.

  [Enter: Navya from the kitchen portion (left side of the stage) and takes the receiver from Naveen.]

  Navya: Hi, Rachana.

  [Naveen goes into the master-bedroom (left side of the backstage)]

  Navya: You are mistaken, Nritya is expected only tomorrow. [Long pause] Why not, we can meet in the evening.

  [Navya disconnects the phone. Naveen comes into the hall with a briefcase in one hand and shoes in the other.

  Naveen [Wearing the socks]: What's the matter?

  Navya: Rachana wants to bring her friend's auntie Rekha on some important business.

  Naveen: Bet, if not Amway its Gold Quest to lure you into becoming an Independent Business Owner. See how they network. Rachana became your friend after being introduced by someone, you may not even remember. She runs a ladies hostel in which you wanted her to accommodate your sister and in turn she wants you to entertain her friend's auntie. What a way to network.

  Navya: Why not if it comes to that. You know I'm idling all day and it's boring.

  Naveen: When kids hang around at home it's tiring, and it's boring as they grow up to hang out with their friends. Why, this networking would be no less boring. Well, it's all about parroting the worn out lines day in and day out. What's worse, you end up being a nuisance to your acquaintances.

  Navya: I thought of taking up a job but Rachana feels it amounts to standing in the way of the needy. Like she did, she wants me too start something on my own.

  Naveen: Why not get involved in some social activity.

  Navya: That's what I told Rachana. M aybe, this Rekha's visit has something to with that.

  Naveen: Wait and see if Rekha turns out to be an Amway auntie with an axe to grind. If it's the case don't count on me to network for you.

  Navya: Well, if it's some social work, I'm bound to bother you.

  Naveen: [Goes near her and strokes her head.] Won't I then leave no stone unturned.

  Navya: [Leans on him lovingly] I always know that I can count on you. I'm expecting them by six, why not you come by then.

  [Naveen extends the ring and the middle fingers of his right hand towards Navya.]

  Navya: What are you aiming at?

  Naveen: Let's see what's in store for me.

  [Navya kisses the middle finger.]

  Naveen: It's all about woman's sixth sense.

  Navya: Why tease me, tell me, what's the matter?

  Naveen: I will tell you if I don't click.

  Navya: Isn't it strange?

  Naveen: My dear, life is like that.

  [Navya goes into the kitchen and reappears with the lunch box. Naveen takes it and readies himself to leave.]

  Naveen: Bye darling [Kisses her on her cheek]

  Navya: [coyly.] Bye.

  [Exit: Naveen. Anasuya comes out from the kitchen portion with a plastic cover containing the leftovers.]

  Anasuya: Amma, you are lucky to have such a husband

  Navya: How is your man, is he keeping his word to give up drinking.

  Anasuya: He is drinking more than ever. Why, he says that he won't be able to drink once he stops drinking.

  Navya: That is some logic, isn't it? [Navya laughs heartily.]

  Anasuya: I don't know amma what to do with him. But when sober there is no man like him.

  [Exit: Anasuya. Navya goes into the kitchen. Navya re-enters and goes to the master bedroom. In time, two chimes of the clock (not in the scene) and Navya comes out from the children's bed room (the right side of the backstage) and goes into the kitchen portion. Navya reappears wiping her hands with the pallu of her saree and goes int
o the master bedroom. Thereafter, the clock chimes thrice and Navya comes out of the master bedroom and picks up The Hindu' lying on the centre table. Shortly Ranjan and Nrupa with tired looks and bag loads of school books enter.]

  Nrupa: I'm hungry mummy.

  Navya: Go have a wash; I shall prepare some garam garam upma for both of you.

  [Ranjan and Nrupa go into the children's bedroom and Navya into the kitchen portion. Navya reappears with two platefuls of upma and goes into the children’s bedroom. Shortly Navya comes into the drawing room with a carom board with Ranjan (holding a box of coins) and Nrupa. Navya spreads the board and as the kids set the coins they converse.]

  Ranjan: After Nritya comes we can play doubles every day?

  Nrupa: I shall be her partner.

  Ranjan: She no fool for that.

  [Ranjan and Nrupa come to blows and Navya intervenes.]

  Navya: She is not going to stay with us anyway.

  Nrupa: But where she will stay?

  Navya: In Rachana auntie's ladies hostel.

  Ranjan: Why not she stays with us, mummy.

  Navya: It's better that way.

  Nrupa: But how?

  Navya: You are too young to understand all that now.

  [They get along for a while with the game of carom bank (In the first round, each player keeps the coins he pockets and that makes his bank. While the red is priced at Rs. 5, the whites and blacks are valued at Rs. 2 and Rs.l respectively. In the second round each player stakes equal money on the board and the process is repeated till a winner emerges.) Six chimes of the clock (not in the scene) and they wind up the show without a clear winner and go into the children's bedroom. Shortly, Navya appears in the drawing room and picks up a periodical and sits in the sofa. Thereafter Ranjan and Nrupa too come out with a couple of shuttle cocks and their racquets.]

  [Exit: Ranjan and Nrupa saying bye to Navya. The door buzzer alerts Navya to the arrival Rachana and Rekha.j

  [Enter: Rachana and Rekha with their handbags.]

  Rachana: M eet M rs. Rekha.

  Navya: Welcome madam.

  Rachana I've just come to know that Rekha madam works at Hares & Hounds where your sister is going to join.

  Navya: Oh what a relief it is.

  Rekha: M aybe fortuitous for it sets the right tone. Thank you for agreeing to see me.

  Navya: What a way to embarrass this nobody.

  Rekha: But Rachana thinks otherwise.

  Navya: Friends tend to either overrate you or underrate you, don't they?

  Rekha: How I wish that Rachana underrates you.

  [Navya asks Rekha and Rachana to sit in the sofa while she sits in the chair.]

  Navya: What would you like to have madam, coffee or tea?

  Rekha: Tea, preferably with elachi and sugar without kanjoosi.

  Navya: I see you are quite humorous.

  Rachana: That would do for me too.

  Navya: What, elachi or kanjoosi?

  [Navya goes into the kitchen leaving Rekha and Rachana in all smiles.]

  Rekha: Your friend is quite interesting.

  Rachana: If you can rope her in, it would be a big catch for you.

  Rekha: Don't ever imagine that I will let you go. I need both of you.

  [Navya comes back with three cups of tea in a tray, and they begin to sip it from their cups.]

  Rekha: We don't get to have such tea here. What's the secret if I may know?

  Navya: I’ve learnt it from my sister Nritya. What a sweet girl she is and to be honest I'm against her taking up a job. I know how faint hearted she is. I told my father to get her married instead. But she was adamant and my dad gave in. Well, being born so late after me, she's his laadli. God forbid, if she has to face harassment at the workplace that I hear about, she won't be able to cope up with that.

  Rekha: Don't worry about Nritya for men at our office are a decent lot. Even otherwise, your worrying about her won't stop men at work work on women at work and it's no stopping them if women start sitting at home. It would be like setting the clock backwards. [One chime of the clock (not in the scene) indicating it was six-thirty] Isn't it a good omen? We have to mend men in theirown den.

  Navya: I think the only way out for women is to mend their own ways. I believe that women bring it upon themselves by being half-hearted about male advances. I learn that all women are no angels for many do flirt with men either for fun or out to sponge on them. I know most men do try to interest women they fancy but it is the baser lot who resort to harassing them. M aybe it's not a cut and dry case any way.

  Rekha: No denying, but one has to nuance between the luring female and the harassing male. While a crafty female won't be able to lead an unwilling man up the garden path, any stupid fellow of some rank can spoil it for the chastely female at the workplace. Whatever, the flirty female syndrome cannot be bracketed with the dirty male menace. It's not that the two ills at the workplace cancel out each other warranting our inaction. Let men take care of flirts amongus while weworkon men who workon women.

  Navya: I do agree but I still feel it is for the individual woman to tackle the problem.

  Rekha: But still there is a need for an institutional mechanism to rein in the errant men, and the Supreme Court ruling in the Visaka's case is all about it.

  Navya: What is it?

  Rachana: Sexual harassment at the work place is all about sexually coloured remarks or physical contact and advances or showing pornography or a demand or request for sexual favour and or any other unwelcome physical, verbal/non-verbal conduct being sexual in nature. And in case of a complaint of sexual harassment, every employer must provide a complaints committee headed by a woman with half its members being women. What is equally important is that the committee should also include an outside organization- which is familiar with the ways and means by which men resort to sexual harassment. We may fill in the gap as there are not many if not any and we want to take you on board.

  Navya: Being unfamiliar with all that, what can I bring to the table?

  Rekha: That's no constraint. Why Rachana is also is not exposed to any such situation. I can see that both of you are employed for a while to come face to face with the ugly facets of womanizing at the workplace.

  Navya: Give me sometime to think it over. Besides, I've to discuss with Naveen as well.

  Rekha: [Smiling.] You have time only till I retire from my job in a couple of months.

  Navya: Before that, I hope you would be able to stabilize things for Nritya.

  Rekha: Like you would have done, had you been in my place.

  Navya: See the irony of my sisterly care. It is to avoid the saala- saali flirting in my place that I want her to stay at Rachan's hostel. Unlike the sexual harassment at workplace, there is no escaping from the alien sexual enthusiasm at home.

  Rekha: It's another facet of female vulnerability. You have a thinking head on your shoulders and that should help you to shoulder our cause. I wait for your word to get on board. Meanwhile, you may go through these case studies on sexual harassment at workplace that I downloaded from the net.

  [Rekha pulls out a spiral bound volume and gives it to Navya.]

  Navya: Thank you, I'll go through it.

  Rachana: [Gets up from her seat.] See you with Nritya tomorrow.

  Navya: In the evening that is.

  [Rekha and Navya too get up from their seats.]

  [Exit: Rachana and Rekha, after bidding adieu to Navya.]

  [Navya browses through the material that Rekha gave her and shortly Ranjan and Nrupa come back from play. Navya nudges them into the children's bedroom for wash and she resumes reading the material. Seven chimes of the clock (not in the scene)]

  [Enter: Naveen with his briefcase and the lunch box. Navya goes up to him.]

  Navya: [Taking the lunchbox.] What's the news?

  Naveen: I had a sumptuous meal.

  Navya: What about my sixth sense?

  Naveen: I said that I will tell you if I fail.


  Navya: So you have clicked?

  Naveen: It's not that I failed to pass.

  Navya: Why are you talking in circles?

  Naveen: Because there is nothing straight about it.

  Navya: To hell with you.

  Naveen: Okay, but did Amway auntie turn up?

  Navya: Stop saying that. Why as it turned out Rekha is the Company Secretary of Hares & Hounds.

  Naveen: I'm relieved more than you as it soothes your nerves.

  Navya: She wants to start a NGO to nail down the womanizers at workplace. Be a good boss or else.

  [Naveen catches his ears with his hands crossed.]

  Navya: Well, she wants to take me on board.

  Naveen: You can cross the bridge when you come to it.

  Navya: So you are not against the idea.

  Naveen: If I oppose, you may lose your face.

  Navya: How's that?

  Naveen: What if she propagates that your man is a M CP.

  Navya: Well, I won't let that happen. [She strokes his head affectionately.] [Curtains down.]

  Scene - 2

  [Curtains up: The Naveens' drawing room where Ranjan and Nrupa were slow in getting ready to go to school. The clock (not in the scene) eight chimes.]

  [Enter: Navya hurriedly with the lunch packs for them.]

  Navya: [Annoyed] Oh, you, I know why you are dragging your feet.

  Ranjan: Mummy, didn't you tell us that Nritya auntie comes before we leave for school.

  Navya: What am I to do when the train runs late? Your daddy rang up and said that it won't reach before ten.

  Nrupa: Why he forces us to go school when we love to play with auntie.

  Ranjan: Please mummy, allow us to bunk school today.

  Navya: Don't you know your daddy won't allow that.

  Ranjan: But why?

  Navya: Because he loves you and wants to see you becoming M BAs from IIM s.

  [Honkingof a horn]

  Navya: Hurry up, the auto uncle has come.

  [Exit: Ranjan and Nrupa literally dragging their feet with their school bags and lunch packs.]

  [Enter: M aid servant Anasuya with a broom and as she begins to sweep the floor.]