Onto The Stage Slighted Souls And Other Stage Plays

by BS Murthy

  (PAUSE)

  SEKHAR: Vimala, it's in the backyard.

  (PAUSE)

  SEKHAR: You've set her heart on the right beat.

  PRATAP: But I’ve lost my heart all again. Never mind your Liz Hurly hint, how to imagine she would be so fascinating. But if I can't have her I’ll have a twice broken heart to mend. And that would be my undoing.

  SEKHAR: I don't think you've to worry about it. I've a hunch she would not like to miss out either. But she may not like to migrate to the U.S.

  PRATAP: What I've got to do with the U.S any way. Know I am counting on you to tilt the scales.

  SEKHAR: If need be, with the combined weight of my wife.

  PRATAP: Quiet, she's coming along with some bearer. (OFF) What a lovely frame in that graceful gait.

  VIM ALA: Hi Pratap, you seem to have lost yourself.

  SEKHAR: Why are you after the poor fellow?

  VIM ALA: Sekhar, better get your eyes checked up.

  PRATAP: Why, don't I see that koya dora approaching us.

  VIMALA: Wonder how these koya doras are such good face readers! It's an idea to let him predict Pratap's future.

  PRATAP: Why not let me enjoy in the suspension of belief.

  VIMALA: Why, don’t you see he'sfocusing on you?

  (PAUSE)

  KOYA DORA: I've got it from our goddess Poleramma. Beta, you are at the crossroad now. Is

  it not true?

  PRATAP: When your goddess tells you, why do you ask me?

  KOYA DORA: Oyoye. (PAUSE) You loved and lost. She agreed but not her father. You went west and married. Amassed wealth but not happy, no love, no children.

  SEKHAR: Pratap is it all true; I mean to the last million. No yes and no please.

  PRATAP: Yes, including a meager fortune.

  SEKHAR: It's a sort of yes and no again. But why didn't you tell me about that?

  PRATAP: You know I'm never boastful. I’ve a small chain of Indian eateries over there. SEKHAR: Understatement again, Koya Dora, what about his wife?

  Koya Dora: I'll see his hand. (PAUSE) She left you, ten years ago, right.

  PRATAP: True.

  SEKHAR: What about his future?

  Koya Dora: He won't go back. (PAUSE) Gets a beautiful wife, (PAUSE) she bears him a son, (PAUSE) long and happy married life. Give some money to please Poleramma.

  (PAUSE)

  KOYA DORA: Poleramma says I should take the money from bed's hand.

  PRATAP: Vimala, would you mind obliging him.

  KOYA DORA: Bed, Poleramma says you'll get what you want.

  SEKHAR: What about my future Koya Dora?

  KOYA DORA: Give me your hand. (PAUSE) You're happy with your family. You'll be a very rich man. Your son goes abroad.

  SEKHAR: Will he come back or not?

  KOYA DORA: I have to see his hand. (PAUSE) Poleramma blesses all of you.

  (PAUSE)

  PRATAP: Wonder how he's on dot about my past!

  VIM ALA: They've a knack of telling the past and gain confidence.

  SEKHAR: What about their ability to foresee into the future.

  VIMALA: That time only would tell.

  SEKHAR: If this Koya Dora has his way, Pratap can blissfully wait and you can choose for sure, but what about me? God forbid, if his prediction comes true, I will be lost without my Suresh by my side.

  PRATAP: Why don't you take advantage of his prediction?

  SEKHAR: What advantage in a disadvantaged situation?

  VIMALA: Wait Pratap. Sekhar, thank the Koya Dora for not taking advantage of his disadvantageous prediction.

  SEKHAR: It's fine if you are thankful to him but not me. He gave you a blank cheque and me a bleakfuture, didn’t he?

  VIMALA: Why are you cut up with him? You should be thankful to him.

  PRATAP: Vimala, what this rubbing salt into his poor wounds.

  VIM ALA: You may not know but Sekhar knows the way the soothsayers operate. But this Koya dora neither offered to do some puja nor wanted Sekhar to wear a tayattu. What's more it was a free consultation.

  PRATAP: Any doubt he would've fallen for the bait, hook, line and sinker.

  VIMALA: Well, I've nothing against astrology if it's not handled by charlatans. If things are destined to go wrong, they will go wrong, never mind their fake supplements. I believe it pays to know the realities of life. I don’t think there was ever a way of making life a smooth sailing affair, all the way. Better, we learn to weather out the storm till it subsides. After all, it can't last forever.

  SEKHAR: I don’t see the clue to my rider lies in your theorem.

  PRATAP: Then why not draw from the American way of life. What's this parental urge to get glued to bearded children? Why not let them go on their own from adolescence as the Americans do.

  VIMALA: Isn't it the other extreme? What is adolescence if it's not vulnerable? It's stupid to abandon children at the crossroads of life. It's insensitive even; we know freedom without responsibility spoils, moreso at the tender age.

  PRATAP: M aybe, if we average both cultures, we have the optimum.

  VIMALA: I thinkyou've got it.

  SEKHAR: Let's go then. (RAISED YONE) Bearer, bring the bill.

  PRATAP: Sekhar, do you remember what lifting little finder in the class meant.

  SEKHAR: Well, you can relive yourself but it's an open affair here.

  PRATAP: I'm relearning to be an Indian in India.

  VIMALA: Is it under the koya dora's influence or what?

  SEKHAR: What laggards these bearers are. Let me go and see what the hitch is.

  (PAUSE)

  VIM ALA: Pratap, why don't you answer my question?

  PRATAP: As he said you'll get what you want, I think the answer to your question lies in his prediction.

  VIMALA: Whata puzzleforan answer.

  PRATAP: What you want might solve the puzzle.

  VIMALA: What I want is what I may get.

  SFX - Pratap and Vimala break into laughter

  SEKHAR: If you are not making fun of me, I’m glad to see Vimala laugh again.

  VIMALA: Thankyou.

  PRATAP: Let me go into the wilderness.

  VIM ALA: I hope you don't get lost

  SEKHAR: Don't worry, I'm going with him.

  (PAUSE)

  SFX - Indicating that they get into their car and proceed on their way.

  SCENE-7

  EXT -Continuation of their journey in the hustle and bustle of the vehicular traffic.

  SEKHAR: I may say, no friend like a childhood friend.

  PRATAP: I would add, no sweetheart as the first love.

  SEKHAR: I don't know. Ours is marriage kind of love.

  PRATAP: Would it be any different with women Vimala?

  (PAUSE)

  VIMALA: Man or woman, love is love, isn't it?

  PRATAP: But the love in question is the first love.

  VIM ALA: M y answer is, silence is golden.

  SEKHAR: Is it a conspiracy of silence?

  PRATAP: Are you not poking your nose too much.

  SEKHAR: Maybe, for you, personal space is spacious but for us privacy yields to inquisitiveness.

  PRATAP: Both cut both ways. I repeat, average these two for optimizing the way of living. VIMALA: One day I may have to sit with you and arrive at the mean.

  SEKHAR: Then I would stand guard (PAUSE) Look, how the guy is frantic for some help. It’s clear his car broke down and he would’ve left the jack in his garage.

  PRATAP: Let's find out.

  SFX- Indicating the stoppage of the car.

  PRATAP: Hi, what's the matter?

  DR. RAGHU: Lift up to Hayatnagar please.

  SEKHAR: Vimala, don’t mind accommodating him.

  SFX - Opening and the shutting of the car door.

  DR. RAGHU: Thank you madam. I'm Dr. Raghu.

  VIMALA: Never mind, I'm Vimala. He's Pratap and he's Sekhar.

  PRATAP: Doctor, you may know her daughter Prati is a doctor in the making.


  DR. RAGHU: Nice to know, in which year is she auntie?

  VIMALA: Pre-final in the Gandhi Medical College.

  DR. RAGHU: I did my M .S. in the Osmania.

  VIMALA: What a chance meeting.

  DR. RAGHU: It's my pleasure really.

  PRATAP: No less ours, meeting a young and handsome doctor.

  SEKHAR: Possibly an eligible bachelor.

  DR. RAGHU: I can only say I'm a bachelor.

  PRATAP: When it comes to eligibility, you might have heard the saying. It's for the mother-inlaw to know what a good son-in-law one makes.

  DR. RAGHU: I've heard the father-in-law version.

  PRATAP: What difference does that make if one is not snubbed?

  SEKHAR: Having a doctor at home is fine. But at corporate hospitals it's like you are thrown at the wolves.

  DR. RAGHU: No denying sir, but do you know why it is so?

  SEKHAR: Whatever be the provocation, I don't see any justification. Oh, how they short change you at every turn. Why the unwarranted tests and the uncalled for hospitalization. By the way, when did a doctor last felt his patient's pulse by hand? Bemoan the society with doctors without integrity?

  DR. RAGHU: I will come to that later but our problem is our selective condemnation. We speak of political corruption, baeuracratic kickbacks, and business bribes, but not in the same vein. We don't see the corrupt spring from our midst but don't descend from Mars.

  SEKHAR: Don't tell me, you can put judges and doctors on the same footing.

  DR. RAGHU: Why do you want place them on a moral pedestal raised on an immoral ground. Don't they see others take an unholy dip in our polluted waters? it's stupid to expect they go home dry and clean. What about our dual morality. We're critical of corruption but not our corrupt caste-men.

  SEKHAR: All that is fine, but why the fleecing at the corporate hospitals?

  DR. RAGHU: If you know about the capital involved and the return on investment, you get the answer. Have you ever thought why healthcare has become a corporate business in our country?

  SEKHAR: That way you can explain away every shortcoming.

  DR. RAGHU: I'm talking about specifics. You know our people and politicians alike bankrupt our country. We as a people evade, if not avoid, paying taxes. You know how the politicians are ruining our economy with their populist schemes.

  SEKHAR: Well India is no Utopia.

  VIM ALA: Bhadru, used to say corruption makes us collectively poor Well, Raghu, he's my late husband. (PAUSE) You could've heard about the engineered accident of an engineer.

  DR. RAGHU: Who didn't, but who thought I would meet you some day.

  VIM ALA: Maybe, that's life all about, it makes and breaks. Back to the corrupt, they won't have it easy any way. One may have a Benz but it doesn't help much on our congested roads. It goes like that with everything else.

  SEKHAR: It won't be easy for Raghu till he clears the mess in the corporate hospitals.

  DR. RAGHU: In the no-profit-no-loss hospitals of our own Gates and Buffetts.

  PRATAP: Would our doctors like to work in such hospitals?

  DR. RAGHU: Why not, if they get their due and the patients are not billed unduly.

  PRATAP: What if I provide money, would you run the show.

  DR. RAGHU: What a fillip that would.

  VIM ALA: Are you into it already!

  DR. RAGHU: I run a twenty-bed hospital at Hayatnagar.

  PRATAP: It's my word and money is no constraint. Give her your contact number and well call you up.

  DR. RAGHU: I have no words uncle.

  VIMALA: I’ve enough words of praise.

  PRATAP: Vimala, know I owe it your inspiration.

  (PAUSE)

  VIMALA: Oh, you too live in Hyderabad. What are your parents?

  DR. RAGHU: My father owns a couple of bulk-drug units in Hyderabad. My mother is a full time housewife and part-time accountant at my father's office.

  SEKHAR: With such a pedigree, you can't deny your eligibility.

  DR. RAGHU: Why are you after my bachelorhood sir?

  PRATAP: Caught in the shackles of marriage, he's jealous of your freedom VIM ALA: Is it that you want to be shackle-free.

  PRATAP: The saying, do as I say but don’t do as I do, goes with me too. To tell you the truth, I'll be happy being a netted fish.

  VIM ALA: Empty words, what do you say Sekhar.

  SEKHAR: He's deemed right till you prove him wrong.

  VIMALA: It’s stupid of women to expect justice in an all male court.

  DR. RAGHU: Don't feel let down aunty. I'll assert you are right till Pratap uncle proves you wrong.

  VIMALA: (OFF) Buddhu, you've played his card. It's good you're not a lawyer.

  PRATAP: Vimala, you know I'm a game.

  (PAUSE)

  SEKHAR: Looks like we've some trouble on hand. Why the traffic came to a halt. Don't you see the police are all over?

  DR. RAGHU: Oh, we've almost reached my hospital SFX- the sound of the door opening and closure.

  PRATAP: Could be a traffic jam.

  SEKHAR: You don't know, police are hardly seen in such times. It could be a major road mishap or worse.

  SFX - the sound of the door opening and closure.

  DR. RAGHU: It's a Naxalite attack on a police convoy near my hospital. It seems, landmines blew away a couple of vehicles. No way forward now for me too.

  VIMALA: I think we should go back.

  SEKHAR: What do you say Pratap?

  PRATAP: I'll go with Vimala.

  VIM ALA: What if I say, I'll go with you.

  SEKHAR: It will be a case of pehle app and missing the bus.

  SFX - Car being reversed amidst the chaos.

  (PAUSE)

  VIM ALA: Sekhar, what about train tickets?

  SEKHAR: It's slipped from my mind.

  VIM ALA: So, forgetfulness helps.

  PRATAP: And remembrances too.

  SEKHAR: Now it helps to go back.

  SFX - Sound of picking up speed.

  SCENE-8

  EXT - continuation of the journey in the hustle and bustle of the vehicular traffic

  SEKHAR: The Naxal trouble is back for worse. Didn't our government claim they fled to Chattisgarh with broken backs?

  DR. RAGHU: If they're weakened in one area, they strengthen themselves in another. West Bengal first, Andhra Pradesh next and now it's Chattisgarh with Orissa being the only constant menace.

  SEKHAR: I don' see how anyone in his right mind can believe that a band of brigands can capture Delhi by hiding in the jungles.

  DR. RAGHU: You know too much disparity in society leads to revolution with topsy-turvy as ideology. Gaining political power has always been the goal of revolution to bring about the change and the revolutionaries see bloodshed as the means to serve that end. The only drawback is the danger of death, but then, it's the narcotic of martyrdom. What to say, sensitive minds with utopian dreams resort to senseless killings.

  SEKHAR: Maybe, it was the case before; we were not even born then. Now assorted characters fill the Naxal ranks. Oh, the way they arm-twist businessmen, Naxalism is nothing but extortionism. That's not all. It could've been a hard grind earlier in their jungle hideouts. And now, with women cadres around the Naxals don't miss out much of life. Can’t you imagine the jangal me mangal. I say, the social fringes are better off in deep jungles.

  R. RAGHU: It's true but it's not the incentive. I think it's the moral kick they get as gunwielding Naxalites.

  SEKHAR: But why should they kill the police? After all, it's the poor who join the police force.

  DR. RAGHU: I don’t thinkthey have an answer. It's a dichotomy of their ideology.

  SEKHAR: Don’t tell me there ever was an ideology of social parity. What about communism? Banish the czars to make the proletariat the czars. What do you say?

  DR. RAGHU: I say the bourgeoisie got it right.

  SEKHAR: I think Naxals should realize democracy is the best bargain for the poor in our bad world.
But then, if they get into our democratic circus they too would become corrupt buffoons.

  DR. RAGHU: My father says, earlier, people were better off with karmic theory. The poor believed the rich were rich because of their good deeds in previous births. That way, without envy, people tried to be good for a better rebirth.

  SEKHAR: But was it not anti- progress.

  DR. RAGHU: No, theory is about progress in order and not chaos in progress as we have now. In a way, we had thrown out the baby with the bathwater. .

  SEKHAR: But do you subscribe to your father's old values?

  DR. RAGHU: Weil, we were brought up on that diet; I’ve a younger sister, Swarna.

  SEKHAR: What’s your sister doing?

  DR. RAGHU: She's in the final year engineering.

  PRATAP: Why, the biggest 'graduate engineer' factory in the world is in India He could've called you up. Located in South India. (PAUSE) I don't see my car here. Hopefully Raju couid've moved it to a repair shop.

  SEKHAR: Oh these guys are bloody stupid. Why didn't he call you?

  DR. RAGHU: He's a sensible fellow. Of all the days he forgot to carry his cell today. And you know there are hardly any public telephone booths these days.

  SEKHAR: That is all about giving with one hand and taking with the other. Well, for good or bad, Dhirubhai's dream of seeing a cell in every Indian hand is on hand. (PAUSE) Pratap, what're you dreaming about?

  (PAUSE)

  SEKHAR: Vimala.

  (PAUSE)

  SEKHAR: What's this conspiracy of silence?

  VIMALA: What's the matter?

  SEKHAR: Raghu, excuse me doctor for dropping the prefix, I find it...

  DR. RAGHU: You're welcome sir.

  SEKHAR: Vimala, he belongs to your school of thought.

  VIMALA: Nice. I hope he has a lesson ortwo foryou.

  SEKHAR: Were in your dreamland or what, that's what he has been doing. (PAUSE) What about you Pratrap?

  PRATAP: It's good you dropped his prefix; why not help me drop my suffix.

  VIMALA: Why make it Greek and Latin?

  SEKHAR: He's desperate to turn an Indian from an Indian American.

  VIMALA: Let him apply for the visa and then I'll see.

  PRATAP: Vimala, is there a standard format?

  VIMALA: Boy, be a little imaginative.

  SFX-Thudding sound of a head-on collision. (PAUSE)