The
father is sitting on a chair reading his morning Newspaper. Enters
Prakash.
Prakash: Good
Morning, Baba!
Father: Prakash!
My son. So you are a graduate now. Congratulations. What do you
want to do next?
Prakash: I
want to become a teacher.
Father : A
teacher? Well.. not bad. Teaching is good.
Prakash: Baba
I..
Father : Can
you go see why is it taking your mom so long to get my tea?
Prakash: Yes
Baba. Mom!!(Exits)
Father
continues reading the Newspaper. Enter Prakash with his mother. They
bring tea in steel glasses.
Mother: Here,
your tea. Anything interesting in the newspaper?
Father: Nothing.
The Dalits have gone crazy. They want equal rights in the
society. Equal rights my foot. They are untouchables and they will
always remain untouchables. Can you imagine, they want to be
permitted inside the temple. How can they even think about it?
These are all western effect. Watching lots of those good for
nothing programs on TV. You know, TV should be banned from their
lives. Some of them even claim to be equal to us!! By birth we are
superior to them. They were born to serve us, not to equate us.
Prakash: But
what is wrong in saying all human beings are equal?
Father: There
is nothing wrong in saying. But it is good only for ears. It's not
practical. Human beings can never become equal.
Prakash: Why
not?
Father: Stop
it. Do you want to argue with me now? Is that what you learn in your
college? To argue with your parents?
Prakash: I
am not trying to argue. I just want to be clear. In schools and
colleges we are taught that everyone is equal. We pass with good
grades if we write that in our answer papers. But you are saying
exactly the opposite. I want to know what is correct. Why can't we
judge people by their behavior and not by their caste?
Father: Because...
we can't. These are the rules laid down by our tradition. We
shouldn't even drink the water touched by them.
Prakash: But
why Baba? Why should we not drink the water touched by them?
Father : Because
that's how it has been. We can't change the laws of religion.
Prakash: But
everything changes with time. We should also change the tradition
that tells us to hate people and look down on others. This is
inhuman.
Father: Priya.
See how your son is arguing with me. Our son is educated now. Son let
me give you a piece of advice. It is good to write about equality
in your answer paper. It is also good to pass the exams with good
grades. But we have to live in the society and therefore, we have
to follow the rules of the society.
Prakash: Who
made these rules Baba?
Father: The
society.
Prakash: That
means these rules were made by us, by our ancestors. If these are
man- made rules then certainly we can change them. Times were
different then. Our ancestors made terrible mistakes in
formulation of these rules. Times are different now. And I think
it's time that we correct those mistakes.
Father: And
who is going to change those rules?
Prakash: I
am.
Father: (Surprised)
What? Priya, what is he saying? I don't understand him.
Prakash: Baba,
I have decided to get married. And before you ask, let me tell you
she belongs to a lower caste, Dalit, untouchable or whatever you
call them.
There
is silence.
Father: Listen
son. You are still young. It's alright. I can understand your
feelings. This love and romance during college make people crazy.
It's natural. I will forgive you. Forget about everything. You
didn't know what you were saying. You are just confused.
Prakash: No
baba. I am sorry to say but there is no confusion. I know exactly
what I want to do.
Father: Then
you have to leave this house.
Mother: What
are you saying? He is our only son. Prakash, listen son! The world
outside is very cruel. How will you... you are...
Prakash: Don't
worry mother. I can take care of myself.
Mother: But
son..
Father: Priya!!
Mother: How
can you be so cruel? How can you ask your only son to leave? Don't
you have a heart?
Father: (Throws
the glass down) Shut up. Do you want to say it's my fault? I have
been listening to him all this while and trying to put some sense
into his head. But he wants to change the society. You think it
will make any difference?
Prakash: It
will Baba, it will, to me and to Rita.
Father: I
should have killed you when you were born. You are talking to me this
way for that dirty piece of..
Prakash: Baba.
Please don't say anything about Rita.
Father: Shut
up. (Slaps Prakash.) Get out of this house before I kill you.
Go to that piece of shit. That's what you deserve. Never show me
your face again. You are dead for us. You are no longer my son.
Prakash: Fine.
Mother, please don't cry. I am leaving. But before leaving I have to
say one thing to this man. You can stop untouchables from entering
temples but how will you stop them from entering hearts? Rita has
entered my heart. And I am fortunate. Good bye!
Father:
Get out!
Mother: No..
please don't go.. please stop him....don't leave your
mother..please...
Everyone
freezes for a couple of seconds. Father and mother slowly exit.
Prakash takes off his cap, puts on spectacles and moves slowly
downstage and sits down. He is in deep thought. Enters Rita with two
plastic glasses.
Rita: Thank
God there was a small shop selling tea. Here, your tea. (They drink
tea) What were you thinking about?
Prakash: I
was thinking about the day after our graduation. The day I left the
house. I can't believe it's been 10 years. Time really flies.
Rita: Yes.
I'll finally get to meet your parents. You know I am so excited.
Prakash: So
am I.
Rita: It
was so nice of your mom to write to us and invite us home. I don't
understand why you didn't inform them that we were coming.
Prakash: Come,
let's go.
Exit
Rita and Prakash. Enter mother and father. They are old. They look
very tired and worn out. The father is coughing continuously. The
mother helps him to a chair.
Father : Did
he write back? (Coughs)
Mother: No.
But I know they will come. My heart says they will.
Father : I
am so sorry Priya. (coughs) It is all my fault.
Enters
Prakash and Rita
Prakash: Mama!
Mother: Who
is it?....Oh Prakash! Prakash my son. (Starts crying) Where were
you my son? Where were you?
Prakash: Please
don't cry mother. I have come home. And see who is with me..
Mother:
Rita.. right?
Rita: Yes
mama!
Mother: I
am so sorry.. such a nice and beautiful girl... I am so sorry.. for
what happened..
Father : Who
is it Priya?
Mother: It's
Prakash and Rita.
Father: Prakash
has come...!!! (Trying to get up from the chair) My son has come..
Where is he?
Prakash: Baba!
I am right here Baba. Everything will be fine Baba. Now that I am
here everything will be fine.
Father: Prakash
please forgive me..
Prakash: No
baba, you don't have to say anything. You don't have to apologize to
me.
Father: I
was so cruel to you... my flesh and blood.. But I have
realized..(Cough) now.. (cough)
Prakash: Please
father.. don't talk.. it's alright.. Rita get some water, please.
Father: Thank
you my son.. Thank you for coming.. Thank you for forgiving.. I am
proud, son. I am proud to be your father.
Prakash: I
know Baba. Don't say anything.
Rita: Here
water!
Prakash: Here
drink some water, Baba.
(Father drinks water)
Father: I
feel much better. I feel so relieved now.
Prakash: Father.
You just drank the water touched by Rita. Tell me does it taste any
different?
Father: No
son. It doesn't. It tasted better than any holy water in the world.
Prakash: That's
all I wanted to tell you then!!
father: I
know son. I realized that after losing you. I realized what mattered
is LOVE. I was blind then. But now I can see! Come near me Rita,
my daughter.
Rita: Yes
Father!
Father: You'll
forgive this old man, won't you?
Rita: I
was never angry with you father.
Father: If
only people had hearts like yours, this world would be a paradise!
The
End
6 comments:
nice story
it is great
good story.,,.
Excellent. Thank u very much. My group and me are very well prepared for our play now.
Nyc one...I needed exactly this kind of story for my role play in school
Thank you all.. Glad to see it being used.
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