A doctor's chamber. Rajan enters
Rajan:
Namaste (Hello) Doctor.
Rajan:
Namaste (Hello) Doctor.
Doctor:
(Cheerful) Hello
Rajan. Please have a seat.
Rajan sits. He is silent
Doctor:
Is
everything all right?
Rajan:
Priya
is pregnant.
Doctor:
Congratulations!
That's a good news.
Rajan:
Good
News?
Doctor:
Yes,
think about millions of couples who are not able to conceive. You are
lucky.
Rajan:
Yes
doctor, but...
Doctor:
(getting
a little serious) Ah! I get it. You did it again, didn't you?
Rajan:
Yes.
Doctor:
How
many times have I tried to make you understand? Nothing seems to get
into your head. Look it doesn't matter really.
Rajan:
I
want a son, doctor.
Doctor:
And
that's why you insist Priya go through Ultrasound to determine the
sex of the baby every time she is pregnant. She has gone through
abortion three times already. You have no idea how this is affecting
her physically and mentally.
Rajan:
Doctor,
I simply can't afford to have two daughters. One is enough.
Doctor:
Why
not? I have two daughters.
Rajan:
It's
different for you. You have a flourishing career. You earn a lot of
money.
Doctor:
I
don't understand the logic. Bringing up a son wouldn't involve money?
Rajan:
Of
course it would. But it's different. He'd... You know... When we are
old..
Doctor:
Now
you are talking. You want to secure your old age?
Rajan:
Yes.
Everyone does.
Doctor:
And
you think daughters are not capable of taking care of their parents
when they are old.
Rajan:
I
am not saying that. But they have to get married and go live with
their husbands. They will have their own families.
Doctor:
But
the son will stay back with you and take care of you. (Pause) What's
the guarantee?
Rajan:
Excuse
me.
Doctor:
What's
the guarantee that the son will really take care of you? What if he
became a drug addict, spend all your money and threw you out of
your own house? What if he became a criminal and you don't want to
see his face any more? What if he went abroad and didn't return?
What if he didn't want to live with you? Have you given thought to
all these possibilities? I am not saying your son WILL turn out to
be a horrible person. But what if...?
Rajan:
These
are assumptions, doctor. We can't always decide on assumption.
Doctor:
That's
what you are doing too; assuming your son will take care of you and
your daughters won't.
Rajan
is silent.
Doctor:
Look
around Rajan. There are thousands of Old Age Homes. And most of the
people living there have sons back home. Listen, 'Old age
security' shouldn't be the only motive to giving birth and
bringing up a child, be it a girl or a boy. It should be love.
With what I hear, bringing up a child is more like an investment
to you. If that's the case invest in Mutual funds, Pension Plans
and Insurance Policies. Those might secure your old age. Bring up
your child as a symbol of Love and not just as a sign of
Investment. And then it won't matter whether the child is a girl or
a boy.
Enter
Gita.
Gita:
Hello
Doctor. Oh, I will wait outside.
Doctor:
No no, it is alright. Please have a seat. How are you?
Gita:
I am fine, thank you.How is he doing?
Doctor:
No no, it is alright. Please have a seat. How are you?
Gita:
I am fine, thank you.How is he doing?
Doctor:
He
is showing progress. You can take him home in a couple of days.
Gita:
Thank
you very much doctor. I'll go see him now. Talk to you later. (Exits)
Rajan:
Who
is she?
Doctor:
She
is a daughter. (smiles) Her name is Gita. She is the managing
director of a software firm. Her father had a stroke. She's been
looking after him. Rajan daughters are not liabilities. Times
have changed. They can do everything that you can think of and
more.
Rajan:
I
understand doctor. But... the family name... to carry on this..
Doctor:
Oh
come on Rajan! You sound like a
mythological character. What is more important to you? Family name
or respect and honor? Educate your children and equip them with
qualities and skills needed to contribute to the world. They will
bring fame and honor and respect to you. You'll be a proud father.
What more do you need?
Rajan:
Doctor
you don't see my point.. the family tradition and..
Doctor:
Mr.
Rajan, do you know anything about your family beyond three generations?
What's the name of your great great grandfather?
Rajan:
It's..
(He looks down)
Doctor:
Go home Rajan. Go home, hug your daughter and say you
love her. That will make a great difference. And take good care of Priya.
Rajan slowly gets up, walks to the exit, turns around, takes a deep breath and smiles.
Rajan:
Thank you Doctor. I will bring Priya next week for a check up. (Exits)
Rajan slowly gets up, walks to the exit, turns around, takes a deep breath and smiles.
Rajan:
Thank you Doctor. I will bring Priya next week for a check up. (Exits)
The
End
3 comments:
good!!!
Very well written!
good thnkng..
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