THE BEGINNING by Amjad Prawej

Enter Husband and his pregnant Wife.  The Husband is carrying shopping bags.

Husband: Careful now. (Makes her sit) There you go. Shall we? One more time? Please.

Wife: Raj!!

Husband: I know, I know, we just bought them. But I am too excited. I am going to be a Dad.

Wife: Ehm..

Husband: And you will be a Mom of course. (Pointing the shopping bags) So... Shall we? Please!

Wife: OK.

Husband: (Takes out a little pink outfit) Look at that.

Wife: Aww.

Husband: (Painting a picture) Imagine, pink curtains, light pink walls and a medium pink cradle. And our little angel in this beautiful pink outfit. What do you think?

Wife: It will be fantastic. And when she is a little older, we should get her a little bed with soft pillows and floral bedsheets.

Husband: (Takes out a Barbie from the shopping bag) And then she can play with her Barbie! Do you think she will like it?

Wife: Of course she will. Girls love Barbie. I had a barbie myself when I was a kid. She can wash her clothes, comb her hair and feed her too.

Husband: We will get her a doll house, even better,  I will build one!

Wife: With your office and work, when will you have time to build one? We should buy one.

Husband: You are right. We should buy one. I can't wait to see her play with it. Decorating all those tiny rooms with cute little furniture and dolls. It'll be so exciting!

Wife: Yes. And we should get her a tea party set as well.

Husband: The ceramic one. I think I saw one at the Central. It comes with a pink attache case.

Wife: Perfect. And when she is old enough I shall teach her everything I know. Sewing... stitching...

Husband: And that embroidery stuff. You are so good at it you know. I think you should teach her

that as well.

Wife: Of course I will. She will learn everything a girl should know. She will be a perfect girl. (The baby kicks) She kicked! She kicked.

Husband: (Feels the belly) She did it again. Hmmm, maybe I should teach her how to kick football.

Wife: What? Hello! She is a girl. Girls don't play football. At the most you can teach her how to play Badminton. That's all. I don't want her becoming a tomboy or something, do you?

Husband: No, of course not. I want her to be a cute little Princess.

Wife: Yes, our Princess. We should send her to dance classes for sure.

Husband: Ballet, that's for girl right?

Wife: Definitely.

Husband: Singing?

Wife: Yup.

Husband: Art classes.

Wife: O yes. She should certainly learn drawing, painting and sketching.

Husband: And cooking classes!

Wife: What? No!

Husband: (Confused) No?

Wife: Certainly not. I will teach her myself. I can teach her better than any cooking class. Don't you like the food I cook?

Husband: Sure I do. You are the best. No matter where I am, I always think about your food.

Wife: You do?

Husband: Of course. I think it is the best if she learned cooking from you. What is important is that she learns it.

Wife: And she will. She will learn all my secret recipes. I will teach her exactly the way my mom taught me. And she will teach her daughters.

Husband: A tradition! (Sits by her side) I am so lucky to have you. My perfect wife.

(She rests her head on his shoulder. He Giggles. Giggles again.)

Wife: What?

Husband: (Realizing) Oh, it's the phone on vibrating mode. (Answers) Hello? Yes... Oh... OK... I see... No problem... Thank you. (Disconnects) That was Dr. Kumar's office. They made a mistake. It's actually a Boy...

Wife: A boy? (Pause) I knew it. Those kicks were too strong for a girl. My strong boy.

Husband: (Standing up) OK, we have to go shopping again. Everything needs to change, the curtains, the cradle, the outfits, the doll...

Wife: (Getting up) Definitely. Boys can't play with Barbie Dolls. Let's go.

Husband: Now I can teach him to play football...

Wife: You can teach him everything to toughen him up.

Husband: Well, there won't be Ballet for sure. (Both exit.)

The End.

WHY? by Amjad Prawej

The stage is bare except for a chair and a stool. Enters Husband enters from stage right. He is drunk.

Husband: Rama.. Rama.. Are you dead? Rama.. (sits on the chair)

Rama hurriedly enters from stage left.

Rama: (a little scared) I am sorry.. I was waiting for you and I fell asleep.

Husband; What? You fell asleep!! Is this how you treat your husband? You are a pathetic wife you know that.

Rama; I am sorry... I.. Shall I serve the food?

Husband: Do you intend to starve me to death?

Rama: (Startled) What? No.

Husband: I know. I know you want me dead, but you can't get rid of me that easily. Now are you just going to stand there and stare at me? Go and get the food.

Rama: I'll get it. (Exits)

Husband: (Mimicking) Shall I serve the food?.. Pathetic. (Takes out a bottle of alcohol) Get me a glass too!.

Rama: (enters and puts the glass on the stool) You are already drunk.. Please don't..

Husband: What did you say?

Rama: Nothing I..

He throws the glass at her. She manages to duck it.

Husband: (At the top of his voice) Do I have to take your permission to drink in my own house?

Rama picks up the glass and approaches him.

Husband: (Grabbing her hair) Never try to boss me around. You understand?

Rama: Let me go. You are hurting me.

Husband: Just do what you are supposed to do. Cook, take care of the house and take care of your husband. That's your duty. (Letting go) Now will I get my food? (He fixes some pegs and gulps) How long does it take for you to bring your pathetic food?

Rama enters and serves the food. The husband takes a mouthful and spits everything out.

Husband: You call this food? Even a dog would refuse to eat this.

Rama: (Pained) Why are you doing this? Every day... I know you have already eaten outside.. You just want to insult me...

Husband: So you think I am lying huh! Here, you eat it. Eat it. (He forces the food inside her mouth. She resists. He slaps her again and again) You dare argue with me. I am going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget (beats her some more and goes back to his drink).

Rama: (On the floor, crying) Kill me. Go on kill me. Instead of killing me bit by bit, kill me at once.

Husband: So that's what you want? You want me to go to jail. You pathetic piece of shit! (spits on her)

Rama: If I am a piece of shit why did you marry me?

Husband: I married you because I wanted that money. 60 thousand Rupees. That was the only reason. Other than that you are useless. You hear that? You are a useless piece of shit!!

He staggers off the stage. She starts cleaning up the mess. She stops. Sits on one of the chairs. Buries her face and starts sobbing. There is a soft knock on the door offstage.

Kavya: (offstage, almost whispering) Rama.. Rama... Open the door. Its me, Kavya.

Rama wipes her face and tries to make herself presentable. She exits.

Rama: (Off stage) Hello Kavya didi(sister). Please come in.

Kavya: (Entering stage) I heard loud noises and thought I should check on you. Are you all right?

Rama: Yes I am fine. I am... (Cant hold any longer and starts crying.)

Kavya: No. Please don't cry. Come. Sit down here (Kavya sits her on one of the chairs) You don't have to tolerate this.

Rama: What can I do? He comes drunk and finds fault in everything I do or say. He doesn't appreciate what I wear or what I cook. This is my karma, my destiny.

Kavya: Don't say that. You make your own destiny.

Rama: No didi. Nothing can be done now. My destiny was decided by my parents and I have to live with it for the rest of my life.

Kavya No, you don't have to. You don't have to live with that demon. Take some courage and leave him. Divorce him.

Rama: Leave him? Leave him and do what?

Kavya: You can do anything. There will be no fear. No fighting. You'll be happy.

Rama: I don't know. It sounds very tempting though. I wanted to run away a long time back. But..

Kavya: But what?

Ramya: Its not that simple for a single woman to live in this society.

Kavya: It wouldn't be tougher than living with a drunkard. Rama. I know it'll be a little tough in the beginning. But there are many women living all by themselves.

Rama: Yes, but they are educated women with skills. They can work in offices. I am.... Sometimes I feel my husband is right you know. I am useless. My parents thought it was enough for a girl to learn sweeping, washing and cooking. That's all I know.

Kavya: I see.. Why don't you go stay with your parents? You could learn something there. It is never too late. You can definitely learn to earn your living.

Rama: My parents are long dead now. My brother is not any better than my husband. If only my parents had sent me to school....today... (starts crying)

Kavya: Everything will be fine. Don't cry please.

Rama: (making up her mind) I know what I'll do. I'll wash and sweep and cook. But not here. I am not going to be a free servant any more. I will earn my own money. I will.

Kavya: (Hugs her) That's a great decision. I am happy for you.

Rama: I have one last wish from God though. When I die, I want to be face to face with my parents so that I could look into their eyes and ask (looking at the audience) why.. (sobs) why... why...??

She continues sobbing. Kavya touches her shoulders to console her. They exit stage right.

The End.

INVESTMENT by Amjad Prawej

A doctor's chamber. Rajan enters

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:

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)

The End