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.

THE OJHA by Amjad Prawej

(A room that is almost bare. We can see a girl lying on the bed and muttering in her sleep. The mother is sitting by her side while the father is pacing up and down.)

Father: I am going to call the doctor.

Mother: Really? And who will pay the doctor's fee? You better go call the ojha (witch doctor), Somesh.

Father: Are you mad? The Ojha can't help her. She is been in bed for almost a week now. You kept saying its because of climate change, she will be fine.

Mother: Well I was wrong. It was not due to climate change. I know now. Its that Rupa. The way she kept saying, “Oh she is so beautiful. Your daughter will bring fortune”. Its her Evil Eyes. I didn't like her from the beginning. Now go and call Somesh. Only he can help her.

Father: He can't help her. She needs a doctor and medicines.

Mother: Ah! So now you are going to argue with me like always. God, why did I ever get married to this man? Karma. (The daughter makes some more muttering) Don't you see she is under an evil spell? Please go and call Somesh.

Father: No, I am not. I am going to call the doctor. (He starts to leave)

Mother: Fine, then bring some money for the doctor's fee as well.

Father: But you have the money. I gave you 500 rupees yesterday.

Mother: We can't spent that money. How are we going to eat? The rent for past three months is due. That is why I am saying call the Ojha. We only have to give him some offerings.

Father: (With Anger) If we don't have anything to eat, we'll starve. I am going to call the doctor. (To the daughter) Don't worry my darling. I will go get the doctor. You'll be fine again. 

(He exits)

(Mother removes some money from under the mattress and counts them. She looks very disappointed)

Mother: He is really going to starve us to death. Oh God! What do I do now? (Gets an Idea) Yes, I know. I know what to do. (To the daughter) Don't worry darling. I'll be back soon.

(She exits)

(The daughter keeps muttering for some time. Enters the mother with the Ojha.)

Mother: Thank God we are ahead of them. (The Ojha makes some Intangible noise) Please help her. I know you are the only one who can bring us out of this misery.

Ojha: I will. Don't worry. Leave everything in my able hands. (Smells around) Evil Spirit. That's what it is. (To the spirit) Nothing can save you from me now. I'll drive you out from here. (To the mother) Go get a glass of water.

(the mother goes out and the Ojha goes to the bed. He grabs the daughter and brigs her in the front. She is so fragile and weak. She cant walk. The ojha tries to make her sit but she collapses on the floor. The mother enters and places the glass on the floor. The ojha takes out a plate and a spoon and starts making sound. He chats intangible mantras for some time. He then takes out a broomstick and starts beating the girl who is now shivering. The chanting becomes vigorous and so does the beating. In between the Ojha keeps saying "Get out or I'll Kill You" "Leave her at once" " I am going to teach you a lesson today" etc. The mother gets so scared)

Ojha: (continues chanting) This spirit is very strong. Aaaaaah (As if wrestling with someone, he turns to the mother) Get some rice. (she brings some rice).

(He then asks for some more things and the mother gets them.)

Ojha: (With urgency) Put some money on the floor. Quick. Quick.

(The mother is too scared to disobey him. She takes out the money from under the mattress and starts counting)

Ojha: (Yelling) Put them on the floor NOW!!!

(She is so scared she puts all the money on the ground. The ojha pockets the money and starts beating the daughter again while chanting the mantras vigorously.)

(The Father Enters with a doctor. He pushes the Ojha away from her daughter.)

Mother: What are you doing?

Ojha: You have disrupted the ritual. I am cursing that something bad will happen to you.

Father: Shut up and run away before I do something bad to you. (Ojha runs for his life)

(Meanwhile the doctor is examining the daughter. He stands up. Looks very sad. Shakes his head)

Doctor: I am sorry. Its too late.

Mother: What?... But..... (Collapses to the floor)

Father: Why didn't you wait....?

Mother: (slowly) He.... He took all the money.... (almost crying) How are we going to eat?

(The doctor looks surprised. The mother goes and hugs her daughters body. She starts sobbing. The father looks blank.)

The End.