TRADITION by Amjad Prawej

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

SAME DIFFERENCE by Amjad Prawej

The stage is empty except a huge painting with vertical stripes starting with Red and ending with White used as the backdrop

Enters RedWhite Man dressed in all red. He stands facing the painting, raises both his hands and bows thrice. He circles the painting still raising his hands. He comes downstage right and sits on the floor . He opens a book and reads in silence.

Enters WhiteRed Man dressed in all white. He kneels in front of the painting, folds his hands and gently rocks back and forth for some time. He gets up and kisses the painting. He comes downstage left and sits on the floor . He also opens a book and reads in silence.

After few seconds they read aloud together

He opened His eyes and there was Light. What He had created was beautiful. It was like a beautiful painting. He cried with joy. His tears formed the rivers and the oceans. He sighed in relief and thus formed the pleasant breeze. He smiled and the life was born. He admired His own creation. There was peace, serenity and love. Everything was in harmony. And that's the purpose of our lives. To maintain this harmony. To follow the eternal law. The law of..

Together overlapping Red and White

RedWhite ...Red and White

WhiteRed ...White and Red

They immediately look at the audience questioningly. Silence. They go back to their books.

Together again

RedWhite: The law of Red and White.

WhiteRed: The law of White and Red.

They look up. Confused. They slowly turn their faces towards each other. They are stunned. They keep staring for sometime.

RedWhite: Are you trying to mock me?

WhiteRed: Are you trying to insult me?

RedWhite: You've got it all wrong.

WhiteRed: Not at all. I think you are are mixed up.

Pause.

RedWhite: Our book was written much before yours. This is the True Book.

WhiteRed: Yes, ours was written later. It is well researched and up to date.

RedWhite: Ours has Almighty's own voice.

WhiteRed: Ours has proven facts and incidents.

RedWhite: Ha! A man making “Sun Rise” in the middle of the night? A proven fact?

WhiteRed: Sacrifice- Butcher living animals in my name? God's own voice?

They start getting angry.

RedWhite: Your book has more fiction than facts.

WhiteRed: Your God doesn't dictate books anymore.

RedWhite: (Shuts his book) Shut up!

WhiteRed: (Shuts his book) You shut up!

RedWhite: You and your people will burn in Hell.

WhiteRed: Your won't find any place even there!

RedWhite: The only truth is Red-White-Red.

WhiteRed: Everything except White-Red-White is a farce.

They move towards each other. They are getting aggressive. They shout.

RedWhite: You lock-up your women.

WhiteRed: You put them on exhibition.

RedWhite: You are barbaric.

WhiteRed: You are immoral.

RedWhite: You discriminate your own people.

WhiteRed: And you kill your own.

RedWhite: I wish your kind just vanished from the face of the Earth.

WhiteRed: I wish your kind never existed.

RedWhite: You are a hypocrite.

WhiteRed: You are a fascist.

RedWhite: You are a fool.

WhiteRed: You are an Idiot.

RedWhite: You eat with your hands and wash your hands in the same plate you eat.

WhiteRed You are lazy to use your hands and if you do you don't even bother to wash them. You just wipe them with a piece of paper.

RedWhite: You lack values.

WhiteRed: You lack education.

They are running out of abuses.

RedWhite: You are meat eating beasts!

WhiteRed: You are bunch of alcoholic bastards!

RedWhite: You are.... fat/thin.

WhiteRed: You.. You.. You smell.

RedWhite: You take dowry.

WhiteRed: You take.. bribe.

RedWhite: So do you.

WhiteRed: That still doesn't make it good.

RedWhite: I know.

WhiteRed: Good for you.

Pause.

RedWhite: You are... There is nothing GOOD about you.

WhiteRed: Everything about you is BAD.

RedWhite: That's a lie.

WhiteRed: Its a fact. The greatest lie is that book of yours.

RedWhite: Definitely not. Your book is nothing but a joke.

WhiteRed: Now that is a big lie.

RedWhite: Then let me read your book.

WhiteRed: Only if you let me read yours.

RedWhite: Fine.

They exchange their books. They read and laugh mockingly. They turn pages and keep laughing.

RedWhite: (Reading) Its all White-Red-White.... PATHETIC!

WhiteRed: Everything revolves around Red-White-Red... ALL LIES!

RedWhite: This is misleading.

WhiteRed: This is so primitive.

RedWhite: (Throws the book down) Filthy!! (starts stamping it)

WhiteRed: Vulgar!! (Starts ripping the pages)

RedWhite: (Noticing) How dare you? I'll kill you!

WhiteRed: I am going to rip you like this book.

They hold each other by their throats. They keep hurling abuses. They slap and kick and box. They fall to the ground and start wrestling. Each wants to kill the other.

As the fight continues, two kids (the younger the better!) dressed exactly like the men enter and witness, with folded arms. They are confused and pained. They probably want to cry. They have certainly not seen their fathers in such states before.

Together softly:

RedKid: Pa..pa..

WhiteKid: Da..dy..

The men look up and freeze. They are unable to react.

RedKid: What are you doing Papa?

RedWhite: We are.. Well...

Looks at WhiteRed for support but he is still shocked

WhiteKid: (looking at RedKid) I think they are fighting.

RedKid: Are you fighting?

They react fast. And talk almost at the same time.

RedWhite: No..No..

WhiteRed: No.. not..

They realise they are still holding each others throat. They quickly let go and get up on their feet.

WhiteRed: We... we just.. we were..

RedWhite: Playing. We were just playing.

WhiteRed: Yes, it was just a game.

WhiteKid: A game?

RedKid: Really?

RedWhite: Yes. A simple game (looks at WhiteRed. They both try to laugh)

The Kids look at each other and immediately holds each others throat. They scream like their fathers. The men act real fast and separate them.

WhiteRed: No, you should never play this game.

RedWhite: Never in your life.

RedKid: Why Papa?

WhiteRed: Because its.. Its not good.

RedWhite: Its bad. Promise me.

WhiteRed: You'll not play this game ever in your life.

RedWhite: Promise me.

RedKid: I promise.

WhiteKid: I'll never play this game.

RedKid: I didn't really like the game.

WhiteKid: It was not fun at all.

RedKid: It hurts.

WhiteRed: (Concerned) Let me see it.

RedWhite: Raise your head.

WhiteRed: Don't you worry.

RedWhite: I'll ask Mama to apply ointment.

WhiteKid: Doesn't it hurt you Papa?

RedKid: When you play this game?

Both men stop massaging. They slowly look at each other. They hug their kids.

WhiteRed: Yes. It does

RedWhite; Its very painful.

Together:

Kids: Then don't play.

Men: We won't. Never again!!

WhiteRed: I am sorry.

RedWhite: Please forgive me.

WhiteRed picks RedWhite's book and hands it to him.. RedWhite does the same.

RedKid: I like your cap.

WhiteKid: You can have it.

RedKid: Thanks. You can have mine.

WhiteKid: Its so nice.

The kids put their caps on. Fathers lift their kids up and walk towards the painting.

WhiteRed: I'll see that he never learns the Game.

RedWhite: Me too.

They stand facing the painting. They still have their kids up. They exit in their respective direction. The kids wave good bye.

The End