Onto the Stage - Slighted Souls and other stage and radio plays by BS Murthy (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

pain I see in you now.

Rajiv: Believe me, the pain you see is but the loss of that joy. If only you could grasp my soul, you would get the essence of my mind. The thought that my death would make it easier for the two women I had hurt made me rejoice at the threshold of death. But having stopped me from dying, you had only made life difficult for them and me as well.  Aren’t you guilty on both the counts? 

Slesha: Far from it. You would have died leaving your poor image for an obituary. Why not live to better that before death visits you on its own. As for Ramya, she would’ve lived in guilt for pushing you over the precipice. With you gone how would Divya have the joy of forgiving.  

Rajiv: By losing Rau and by extension you, oh, how I’ve missed my life all these years.

Slesha: By striving to build the castle of despair for you and your spouse ending up in debasing your friend’s wife.

[Enter: Divya with the letter in her hand rushes in with Rangaiah. Rangaiah holds Rajiv’s hand as Divya leads Ramya and Slesha into the bedroom and shows them the letter. They talk to each other (mime).]

Rangaiah: I lost a son when I was still young and can I lose another when I am old. Why didn’t you think of me Rajiv babu?

Rajiv: Rangaiah, what do you expect from a man who couldn’t even think of himself. Thank our Rau’s wife that I’m still alive.

Rangaiah [to Rau]: Rau babu, I want to live in the old days during the last days of my life. I’m glad you’ve as good a wife as Rajiv babu has.

Rau: Thank you for your abiding affection and the good opinion about Slesha. 

Rajiv I’m glad my wife made such a difference to your life.

Rajiv: Now it’s left for your client to remain a convict’s wife or not.

Rau: Let me talk to her.

[Rau joins Slesha, Ramya and Divya. Slesha talks to him (mime).]

Rau: Wonder how the play had developed beyond the script! Oh how life came up with a bigger plan than our little one to put sense into Rajiv’s wayward head.

[Rau accompanied by the three women rejoins Rajiv and Rangaiah.]

Ramya: Isn’t it said that to err is human but to forgive is divine.

[As Divya gives his hand to Rajiv, he embraces Ramya.]

Rajiv: Thank you both, it feels like beginning life afresh.

[Enter: Deva.]

[Rajiv turns sad all again and others too are surprised. In turn, Deva looks questioningly at Slesha in police uniform and Rau in his lawyer’s dress. Ramya begins introductions by holding Slesha.]

Ramya: Isn’t it ladies first? Meet Inspector Slesha Rau my childhood playmate [She

looks at a surprised Rajiv] and this is lawyer Rau, Slesha’s husband and Rajiv’s lost and found friend. And this is Deva our family friend.

Slesha [to Rajiv]: We met only the other day when she came seeking Rau’s counsel.    

Rajiv: I take it that you are Godsend to help me pull down my castle of despair.

Deva [to Rajiv]: Don’t I smell the scent of enlightenment. What better time to say sorry to you.   

Rajiv: Deva, you don’t know how ashamed I am. [He turns emotional.] 

Ramya: Deva can understand, calm down dear.

[Ramya leads Rajiv into the bedroom.]

[Rau and Slesha engage Deva (mime) as Divya looks on.]

Ramya: Don’t make it worse for them with your confession. I’ve seen to it that

Divya has kept it to herself. All this drama is Rau’s idea to shake you up from your slumber of success.

Rajiv: Oh, how he made me even humbler than ever. 

[Rajiv and Ramya join the others in the drawing room. Rajiv goes to Rau and Slesha to hold their hands in gratitude and then turns to Deva.]

Rajiv: Deva please help me treat the Sampath episode as a bad dream.

Deva: Let bygones be bygones. You may deal with him whichever way you choose. 

Rajiv: No Deva, don’t I know now how treacherous success is? Oh, how it changes its goal post whenever one is at a striking distance from it. I envy you for wanting to quit the rat race before it could ruin your life. 

Rau: Why blame success when the fault lies in the way we approach it. Haven’t you heard Emerson’s success quote that’s a hit on the net?

Rajiv: No, what is that?

Rau: Among other things, he feels that to know even one life has breathed easier because you’ve lived is to have succeeded.

Ramya: Oh, to hear it said itself feels so nice.Slesha: I’m proud to say he has tasted success many times over.Rau: Thank you for your high praise. But that’s beside the point I am making. I suggest that Rajiv and Deva join hands with Sampath to help build that fledgling unit to contribute to our country’s economy. It’s not about the generation of wealth that one should be skeptical about. It is the way the rich spend money that should bother the sane minded. For instance, it’s one thing to build bigger and better workplaces and another to do the same for personal ostentation.Deva [to Rajiv]: What do you say now?Rajiv: Still I would leave Mr. Sampath to your care. With Ramya, I would like to find our way for personal fulfillment through social enrichment.Rau: Best of luck to all of you.

Ramya [to Rajiv]: I’m happy you’ve realized humility is the essence of life.

Rajiv: And that wife is the scent of it.

Rau: Why not, if a man is upright in this topsy-turvy world, much of the credit for that should go to his wife.    Rajiv: On that note, let it be my privilege to propose vote of thanks to the good Samaritans, my eminent friend Rau and his worthy spouse Slesha for the beneficial roles played by them in the drama of my chequered life. [Rangaiah and others clap as the audience joins them with Rajiv.]  

 A love on Hold - A radio play 

 

SCENE - 1

 

INT – It’s the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. That winter evening, Sekhar was waiting to receive Pratap, his childhood friend and classmate, settled in the U.S.A. 

SFX – Soundtrack of Airport activity such as the announcements of the flight schedules, the take-off and landing of the aircraft.  

EXT - The exit point of the ‘arrivals’ section is crowded with people waiting to welcome their relatives, friends or visitors among the incoming passengers.

SFX - Buzz of the motor cars bringing in more people and the sound of the car doors being slammed. The passengers begin appearing at the exit and those in waiting hail their names.

SEKHAR: Hi, Pratap.

PRATAP: Hi, Sekhar.

SFX - Buzz of an aircraft taking off. 

SEKHAR: (OFF) Raju bring the vehicle. (PAUSE) Mother India welcomes its prodigal son.

PRATAP: Let me see what’s in her lap for me.

SEKHAR: What else but love and warmth.

PRATAP: If only that’s in tune with my longing. 

SEKHAR: What you’ve got to long for here. Why, you never bothered to contact any of us all these years.

PRATAP: That I’ll tell you.

SEKHAR: Only me.

PRATAP:  Who else is interested?

SEKHAR: Vimala your old flame.

PRATAP: She lost her man it seems.

SEKHAR: That’s a year-old tragedy. 

PRATAP: Of my week-long knowledge.

SEKHAR: How did you come to know about it? I don’t know of any you’re in touch with. 

PRATAP: It was by chance that I’ve heard somebody talk about the tragedy at a gathering.

SEKHAR: Oh, your empathy at work. So, it’s flattered to be deceived.

PRATAP: I plead guilty.

SEKHAR: No need to be apologetic. It’s in jest.

PRATAP: It’s just the catalyst. (PAUSE) How’s she, the poor thing? 

SEKHAR: She’s gotten over it.

PRATAP: I’m glad to hear that.

SEKHAR: Our guys at Amalapuram want you there. 

PRATAP: I’m flattered really.

SEKHAR: Without being so, I’m glad you’ve made it at last.

PRATAP: After twenty years that is.

SEKHAR: It’s a long time in our short life.

PRATAP: Dragging time in a drab life.

SEKHAR: Be serious; tell me all about your life.  

PRATAP: Want to be done with me here and now.

SEKHAR: Count on me till you’re done with Vimala.

SFX – It’s a roar of an aircraft take-off followed by the sound of a car coming to its screeching halt.

PRATAP: So, what I see confirms what I’ve heard. 

SEKHAR: What’s that?

PRATAP: This world class airport and your first rate sedan. Are they not in tune with the ‘emerging India’ buzz?

SFX - The car doors are slammed thrice followed by the sound of the speeding car.

SEKHAR: You deserter, you took the first flight to the U.S. when India was in dire stairs.

PRATAP: Why blame me for not wanting to sink in our socialistic mire. Who did foresee then that our own P.V. would clean up the things with his reform broom? Tell me if you know a soothsayer who had predicted.   I want to consult him.

SEKHAR: Is it for a prediction about the U.S. recession?

PRATAP: Don’t think the U.S. is only about materialism. I’m altruistic in my quest for a zest-filled life.

SEKHAR: What’s up your sleeve?

PRATAP: You hold the key now.

SEKHAR: Why did you hold-up all these years?

PRATAP: What do you want to know first, the reason for my inaction or the cause of action?

SEKHAR: Let’s get into action…

PRATAP: In Vimala’s reflection.

SEKHAR: Oh! The old flame still singes.

PRATAP: It’s nothing cut and dry about it Sekhar. It’s all mixed impulses and hazy emotions. My initial impulse was of a childhood friend, I wanted to share her grief. Then my love on hold came to the fore. I’ve here to explore know not what.

SEKHAR: In the shadow of her widowhood. 

PRATAP: Has she lost much, you know what.

SEKHAR: What if and if not.

PRATAP: Don’t tell me you don’t know how it matters.

SEKHAR: What if she’s balloon like.

PRATAP: Sadly, it would be a platonic retreat.

SEKHAR: I know but …

PRATAP: It’s not fair I press you for her statistics.

SEKHAR: I too don’t see her statistically.

PRATAP: One competitor less, isn’t it?

SEKHAR: So you presume she inspires.

PRATAP: Oh, don’t kill me, tell me …

SEKHAR: You can ask my wife, her cousin of sorts. 

PRATAP: Why didn’t you tell that before?

SEKHAR: It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. You didn’t think of me all these years and you expect me to remember you had a crush on Vimala which is history now.

PRATAP: With her too?

SEKHAR: How am I to know?

PRATAP: Okay baba, come to the point.

SEKHAR: She’s no less a Liz Hurley herself.

PRATAP: Oh, you’ve an update on middle-aged women.

SEKHAR: Without eyeing them (V.O. a car horn) 

PRATAP: Now I’m full of hope.

SEKHAR: Is it because I don’t eye her.

PRATAP: What about other possibilities.

SEKHAR: With a widow you mean.

PRATAP: Partly right but I’m single to boot.

SEKHAR: I’ve heard you married an American. 

PRATAP: We were divorced for ages.

SEKHAR: But still, I’ve to discourage you.

PRATAP: Why, she wants to be forever wedded to her husband’s memory or what?

SEKHAR: She’s not the one to live in the past any way.

PRATAP: Then what’s the hitch? 

SEKHAR: It’s her daughter.

PRATAP: Why should she be a hurdle?

SEKHAR: Its emotional stagnation my boy, India is not sexually modern.

PRATAP: What is she doing?

SEKHAR: M.B.B.S pre-final.

PRATAP: I’m glad Vimala would see herself in her daughter as a doctor. What’s her name?

SEKHAR: Prati.

PRATAP: (OFF) Pratap and Prati, sound similar, don’t they?

SEKHAR: What are you thinking about?

PRATAP: Oh, what dreams Vimala had of becoming a doctor? I had a hard time consoling her when she missed the bus. 

SEKHAR: Well, I don’t know. So you were closer than we thought you were. But still, she may not like to hurt her daughter’s future. If she ties up with you, her daughter’s marriage would be jeopardized.

PRATAP: Damn the cultural prejudices. How they make life materially complex.

(PAUSE)

SEKHAR: Don’t lose heart; love hath its way, more often than not.

PRATAP: With your pushing and prodding, hope it leads us to the altar.

SEKHAR: So that I’ll do the décor. Well, I’ve booked for you in the Krishna Oberoi, but still I prefer you stayed with me.  

PRATAP: It’s okay that way. 

SEKHAR: With my wife and son having gone to my in-laws place. PRATAP: What a shame! I didn’t enquire about Vijaya and Suresh.

SEKHAR: Understandable preoccupation, isn’t it? For the record, Suresh is doing his M.B.A program in the Central