River on Fire

By

Rukhsana Ahmad
River on Fire
Copyright © Rukhsana Ahmad 2001
Rukhsana Ahmad is hereby identified as the author of this work in accordance with section 77
of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

The Writer has asserted her moral rights to be identified as the author of the work

PLEASE NOTE​:
All ​rights for​ ​the performance of this play​ are strictly reserved. No public performance of all or
part of this work on any scale live or in any digital medium may be given without the express
permission of the author in the form of a performance licence which must be requested in
advance from the author c/o Kali Theatre. This includes using extracts in compilation
productions.

To enquire about performance rights please contact Kali c/o ​[email protected]

You may not​ ​copy, duplicate, distribute or disseminate this publication​ (or any part of it) in any
form or by any means without the prior permission of Kali Theatre. This includes using extracts
or quotations in books or teaching material.

First performed by Kali Theatre on ​31 October 2001 ​at​ Lyric Hammersmith

Published by

Kali Theatre Ltd

The Albany
Douglas way
London SE8 4AG
www.kalitheatre.co.uk
[email protected]
 Cast
(In order of appearance)

Seema Siddiqui: Shelley King

Zara Mehta (her daughter) : Parminder Sekhon
Bobby Siddiqui her son: Shiv Grewal
Ashok Mehta(Zara’s husband): Lyndam Gregory
Kiran Siddiqui (her daughter): Parminder Nagra
Waheed Khan/Male 1/ Pundit: Ravi Aujla
Dilip Dada/Male 2: Lyndam Gregory
ACT I

Sc 1

A HOSPITAL INTERIOR

SEEMA SIDDIQUI IS ASLEEP

ZARA IS AT HER BEDSIDE A ROSARY SLUNG ROUND HER WRIST

SHE IS PRAYING SILENTLY. BOBBY RUSHES IN.

BOBBY: Hi! Zara…?

PUTS HIS HAND OUT; ZARA IS SURPRISED, AND HESITATES

SHE PUTS HER PALMS TOGETHER IN A FORMAL GREETING

I'm Bobby -

HE WITHDRAWS HAND QUICKLY AND IMITATES HER AWKWARDLY

SHE NODS. HE PUSHES TO GET CLOSER TO SEEMA

BOBBY: I got the first flight out.

How is she now? Not any worse, I hope?

ZARA WHISPERING AND ANXIOUS

ZARA: She's had another … 'episode.'

BOBBY NUDGES CLOSER, BUT DOESN'T TOUCH HER

BOBBY: She looks - like - her old self! That's a relief!

What do the doctors say?

ZARA: They wanted to move her into the ICU -

BOBBY: Is it - a good sign they didn't?

ZARA: Let's hope so. … Bobby?

GENTLY GESTURING HIM AWAY FROM THE BED

ZARA: She needs to rest. Sedatives …

BOBBY: Kiran ​didn't​ tell you I was coming - did she?

ZARA: Sorry! I'd have known you straightaway if she had!

She's - been in a strange mood - lately.

BOBBY: It's not surprising! She's very close to her. You won't have to put me

up. I'm staying at the Club - it's quite affordable.

ZARA: You ​can't ​do that. I'm just a bit worried about Amma seeing you too

suddenly - she might think the doctors sent for you!

BOBBY: I never thought of that! It's not a good idea to surprise her.

PAUSE

How long will they keep her in?

ZARA: Don't know.

BOBBY: Is that why Kiran insisted I should come?

PAUSE

ZARA: Maybe.

It's good you came - this second attack is more serious.

BOBBY: I can stay with her - give you a break - once you've told her.

ZARA: I'm fine - not at all tired - honestly.

She might ask for me - I'd rather not go home.

BOBBY: Sure, if that's how you feel.

PAUSE

BOBBY: I - thought you might be exhausted. I hope Kiran's been doing her bit?
ZARA: Of course she has. I insisted she should go in this morning - Waheed

was ringing three times a day. As it is they've missed quite a few

rehearsal days this month - because of all the unrest.

BOBBY: Sorry! I assumed she was still in bed!

ZARA: No, no - they work her quite hard. She'll come in the afternoon. And

Ashok will be here soon.

BOBBY: How long has Amma been like this?

ZARA: She was in really good form last night - joking about the hospital food

and saying she'll be home by Sunday. She insisted she'd be fine on

her own - so I went home too.

It was a shock to see her when I got here.

BOBBY: Didn't they call you when she took a turn for the worse? A fancy

private hospital like this!

ZARA: Even they have some spill over from the riots - Bombay's been hit

badly this time. You must've seen for yourself?

BOBBY: Took three hours to get through the roadblocks and police checkpoints

- and a lot of rupees in taxi fare! I had an idea - when the Beeb starts

covering it you know it's bad.

ZARA HAS A PEEK ROUND THE PARTITION AND RETURNS

ZARA: She's still fast asleep.

BOBBY: It's probably the best thing -

ZARA GESTURES HIM TO A SEAT.

HE SITS DOWN RELUCTANT AND RESTLESS

BOBBY: Can't do much except sit tight and wait - I suppose?

ZARA NODS. AND STARTS TURNING HER ROSARY.

I wish they hadn't come this winter. I said to her - to both of them - it's

not a good time - but once Kiran gets something into her head there's

not a lot anyone can do. And she's damn good at spinning Amma

round her little finger …

ENTER ASHOK GRUMBLING

ASHOK: We'll have to do without the grapes Zara - not a single fruit shop's

open. Not even a ​chabha​. I'm sorry - but it was getting silly going

round in circles …

ZARA: That's fine, don't worry about it - Ashok - this is Bobby! He got here

this morning.

BOBBY: Hello! How are you, Ashok ji?

ASHOK: Bobby? Wow! What a nice surprise! Such a pity about the occasion -

though.

BOBBY: I mightn't have come for a lesser reason.

ASHOK: True! You found your way to the hospital then? If I'd known you were

coming - I'd have organised a v.i.p. reception for you.

BOBBY: It's easy enough - take a cab and turn up.

ASHOK: What's the point of working hard all your life if you can't even do little

things for your own family?

BOBBY: Give us a v.i.p. send-off when Amma gets better.

ASHOK: Now that's a promise!

BOBBY: Soon as she's able to travel - I'll take her back home.

ZARA: She ​can't​ leave - ​so​ ​soon!​ She promised me six months!

BOBBY: Did she now? If I know her - she'll stick to her word.

ZARA: I hope so. Anyway - the film will take that long - and she means to

keep an eye on things. I don't think your friend Waheed is such a hit

with her, Ashok.

ASHOK: Hum? No? This reminds me - there's some talk of a curfew tonight. I

better organise a curfew pass - just in case.

ZARA: Ashok, can't you ask for a cardiologist to see Amma?

BOBBY: Do we have to ​ask ​someone? Shouldn't they attend to her as a matter

of course?

ZARA: You know what it's like - in emergencies.

ASHOK: Nothing wrong with asking, my friend. Seek, and ye shall find. This is

India! You just have to try - that bit harder. I better go and see to it

now.

ASHOK EXITS.

ZARA LOOKS IN ON SEEMA AGAIN

RETURNS AND SIGNALS TO ASHOK THAT SHE IS STILL ASLEEP

BOBBY: No wonder people end up praying all the time here.

That's what I remember most about our life at Dadi Ma's - prayer mats

and hardships!

ZARA: You remember that far back?

BOBBY: I was nearly seven when we left here - it's Kiran who was tiny. I've no
 memories of the city. It's all very new and strange … but I still

remember two of my best friends from the street. They were allowed

to fill water from the outside tap - or to use our phone if they needed

to. One of Papa's relatives came regularly to bathe - they didn't have a

bathroom. It was a poor neighbourhood. Did you never see that

house?

ZARA: Your father's family home? No! I don't even know where it is.

BOBBY: On Mohammad Ali Road - an old ruin. Lots of families lived on

pavements and railway tracks near us! Growing up there would have

been tough! We were dead lucky Kiran and I - to grow up in London.

ZARA IS UNCOMFORTABLE

SHE CONCENTRATES ON THE ROSARY

ZARA: I'm sure you're right.

BOBBY WATCHES HER WITH PATRONISING AMUSEMENT

BOBBY: So has Amma said nothing to you about all this?

BOBBY NODS

ZARA: My prayers - you mean? No! She hasn't.

BOBBY: Weeks of Hindu-Muslim riots all over India and she never said a word

against religion? That's unusual for her -

ZARA: It's a touchy subject here, at the best of times. ​She knows.​

BOBBY: She's obviously capable of more discretion than I thought!

ZARA: She has seen it all - close-up, of course.

PAUSE
 We hate the violence too, Bobby - but I do believe - in my prayers.

How else - can one make sense of life?

BOBBY WHISTLES UNDER HIS BREATH

BOBBY: All I know is - it would take a miracle to convert me!

ZARA: Miracles only ​happen for ​believers -

BOBBY: And I always thought they were meant to dazzle non-believers - bring

them into line.

ZARA: No! They usually die denying them. Faith is a gift Bobby! And not

every one is blessed with it.

BOBBY: Hum… Interesting!

ZARA: What you see isn't more real than what you don't see.

BOBBY: Hey! That's way too deep for me! I'm a scientist - I like to stick with the

stuff I can see.

ZARA: I can see that.

BOBBY: Sorry! ZARA SHRUGS WITH A 'NO PROB!' SMILE.

I should go and fetch Kiran. She doesn't know Amma's worse, does

she?

ZARA: Will you be okay in this ​strange c​ ity? There are protest marches after

every Jumma prayer -

BOBBY: I can take care of myself. I could always line up for ​namaaz​ and join

them - if it came to that!

ZARA: You ​know​ ​how ​to?

BOBBY: I know the routine. Papa never bothered with prayers on Fridays - but
 we'd go - if he woke up in time for Eid prayers.

ZARA: What if you miss her?

BOBBY: I'll just come back. I hate hanging about in hospitals. Anything else

would be more bearable. It's in Gol Deval - isn't it?

ZARA NODS. BOBBY GOES to STAND BESIDE THE PARTITION.

WATCHES THEN BLOWS HER A KISS

She's miles away! See you both later!

'Bye Zara. I shan't be long, don't worry.

EXIT BOBBY.

LIGHTS DIM

ZARA SHUTS HER EYES WEARILY AND WITHDRAWS INTO PRAYER

A SHARP FLAT ELECTRONIC ALARM IS HEARD

ZARA RUSHES TO SEEMA WHO SEEMS VERY STILL

SHE COMES CLOSER AND SHAKES HER MOTHER IN HORROR

TURNS ROUND IN PANIC AND CALLS OUT

ZARA: Nurse! Ashok? Ashok!

ZARA COLLAPSES SOBBING

ASHOK RETURNS, PUTS HIS ARM ROUND HER TRIES TO COMFORT HER

WHEN SHE IS CALMER HE LEADS HER AWAY GENTLY.

A PAUSE AS WE ARE LEFT WITH THE BODY

LIGHTS DIM

LIGHTS UP SLOWLY
THEN A CRACK OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

SEEMA SIDDIQUI THROWS OFF THE SHROUD AND RISES FROM THE

DEAD WITH A LITHE, QUICK GRACE

SEEMA S: So! It gets closer to the moment of truth! I might even be able to tell

you soon who waits across the river: God, or Raam, or Allah, or, just

some dumb neutrons and protons, whizzing around in silence!

I must say heaven sounds very nice right now. Bombay's been such a

hell-hole since December when they pulled that mosque down at

Ayodhya. All the Muslims came out in protest - even the ones who

never care to step inside one. It's been dreadful!

SCANS THE AUDIENCE. FANS HERSELF ELEGANTLY

SWITCHES TO A SLIGHTLY AFFECTED VOICE AND MANNER

SEEMA S: Sometimes I wish I'd been born into a nice, middle class English

family. Life's so much easier in England - especially if you're loaded!

They hardly ever fight over religion - not these days. And no one

would dream of shouting, 'Death to the traitor!' - like some Muslims do

if a fellow believer decides to opt out of the faith!

That really bothers me! Why should your birth determine your faith?

​ ne see the point of that? If I were God I'd rather have my

Can ​any o

worshippers ​choose​ me. 'Pick your moment, I'd say to them -

confirmation, bar mitzvah, initiation, ​bismillah​, ​navjot​ - however your

elders describe it - and choose me yourself ​or turn away from me​, if

you will. But don't pray to me simply because your forefathers did that
before you!'

At least, that's been the logic of my life. I was born a Hindu and raised

as one. I even married a Hindu and stayed married to him - well, until

I went back to University. That politicised me. I became an atheist -

and our marriage fell apart. My mother went to every temple, every

dargah​ and every shrine in the whole of Rajasthan, making offerings,

tying knots in threads and cutting deals with saints! It got worse. I fell

in love with a Muslim, bless him. I married him and became a

Buddhist. And I stayed a Buddhist for several years till I came back -

in maturity - to my old faith, atheism.

Ooh! That's just a wee bit scary right now! But I've left it too late to

worry about it - I reckon. We shall see how it goes!

****
 Scene 2

LIGHTS UP ON KIRAN AS SHE ENTERS DANCING

AN INDIAN FILM SONG BURSTS ON THE SOUND TRACK

A FEW BARS OF THE SONG, KIRAN DANCES TO IT BRIEFLY

THEN WAHEED STARTS WAVING HIS ARMS AT

HER WITH IRRITATION.

WAHEED NO! NO! NO! NO!

Dis-grace-full- ! ​Bilkul bakwaas hai !

Where's the damn choreography .... ?

KIRAN WATCHES HIS FACE WITH SOME ANNOYANCE

KIRAN: Waheed?

WAHEED: All I see is your fucking dupatta flying everywhere!

Mitthoo, call Divya now! This is hopeless...

SNAPS HIS FINGERS RUDELY AT HIS PRODUCTION MANAGER, SHOUTS

Mitthoo!

Where is he? Where's every one! Mitthoo! Get that old hag to come

and sort it out!

MITTHOO: (​OFF) Coming Boss. Two minutes.

KIRAN: What's wrong with it?

WAHEED: Everything ! Remember my brief ?

Kathak movements, but bold and sexy. I want the Bollywood version -

not the one for fucking academics.

KIRAN: Language, Waheed!

WAHEED: I want movement, and energy, and sex appeal ...

We paid her a fortune for a five minute piece -

KIRAN LOOKS AT HIM ANGRILY NOW

KIRAN: And I've worked on it with her for hours!

WAHEED: It's a Mogul emperor's court, not a bloody mosque.

KIRAN: Exactly - you need the court version - they had to do a salaami - didn't

they ? Real synthesis of Hindu and Muslim elements …

WAHEED: Aaa-ka-demic!!! We 're creating an illusion - not making a

documentary. Who cares what version! That's all crap.

KIRAN: Thank you Waheed!

WAHEED: Listen, darling, I'm not blaming you. You're doing your best I know.

What can I say? You've been trained 'differently'! But Divya should

know better.

KIRAN: Kathak is Kathak - and I've had the best teachers in London!

WAHEED: Our audiences like it bold and up-front. They want tits and legs. Has

to be a lot more sexy, more in your face.

KIRAN: You ​can​ move your audiences on - you know.

WAHEED: Let's not patronise them, Kiran. This is a different art form.

KIRAN: Is it now?

WAHEED: Have you never seen a Hindi movie?

KIRAN: I'm sorry I ever thought I could work on something like this!

WAHEED: Actually, it's easier than you think.

KIRAN LOOKS CLOSE TO TEARS. WAHEED NOTICES

KIRAN: It's impossible! It's different - so different - from how I imagined

everything would be.

WAHEED: You have to think big. We're shooting on location in Fatehpur Sikri - in

this massive courtyard. It'll look stunning on film. ​Have faith in me,

Kiran, my kitten! I've been in this business for fifteen years you know -

I know what I'm doing!

KIRAN: But things are going wrong for me, Waheed! It's all going horribly

wrong - I wish I'd never come!

BREAKS DOWN

WAHEED: Kiran! Hey! Don't be pathetic -

KIRAN PULLS HERSELF TOGETHER

Listen! Is every thing all right? How's your Maa today?

KIRAN: I don't know!

WAHEED: Didn't you phone?

KIRAN: I got cut off and I just couldn't get through again. The lines are down.

WAHEED: What a shame! Look - I'm sure she's fine. Call your sister at home - I

know you're worried.

KIRAN HESITATES.

KIRAN: Zara? Hum - maybe I should?

WAHEED: Go on - try her now.

KIRAN: She might be in hospital…

WAHEED: But they'll have some news … go on! I'll go and check on Raj Dada …
KIRAN MOVES A LITTLE AWAY TO PHONE

​ENTER RAJ DADA. COMES UP TO WAHEED HIMSELF, COUGHING

RAJ DADA: ​ ho takes my name in vain?

Array, array - w

WAHEED: Aah - here he comes. The ​star​ we've been waiting for! Raj Dada, I

knew you'll get here - against the odds. Real commitment! That's

what makes a star!

RAJ DADA: Waheed ji! Music to my ears! It's the right approach!

WAHEED: I mean it Raj Dada. This is from the heart. You are one of ​my all time

greats!​

RAJ DADA: Thank you, my boy, thank you. A bit of ​muska​ keeps the old wheels

oiled. So what's happening?

WAHEED: Just talking to Kiran. Her dance isn't ready!

RAJ DADA: And why not?

WAHEED: Divya's losing it. Finally!

RAJ DADA: So we're not rehearsing that - after all? And I thought I had an easy

morning watching some 'Kathak' - London style!

WAHEED: Sorry, Raj Dada. Right now, the dance scene is a write-off!

Three of them can't get in - police blocks. Mitthoo! Bring the schedule

- we must do ​some t​ hing - to save time.

MITTHOO: (OFF) Just coming Boss -

KIRAN COMES CLOSER

WAHEED: All right, darling?

KIRAN: Thanks. Hi, Raj Dada!

RAJ DADA: If the dance isn't ready - it isn't ready. I understand Kiran! Don't worry

my dear. You're young - but you're star mateial, I can tell! Plenty of

time to learn… plenty of time.

KIRAN LOOKS DAGGERS AT HIM.

RAJ DADA MISSES THE DAGGERS AND GETS UP TO LEAVE

RAJ DADA: Get Mitthoo to ring Jojo a.s.a.p.. It's getting hectic now ... round the

bloody cuckoo clock … just tell him I want your dates booked.

WAHEED: I really appreciate this. Thank you, Raj Dada.

MITTHOO RUSHES IN. DRESSED AS A CUDDLY BEAR

MITTHOO: Raj Dada! Wait, please! You're in the next scene too.

WAHEED: ​
Mitthoo! What's all this, ​saalay e-diot?

RAJ DADA: Arrey waah! Mitthoo - waah bhai waah!

MITTHOO: Sorry Boss, very sorry, there's a - a problem Boss! The elephant

man's not coming till 3.00, Boss. He feeds Jumbo at 2.00. Then he

has to walk ... from the beach.

WAHEED: On a production budget like ours can't we afford to buy elephant food?

What the fuck do they eat? Pearls?

MITTHOO: But Boss ... I got this from wardrobes. I'll play the Jumbo -

WAHEED: (SIGHS) I see. All right then!

MITTHOO: I solved the problem, Boss...

WAHEED: All right! We'll try that.

MITTHOO: Right, Boss? Thank you.

WAHEED: We need, Akbar, Birbal, a mulla, a pundit, a Jesuit priest -

MITTHOO: None of them are here Boss. We'll share them out for now?

RAJ DADA: Akbar is at your service, and the elephant. Can you share the rest -

Kiran - ​haan? ​Mitthoo thinks you can do all three.

KIRAN: Is there any point …?

WAHEED: At least we'll hear the lines, hum?

RAJ DADA: Takes me back to 1965 when I was shooting ​'Maa ka piyaar'​ ! with

Shashi ji - right thro' black outs and curfews! He kept saying just the

one line - 'Raj Dada, the show must go on!'

WAHEED: Thank you!​ Come and read, Kiran? I'll take Birbal.

SEEMA S COMES UP BEHIND THEM AND WATCHES

WAHEED: It's the courtroom scene, we're down in the courtyard. Feel your way

into the lines, kitten. Just pretend you're playing ​blind man’s buff!

KIRAN STEPS FORWARD. MITTHOO BLINDFOLDS HER.

WAHEED: That's it! Ready, Mitthoo!

Now - get set all of you. Right?

Take it from your line, 'Your excellencies!' Birbal, please...

PAUSE

Oh, sorry, sorry! That's me ! I'll start …us off:

BIRBAL SPEAKS THEATRICALLY WITH LARGE GESTURE

BIRBAL/WAHEED: Your excellencies, the Shahinshah will now conduct a major

experiment about the nature of belief. Each one of you has to touch

an object blindfolded and guess what you touched.

WAHEED DIRECTS KIRAN TO TOUCH THE ‘ELEPHANT’

WHO IS THEN LED OUT BY WAHEED AND THE BLINDFOLD IS UNDONE.

AKBAR: Now for the truth. Maulana? Tell us what your fingers,'saw'?

MULLA/KIR: Royal highness, I am confused. I thought I touched something living?

Its hide felt warm and live to me.

AKBAR: Did it now?

MULL/KIR: It was too high for a buffalo? Can't be a horse: I did not hear it snort. I

heard nothing. Only a heavy silence. Maybe, it was … a prize bull?

AKBAR: Hum ... And, Pundit ji, what do you think?

PUNDIT/KIR: Animal hide, Your Majesty! It felt tough, the gods play tricks on us all

the time but I suspect... I touched a whip.

That's it! A whip!

AKBAR: How very interesting! Now, what says the wisdom of the West, Father

Aquaviva?

FR. AQUA/KIR: A saddle - but I too am intrigued, Sire. Did we not touch the same

object, your Majesty?

AKBAR: Thank you Father. I thought no one would ask.

EMPEROR GESTURES TO BIRBAL WHO CLAPS HIS HANDS

AKBAR: One could believe each one of you! Birbal!

THE 'ELEPHANT' IS BROUGHT BACK BY WAHEED

AKBAR: Father Aquaviva, and learned men of Hindustan, you all touched the

same thing - an elephant! Each one of you touched a different part of

the beast. The point we wished to make is this: men of all faiths
 worship the same God - but they can only see him in the aspect they

were led to 'see'.

FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH

WAHEED: Not quite right - is it ? - without all the actors - but we get an idea!

Thank you. Raj Dada, you were excellent but I think we'll run it through

again for the others, when the real Jumbo is here, at 3.00, ​inshallah​.!

KIRAN: Maybe we should rehearse the courtroom scene now, Waheed? It's

mostly for the two of us - that one.

WAHEED: Good thinking, Kiran. That'll help!

RAJ DADA: Hum? All of it? I don't know if I have my copy…?

WAHEED: We could take it from your line, Kiran: 'For believers etc.' starting on p

92. Here, take mine, please! That is … if…you don't mind, Raj

Dada?

RAJ D FUMBLES FOR HIS GLASSES. PLAYS FOR TIME

RAJ DADA: I don't mind. I'm from the old school! 'The show must go on!'

KIRAN: Shall we have a go?

WAHEED: It's the one where Shola comes to ask you for her brother's remains.

Your throne's all the way up there with the gods. On the balcony of

the Hall of Public Audience - you look down from that height. Shola's

looking up at you. Right Kiran - Take it away now … !

K. /SHOLA: For believers rituals are not meaningless - they are symbols of faith.

Of course, they matter​...

RAJ DADA: We share your sorrow Raj Kumari Shola, but not your beliefs. All gods
 come from the One. Rituals that divide people are abhorrent to us.

K. /SHOLA: They bind people of the same faith, Mahabali!

RAJ DADA: We have dealt most leniently with your mother's kith and kin - even

though they conspired against us and turned your innocent brother

into a rebel. We now grant our son, Deepak, a full pardon. We shall

commission a monument - an eternal light to mark his grave.

K. /SHOLA: Grave? A grave for a prince…

WAHEED: Hold it Kiran! We go for the ​rasa​ full on in India - we allow ourselves to

feel the emotion, to wear it, show it - in every muscle, every pore. You

need to make things BIG!

K. /SHOLA: Grave? A grave for a prince with Rajput blood coursing through his

veins?

WAHEED: Spot on, my girl!

RAJ DADA: He's cold as stone, Shola. Neither blood, nor life courses through

those veins any more. He shall be buried after the Friday prayers​.

WAHEED: I'll take Bada-yuni -

Inna - lilla- hay - wa - inna - elahi - raaj- ay- oon

GRANDLY From God we came and unto Him we shall return.

K. /SHOLA: Have mercy on his soul! Mahabali!

RAJ DADA: Calm yourself, Princess! Your station does not permit this display!

WAHEED/BADA: Shahinshah, the Prince was not a Hindu but a Muslim by birth. It's the

bounden duty of a Muslim father to bury his son. A cremation would

be a hideous violation of the proprieties.

K. /SHOLA: Your Majesty, he has lost his life, we've lost him forever.

We cannot let him suffer in his after-life too.

RAJ DADA: Rajkumari!

K. /SHOLA: His body must be prepared for the Hindu ritual, Mahabali!

AKBAR: Hindu ritual - did you say?

K./SHOLA: My mother raised him in that faith. In the name of Moghul justice –

you must listen to the cries of a bereaved sister!

AKBAR IS STUNNED FOR A MOMENT. DECIDES PROMPTLY

AKBAR: You and your mother had leave to practise your faith - allow us to

pursue ours in our duty to our son.

SHOLA GLARES ANGRILY.

THEN FALLS BACK AND RECITES A PRAYER, HER EYES CLOSED.

K. /SHOLA: Asurya nama te loka / andhena tamasavartha.

tams te prityabihgacchanti/ ye ke catma-hano janah.

WAHEED COVERS HIS EARS WITH BOTH HANDS

WAHEED: We'll get the dialogue coach in for that sanskrit prayer! Read the

meanings for now, please Kiran.

K./SHOLA: Thanks Waheed!

The killer of the soul whoever he may be,

must enter into the …

WAHEED: Now - let's try it again. Shall we try and find the right emotion for it?

Give it more life …try a chant

KIRAN NODS. PAUSE

K./SHOLA: The killer of the soul whoever he may be …

WAHEED: It's getting there. Put yourself in that situation - I know you're a Muslim

but think how you'd feel if you weren't allowed the ritual ​you ​want, it's

​ hat's the key!

about ​practising your faith. T

AKBAR LOOKS ON NODDING APPROVINGLY.

KIRAN GETTING ANGRY NOW PLAYS IT WITH PASSION AND ENERGY

SUDDENLY ENGAGING BOTH MEN

K./SHOLA: The killer of the soul whoever he may be,

must enter into the planets

known as the world of the faithless,

full of darkness and ignorance…

AKBAR: Monuments endure better than men. Future generations will know

Akbar's sons loved him as he loved them. You may retire, Rajkumari.

The burial will take place on Friday.

K. /SHOLA: Mahabali!

WAHEED: Akbar rises to go. Shola turns to face him with a challenge.

K. /SHOLA: Mahabali, I swear by my father’s blood I shall avenge my mother's

helpless tears.

WAHEED: Bravo! Thank you. That was excellent Raj Dada, excellent! You carry

the performance to a different level! You really do!

Kiran, you're getting on fine! You've got it. I liked that. I liked that -

quite a lot.

WAHEED TURNS TO MITTHOO

 Maybe we should break for lunch now; some of the others might get

here by the afternoon.

RAJ DADA SMILES ENCOURAGINGLY.

RAJ DADA: Keep it up, Kiran! That was not bad at all! See you soon.

EXIT

KIRAN: Thanks!

WAHEED: Get out of that thing, Mitthoo, I need you here p.d.q.!

MITTHOO: Coming Boss.

WAHEED: You can take your lunch only if you've sorted Divya out -

Get back by 2.00 pm sharp, OK! No more w.t.! Got it?

MITTHOO: Yes, Boss. Yes, yes.

WAHEED: Why can't any of these idiots deliver what's expected ... ​saalay bhain

​ Bloody unprofessional - the lot of them!

choad?

MITTHOO: Sorry about the elephant, Boss. But he'll be here 3 o'clock -

WAHEED: He better be.

MITTHOO: - ​pucca​ time, you'll see and Divya ji will sort the dance out in a day,

she said. We'll can it first thing Friday. I'll ring Jojo to book Raj Dada.

He's not so busy as he makes out. Stars!

MITTHOO WAVING TO THE OTHERS

See you later ... Boss!

EXITS

KIRAN COMES UP TO WAHEED

 SEEMA COMES AND STANDS BESIDE THEM

KIRAN: Waheed?

WAHEED: Hum?

KIRAN: About the dance.

WAHEED: Look! It's a hit number - this is a mega-budget costume drama for

theatre release! I mean serious money - it's got to be right.

KIRAN: I hear that a lot - but this - is all so make-shift! And - you know,

Waheed, my - my cheque is still not in -

WAHEED: Some of the cash hasn't come through - but I know it will. Is it a

problem?

KIRAN: Amma asked me to find out - who they are - these investors?

WAHEED: Hush! Commercial confidence! Don't you worry your pretty little head

about that - and tell your Ma she has to concentrate on getting better!

Now, did you get through that time?

KIRAN: Yes - to the home number. Mohan didn't know how Amma was - but

Zara had phoned to get a room prepared for Bobby - which is -

brilliant! It means he's here!

WAHEED: What - your brother - from London? She isn't that ill, is she?

KIRAN: I asked him to come - ​I​ just needed him around, Waheed.

WAHEED: He's coming all that way only 'cause you 'needed' him?

KIRAN: It's not just a whim - I thought he'd help us get a little flat -

WAHEED: Clever girl - perfect time to invest! Prices are right down -

KIRAN: Not for investment - just so Amma and I can live there while I work on
 this! Zara's a sweetheart - but living in her house is so hard! Too

many people in and out all the time. Some of Ashok's family and

political cronies talk like real Hindu fanatics -

WAHEED: If you're in politics you've got to talk to them - we've all got to hear

them out.

KIRAN: Them?

WAHEED: The people you'd call Hindu fanatics.

KIRAN: So we all have to learn to live with it.

WAHEED: It's the best strategy! Can you not do that?

KIRAN: It'll be a help to have Bobby here. He's so very rational - he can

always calm me down.

WAHEED: Your brother? And he's rational?

KIRAN: He's different - he's a geneticist you know.

WAHEED: Really? Does he clone sheep in a lab - or design supermen at a

secret location?

KIRAN: Neither - he teaches - at Imperial College.

WAHEED: But he's brainy, ​haan​?

KIRAN: Definitely.

WAHEED: Never mind sweet heart, you got the looks - didn't you?

TAKES HER IN A BEAR HUG AND CARESSES HER

KIRAN TRIES TO SHRUG HIM OFF AS INOFFENSIVELY AS SHE CAN

QUITE OFFENDED
SEEMA S: Take a wild guess at how this makes me feel!

I can give you an idea. A bit like Red Riding Hood's mother - if she'd

followed her precious little darling into the middle of the woods and

caught her happily chatting with the big bad wolf. What shall I say -

they do precisely what you tell them not to!

SEEMA S SITS ON A CHAIR AND FILES HER NAILS DISINTERESTEDLY

KIRAN: Another thing Waheed! You know Amma's had a heart attack. It'll kill

her - if you distort her script!

WAHEED: Give me a break, ​yaar​! You're such a queen of melodrama, hum, and

so is she! She's not really dying, I know that!

KIRAN: There was no sanskrit prayer, I know. This focus on religion - is

something she'll hate.

WAHEED: It's only embellishment. We'll put it in a song - if you're worried about

saying it!

KIRAN: I can learn it. That's not what I'm saying - at all!

WAHEED: She'll come round - slowly, slowly.

KIRAN: Akbar was a tolerant king, Waheed, the twist about religion turns the

story into a gross misrepresentation of history -

WAHEED: Not if we use a double twist and give it a happy ending.

KIRAN: Happy ending!

WAHEED: Face it Kiran, we're entertainers not historians - and that's all we can

hope to be.

DURING THAT SPEECH SEEMA S COMES ROUND TO STAND BEHIND HIM.

SHE SMILES, RAISES HER HANDS AND SIGNALS A

'BLINK' WITH HER FINGERS THE LIGHTS BLINK IN RESPONSE

SHE SMILES GLEEFULLY, REPEATS, AND THE LIGHTS DIM

WAHEED: O-O! Power cut... Let's go out on the veranda.

KIRAN MOVES UPSTAGE WRINGING HER HANDS IN DESPAIR

SEEMA S GLIDES OUT OF HER PATH

KIRAN: I wish you'd try to understand her themes … TOGETHER

WAHEED: Bloody hell! And isn't this country just the ticket ? }

EXIT WAHEED GRUMBLING

SPOTLIGHT ON SEEMA S WHO SMILES SCORNFULLY

SEEMA S: Entertainers! Nothing to do with art - naturally! He takes that elephant

story from Sufi literature and turns it into a pointless ​tamasha!​ Sheer

bathos!

Endings are crucial. Wouldn't you agree? Change the ending and the

meaning changes. He can't see that because has no real respect for

stories. The number of times I said to Kiran, 'This man is a charlatan!

Money's the only thing he cares about - he’ll misrepresent and destroy

my work! Did she listen?'

I can see it so clearly now - as an act of sabotage, a conspiracy! It's

the ultimate weapon of capitalism - this terrifying ability to pervert the

meaning of a story simply by buying into a project and influencing its

content! And how do you fight an invisible force in the material world

as a phantom- when you found it bloody hard to do so in the flesh? I

haven't worked that one out yet!

I'll stick to telling stories. That is an act of faith: anyway. You hope

someone somewhere​ will ​discover your true meaning. Sooner or later

people see that the easiest way to make sense of the world is through

the 'truest' stories.

**************
 Scene 3

ZARA'S TV ROOM. ZARA IS FOLDING SAREES.

ASHOK ENTERS. WATCHES HER BRIEFLY THEN SPEAKS

ASHOK: Does this have to be done now?

ZARA: I need to be here - amongst her things. Makes me feel she's still

around.

ASHOK: Zara there's important stuff to do.

PAUSE. ZARA IGNORES HIM

Zara ?

ZARA: You know she preferred to give all her old clothes to a charity. Feels a

bit mean. The servants must be hoping ...

ASHOK Hoping? They're hovering, like vultures.

ZARA: Tche, vultures? Ashok! That's a bit harsh -

ASHOK But true. Anyway, they're no use to her now!

ZARA: I couldn't bear to see them worn round the house. Maybe if they

promised not to wear them in here?

ASHOK: They might as well not have them. Where else do the poor sods ever

​
go, ​haan?

ZARA: You're right. But I really ought to do what she would have wanted ...

This was her favourite... she loved Benarsi silk -

ASHOK LOOKS AT HER WORRIEDLY

ASHOK: All this can wait Zara.

ZARA: It's still got a whiff of her perfume.

She can wear this one …

ZARA CLUTCHES THE SARI TO HERSELF AND BREAKS DOWN

ASHOK: Now try and be brave darling!

ZARA: She wasn’t that old - not for these days…

ZARA BREAKS DOWN

Doesn't seem fair! They were so lucky, those two, to have had her all

their lives - I was only just getting to know her.

ASHOK: Is this helping?

ZARA: If I'd never met her it wouldn't hurt so!

Don't you see? I've lost her for real this time.

Just let me be - Ashok.

ASHOK: You've had a lot on your plate Zara - and I know it's hard. But we've

got to sort out our next move. There are things to be done.

ZARA: Like what?

ASHOK: We've got to issue a press statement, arrange a time for the funeral

then transport to take the body from the hospital for the cremation. All

that falls to me…I suppose!

ZARA: (winces audibly)

ASHOK: Hum?

ZARA: Does it have to be … today?

ASHOK: Twenty four hours at the most they said - I better go.

ZARA: I'm not ready for all that, Ashok.

ASHOK COMES CLOSE TO HER AND PUTS HIS ARM ROUND HER..

ASHOK: There's no choice! We've got to face it. I'll call Mama and Poonam -

they'll come and stay with you so you're not alone. Come out of this

room now. It's upsetting you. Come and help me do the press

statement -

ZARA: Ashok?

ASHOK: Hum?

ZARA: A - a cremation ?

ASHOK: What else?

ZARA: I don't know.

Doesn't sound right. 'Body, cremation!'

Come to think of it, I never asked her. It never came up.

ASHOK: She wouldn't have cared. Not really. It's what ​you​ want that matters,

isn't it?

ZARA NODS UNCERTAINLY

ASHOK WAITS FOR HER TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT SHE IS

SILENT

ASHOK: That's what ​I​ would like for her too - we believe in that. ​PAUSE

She was born a Hindu - that was her original faith. That's who she

was. So what if she married a Muslim and lived an unconventional life

- she's still entitled to the ritual.

ZARA: She didn't believe in God - she always said that loud and clear.

ASHOK: But surely - her family's wishes should be respected.

 And - that's our faith too.

ZARA: Her​ family?

ASHOK: Her brothers and sisters would want to do the right thing by her.

Wouldn't they!

ZARA: There's also Kiran and Bobby - and their father's family.

ASHOK: We can't invite ​them​ here to air their preferences! That's so

inappropriate. They're bound to have connections with Muslim

extremists! You're the eldest daughter - you should choose what you

want.

ZARA: I know I'd choose cremation for myself…

ASHOK: Exactly! And as your husband I have some position in this family.

Maybe - we can decide - between us!

ZARA: But what if ​they ​object? Shouldn't we at least consult them?

ASHOK: Where are they then?

ZARA: Still at rehearsals I expect. The number is by the phone.

ASHOK: You could just ​tell them​ we've chosen to cremate. Is there any point in

- well, turning it into a big debate? Emotive subject - at such a difficult

time!

ZARA: Ashok they were closer to Amma than I was. Is it fair?

ASHOK: I ​don't have a problem with that​. ​ It has to be done quickly and ​we

need to decide - I'd say you have the casting vote -

ZARA LOOKS CONCERNED

ZARA: She was closest to Kiran…

ASHOK: Kiran rowed with her the most! And she's so selfish and irresponsible,

Zara. You know how she hassled and manipulated Amma over that

script - just to play the lead. I don't think she has - the - the wisdom to

deal with this.

ZARA: Even if we don't approve of her - she is my sister-

ASHOK: Half sister.

ZARA: And her daughter- it would make sense to ask her and Bobby.

ASHOK: And if they choose something that's totally against the grain for both of

us, would you still do it?

ZARA: I don't know? I'd have to think about it.

The ritual is ​necessary​ - for purification - and release. I do believe that.

ASHOK: And can you guess Kiran's choice?

ZARA: Not really.

ASHOK: She's a loose canon. It would be silly to play into her hands. Anyway -

she's just an actress - I can't take her seriously!

ZARA: Do you think she will oppose cremation?

ASHOK: I don't know what to think Zara.

ZARA: I'd hate to think of Amma - buried under tons of earth - her soul

trapped in a rotting carcass for years on end.

ASHOK: Do you know what Bobby wants? He's the one who matters -

ZARA: He's obviously not a believer. He won't care -

ASHOK: His will must prevail. In any case - does she even know what she

believes in?
ZARA: If she doesn't she'll have to work it out now -

ASHOK: Isn't it best to present them with a fait accompli?

ZARA THINKS ABOUT IT FOR A LONG MOMENT

ZARA: You have a point -

ASHOK: I know what I would do - but she is ​your​ mother -

ASHOK PICKS UP A BOX WITH NEWS CLIPPINGS AND TURNS AWAY

ZARA: All right Ashok. We'll do it your way.

ASHOK: I'm sure that's right. Now - take a look at this draft…

ZARA: 'Seema Siddiqui, novelist and screenwriter, expired this morning at

11.00 am…' (READS TO HERSELF) …What about her links with the

Campaign for Restoration of Democracy…?

ASHOK: That was so long ago - what if I mentioned all her work for UNESCO

and Amnesty International?

ZARA: Okay – if you think that sounds better. We shouldn't mis-represent her

that's all!

ASHOK: I care about that too you know!

ZARA: Do you? (SEARCHING)

ASHOK EXITS.

ZARA SITS ON THE FLOOR LOOKING DEEPLY TROUBLED

ENTER SEEMA S.

SEEMA S: God! Isn't it awful to die?

PAUSES​. All your life it's the one thing you dread the most - ​death​ - total

annihilation! You spend years fighting it, creating mythologies about

resurrection, reincarnation, mystical re-union - tried a few over the

years - haven't we? And fought, and killed, and died for our beliefs.

Amazes me how people will do that! Die - to prove they were right

about something they couldn't prove when they were alive!

Give me the West any time. In London religious conflict is passé

already. You can even choose a humanist funeral, if you're

far-sighted. Here, I wasn't sure if it was polite to do that. So I didn't

say a word to either my daughters or my son. Anyway, they all think

they know exactly what to do: how to live, how to die, how to - get rid

of the human debris. What they end up doing with my remains is any

one's guess!

I feel a bit cross with myself when I think of the D.I.Y. 'Last Will and

Testament' I saw at W. H. Smith's this summer! For £6.99 - I could've

had my say!

You might think I've had my chance with my writing. '​Words, words,

wo​rds' - in the language of the Other - selling Utopian dreams of a

world without suspicion and mistrust - where the only sin is bigotry and

hatred! Did they make a difference?

I failed - even with my own children. I'd so wanted to free them from
 religion! But when Zara's father swore he wouldn't let my godless

shadow cross her path I knew exactly what would happen to her. His

mother would bring her up. She did - and she made sure my daughter

was a lot closer to the faith than I ever was.

Tried so hard with the other two. Did it work? Huh! Raise a family

and ​you'll​ convert to genetic determinism. You do exactly the same

things for two of your own. Breast-feed both, sit them on the same

knee, rub their backs exactly the same to wind them, sing the same

lullabies, teach them the same words, the same rules - and what do

you end up with? Chalk and cheese! They're so different from each

other.

STANDS BEHIND HER AND 'STROKES' HER HAIR

GENTLY WITHOUT TOUCHING IT. THEN TURNS TO THE AUDIENCE

SEEMA S: And who can blame you, my child!

Sometimes you must give in to hold it together… Compromise, that's

the name of the game! It was a dirty word in my book. I never

understood it in time to save any of my relationships. Now - I wonder -

if commitment is a sort of madness. If only I'd understood things better

… life might have been easier for all of us!

****************
 Sc. 4

IN THE REHEARSAL SPACE

KIRAN, IS TRYING ON A SAREE, HER BACK TO HIM

BOBBY ENTERS SEARCHING FOR KIRAN

KIRAN TURNS ROUND AND HE SEES HER

BOBBY: Excuse me please ….

Hey! It's you Kiran! At last! }​TOGETHER

KIRAN: You're here Bobby! Brilliant! How wonderful! }

PAUSE

How's every thing? So how did you find Amma? I know you've been

to the hospital. She'll be all right, won't she?

THEY HUG. KIRAN KISSES HIM. BOBBY PULLS BACK.

BOBBY: Er … she's … not that great, Kiran!

KIRAN: No? It's scary!

But she'll get better - she has to.

Good flight - eh? How was London?

BOBBY: Wet!

KIRAN: Tche! Did you bring the cds I wanted?

BOBBY: Every single one of them!

KIRAN: Cheers, Bobby! You're a star - you really are!

So? Tell me what you think of Zara. She was at the hospital, wasn't

she? Did you meet her?

BOBBY: Briefly. And Ashok was there.

KIRAN: And? Did you like them both?

BOBBY: Hey - easy! Give me a chance. I've only just got here. Of course I

like them. It's too soon to - arrive at judgments.

KIRAN: Yes. I suppose it is.

And - things are never - quite what they seem to be.

BOBBY: No. I don't imagine they are!

Actually I came to fetch you Kiran. We do need to get back ...

KIRAN: Let's go then, I've got to talk to Amma anyway.

BOBBY: Kiran -

PAUSE

KIRAN: I'm really pissed off … he's messing about with the script now! Amma

will be so cross.

BOBBY: Kiran, listen - you may have to wait to talk…

KIRAN: This​ is urgent. Just a couple of things. Anyway - I'll have to be back

at two!

BOBBY: You might not be able to -

KIRAN: We can if we rush. Let's get going Bobby - he said two p.m. sharp.

ENTER WAHEED RUSHING.

WAHEED: Bobby? Hiya! So - you had to come out all this way, haan! She

certainly knows how to get her own way - our little Kiran.

OFFERS HIS HAND TO BOBBY

BOBBY: I don't mind. It is interesting to see - where you've come from. The

place you belong to … 'originally'.

WAHEED: Hmm! Welcome to Bombay - and sorry you've caught us with our

wrong side exposed. It's a happier place - normally.

BOBBY: Thank you. I'd like to believe that.

KIRAN: We were just leaving Waheed.

WAHEED: You can't go to the hospital and be back for two, Kiran. There are

problems - all over the place.

KIRAN: I haven't heard a whisper of trouble.

BOBBY: He's right, Kiran. It's - quite - tense out there.

WAHEED TURNS A RADIO ON.

But we've got to get back to the hospital somehow -

WAHEED: CUTTING IN​ So you've come to fetch her!

BOBBY: Mmm. Be great if she could come with me now? Can't you spare her?

FADE-UP MARK TULLY'S REPORT ON THE RIOTS COMES ON

' … a senior official of the Rapid Action Force claimed that their

operation was carried out with the minimum of damage. Within a few

hours they were able to evacuate the site. The incident has created

tension in most areas of the country and curfews are now in place in

several major cities…'

WAHEED: See what I mean? They'll announce a curfew soon

KIRAN: They always make out it's worse than it is. We'll be fine.

KIRAN: Can't I go? Please, Waheed?

WAHEED: We still haven't covered the morning's schedule, Kiran!

KIRAN: We can't do that. The others aren't here -

BOBBY: I'll bring her back, I promise.

WAHEED: Good. There's just one thing I'd like to run through before you go

away? I'd like to hear the riverside scene? I need to time it.

KIRAN LOOKS AT BOBBY?

BOBBY: Only if we don't get caught in the curfew.

KIRAN: It's not very long - we'll trot through it in two ticks - and I'll be done for

the day then, won't I? We're behind as it is!

WAHEED: That's right. Shit! Pratap isn't here! And Raj Dada's probably having

one of his big lunches again. I'll read the bit parts - do you mind

reading Jamal for us darling?

BOBBY: ​ Read lines?

Me ?

KIRAN: Bobby can't act to save his life -

WAHEED: …only a few… just read … you don't have to perform.

BOBBY: But you don't understand the situation -

WAHEED: It's fine. Just go with it … trot it out - it's a minor part!

Nobody's judging you.

BOBBY FLAPS HIS ARMS IN FRUSTRATION

THEN ROLLS UP HIS EYES IN DESPAIR AND SURRENDERS

WAHEED: It's a short scene. You're playing Jamal - he's a eunuch, yeah - but

don't let that bother you. We just thought it might give this scene a lift.

It's a heavy number otherwise, you see: 'cause Akbar has ordered a
 grave for Deepak but, his step-daughter, Shola, has promised her

mother she will cremate her brother's body - even if she has to steal it.

But his body is being guarded by a soldier at a camp by the river.

The camera finds you two standing quite still, trying to listen as well as

peer over the wall. The guard sits there reciting a poem. I'll do his

lines. Is that ok, you're reading Jamal for us, Bobby. Take your line

Kiran, please at the top of Scene 79 -

SHOLA: What's he saying?

JAMAL: He's reciting a poem in Persian, it's Sa'adi, I think.

SHOLA: Ah! A soldier who enjoys poetry!

JAMAL: Some of them do.

SHOLA: Can you hear the words?

JAMAL: Just about:

Good men before have died ,

Who failed to see a ...a leopard

Curled sleeping in the sun.'

SHOLA: Why is he doing that?

JAMAL: To prepare for the unexpected, to keep himself awake.

SHOLA: Not an easy target - if he's prepared.

JAMAL: So are we, Princess.

SHOLA: What if we fail?

JAMAL: You must decide Your Highness ... the stakes are high.
SHOLA: Aren't they always, when the reward has any meaning?

JAMAL: Right! If anything should go wrong, Rajkumari, I suggest you return to

the ​haram. ​Run as fast as you can. That tower should be your guide.

WAHEED: Easy, isn't it, Bobby? Just - keep it up! Now, at this point, your

character, Jamal, leaps over the wall and lands beside the soldier. I'll

read his lines. Take it from your next one now …

JAMAL: Alms for the poor, something to eat?

SOLDIER: Tch! ​Arrey baba! Chulo, bhago!

LONG PAUSE

JAMAL: A mouthful for a tired traveller from Isfahan, please, sir? God bless

you.

SOLDIER: Pity you didn't come an hour ago. Even the crows wouldn't touch the

poison they sent from the kitchens this evening.

JAMAL: I won't count it a misfortune to have missed it then! But it's hard to

sleep on an empty stomach, Sir. Even sunflower seeds would be

welcome.

SOLDIER: How come you are about so late at night, traveller?

JAMAL: No caravanserai would take me! Delhi wallahs do not like Shi'ites

these days. It was a surprise - I'd heard good things of your Emperor.

Marvellous stories of deep friendship between people of different faiths

under his rule!

SOLDIER: And what is that you are you drinking?

JAMAL: The juice of grapes, preserved in the juice of grapes. My uncle makes

this. An elixir! I shall let you try a sip. Only a sip! In return, perhaps

tomorrow you could share your food with me? Yes?

SOLDIER:​ DRINKS Whoa! This is divine - could it be manna from heaven?

JAMAL: It's brewed to a special recipe, a secret in our family...

Hmm... ​quite wonderful!

Your Highness, he's out!

WAHEED: And now ​Shola jumps off the wall too and joins you.

SHOLA: That was quick!

JAMAL: We need to be quick. I'll take his wallet to divert attention. If no one

sees us or hears us they won't discover the theft of the body till

tomorrow

SHOLA: Help me carry him. I must get him to the cremation spot by the river.

We have to burn the body. Then we surrender the bones to the river

and take the ashes back to my mother to bless them before she pours

them into the Ganges.

JAMAL: Are you strong, Princess? A dead man is a heavy weight!

SHOLA: I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. I'm a full blooded Rajput. He's not quite

of the same metal, of course.

JAMAL: Sure? Well, heave, then, heave ...

WAHEED: You both struggle with the weight, dragging the body. You bring him

here. Shola is chanting prayers as she pours libations. Light the pyre.

Fire crackles on the sound track. The flames rise - and so does the
 chanting. Now. Jamal speaks - Bobby?

JAMAL: Tears, your highness? Up to now you have been so brave!

SHOLA: Fear and danger concentrate the mind selfishly on survival.

But now... his smile, his dark eyes, his pranks as a child, each memory

haunts me in such detail as if it happened yesterday. We were close,

he and I.

JAMAL: You're brave to have undertaken this for him!

SHOLA: It's for my mother and my respect for our faith and our people.

JAMAL: All those stories of ghosts in cemeteries and cremation grounds. Once

or twice I thought I heard ankle bells jingle through the crackling of the

flames. I've never spent a night so close to the dead.

SHOLA: The living can be more terrifying than the dead.

JAMAL: Did the King not love him at all, then?

SHOLA: Only so much as kings can.

JAMAL: And, trust?

SHOLA: They don’t teach that on battlefields.

JAMAL: The air feels moist with dew Your Highness, and I can see dawn paint

the sky pink in the East. How much longer?

SHOLA: Not too long now. The ashes have silvered. We’ll cast away the

bones now ... we cannot wait any more.

JAMAL: Let me help.

SHOLA: I challenge fate in more ways than one tonight. Women are not

supposed to do these things ... You need a male Brahmin or a priest

 for the proper ritual.

JAMAL: Your Highness ... it will be light soon.

SHOLA: Yes. All right then, let's not delay. I’ll let him go.

Shanti, shanti, shanti …

WAHEED CLAPS WITH ENTHUSIASM

WAHEED: Phew, Kiran. That was great.

KIRAN LOOKS AT HIM UNCERTAINLY.

BOBBY: It is quite moving. ​ Her determination to have her say and not be

repressed really comes through! Amma will be pleased.

KIRAN: Except for that last line, that 'Shanti, shanti …'? What's that saying

Waheed? Where did that come from?

WAHEED: Just a little - embellishment - I suppose.

BOBBY TRIES TO KEEP SMILING AS HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER

BOBBY: Look, we really must get going now, Kiran …

WAHEED PICKING UP ON THE CHANGE

WAHEED: Listen - Do me a favour - talk to your Ma about that speech.

KIRAN: What speech?

WAHEED: Venu just - dra-ags it out - she can't help milking it.

KIRAN: Which one?

WAHEED: I've told you before. Radha Bai's speech - in the temple - the bones

and ashes speech. Have you heard her do it?

KIRAN: That's about her grief - it's central! It's a great speech.
WAHEED: Part of the problem. It's got to go - holds up the drama.

KIRAN: Amma will never agree -

WAHEED: Find a nice way of telling her. It's completely OTT -

KIRAN: You can't keep cutting and changing stuff, Waheed - you've signed a

contract! I'm worried about the general drift …

WAHEED: Kiran! I'll talk to her myself if you don't.

KIRAN: Not while she's ill, Waheed. You can't!

BOBBY: Kiran's right - we can't upset her right now, Waheed ji.

WAHEED: I'll wait - but not forever, I'm afraid.

HIS TONE BEGINS TO TURN NASTY.

ENTER SEEMA S. SHE WATCHES THEM:

BOBBY PUTS HIS ARM ROUND KIRAN PROTECTIVELY

AND DRAWS HER AWAY FROM HER PROTEST.

THEY EXIT

WAHEED BRINGS HIS DIRECTOR'S CHAIR CENTRE STAGE

BRINGS THE SCRIPT OUT AND PUTS LINES THROUGH IT

SEEMA S: Too heavy - for Light Ent. I suppose!

So why bother to look for a way to make it work?

PAUSE

It's about the mother's pain and her passion - but the tone of her

pleading has to do with Akbar's power over her and Shola as women,

as subjects.
ENACTS RADHA BAI:

Mahabali! All that I possess is yours, but he was part of my body.

From you came only the breath, the quickening. I gave him his flesh,

his bones, every little drop of blood, every organ, each and every atom

of his being. I insist his body is mine, his remains, his ashes are mine.

WATCHES WAHEED

HE TAKES A LUXURIOS STRETCH, GATHERS STUFF, EXITS

How can you omit the heart of the story - you fool? For me - it was a

story about power and politics not faith. Shola was my Antigone - not

Joan of Arc. I sort of knew this might happen to the script. A part of

me guessed that.

Even though it is difficult to predict the future …

 Scene 5

SEEMA S MOVES UP FRONT

SEEMA S: Belief is the comfort blanket you hold on to - as you wait for the future

to unfold. You need it in all kinds of crises. When someone you love

can't be found, when your flight runs into engine trouble - or just

turbulence - or when you're lost in a foreign city and you discover your

wallet's missing too! Of course it helps if you believe that prayer might

influence the outcome - that somehow you can intervene.

But most of all - you need it in the face of death. What can be better

than the myth of a change of abode - another life in a better place?

Not a lot - except perhaps, another life on this very planet - in ​better

circumstances​, because you've earned it, followed by another life, and

yet another, until you've found ​bliss.

I do admire people like my Zara, who are committed to their faith.

You've got to give her credit. She does, whatever she does, with a

passion - certainly gives it all she's got –

SEEMA S MAKES WAY TO REVEAL ASHOK PACING ANXIOUSLY.

ZARA HUDDLES ON THE FLOOR TURNING THE BEADS OF HER

ROSARY.

ZARA: Did you try that number again?

ASHOK: Still no reply. Must be out of order.

ZARA God! Where can they be?

ASHOK: Don't get worked up, Zara. Makes it worse.

ZARA: You're right, I've got to stay calm.

Anyway, lightning never strikes the same spot twice!

ASHOK: So?

ZARA: We've had a calamity today - the odds are against it happening again.

ASHOK: I wouldn't bank on that. Ever seen a flood, or an earth-quake?

People die - hundreds and thousands of them, like insects.

ZARA Ashok - stop! You're making it worse.

ASHOK: It's getting late. We've got to get it all done, before sunset. She's so

irresponsible!

ZARA: They must be stuck in a blockade somewhere. And anyway, they

don't know -

ASHOK: I wish you'd ​told​ her!

ZARA: How could I tell her on the phone! It's an awful thing to do. You know

how close they were!

ASHOK: I should be out there - doing something. Maybe I sh'd go to check with

the hospital if they ever got there.

ZARA: What if they phone for a lift.

ASHOK: I'll be back soon. Was there a ​maha-arti​ near there?

ZARA: She said a ​puja ​procession was going round the studios in a loop - so

they couldn't get out for a while.

ASHOK: There's road blocks round Malabar Hill - that's why Mama and
 Poonam are late. Should I wait till they're here?

ZARA: It's okay - I'm sure they'll come as soon as they can.

PAUSE

Not that I'm looking forward to that kind of support - 'Poor, dear Zara!'

with every breath - 'Poor dear Zara - who can't have babies!' is what I

hear in your mother's voice. That's all I ever see in her eyes.

ASHOK: I'm sure that's not true.

ZARA: She makes it so obvious - you, the only son of the family, cannot give

her a son and an heir - and all because of me.

ASHOK: Cut it out, Zara. There's enough trouble on our hands.

ZARA: It's easy for you. You're not to blame -

ASHOK: I'm glad I'm not - for ​some​ thing at least.

ZARA WINCES, TURNS AWAY TO HIDE HER TEARS

ASHOK GLANCES HER WAY BITING HIS LIP

ASHOK: Sorry - I didn't mean it - not that way.

ZARA: Why don't you go, Ashok. Just go. I'll be fine on my own.

THE DOOR BELL RINGS.

ASHOK: There ! That's them now …

ZARA TURNS ROUND TO LOOK AT THE DOOR

KIRAN AND BOBBY WALK IN, LOOKING GRIM.

ZARA RUSHES UP TO THEM

ZARA: Thank God you're back. Kiran - Bobby -

BOBBY: They told us​ - at the hospital!

ASHOK: I'm so, so, sorry Kiran!

Sorry, Bobby - it's such a loss - for all of us.

ZARA PUTS HER ARMS ROUND KIRAN.

KIRAN BREAKS DOWN. THEY BOTH CLING TO EACH OTHER WEEPING

KIRAN: Where is she?

ZARA: Sit down, Kiran. Come and sit down first, come here.

KIRAN: Did she ask for me?

ZARA: She never came to - didn't even open her eyes this morning!

ASHOK: We brought her home. To... to prepare the body for the ritual

KIRAN: Don't ! Don't … talk about her like that! Not just yet.

I can't bear it, Ashok.

ZARA: Sounds awful, doesn't it?

BOBBY: I can't get it into my head - someone so full of life, vitality.

KIRAN: I should've been with her. I wish I hadn't left her alone.

ZARA: We left her in a hospital Kiran! She wasn't alone.

KIRAN: Why didn't you tell me she was that ill, Zara? You let me go away

thinking … she's fine. I didn't know she was … dying!

ZARA: I'm so sorry - Kiran I'd no idea! It was cruel - the second attack that

took her.

ASHOK: She never recovered consciousness at all - not for a second.

KIRAN MOVES OUT OF ZARA'S REACH

KIRAN: She would have opened her eyes, for me - I know it.

BOBBY: And I behaved like a pratt! I wish I'd stayed there, with you. I feel like
 such a fool -

ASHOK: You didn't know. People drag out their time for years.

BOBBY: It's so awful. Quite … tragic! I hope the hospital didn't slip up?

ASHOK: It's no one's fault really. It's life - isn't it? People die in London and

New York, even in the best hospitals, when their time comes!

LONG PAUSE

ASHOK: I wanted to come to the studios to fetch you myself - but there was so

much to do. We've issued a press statement.

BOBBY LOOKS SURPRISED

It'll make the front pages here you'll see.

PAUSE. KIRAN STARES AT HIM ANGRILY

KIRAN: Did we miss the photo call then?

PAUSE

ZARA: Kiran! I know - you're upset!

ASHOK: I - I'm sure Zara - is right. You're obviously upset.

KIRAN: Can I see her now?

ZARA: Of course. People will start arriving soon - but there's still a bit of time

- for - both of you to see her. ​ ZARA LOOKS AT BOB BY

BOBBY: Not - just yet, Zara. I'm sorry - I need a moment.

ZARA: Nothing can ever make up for it -

KIRAN LOOKS IMPATIENT AS SHE WAITS TO FOLLOW ZARA OUT

ASHOK LEADS BOBBY TO A CHAIR

ASHOK: I've organised every thing -

BOBBY: Thank you. I'm sorry I'm no use. I don't know the ropes.

ASHOK: I thought so. I've seen to it all - you'll be relieved to hear.

BOBBY: Thanks.

ASHOK: I do have the facilities and the machinery to get things done you know

- as a senior member of the local assembly one has the powers. It's

no secret - life's pretty tough in India for ordinary people.

BOBBY: I know what you mean.

ASHOK: Simple things - like seeing a specialist - can become a privilege

RE-ENTER KIRAN LOOKING DISTRESSED

KIRAN: Where's Zara?

ASHOK: Getting things ready for the mourners, I think.

BOBBY FINDING IT DIFFICULT, PUTS HIS ARMS ROUND HER TO HUG HER

BOBBY: Don't take it too hard, Kiran. We've all got to go - eventually. It's how it

is, isn't it?

KIRAN BREAKS DOWN AND SOBS ON HIS SHOULDER

KIRAN: Bobby - it's awful to see her like that. ​Just awful!​ She doesn't look -

like herself.

BOBBY: Kiran! Hush, now that's a good girl. You've got to be brave!

ASHOK: Easier said than done.

RE-ENTER ZARA, LOOKING WORRIED. GOES TO KIRAN TO HUG HER

ZARA: Kiran! I wish I could …

KIRAN PUSHES HER AWAY, ZARA LOOKS HURT

KIRAN: Who 'prepared' her?

ASHOK: They're professionals - the women who do it.

KIRAN: Were they​ haan​? Did they ​know​ what they were doing?

ZARA: How do you mean?

KIRAN: They've made a terrible mistake! It gave me a shock to see her like

that - dressed like a Hindu. She looks strange with that stuff on her

forehead. You know she hates all that.

ZARA: Hates it? Kiran … tche … she's gone, she is no more! She's beyond

all this material world, of love and hate.

ASHOK: You can wipe that off - if it bothers you so much.

BOBBY: I wouldn't stress about it, Kiran. It's a minor detail!

ASHOK: Exactly - minor. I agree.

KIRAN: They've put her in a silk sari!

ZARA: That ​was​ her favourite, wasn't it?

ASHOK: She wore it quite a lot.

KIRAN STANDS A BIT APART FROM THE REST

ASHOK AND ZARA LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

ASHOK LOOKS AWAY FIRST

KIRAN: You should've checked the details with someone. It's a simple white

shroud; cotton, bleached, un-stitched. Absolutely no jewellery, and no

make-up.

ASHOK LOOKS AT ZARA TO ORCHESTRATE A RESPONSE

ZARA TAKES A DEEP BREATH BUT BEFORE SHE CAN SPEAK

KIRAN ADDRESSES BOBBY WITH

KIRAN: She always said she liked Muslim burials - for their simplicity - and

equality - you have the same for everyone, men and women, rich and

poor. It's the one thing she said she admired about our faith.

ZARA: We've prepared Amma for a cremation, Kiran.

KIRAN: Why?

ZARA: Because - Ashok - well … Ashok and I - thought it was appropriate.

ASHOK: It's the right thing to do. It's important to observe death ritual - even if

you don't believe.

BOBBY: She would have asked for a - a non-denominational funeral I think - if

she'd had the chance.

ASHOK: If you're born a Hindu…

KIRAN: Only if you remain a Hindu -

DOOR BELL CHIMES

ZARA: In a way it's too late now, Kiran - it's all been set up.

ASHOK: These things have meaning for both of us, for all of us.

KIRAN: How could you let him do that, Zara?

ZARA: I believe in it too, Kiran. It will release her essence from its earthly

prison. She lost her faith - but I don't want her to suffer!

DOOR BELL CHIMES AGAIN

KIRAN: Burn on a pyre and not suffer! Are you crazy?

ZARA: Only her remains, Kiran, not her. Don't you see?

KIRAN: You've no right to do this to her! It feels wrong - it is wrong. I won't let

you do it!
ZARA: Please, Kiran. I beg you - try to see it my way. Don't fight me - I am

your older sister. You're my only family now - you two!

KIRAN: Not unless you can challenge some of this, Zara. No way!

ZARA: Hush, Kiran, my love, please! I wanted this too -

BOBBY: Drop it Kiran. The last thing we want right now is a scene -

ASHOK: Exactly.

SERVANT KNOCKS ON THE DOOR AND PUSHES IT. ASHOK

NODS AND WAVES HIM AWAY

ASHOK: Some people are here already, Kiran, ​please​ just let it go.

KIRAN: Amma would hate it. Wouldn't she Bobby?

ZARA: It felt like the right thing to do.

BOBBY: Kiran it really doesn't matter either way. She won't know - and she

won't feel a thing.

KIRAN: I can't stay and watch her burn - like a hunk of wood! I won't!

KIRAN TRIES TO LEAVE. ZARA MOVES TO BLOCK HER

ZARA: Don't be so stubborn, Kiran.

Where will you go?

KIRAN: My father's family will have me - even though you forgot to call them

today - if they don't I'll find a refugee camp.

KIRAN RUSHES OUT. ZARA WANTS TO FOLLOW

ZARA: But you can't go out alone at a time like this - it's too dangerous - don't

you see?

BUT ASHOK MOVES TO OBSTRUCT ZARA.

ASHOK: Zara - there are people waiting for us out there!

ZARA: Stop her, Ashok! Bobby? Please go after her!

BOBBY LOOKS AT BOTH OF THEM, AND FOLLOWS KIRAN

DUTIFULLY

ASHOK: Let her go Zara - she'll soon come to her senses.

We have to go through with this! W​e can't afford not to! Do you

understand what I mean?

ZARA LOOKS AT HIM WITH REAL PAIN AND HORROR IN HER

EYES.

ZARA: Ashok …?

ZARA COLLAPSES INTO A HEAP - SOBBING DESPERATELY

ASHOK STANDS AWKWARDLY BESIDE HER WANTING TO HEAL THE BREACH,

HE HESITATES THEN KNEELS DOWN TO TOUCH HER SHOULDER GENTLY

ASHOK: Zara ! Please - calm yourself! You've got to come in now to receive

condolences from your guests.

ZARA STAYS THERE SOBBING INTO HER KNEES.

HE WAITS FOR HER TO LOOK UP - WHEN SHE DOES HE TAKES HER

HAND AND DRAWS HER UP TO HER FEET AND FIRMLY ESCORTS HER

OFF-STAGE.

STAGE IS EMPTY FOR A FEW SECONDS

CHANTING ON THE SOUND TRACK GROWS LOUDER.

CHORUS: Hari Om, hari Om, hari Om etc.

BOBBY RETURNS WITH HIS ARM ROUND KIRAN IN A MIRROR IMAGE.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY RESTRAINING HER. SHE'S TEARFUL AND SOBBING

BOBBY: Just sit down - until you're calmer - then we'll talk.

KIRAN: I won't change my mind, Bobby!

BOBBY: I know how you feel - Kiran.

It's the toughest thing we've had to face as a family - death - and this -

this rather nasty situation.

KIRAN: I won't let them do it. It's desecration! That's what it is!

BOBBY: It cannot hurt her! And how can you stop it without causing a scene?

I don't want any indignity and disrespect, Kiran. Even non-believers

need peace and dignity - for this occasion.

KIRAN: And believers need their rituals. I hate the thought of her being burnt to

ashes Bobby! She was more ​our mother t​ han hers - and now we'll be

left with nothing - ​not even a grave to visit​. I know ​he​ is behind this, not

Zara. Manipulative bastard!

BOBBY: Shush! It's so pointless talking like that.

Remember the Judgment of Solomon? If you love her - leave her

alone now. Let her go.

KIRAN: If you won't help me Bobby - I'll …

BOBBY: Don't even try to manipulate ​me​ Kiran, I'm not Amma - I won't fall for

any of your stupid ultimatums!

KIRAN: I swear by Allah, and the Holy Quran, I'll …​I'll throw myself on the

pyre.

BOBBY: For Goodness' sake - what's all this nonsense? Swearing on Allah
 and the Quran? You're over-reacting, Kiran!

KIRAN: You have to fight fire with fire!

BOBBY: We'll be at a crematorium, not a ​ghat ​by the Ganges, Kiran. So you

can give your Shola dialogue a rest - you're not playing a religious

fanatic in a Bollywood film.

KIRAN: Either you help me Bobby - or you watch me die!

BOBBY LOOKS AT HER CONCERNED. KIRAN IS DEFIANT

BOBBY: This is for real, Kiran! Be sensible - for Amma's sake.

KIRAN: If you don't help me, Bobby, you'll be sorry! Really, sorry! Believe me,

I ​am​ playing it for real - ​and it is for Amma's sake​.

CHANTING ON THE SOUND TRACK GROWS LOUDER. LIGHTS DIM

CHORUS: Hari Om, hari Om, hari Om etc.

*************************

INTERVAL
 ACT II

Sc 1

CHANTING, BELLS, MOURNING AND PRAYERS.

ZARA AND ASHOK HUDDLE TOGETHER FACING AUDIENCE.

THE PYRE IS DYING OUT.

A MOURNFUL CHANT RISES.

ZARA BREAKS DOWN. ASHOK TRIES TO COMFORT HER

THEN A BRIEF EPISODE OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

THE SEEMA S APPEARS UP-FRONT UNDER A SPOTLIGHT.

SEEMA S: One forgets how fragile life really is! That delicate thread which holds

our days together snaps without enough warning sometimes!

Personally, I'm not sorry I stepped off. Another year and I'd have been

pushing fifty. I never felt any worse for wear - but I was ready to move

on to higher things!

Ashok got his way with my remains. And, just as he'd planned, as the

husband of the oldest daughter, and a practising Hindu, it was ​his

privilege to place the coal in my mouth and light the pyre. I must admit,

it's a bit difficult to object when you're dead, so I said nothing.

For me the worst of it was not the fire - that never touched me somehow

- but the pain of watching my three live through the traumas of that day.

Zara - so alone! Kiran bristling with rage and, my poor Bobby, out of his

mind with anxiety.

It's been like this all over Bombay... crackling with tension. Neighbours
 are edgy with neighbours, friends with age-old friends, families with

each other. But let’s not lose hope.

A HINDU PRIEST STARTS CHANTING A PRAYER OVER THE DYING FIRE

AS THE CHANT RISES KIRAN COMES CLOSER TO THE BODY

BOBBY IS ALARMED BUT QUIETLY FOLLOWS HER.

HE STANDS BY HER

SHE STARTS RECITING A PRAYER IN ARABIC IN A LOUD MONOTONE.

KIRAN: La - i- laaha, ill - Allah

IT CLASHES WITH THE SOUND OF HIS WORDS AND DISTRACTS HIM.

KIRAN: La - i- laaha, ill - Allah

SHE GESTURES TO BOBBY TO RECITE WITH HER

HE HESITATES FOR A BIT BUT THEN STARTS RECITING WITH HER .

KIRAN: La - i- laa-a, ill - Allah

BOBBY: La - i- laaha, ill - Allah TOGETHER

PRIEST STARES AT THEM SLIGHTLY SHOCKED.

THEY CONTINUE

ASHOK: Pundit ji, please, continue -

- just ignore them. She's crazy, this girl!

PRIEST RAISES AN INDEX FINGER TO STOP THEM

BUT THEY IGNORE IT.

ASHOK LOOKS AT ZARA ANGRILY, SHE SHRUGS AND GESTURES

INDICATING THEY SHOULD BE IGNORED.

ASHOK: This is​ ​sickening​!

They didn't deserve to be here!

PRIEST STOPS ABRUPTLY AND LOOKS AT ASHOK FOR HELP,

HIS EYES INSIST ON ACTION THIS TIME

ASHOK STEPS FORWARD TO STOP THEM.

ZARA PULLS HIS SLEEVE TO HOLD HIM BACK BUT HE PULLS AWAY

AND GOES CLOSER TO KIRAN AND BOBBY.

HE STANDS BESIDE THEM THREATENINGLY

BOBBY DRIES UP AND STARES AT THE PYRE IN SILENCE

BUT KIRAN CONTINUES.

HER EYES ARE SHUT AND SHE APPEARS TO BE IN A TRANCE.

ASHOK: Stop it, Kiran. Stop it!

If you don't shut up this minute, Kiran -

SHE CONTINUES AT THE SAME PITCH.

Shut up! Just shut up. Get her to shut up, Bobby, or …I'll smash her

face in…

HE WAITS A SECOND AND THEN SLAPS HER.

SHE KEELS OVER.

BOBBY: Let her be - you fool!

BOBBY POUNCES ON HIM IN A FLASH AND THEY WRANGLE

KIRAN RECOVERS AND SCRAMBLES UP

KIRAN: Get off, you sick bastard! You Fascist pig!

ZARA: Stop it, Ashok! For God's sake stop it. Both of you
ASHOK THROWS HIM OVER AND BOBBY FALLS TO THE GROUND

OBVIOUSLY UNCONSCIOUS.

ZARA AND PRIEST RUSH TO LEAN OVER BOBBY

KIRAN RUSHES TO GET CLOSER

KIRAN: What have you done to him? You murderer!

Bobby! Bobby! Open your eyes - please!

I hope you die, you fascist bastard - I hate you - I hate you both!

ZARA: Kiran, please. Stop it, Kiran. Have some respect.

He's hurt. Someone - call an ambulance. Haey Raam! Haeey Raam,

Raam! Forgive us. Please - forgive us, Amma!

ZARA COVERS HER FACE WITH BOTH HANDS AND WEEPS

KIRAN HUDDLES BESIDE BOBBY, SOBBING

KIRAN: Amma…! Amma…

PRIEST RETURNS TO HIS CHANTING IN A MORE MELLOW VOICE.

AMBULANCE IS HEARD OVER THE SOUND TRACK.

SEEMA S APPEARS AGAIN AND WATCHES THEM SADLY

SHE COMES UPFRONT

SEEMA S: I blame myself as a mother - ​of course I do!​ How could I be so blind?

To give birth to such a monstrous and ugly feud - over some ritual that

means nothing to me?

KIRAN & ZARA Amma…! Amma…

That cry goes straight to my heart! I hear you both - so very clearly - but

I cannot see my way out of this! Who do I comfort first - and how?
You - my first-born - whom I tried to forget for years on end, whose tears

never stopped chasing my dreams. I desperately need to make my

peace with you. Or, you, my precious baby - whose love and laughter

helped me through my worst sorrows. I can't bear to see you weep -

either of you! ​Don't! Not for me​. I'm fine where I am - truly!

Only every touch, every word, every look I send your way to comfort you

gets caught in this awful web of suffocating nothingness that keeps me

hidden from you muffled in the hollows of absence. If only I could touch

you again, hold you in my arms for a moment to comfort you and kiss

that pain away - I would never miss my life on earth again.

PAUSE

But perhaps this ​is​ my punishment? This ​must​ be the perfect hell for a

lifelong activist - to be forced to watch a crying need in eternal silence -

and never be able to act again?

 ACT II

Sc 2

LIGHTS UP TO REVEAL THE HOSPITAL

BOBBY IS THE PATIENT AND KIRAN STANDS OVER HIM

KEEPING WATCH WITH A ROSARY OVER HER WRIST

ZARA RUSHES IN

ZARA: How is he?

KIRAN MOVES AND TURNS HER FACE AWAY FROM ZARA

Still asleep?

He'll be okay, won't he, Kiran?

KIRAN SAYS NOTHING

Please tell me he's all right Kiran. He is? Isn't he?

KIRAN: They want to keep him in for another night.

ZARA: But nothing serious … or long term… ​haan​?

KIRAN: No thanks to you - or ​him!

ZARA: I've come to - make up -

I want to apologise to both of you - for - what happened.

KIRAN: You can't talk to him. He's not to be disturbed -

ZARA: I've come to talk to you, Kiran, not him. To him I only owe an apology -

KIRAN: I don't want to talk to you.

ZARA: But why?

KIRAN: Because I don't feel like it. All right?

ZARA: Stop being so childish, Kiran!

Come here, come outside, please. We're disturbing him.

KIRAN COMES FORWARD NOW SLIGHTLY SULLEN

ZARA TAKES HER ASIDE

KIRAN: What is it?

ZARA: Open your heart now and listen to me.

KIRAN: Just leave me alone - I came with an open heart, an open mind. India's

been a helluva shit hole. I don't give a fuck about a society that's unfair

to its minorities.

ZARA: There isn't one that is fair to them. You came at a bad time. I know

there's no excuse for killing human beings …

KIRAN: Bravo! And now can I ​say ​who's been doing the killing here?

ZARA: You don't understand the ​why​ of it -

KIRAN: So you and Ashok think there are good reasons!

ZARA: Kiran!

KIRAN: I never wanted to be drawn into this poison, Zara. But fate sent us to

​ ospital - that's full of Muslims - women, who were raped, children

this h

with burns - people who were brutalised - who have lost entire families. I

feel their pain. I'm outraged!

ZARA: The Muslims are not blameless. They're insular, suspicious, full of

self-pity. They get fired by the trouble-makers.

KIRAN: You've come to defend your side!

ZARA: No - I came -
KIRAN: I blame opportunists looking for easy votes in communalism.

ZARA: Ashok is not one of them.

KIRAN: He attacked Bobby and me physically - just for praying beside the pyre!

You saw it with your own eyes.

ZARA: Kiran - you were being disruptive. That - was - er - a - situation - which

you - provoked.

KIRAN: Provoked? We ​put up​ with the cremation - because you two gave us

no choice! He showed himself up that day.

ZARA: Leave him out of this. Would I violate my own mother's remains? Think

about it.

KIRAN: He manipulated - you agreed. The truth's embarrassing, but declare it,

for her sake. Her Muslim fans feel betrayed by the cremation. Didn't

you see the papers this morning?

ZARA: She doesn't need​ them, ​Kiran. She was never a Muslim icon. She

wasn't even a believer. You know that!

KIRAN: Was her body hers or yours?

ZARA: Hers.

KIRAN: Did she say or write anywhere what she wanted?

ZARA: No.

KIRAN: Then how do you know you're right?

ZARA: I've no proof. I followed my instinct. I believe I was right -

KIRAN: I don't agree -

PAUSE .
ZARA: I hear you are going to address the memorial meeting that ​Aawaaz​ have

organised for Amma -

KIRAN: We have to honour her - in our own way.

ZARA: 'We?' Amma would have had nothing to do with them.

KIRAN: Why?

ZARA: They're right wing extremists, Kiran. They're doing it - only to stir

trouble. They'll lead you on. I won't have it said that there was a Hindu

conspiracy to cremate Amma ​against her wishes.​

KIRAN: I'd agree with that - conspiracy does put too heavy a tone on it.

ZARA: Amma never said anywhere that we shouldn't cremate her.

KIRAN: She'd have asked for it if she wanted it. Yes?

BOBBY MOVES RESTLESSLY AND CALLS OUT TO KIRAN

ZARA: We'll talk about this tonight when you get back home …

KIRAN: I'm not coming back. I don't know what Bobby will decide but I'm

staying at Dadi Ma's - O.K.?

ZARA: I'll wait till you're ready to come back, Kiran.

KIRAN: Tell him he can't​ stop me​ from addressing that meeting -

ZARA: Is that how it looks to you?

KIRAN: Think about it - He sent you.

ZARA: I came … ? … I - came… of my own accord, Kiran! I did.

ZARA LOOKS WORRIED AS SHE CONSIDERS IT

KIRAN: He's so much smarter than you - he - he works you and you don't even

know it.
ZARA: Marriages are built on compromises Kiran! You'll understand - when

you grow up.

KIRAN: Don't patronise me - compromise I accept - selling-out, I don't! People

know about him round here. His company Fair Homes Plc - that puts the

bread on your table - is notorious for mass evictions from the slums.

And Ashok, who has openly authorised illegal constructions,

de-reserved land and obtained false licences for multiple dwellings for

his political cronies has the nerve to claim piety!

ZARA: No! This is malicious gossip. That's all.

KIRAN: You're going to get even more fucked up if you carry on living with that

sectarian creep.

Just get out of my face and - check it out!

ZARA WANTS TO PROTEST, BUT DOESN'T.

TURNS ON HER HEEL TO GO

SEEMA S APPEARS BESIDE KIRAN BUT SHE DOES NOT SEE HER.

SHE WALKS RIGHT PAST HER AND

GOES TO STAND BESIDE BOBBY WHO MOVES RESTLESSLY

SHE MIMES HANDING HIM A LITTLE BOWL.

BOBBY MIMES TAKING IT AND PUTTING IT TO HIS LIPS

BOBBY: Kiran?

KIRAN: Bobby - you're up? Thank God for that!

GOES UP TO FUSS OVER HIM. FEELS HIS FOREHEAD

 How're you feeling now?

BOBBY: I've a headache - for some reason.

KIRAN: From your fall - it's where you caught it on some concrete -

BOBBY: Who were you talking to?

KIRAN: Zara.

BOBBY: She came to see me?

KIRAN: To apologise - she said. I think he sent her to influence my statement.

BOBBY: Statement ?

KIRAN: I'm going to speak at a public rally on Friday -

BOBBY: Why?

KIRAN: To tell them that Ashok cremated Amma on a whim.

BOBBY: No, Kiran. You can't do that -

KIRAN: It's hurting Amma's reputation - You'll see the papers when you're

better. I've saved a whole pile.

BOBBY: It's all rubbish! Amma wouldn't care. You know that!

KIRAN: How do you know?

BOBBY: I know.

PAUSE Kiran?

KIRAN: What?

BOBBY: I saw her just now. Strange - she seemed so real! I could've touched

her.

KIRAN: That was Zara, Bobby. I told you.

BOBBY: No. I saw her - she was more real than both you and Zara.
KIRAN: You mean you had a dream - about Amma?

That's not fair! Why should she come to you and not me - when you …

you don't even go for that sort of thing!

BOBBY: 'Cause I was asleep and you were awake - Dodo!

KIRAN: But I need to see her, Bobby. So ​desperately​ need to!

BOBBY: Calm down - close your eyes and you'll see her Kiran. She lives - inside

our heads.

KIRAN: I can't. I just can't picture her any more. Two days … and my memory is

fading. I've lost her, Bobby! What did you see?

BOBBY: She walked past you - right over to my bed and stood here -

KIRAN: Why - why did she walk past me?

BOBBY: It's ​my​ dream, Kiran. Listen … then she handed me this little bowl. Like

a saffron colour - a begging bowl - that was full of water - clean, crystal

clear water that kept sloshing over.

KIRAN: You're thirsty -

BOBBY: I know I am.

KIRAN: I hope you didn't drink from it? It's - a bad omen.

BOBBY: Water can't be bad! It's life, sustenance, peace, reconciliation?

KIRAN: God knows what it means. I was never any good at symbols - but Dadi

Ma says if you eat or drink anything offered to you by somebody who's

passed on, then someone you know ...

You didn't drink from that bowl, did you, Bobby?

BOBBY: I'm not sure! I can't remember! Tche! Stay in India and you'll start
 believing all this crap. There's a genetic need for worship and it creeps

back on you bloody easily in this climate.

KIRAN: Don't call it crap, Bobby. Beliefs are sacred for people!

BOBBY: Sacred, profane - I'm so fed up of all this!

I wish I could just get up and walk out of here - I'd go straight home.

Let's go back Kiran - to London I mean.

KIRAN: Home? God! I can't bear the thought, Bobby!

It will be so ​awful​ without her…! Just awful - Can you imagine?

BOBBY: We have to deal with that - sooner or later.

We'll face it - somehow - together.

KIRAN: Yes! At least, we're together.

KIRAN LOOKS ROUND TO WHERE ZARA HAD STOOD. BOBBY NOTICES

BOBBY: Will she come again?

KIRAN: Who? Amma?

BOBBY: No. Zara?

KIRAN: I really don't know …

*********
SEEMA S APPEARS AGAIN AND WATCHES THEM

SEEMA S: It's hard to unlearn what it took you a lifetime to learn. Perhaps he's too

much of a rationalist - my Bobby - to be able to cope with psychic

messages. Water is a difficult one, I'll grant you that; still, he nearly got

it, didn't he? I'll try him on something easier next time!

In the sixties one of our militant Indian rationalists got a pundit to

calculate ​the most inauspicious hour​ for him to get married - then he

and his bride signed their marriage papers exactly at that moment. It's

the kind of thing I imagine Bobby would do! But now - living in this void

between life as I knew it, and its murky reflection, 'after life', I dread

meeting the fanatical face of rationalism. It's so much easier if the

people I want to contact stay a bit more receptive to realities they

haven't encountered before.

Call me sentimental - but right now, I almost regret those early days of

missionary zeal when I campaigned endlessly for converts amongst

believers.

SEEMA S EXITS FROWNING

************
 ACT II

Sc 3

REHEARSAL FOR THE FILM IS IN PROGRESS

WAHEED: I need you to visualise this before we rehearse it -

The Emperor is up there on a 'throne'. Shola is led up to him. Her hair

is a total mess - her face is covered with coal dust. She's wearing

heavy chains that clink around her ankles. Once or twice she stumbles

and falls but the guards drag her without mercy. They're big African

slaves, who glare and wave their swords. She forces herself to get up.

There's a cheer from the crowd as she comes up to the podium.

AKBAR: You want me on this side, ​haan?

WAHEED: That's right - and Kiran turns round to wave at the crowd. Raise both

your fists - roll them up tight in a gesture of triumph. I want it strong -

but also make it cute, yeah, just hold them close to your face. Like so.

You stand here facing the throne. And then Akbar speaks. From the

top Raaj Dada, please –

AKBAR: Does the prisoner wish to repent?

SHOLA: Never!

WAHEED: Louder, Kiran - much louder.

SHOLA: Never. I am innocent! To sacrifice my life is my privilege.

AKBAR: The prisoner may be granted a final wish.

SHOLA: I wish to address my supporters who are gathered here.

AKBAR: You may speak ...

SHOLA:TAUNTS You are kind ... Emperor!

WAHEED: The crowd cheers -

SHOLA: Friends, from the depths of my heart I thank you for your loyalty and

support. Before sunset tonight, I shall be gone. Stay to strengthen my

mother's heart and hands. You are her only sons and daughters now.

WAHEED: Cries of grief from the crowd. Close -up - we see Akbar sneak out a

handkerchief and bow his head. Music strikes up slowly - our song from

Lata Ji - comes up. Stunning piece - it's out last week and going up the

charts like a rocket - definite number one! Lip-sync, music fades and -

off you ​go​ -

KIRAN: My people do not put your trust in Kings!

Farewell!

WAHEED: Now this is the tricky moment - the change of heart. Shall we try it out?

The crowd's cheering and shouting Hindu slogans. Suddenly Akbar is

overcome with emotion. He steps down - roll of drums, trumpets. Kiran

- you hide your face with both hands. Steadily he comes closer and

touches you.

AKBAR: Both hands?

WAHEED: Definitely. You're the Pope - the Maha Rishi, Sahi Baba - whatever -

but something grand to that scale.

SHOLA AND AKBAR TRY OUT HIS CHOREOGRAPHY

SHOLA: When do I look up?

WAHEED: Soon as you feel his touch. Then smiles - tremulous, tearful, half

smiles. Hold on. The next one will be our close-up shot. You look up

and smile. This time - show your teeth. A paternal hug for Shola. Hmm!

Great! That’s it!

WAHEED RUSHES FORWARD AND REARRANGES THEM SO AKBAR CAN

STAND WITH HIS ARM AROUND SHOLA

WAHEED: Good! We'll run through the last bit once more- then go for a take in the

afternoon when we have Venu here. Great work, everyone ...!

Raaj Dada, wun-derful - as always, wun-derful.

Kiran! Now, how did that feel?

PAUSE

For me this storyline really captures Akbar. Like you said, he was a

tolerant king. That's the truth of it. Let him relent -

MITTHOO ESCORTS RAJ DADA FROM THE SCENE

SHE LOOKS DOUBTFUL AND SITS DOWN ON PODIUM DEPRESSED.

KIRAN: He was a king ...

WAHEED: Try to believe in what you're doing, kitten, and go for it.

KIRAN: … a king ... who never understood the nature of belief.

WAHEED: It'll come! Take five now.

PAUSE.

KIRAN TAKES A DEEP BREATH.

KIRAN: No - it won't.
WAHEED: What?

KIRAN: You've got a carte blanche you reckon?

WAHEED: Meaning?

KIRAN: You think you can do what you like - now she's gone. Except it won't

'come' together. How can it?

WAHEED: God rest her soul. I care for her Kiran and for your feelings - but with

due respect - I do have to make the script work.

KIRAN: Well, make it work. Don't make it worse.

WAHEED: It needs a happy ending.

RE-ENTER MITTHOO, BRANDISHING AN ENVELOPE

MITTHOO: There's a messenger Boss -

WAHEED: What is it Mitthoo? We're in the middle of an artistic discussion

MITTHOO: Urgent message he said - Boss.

WAHEED: Open it then, what are you waiting for?

MITTHOO: It's a Bank draft Boss - a very big one - from Fair Homes Plc!

WAHEED: Is it? At last! Fantastic!

MITTHOO: He's waiting outside - Boss.

WAHEED: Get him a coke ​shoke yaar​ - don't keep him standing around. Here give

him this - HANDS HIM A BANK NOTE

MITTHOO: I gave him a cup of ​chai​ already Boss. I've been in this business plenty

years - you know me Boss.

WAHEED: Sure, Mitthoo, I know.

KIRAN: Fair Homes Plc! I might have guessed. She did, too!
WAHEED: But no compromises! Full artistic independence guaranteed - that's the

kind of director I am Kiran.

KIRAN: Every thing falls into place. Now I see why Shola must become a leader

for the fanatics - instead of the have-nots.

Bobby picked it up in those few minutes -

WAHEED: You're still playing Shola. Despite everything - he knows.

KIRAN: I'm not going to do it, Waheed! I can't be party to this -

You must be hoping I'd leave anyway. Admit it?

WAHEED: Not true. But that hardly matters now you've sacked yourself.

KIRAN: It really doesn't. Good bye, Mr.Dev Anand.

KIRAN EXITS ON HER LINES

WAHEED GLARES AFTER HER MUTTERING

WAHEED: Suit yourself! The lead in a costume drama is easier to replace than

Mitthoo.

ENTER ZARA. SHE WALKS IN WITHOUT APOLOGY

TURNS ROUND AND TAKES IN THE SCENE WITH NAKED CONTEMPT.

WAHEED SEES HER BUT MAKES A MOVE AS IF TO AVOID HER.

ZARA: I'm looking for Kiran.

WAHEED: She - she's had to leave a bit early today.

ZARA: Why? Do you know where she was going?

WAHEED: Home, I expect.

ZARA: So when will she be back?

WAHEED: It's hard to say.

ZARA: Can I leave a note for her?

WAHEED: Does she need to get it today?

ZARA: It can wait till tomorrow. It's about this memorial service that we're

having - for Amma - at our place. On the 12th. You'll come, won't you?

WAHEED: And you want her to come?

ZARA: Both of them. Please give it to her tomorrow.

WAHEED: And what if she doesn't come tomorrow?

ZARA: I better take it myself then - deliver it to her grandmother's house. I can

go there later.

WAHEED: Do you know how to get there?

ZARA: I can find out.

WAHEED: Shantinagar is not a safe place to visit these days.

ZARA: I'll find a way.

WAHEED: If I were you - I'd look for a messenger for the job -

ZARA: Thanks - for your concern.

WAHEED: Take care now - won't you? She's a bit impulsive - that sister of yours.

ZARA: I know - she's my sister.

ZARA EXITS

WAHEED LOOKS AFTER HER THOUGHTFULLY - THEN SHRUGS

ENTER SEEMA S. SHE WATCHES HIM WITH RESIGNATION

SEEMA S: You can sue for copyright but no law in the world covers you for

mis-interpretation or false analogies! I’m dead and he’s alive - and this

is India. It's easy for him to change my script - to suggest meanings I'd
never anticipated.

My Shola was inspired by Anarkali - the dancing girl from nowhere -

who defied the power of the empire and was buried alive. Except she

never fought for religion - she fought for her right to fall in love with a

prince! Surely - that was a story about class - not faith! He asked if he

could change her into a princess - I sh’d never have agreed to that.

Weakens my case for gross misrepresentation now - doesn't it?

In my story - the day Shola was buried alive was full of anguish and

horror for her supporters. A crowd gathered and watched her

execution.

Picture her, as she stands upon a stretch of open ground in the heart of

the city - bound in chains, but defiant. A wall is built around her slowly -

brick by brick. As the noon sun rises overhead she grows delirious,

whispers endearments to her mother, and sings hopeful songs, telling

the workmen they are mad to build a tomb round her whilst she is still

alive! As the walls begin to close up above her head she calls out to her

mother, once...! 'Amma…!'

Ordinary people stand around her, praying and chanting as that

windowless grave is built. She’s won their hearts with her sacrifice.

They come out onto the streets to protest against her execution, fighting

guns with sticks and stones. Time and again - people have taken on

tyrants with their bare fists. There's a truth in the David and Goliath

story and believe me, it’s a magnificent sight to see it unfold before you!
 ACT II

Sc 4

SALMA'S BEDROOM. ZARA SLOUCHES IN AN ARMCHAIR

SHE IS LISTENING TO MUSIC IN NEAR DARKNESS

ENTER ASHOK

ASHOK: Aren't you coming to bed?

ZARA: I can't sleep.

ASHOK: Have a drink. I'll get you a G&T.

ZARA: No thanks. It doesn't help.

ASHOK: Dr. Saigol said it might be an idea to take valium for a few nights.

ZARA: I said I'm fine, Ashok. Go back to bed.

ASHOK: I can't … with you sitting out here like this. Come on, come to bed now.

Try and sleep.

ZARA: I'll come when I'm ready - I need to think through things.

ASHOK: What things?

ZARA: Problems.

ASHOK: Can I help?

ZARA: I don't think so.

ASHOK: Why not? I'm your husband remember? Equal partners and all that! I -

I know I have my faults - who doesn't? But I do care for you very

deeply, Zara.

ZARA: I should take responsibility for my own conscience now, Ashok.

ASHOK: I hope you're not blaming me over Kiran - ​I​ haven't driven her or Bobby
 away, Zara - you must be clear about that! It's this nastiness that's hit

Bombay and divided us all - there's so much hatred and prejudice.

Other people influenced her.

ZARA: It's not just about Kiran…

ASHOK: As for the cremation - you wanted it as much as me. It would be

dishonest to now pretend you didn't.

ZARA: I was wrong. I didn't think about the cost. But, I wasn't going to

pretend. I hate lies more than anything else!

ASHOK: Don't you believe in anything any more?

ZARA: Of course I believe. But I can't accept violence in the name of God.

He'd never approve. Not ​my​ God.

ASHOK: Are you - saying I am to blame for all this in some way?

ZARA: I married a business graduate, Ashok. We were going to live abroad -

all this suspicion and hatred was never going to touch our lives -

remember?

ASHOK: It didn't till your sister came to stay here. There was never any issue

between us - nothing like this.

ZARA: No. It didn't till you took up your father's seat.

I should never have agreed to that. What's this party politics done to

our lives, to our marriage?

ASHOK: You didn't complain once in all these years.

ZARA: We never had to face a crisis like this before. Is it worth it? Any amount

of money, any amount of power?

ASHOK: What's money got to do with it?

ZARA: A lot, I suspect.

ASHOK: It's Kiran, isn't it? She's filled your head with nonsense.

ZARA: No, Ashok. I never believed ​her.​ But it's all there in one of the papers

today. A detailed story about how construction companies became

money-spinners for certain politicians who were ready to pull strings -

ASHOK: What are you talking about?

ZARA: The Fair Homes plc scandal. It's a sordid business, Ashok.

ASHOK: Don't insult me -

ZARA: I've been so willing to believe we got lucky - you made smart

investments. How blind of me! I'm ashamed of my - collusion.

ASHOK: My politics is different from those extremist bastards who go clearing

sites for constructions.

ZARA: Not enough! What happened in Bombay was avoidable.

ASHOK: Now she's gone I suppose you must wave the red banner.

ZARA: Don't mock Amma's principles, Ashok! Nothing matters more than truth

and tolerance.

AHSOK: I'm too old and tired to be lectured at this time of night Zara. I'll see you

in the morning when you're over your preachy mood!

HE TURNS ROUND TO LEAVE HER

BUT STOPS HALF WAY

ASHOK: Just remember, Begum Sahib, it's hard to give up a lifestyle such as

yours - once you've chosen it - and it gets a lot worse once you've
 become ​accustomed to it!

HE WALKS OFF BLOWING HER A KISS

ZARA: I don't remember choosing the lifestyle - Ashok! And if I did, I'm not

sure I can stick by that choice any more.

ZARA STARES, TROUBLED AND STUNG BY THE REMARK

THEN BURIES HER FACE IN HER PALMS

ENTER SEEMA S.

STANDS BY ZARA COVERS HER WITH HER SHAWL

SEEMA S: Funny how you take all the pain the world has to heap on you - till that

final straw that makes you scream, NO MORE! For years Bombay's

slum dwellers suffered in silence. That winter all their discontent

exploded into a raging fire. But instead of looking for the culprits, they

turned on one another. They piled people and belongings, homes and

hovels, dreams and hopes onto a pyre of hatred that burned for days -

consuming everything in its path. And, that day, Zara saw the flames

reach and touch her world.

************
 ACT II

Sc 5

LIGHTS FADE

THEN COME UP AGAIN TO REVEAL PRESENT DAY BOMBAY

SEEMA S: Shantinagar - the land of blessed peace - that Gandhi had dreamed of!

But, this year, the inhabitants nearly forgot that dream as they were

driven out of their homes by old neighbours. Snipers kept watch -

preventing them from returning to the charred remains of their slum

dwellings.

EXIT. SILENCE

THE STAGE IS EMPTY.

A CHARRED STRETCH OF NO-MAN'S LAND IS VISIBLE IN THE CENTRE.

BOBBY: There's no one here, Kiran! It's giving me goose bumps this place! This

was a seriously bad idea.

KIRAN: It's … like a scene from hell!

What a nightmare for people to have lived through!

BOBBY: You heard them tell their stories in the hospital. Of course it was a

nightmare. What else did you expect?

KIRAN: I hope you're up to this - Bobby! Not feeling dizzy, are you?

BOBBY: The journey wasn't likely to improve my fitness, Kiran. Now, - I'd like us

both to get out of here alive. You've got two minutes to decide -

KIRAN: He said we should wait by the wall and someone will come to escort us

to the mosque - it's across that bit - the no-man's land.

BOBBY: Is it safe to wait here? And how long for?

KIRAN: I can see the flames - hear their cries. This is so horrible!

God! How stupid of me! I never thought it through - I've been such an

idiot, haven't I Bobby. To let myself get into this! I wish you'd stopped

me.

KIRAN BREAKS DOWN

BOBBY: I tried to tell you.

KIRAN: I know. So did Zara -

BOBBY: Exactly! Do you ever listen?

KIRAN: I'm sorry Bobby - so sorry - to bring you out here-

Let's go back, before that escort arrives.

BOBBY: All right! Now stop being such a wimp and pull yourself together, Kiran!

KIRAN: Okay. I'm okay now Bobby!

And - Bobby?

BOBBY: Now what?

KIRAN: About Zara - should we go to see her tomorrow - make up with her - I

know she'll forgive me - she's a softie really.

BOBBY: Hush! Did you hear that?

KIRAN: Look - there's someone trying to crawl across the charred bit.

SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CRAWL ACROSS.

EVERY TIME SHE LIFTS HER HEAD, SNIPERS FIRE AT HER.

THIS HAPPENS TWICE.

THE CRAWLER RETREATS EACH TIME

THEN RE-APPEARS HOPING TO CROSS UN-NOTICED

BOBBY: What a dangerous thing to do!

KIRAN: Who is it?

BOBBY: Some crazy woman!

SUDDENLY TWO MEN JUMP HER FROM BEHIND.

ONE OF THEM DRAGS HER UP BY HER HAIR.

THE OTHER WAVES A PISTOL AT HER HEAD THREATENINGLY.

KIRAN: Hush! Listen to them!

MALE 1: Chul uth, rundi , idhar aa. ​ Get up!

You're too old to crawl.

WE NOW SEE IT IS ZARA

ZARA: Let me go, please. I've nothing to do with all this...

MALE 2: Sure. We'll let you go - once we've put you on the right side.

What's your name?

ZARA: Zara ... Siddiqui ... I just came to see Bobby, Bobby Siddiqui.

MALE 1: Come with us now. We'll check out your story, hurry up.

MALE 2: Show us something with your name on it.

ZARA: I'm not carrying anything like that…

HE SNATCHES HER HANDBAG AND TIPS ITS

CONTENTS ONTO THE GROUND

MALE 1 SNATCHES UP A CREDIT CARD

MALE 1: Zara Mehta?

 Strange how quickly people forget their names.

MALE 2​ ​SUDDENLY POKES A FINGER ONTO HER SCALP

MALE 2: I thought I saw some of that mother-fucking vermilion in her hair!

Married a Hindu, did you? Slut!

ZARA INHALES DEEPLY AND STANDS UPRIGHT

NOW DEFIANT INSTEAD OF FEARFUL.

MALE 2: What a lying bitch you are - sweet face!

ZARA: Please let me go, please.

THEY PUSH HER OVER.

SHE FALLS DOWN, PANICS AND SUDDENLY STARTS SCREAMING,

BOBBY AND KIRAN RUSH FORWARD

HE KNOCKS OVER THE ATTACKER WITH THE PISTOL AND SNATCHES IT.

SHOUTING A WARNING TO THE SNIPERS

BOBBY: Don't shoot, you bastards. She's my sister. Don't shoot!

ZARA GETS UP QUICKLY AND STARTS TRYING TO TALK

ZARA: I came to see you, Kiran, Bobby. I have something to tell you both. It's

really really important Bobby.

BOBBY: We'll go home and talk - come …

ONE OF THE MEN JUMPS BOBBY AND OVERPOWERS HIM.

A SHOT IS FIRED BY AN INVISIBLE SNIPER IN THE DISTANCE.

ZARA SLUMPS TO THE GROUND

THE ATTACKERS FLEE LEAVING THEM

BOBBY ND KIRAN RUSH TO HELP

KIRAN FALLS TO HER KNEES NEXT TO ZARA WHO IS DYING

KIRAN: Zara - Zara! Please - open your eyes.

I'm sorry - so sorry.

BOBBY: I was that close to saving her - that close

KIRAN: Zara - Say something, please. We were going to come today -

BOBBY: They got her, Kiran.

KIRAN BREAKS DOWN AGAIN

KIRAN: Zara!

She should never have come up here alone.

BOBBY SHAKES HIS HEAD AND SLUMPS ON THE FLOOR.

LONG PAUSE

SEEMA S APPEARS BESIDE THEIR CROUCHING FIGURES, AND

STROKES KIRAN'S HAIR BUT SHE CANNOT SEE HER.

SHE RAISES ZARA UP GENTLY AND SUPPORTS HER OFF-STAGE.

BOTH KIRAN AND BOBBY OPEN THEIR EYES, SEE THEM LEAVE THEN

SHUT THEM AGAIN. KIRAN LAYS HER HEAD ON HER KNEES.

MUSIC AND A SOFT GLOW AS HE RISES SLOWLY HOLDS OUT HIS

HAND TO KIRAN, HELPS HER TO HER FEET AND ESCORTS HER OFF-

STAGE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.

LIGHTS FADE THEN COME UP AGAIN TO REVEAL

SEEMA S: All my years were spent in search of a meaning for life. I fought and

struggled to change things for the better for all that time but I never had

to put my commitment to the ultimate test - to lay my own head on the

block!

Anyway I never saw martyrdom as a virtue! Where's the sense in letting

go the only life you know? It seems tragic - and unfair that one of ​my

daughters should've had to do that - lay down her life. I watched in

silence - I couldn't do anything.

The only comfort is that she did not make her sacrifice for some

chauvinistic, drum-beating believers but in search of peace.

Again and again I tell myself: surely - that ​is​ a cause worth dying for…?

F/X MUSIC

**************