Onto The Stage Slighted Souls And Other Stage Plays

by BS Murthy

  Navya: What a pity we deny our kids a certain present for the sake of an uncertain future. Why it's the pressure of the times. Thanks to our dad and the times, what a wonderful childhood Nritya and I had. Butwould Nritya's boss play the father to her.

  Anasuya: Amma every man is not like ayya. How men ogle at the maid servants as they go about their work? You can understand how jittery it feels but changing households won't help as men are same everywhere. But for the fear of their wives, men would be forcing themselves on the maid servants.

  Navya: Oh, it's another facet of the male malaise. That being a woman's plight in another woman's place, where she can be safe from the ogling men. I wonder how Nritya would cope up with that.

  [Enter: Naveen with two suitcases and Nritya with two travel bags. Naveen rushes into their bedroom and Anasuya takes the bags from Nritya and takes them into the guest room (to the right of the stage).]

  Nritya: Hi akka.

  Navya: [Hugging Nritya] Welcome to being a Hyderabadi.

  Nritya: Doesn't it sound like barbadi. [Laughs]

  Navya: [Frowns.] It's no good talking like that.

  [Anasuya comes back to picks up Nritya's suitcases.]

  Nritya: How are you Anasuya?

  Anasuya: Your akka takes good care of me chinnamma.

  [Anasuya moves the suitcases into the guest room. Anasuya comes out of the guest room, and takes leave of Navya and Nritya.]

  [Exit: Anasuya and Navya and Nritya go into the kitchen.]

  [Naveen comes into the drawing room with his briefcase and shoes. He goes about wearing his socks and shoes as Navya with lunch pack in hand followed by Nritya enter.]

  Nritya: Bava, hoping for a drop, thank you for the lift.

  Naveen: Why I forgot that your akka is packing you off to the hostel.

  Navya: Don't be unfair. I only want her to be on her own.

  Naveen: I'm just joking.

  [Naveen's mobile rings and he answers the call (mime.)]

  Naveen: M y Secretary says the M .D is already missing me.

  Navya: If it's not for akka's ears, may I take it is your secretary who is missing you.

  Navya: Why put unwelcome ideas into his head.

  Naveen: Unwelcome to whom is the question. [He smiles heartily.] Wonder how the instincts of a woman as woman, and her constraints as wife contrast. Bye.

  [Exit: Naveen as Navya and Nritya wave him good bye.]

  Navya: Don't take him seriously. There is no seven year itch yet even after fourteen years. He's a lovely man.

  Nritya: Why forget about your sweeties, Ranjan and Nritya. How I love to be with them. Tell me if your wanting me to be on my own is not a bahana.

  Navya: Yes and no. Well, I don't want any complications for you and me.

  Nritya: What complications?

  Navya: You are too young to visualize them.

  Nritya: If onlyyou care to tell me, I'm old enough to understand.

  Navya: When the wife lets her sister stay in the house, her man takes it as a license from her to seduce his saali.

  Nritya: Why it's like fearing one'sown shadow.

  Navya: You won't say that when you are of my age.

  Nritya: Well, that is all about the generation gap.

  Navya: Okay baaba, you are jet age type and I am of bullock cart class.

  Nritya: Whatever, you are sweet and still cute.

  Navya: You know how worried I was about your taking up a job. But I'm relieved after getting acquainted with Rekha. She works in the firm that you are going to join.

  Nritya: Whether she would be of help to me or not, I am glad that you are feeling easy.

  Navya: After retiring in two months, she's planning to be a social activist against sexual harassment at workplace. She wants to take me on board as well.

  Nritya: Why not.

  Navya: I am also inclined but before that I have a lot of ground to cover.

  Nritya: Akka I am famished so to say.

  Navya: Don't I know one can hardly eat that railway stuff.

  [The clock chimes twelve times and Navya and Nritya go into the kitchen portion only to reenter the drawing room after lunch.]

  Nritya: Now I think your cooking is better than mummy's.

  Navya: Well, after all these years, she must have got tired of it all.

  Nritya: [Yawns] I didn't have a wink on the train.

  Navya: That's what happens when you get a berth near the exit.

  [Nritya goes into the guestroom and Navya begins reading the spiral bound volume that Rekha gave her. At length, the dock (not in the scene) chimes four times. Nritya comes out from the guest room and joins Navya.]

  Navya: I suppose you slept like a log.

  Nritya: Yes, but where are the kids? You said they would be back by three-thirty.

  Navya: It won't take long for you to realize that in Hyderabad, the snarling traffic takes time forward. Why not familiarize yourself with what might lie in store for you. [Navya gives the volume to Nritya.] Who knows you may change your mind to become a housewife instead of a workingwoman.

  Nritya: Let me be a woman by working before becoming a wife.

  [Nritya browses the material as Navya peeps out to see if Ranjan and Nrupa are in sight.]

  Navya: Think about the devils and here they come.

  [Enter: Ranjan and Nrupa with a weary look that becomes lively on seeing Nritya. Throwing the school bags and lunch packs on the floor, Ranjan and Nrupa rush into Nritya's outstretched arms. Nritya kisses both of them and they kiss her in return.]

  Nritya: Oh, how sweet you look.

  Ranjan: Auntie, the whole day we were thinking about you only.

  Nritya: Don't you know that you should concentrate at school.

  Nrupa: We didn't want to go to school but daddy said 'no bunking please'.

  Ranjan: Mummy says you won't stay with us.

  Nrupa: Why so auntie?

  Nritya: If I'm here, it will be chutti to your studies. I will come on Sundays. Is that okay?

  Ranjan: It's not okay.

  Nrupa: Why it's bad.

  [Nritya takes them into her embrace and cajoles them (mime)]

  Navya: Now go and have a wash while I prepare M aggi for you.

  [Nritya picks up the school bags and goes with Ranjan and Nrupa into the children's room. Navya picks up the lunch packs and goes into the kitchen portion. Navya reappears with two plates of Maggi on her way to the children's bedroom. Shortly all appear in the drawing room and Navya watches as Nritya plays hide and seek with Ranjan and Nrupa. The clock (not in the scene) chimes six times.]

  [Enter: Naveen. Ranjan and Nrupa go into sulking. Naveen goes up to them and cajoles them (mime)]

  Nritya: Hi bava, are you done with your darlings.

  Naveen: Hi, when shall I book the return ticket?

  Nritya: What do you mean?

  Naveen: why I thought she had brainwashed you into not taking up the job. Oh, how she was after me to compile a dossier on every male employee at the Hares & Hounds. Why, she is uneasy with the company's name itself. I understand that they styled the firm to reflect their marketing strategy of hunting with the hounds and running with the hares. How on earth they can do that is anybody's guess.

  Nritya: Don't tell me bava that your Bricks & Bats is any less funny.

  Navya: See she hasn't even joined there but she is already siding with them. What loyalty.

  Naveen: Whatever why not I request their management to let the eider sister stand guard her younger sister at the workplace to ward off the male wolves. Well, there is precedent after all. Won't film actresses' mothers come in tow with their daughters?

  Navya: You seem to be stuck up with the old English. There are no actresses any more, male or female, an actor is an actor.

  [the telephone rings and Navya answers the call.]

  Navya: It's Navya here. [Pause] Hi Rachana, we will be there in half an hour.

  [Exit: Naveen, Navya with a suitcase each and Nritya with two travel bags followe
d by Ranjan and Nrupa.] [Curtains down.]

  Scene -3

  [Curtains up: Office of Hares & Hounds Ltd. Nayak is in his chambers to the left back of stage and Nritya is seated in its right front portion. The clock (not in the scene) strikes twelve times and Nayak

  dials Nritya on the intercom.]

  Nayak: Come on in Nritya.

  [Nritya goes to Nayak with a notebook and takes her seat opposite to Nayak.]

  Nayak: How do you like our Hares & Hounds dear?

  Nritya: They are quite friendly Sir.

  Nayak: Who, hares or hounds?

  Nritya: I don't get you Sir.

  Nayak: Don't they say women are hares and men are hounds.

  Nritya: [Smiles.] Why both.

  Nayak: I know you are M iss but are you engaged.

  Nritya: No Sir.

  Nayak: Are you in love?

  Nritya: No Sir.

  [Nayak gets up and goes near Nritya. She gets up but he gently nudges her back into her chair. She sits uncomfortably as he holds her shoulders.]

  Nayak: Oh, what a perfect Miss not to be missed.

  Nritya: [Looks up at him a little scared and pushes away his hands.]

  Nayak: Are you a modern girl?

  Nritya: Sir I don't know what you mean.

  Nayak: What else is modernity but to think and act freely?

  Nritya: That way I am modern Sir.

  Nayak: What do you say about premarital sex?

  Nritya: Sir, you may please excuse me. [Gets up to go]

  Nayak: You may go if you please but it helps you to hear what I say. [He nudges her back into her seat and she pushes away his hand.] Being a virgin bride isn't a guarantee to be a fulfilled wife and vice versa. But extramarital affairs are bound to put the wife at odds with her husband in the long run. That's why clever girls savour the spice of life before they come to endure the staleness of married life.

  Nritya: What are you aiming at Sir?

  Nayak: Why, I want to be your friend, philosopher and guide. [He caresses her bare back.]

  Nritya: I find your philosophy quite discomforting Sir. [She pushes away his hand.]

  Nayak: But my friendliness can further your career.

  Nritya: I'm like your daughter Sir.

  Nayak: What were your subjects of study?

  Nritya: I'm a commerce graduate Sir.

  Nayak: That’s the problem with the non-biology gang. Even if it is half a pass at them, these women are quick to say, don't you have a mother, sister etc. What stupidity. Why to drive out the silliness from women's heads, study of biology must be made compulsory.

  Nritya: [Keeps mum.]

  Nayak: Put an end to the fatherly nonsense and begin to see the attractions older men hold for young things like you. Well, if it not attraction, let it be expediency. Who wants to be hired in the morning only to be fired in the evening? It's not the way to start a career. Think about it.

  [Nritya goes to her seat and sits perplexed while Nayak continues to ogle at her from his chamber. The clock (not in the scene) strikes one and they both open their lunchboxes. They both finish their meal and the telephone rings in the chamber and Nayak answers the call (mute). Nayak goes to Nritya with a file in hand.]

  Nayak: I’ve an urgent meeting to attend. I'll be back by five to take you out for a movie. Be ready.

  Nritya:[Keeps mum.]

  [Exit: Nayak in a hurry.]

  [Nritya is seen lost in her thoughts in her chair. The clock (not in the scene) strikes five and she comes out of her stupor.]

  [Enter: Nayak. He goes into his chamber and calls Nritya on the intercom (mime). Nritya picks up a bunch of letters and goes up to him. Having placed them on the table she turns to go back to her seat.]

  Nayak: Nritya.

  Nritya: [Stops and turns towards Nayak.] Yes Sir.

  Nayak: Have you thought of any movie?

  Nritya: I thought you were only testing me Sir.

  Nayak: Sit down.

  Nritya: [Takes her seat.]

  Nayak: Don't you know that you should always carry your notebook and pencil when I call you.

  Nritya: I'm sorry sir.

  [Nayak pushes a paper and pencil towards Nritya that she takes and awaits his dictation.]

  Nayak: Would you like me to dictate your termination letter?

  Nritya: But why Sir.

  Nayak: Do you know how a corrupt cop behaves?

  Nritya: I don't know Sir?

  Nayak: Why he harasses before he obliges that too if bribed. And that bugs you, won't it?

  Nritya: [Keepsquiet.]

  Nayak: And it bugs man if a woman grants only after tormenting him. I'm no teen to be contented with pushes and prods on the sly. It's neither here nor there either for me or for you. What's worse; I might make a nuisance of myself.

  Nritya: That's true Sir.

  Nayak: I don't believe in seduction for it is uncertain besides being time consuming. I don't have time on my side any way. Let it be quid pro quo, you give me what you have and I will get you where you want to reach. If you are not willing so be it. But I have to fire you to hire a willing YPT.

  Nritya: It's unfair Sir.

  Nayak: You will know by and by that life is not all that fair. If you can't, you have to make way for someone willing. The choice is yours, hit out or get out.

  [Exit: Nritya slowly as Nayak watches her hopefully.]

  [Curtains down.]

  Scene - 4

  [Curtains Up: The conference hall of Hares & Hounds Ltd. The clock (not in the scene) strikes eleven times.]

  Voice Over: As Nritya had complained about Nayak's sexual harassment of her, the Complaints Committee of Hounds & Hares Ltd., is about to meet to take up her case. The committee is headed by Rekha, the Company Secretary [Enter: Rekha.] and comprises of Margaret, Manager Personnel [Enter: Margaret.], Ramya, Deputy Manager, Finance [Enter: Ramya.], Sunil, Assistant Manager, Personnel [Enter: Sunil] and Gopal, Assistant, Marketing [Enter: Gopal], Preeti, Personal Secretary to the Managing Director, [Enter: Preeti] would assist the committee.

  [All except Preeti take their seats on the table on which pads and pens are placed for their use. Preeti stands next to Rekha with a bunch of papers.]

  Rekha: Miss. Preeti, I don't see any from NGO in the committee. Didn't I say someone familiar with sexual harassment should be associated with this case?

  Preeti: Sorry madam, we couldn't find any.

  Rekha: What a shame.

  Ramya: Why not start a forum of your own after retirement. I shall follow suit when my time comes.

  Rekha: Why, won't I welcome you?

  Gopal: What about taking me on board madam.

  Rekha: Maybe it's an idea to court the devil in the fight against the devil.

  Sunil: Why tar all men with the same brush even before the complaint is tabled.

  Rekha: M iss. Preeti, place the material before the committee.

  [Preeti distributes the copies of Nritya's complaint that they go through in silence.]

  Rekha: Let's first examine the complainant.

  [Exit: Preeti.]

  [Enter: Nritya followed by Preeti.]

  Rekha: Are you M iss. Nritya?

  Nritya: Yes, madam.

  Rekha: Are you married?

  Nritya: No, I'm single.

  Rekha: When did you join the company?

  Nritya: On 14 March.

  Gopal: Oh, it's hardly a week.

  Rekha: In which department are you?

  Nritya: In the HRD.

  Ramya: What's your designation?

  Nritya: Stenographer.

  Ramya: Is it your complaint that M r. Nayak sought sexual favours from you not to terminate your services.

  Nritya: That's true madam.

  Rekha: Was he forthright in his demand?

  Nritya: Quite so madam.

  Gopal: Is there anyone you can vouch for your allegation.

  Nritya: There is no one as he said what he said in his chambers on the day I reported to him. On my
complaint I was moved out of the department the next day.

  Rekha: Preeti, please ask M r. Nayakto come in.

  [Exit: Preeti.]

  [Enter: Nayak followed by Preeti.]

  Rekha: Are you M r. Nayak?

  Nayak: Yes, M rs. Rekha.

  Rekha: What are you in the organization?

  Nayak: I'm the Head of the HRD.

  Ramya: Had M s. Nritya ever reported to you?

  Nayak: Yes, she did.

  Ramya: And for how long.

  Nayak: Luckily it was a one day ordeal for me.

  M argaret: What do you mean by that?

  Nayak: Why she was such a pain in the neck.

  Rekha: M s. Nritya complained that you threatened to fire her if she failed to grant you sexual favours. What have you got to say on that?

  Nayak: Actually it was she who was warming up to me.

  Nritya: He's lying, the old lecher.

  Rekha: M ind your language M iss. Nritya.

  M argaret: M r. Nayak, what was your response to her alleged advances?

  Nayak: I didn't fall for her as she is not my kind of girl.

  Nritya: Oh God, he's adding insult to injury.

  Nayak: M iss. Nritya, what was your complaint but a character assassination.

  Rekha: M r. Nayak, the agenda is to go into Nritya's complaint and not to get into a debate about her appeal to you.

  Nayak: I say her devious complaint is devoid of truth.

  Rekha: Mr. Nayak, why should Nritya scandalize herself by making a baseless allegation against you?

  Nayak: That's the crux of the matter and the malady of the times. It's all about overriding ambition to make it big by hook or crook. M iss. Nritya wants to climb up the career ladder fast and furious never mind a slip or two on the moral line. Why in someone so fresh and young, this attitude is quite amazing. Well, I didn't want to play ball with her as that would have lowered our Hares & Hounds. Worried that I would report against her, she scandalized me before hand. Now it is for the committee to consider the ill affects of having such a lose woman in the company rolls.

  [Nritya rushes to a window and jumps out of it. Others too rush to the two windows (at the back of the stage] to peep down.]

  Rekha: [Exiting in a hurry] M y God, the poor thing could be dead.