YOUNG THIRRU: [firmly] She’s made her choice, Radha. I want nothing to do with it.
Beat. young Thirru feels young radha’s belly.
Any more kicks?
YOUNG RADHA: He gets more active around lunch.
YOUNG THIRRU: You’re so sure it’s a boy!
YOUNG RADHA: Will you be home late again?
YOUNG THIRRU: Maybe. I’m pitching for that new Chinese construction job today. It could be my big break.
YOUNG RADHA: You know you don’t / have to—
YOUNG THIRRU: Yes. I do. [He looks to Apah] I need to prove myself—
NIHINSA: Thirru!
YOUNG RADHA: Your lunch!
He gets his lunch from nihinsa.
YOUNG THIRRU: Get back to that Amnesty report.
YOUNG RADHA: Go get me those cinnamon buns.
YOUNG THIRRU: I love you.
YOUNG RADHA: I love you too.
YOUNG THIRRU: And the little one.
YOUNG RADHA: போயிட்டு வாறன். (See you soon.)
YOUNG THIRRU: போயிட்டு வாங்கோ. (See you soon.)
young Thirru gives young radha a peck on the cheek. He exits.
YOUNG RADHA: And get me some ice cream too! The mango, with fruit and nuts! From Elephant House!
YOUNG THIRRU: [offstage] Yes ma’am!
young Radha smiles as she walks back to her chair. Apah looks at young radha and her smile disappears.
YOUNG RADHA: Don’t.
APAH: I’m concerned for you, darling.
The phone rings.
YOUNG RADHA: Swathi hasn’t even talked to Thirru or their parents in years—
APAH: That’s not the point!
Apah picks it up.
Yes?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: Apah! So sorry to bother you Sir, you don’t know me, I have an imported goods store. The ayar gave me / your number—
APAH: Yes? What is / it?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: We have trouble here—
APAH: Son. Where are you? What is happening?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: In Pettah. Our shop has just been broken into by hoodlums.
APAH: So call the police!
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: I have. No-one has arrived.
APAH: Wait fifteen minutes. If you have not received help by then, call me.
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: Thank you, Apah.
Apah hangs up. Then dials the operator.
YOUNG RADHA: What’s happening? Is this in Colombo?
APAH: Yes. Some trouble in Pettah.
OPERATOR: Operator. How can I help you today Sir?
APAH: Connect me to the officer in charge, Pettah station.
OPERATOR: Putting you through now.
PETTAH POLICE COMMANDER: Pettah Police Commander.
APAH: This is Mannikavasar.
PETTAH POLICE COMMANDER: Apah, how are you today?
APAH: Listen Dilip. There’s looting on the main street in Pettah. The victims need police assistance.
PETTAH POLICE COMMANDER: On Main Street? Is that so? Thank you for bringing this to my attention. We’ll get control over the situation immediately.
APAH: Dilip—
The line is dead.
Apah hangs up. Beat.
YOUNG RADHA: We don’t need your concern. Swathi chose one path, we have chosen another.
APAH: It’s not that simple Radha. The ayar’s nephew joined the Tigers and his son—who has nothing to do with them—lost his job because of it!
YOUNG RADHA: That’s the fault of his stupid employers then! Thirru and I have made our position clear, in the family, in public—
APAH: Radha, Thirru’s sister is a Tiger! They killed thirteen government soldiers two days ago—
YOUNG RADHA: / I know—
APAH: And they kill other Tamils! That is the group Thirru’s sister belongs to—
YOUNG RADHA: You think I don’t know this? You know Thirru doesn’t support her joining! Thirru has publicly condemned the Tigers, in the community, in the papers. What else can we do?
APAH: Is that supposed to just make everything better?
YOUNG RADHA: Even at our wedding you weren’t happy—
APAH: I kept my mouth shut didn’t I?
YOUNG RADHA: What a big achievement.
APAH: Why did you do it, darling?
YOUNG RADHA: Excuse me?
APAH: Why did you pick him?
YOUNG RADHA: I love him.
APAH: Kunju, love is not enough.
YOUNG RADHA: Thirru has taught me that listening is more important than being right. Something I could never learn from you, Apah.
The phone rings.
APAH: / Radha—
YOUNG RADHA: That is why I picked him. That is why I love him.
APAH: [into the phone] Hello?
WELAWATTE SHOP OWNER: அப்பா … மன்னிக்கோணும் ஐயா. … உங்கள தொந்தரவு செய்யிறதுக்கு மன்னிக்கோணும். (Apah, Sir, so sorry to bother you, you don’t know me, the ayar / gave me your—)
APAH: ஓம் ஓம் … இப்ப எங்க இருக்கிறியள் … என்ன நடக்குது அங்க? (Yes yes yes. Where are you and what is happening?)
WELAWATTE SHOP OWNER: வெள்ளவத்தையில அப்பா. காவாலிகள் வந்து எங்கட கடைய உடைச்சுப் போட் டா ங்கள். கொஞ்சப் பேர், இந்த ரோட்டில இருக்கிற தமிழாக்கள வெருட்டிக் கொண்டு திரியிறாங்கள். (In Welawatte. Hoodlums have ransacked our shop. A few have even begun to threaten Tamils on our street.)
APAH: What?
WELAWATTE SHOP OWNER: Apah?
APAH: யார் தமிழ் எண்டு அவங்களுக்கு எப்பிடித் தெரியும்? (How do they know who is Tamil?)
WELAWATTE SHOP OWNER: ஐடி கார்டை காட்டச் சொல்லிப் பயமுறுத்துறாங்கள். (They bully people into showing their ID cards.)
Beat.
APAH: ஒரு பதினைஞ்சு நிமிஷம் பாருங்கோ. பொலிஸ் அதுக்குள்ள வரயில்லையெண்டால் (எனக்குத் திரும்ப கோல் பண்ணுங்கோ) என்னைத் திருப்பிக் கூப்பிடுங்கோ. (Wait fifteen minutes. Call me again if the police have not arrived by then.)
WELAWATTE SHOP OWNER: ஓம் அப்பா (Yes Sir.)
Apah hangs up and immediately dials the operator.
YOUNG RADHA: Apah, you were the one—
APAH: One moment.
OPERATOR: Operator, who do you need?
APAH: Connect me to the IGP.
OPERATOR: One moment.
IGP: Inspector General of Police.
APAH: Chandra. Mannikavasar here.
IGP: Ah yes, Mannikavasar.
APAH: I have reliable reports that Tamil shops are being broken into in multiple points across the city.
IGP: Yes. We’ve received other calls on this Apah—
APAH: Is that / so—
IGP: I’ve instructed my men to be positioned across the city. We’ll get control of the situation, okay Apah?
APAH: I’ve heard that before.
IGP: Apah?
APAH: Do it now, Chandra.
IGP: Apah, of course.
Apah hangs up.
YOUNG RADHA: Is everything okay?
APAH: He’ll take care of it.
YOUNG RADHA: It was you who lent Bala Mama money. You brought him customers, paid for Thirru’s education, let him stay in our home. Even though he was of a lower caste. You taught me to look past that.
APAH: Darling. Different castes can mix together. Work together. But marria
ge is different. Marriage is the coming together of two families, not just two people. And not for a moment: but forever.
YOUNG RADHA: I know.
APAH: You can’t know. You’re still too young to understand what a long time feels like. Why can’t you understand that we know what is best for you, because we have been through it already ourselves?
YOUNG RADHA: So that’s why history’s mistakes are so often repeated.
The phone rings.
APAH: You are unbelievably obstinate.
YOUNG RADHA: It’s like looking in a mirror, isn’t it?
Apah picks up the phone.
APAH: Yes?
KUMARASWAMY: Apah. It’s Vasanthi Kumaraswamy here, I was a student of yours many years ago.
APAH: Yes, I remember you Vasanthi.
KUMARASWAMY: I’m now a chair of the city development board, and I work in a building on Galle Rd—
APAH: Very good—
KUMARASWAMY: Sorry Apah. Myself and other state officers, and our families, have been marooned in a building in the middle of the city and are surrounded by hoodlums.
APAH: How serious are they?
Beat.
Are your lives are in peril?
Beat.
Vasanthi!
KUMARASWAMY: I think they’re very serious Apah.
APAH: Have you called the police?
KUMARASWAMY: They are here. They brandish guns half-heartedly and laugh at us.
Apah considers.
APAH: Do you have a weapon?
YOUNG RADHA: / Apah—
Kumaraswamy: We’re civil servants. Even if there was one here— I’m not sure if we—
APAH: I understand. I will do everything I can to send government military personnel that can properly protect you.
KUMARASWAMY: Thank you Apah.
He hangs up.
young RADHA: What’s going on / Apah—
APAH: Call the President.
Young radha quietens, looks up the name in the book and calls.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE: Good Morning. President’s Office. How can I help you?
APAH: Mannikavasar here. Get the President on the phone.
Pause. The president sits next to his receptionist, dressed for work. He shakes his head.
Hello?
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE: He’s … he’s asleep Sir.
APAH: [to young RADHA] What time is it?
YOUNG RADHA: About a quarter past eight, Apah.
APAH: Wake him up. Now.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE: Okay— but this might take a while—
APAH: I will wait.
Pause.
PRESIDENT: Apah! So good to hear from you. How are you?
APAH: Mister President. Tamil shops and offices are being broken into across Colombo. The local police are not helping the victims. The IGP has not taken action. This has a danger of growing into a full-blown riot. / Do you understand?
YOUNG RADHA: Oh my God …
PRESIDENT: Mister Mannikavasar—
APAH: Mister President, instead of sleeping there, you must move in to the matter. You must send in army personnel to the aid of the victims.
PRESIDENT: Mister Mannikavasar. We have received many reports of this. Rest assured, we are looking into it.
APAH: We must act now.
PRESIDENT: I will call the Defence Minister now, okay Apah? We will send in army forces.
APAH: Thank you.
Apah hangs up.
The bloody rascal.
Beat.
Call Vinsanda’s office.
Young radha dials.
young RADHA: Then I need to call Thirru—
APAH: Kunju, first Vinsanda.
young RADHA: Yes I am, I am. Here.
Young radha passes the phone to apah.
JANINI: Hello?
APAH: Janini? It’s Apah here. Put Vinsanda on the phone.
Beat.
Janini?
JANINI: Vinsanda told me to clear all his appointments for today, Apah. He’s not in his office.
APAH: Then where is he?! No-one is answering his home phone.
JANINI: I don’t know Apah. Vinsanda told me he wouldn’t be in today. That’s all I know.
APAH: [beat] Okay, Janini bye.
He goes to hang up.
JANINI: Apah?
APAH: Yes?
JANINI: I’m so sorry.
Apah considers this as young radha takes the phone and dials Thirru’s office.
MAYA: Hello?
YOUNG RADHA: Maya, it’s Radha here, is Thirru there?
MAYA: Hello Radha. Of course— I’ll put you through.
YOUNG RADHA: Thank God. [To APAH] He made it to work.
YOUNG THIRRU: Radha?
YOUNG RADHA: Thirru. There’s trouble—
YOUNG THIRRU: I know, I know. People have been calling the office with such stories—
YOUNG RADHA: Stay inside, okay?
YOUNG THIRRU: Absolutely. Radha— I have to go— the phones won’t stop ringing, other families are worried too—
YOUNG RADHA: Of course.
YOUNG THIRRU: I’ll keep you updated.
YOUNG RADHA: Bye.
YOUNG THIRRU: Bye.
She hangs up.
YOUNG RADHA: Those government soldiers killed in Jaffna by the Tigers. Do you think this is all … retaliation?
APAH: That must have something to do with it. But if it’s just a reaction to something that happened only two days ago … It doesn’t make sense. This seems too well organised.
The phone rings. Apah picks it up immediately.
APAH: Yes?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: Apah? It’s the Pettah shop owner here.
APAH: What is the update?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: The police have not arrived.
APAH: The army?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: No-one. Only the mob has gotten bigger.
APAH: To how many?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: Eight, maybe ten people?
APAH: What, machaan! Are you weak? Do you not want to defend yourself?
PETTAH SHOP OWNER: If we use force Apah, it could start trouble …
APAH: Son, clearly there’s already trouble!
Beat.
Wait there.
Apah hangs up.
Call Arif at his office.
young Radha dials.
YOUNG RADHA: No-one is hurt yet. If they use violence Apah, won’t more violence ensue?
Apah takes the phone from young radha.
ARIF: Yes?
APAH: Arif. Apah.
ARIF: / Ah.
APAH: The Tamil shop owner on your street—
ARIF: I can see the mob from my window, Apah.
APAH: And the police?
ARIF: They look on, with grins on their faces.
APAH: What about the Sinhala owned shops on your street?
ARIF: They haven’t touched them.
APAH: Are the mob local fellows?
ARIF: No. Definitely not.
APAH: Then how do they know which shops are owned by Tamils?
ARIF: Apah they know.
APAH: But how?
ARIF: That is a dangerous question Apah.
APAH: Arif, I need your help with that shop.
ARIF: I understand. I’ll chase the mobs away, in’sallah.
They hang up.
APAH: Write this down.
young RADHA writes the following:
To the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. From this moment on you should take every step to protect your person and property. If you do not have sufficient numbers or adequate strength—
young RADHA: / Apah—
APAH: —you must immediately evacuate the places where you live or transact business and get into safe Tamil areas.
YOUNG RADHA: / But Colombo is for—
APAH: You must not say thereafter that you were not in a position to be safe; be warned. Signed, Mannikavasar, or— your Apah. Nihinsa!
YOUNG RADHA: What is the need to tell people
to flee to Tamil areas? Why can’t you address all Sri Lankans to protect each other?
APAH: Do you not see what is happening, Radha?
YOUNG RADHA: If you cross this line, Apah, you will not be able to go back.
APAH: It has been crossed, and not by us!
YOUNG RADHA: Us, them— there can be no separation, no violence.
APAH: When you are secure you can fight for equality. But when you are no longer safe you can only fight for your survival.
YOUNG RADHA: [waving the paper] This is not Sri Lanka!
APAH: In Urumpirai, our ancestral village, we are famous for our special brand of pot arrack.
YOUNG RADHA: What are you talking about / Apah—
APAH: Shut up and listen. In the old days toddy was freely available. It was given to mothers for post-natal nourishment. They never became intoxicated. Then the British put through the toddy regulations law and it changed the culture. Arrack became something manufactured and expensive. Toddy booths, arrack taverns, rasayanam and kasipu sprung up everywhere. People got drunk from it. But our village was different, Radha. We decided not to obey the law. When the European regulation parties found out, they personally came and interrupted arrack preparations on the ground, intruding on our way of life. Our entire village stood up for itself. As a boy I watched your Aacha’s mother lead the village women to summarily break pots over the heads of these men and drive them back to their cities. We considered it our birthright to make the stuff our way. It was in Urumpirai that I first learnt the rudiments of democracy. Democracy means the counting of heads, within certain limits, and the cracking of heads beyond those limits. To this day, our village holds its reputation intact— and the arrack is still smuggled to Madras, where it is in great demand.
YOUNG RADHA: Gandhiji held his reputation intact without breaking a pot over anyone’s head.
APAH: We are not all Ghandiji, Radha. Most probably, no-one ever will be again. [Beat] නිහින්සා, මේක අරන් පාර උඩහ සිවනන්දන්ගේ ගෙදරට ගිහින් එයාගේ අතටම බාරදෙන්න. මේ ලිපිය, වහාම ටෙලිග්රෑම් කරන්න කියන්න හැම ප්රධාන පත්තරේකටම … රේඩියෝ, ටීවී චැනල් හැම එකකටම … අපේ ලයිස්තුවේ ඉන්න හැම දෙමල කණ්ඩායම් නායකයෙකුටම. හුඟක් හදිසියි කියන්න. යන්න! (Nihinsa! Take this statement of mine and go to Sivanandan’s house just up the road. Tell him to telegram this message to every major Tamil newspaper, radio and TV station and to every Tamil community leader in our database as a matter of urgency. Go!)
Counting and Cracking Page 13