PRATAP: Hi, Prati.
PRATI: Pratap uncle, you, here.
KEERTI: Prati, maybe we’ve come at a wrong time. I better leave.
VIMALA: No Keerti, you couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m happy to tell you, my friend Pratap has proposed and I’ve accepted.
PRATI: How could you…
VIMALA: Why not…
PRATI: In your situation…chee chee.
SFX – banging of the door.
KEERTI: Pardon me aunty. (PAUSE) You know I never misbehave; surely some devil entered my head. (PAUSE) I’ve made it worse for Prati, I’m ashamed really.
VIMALA: I don’t blame you Keerti.
KEERTI: But I’m worried about Prati.
VIMALA: Don’t worry, she would get over.
KEERTI: It won’t be easy auntie; you’re an angel for her.
VIMALA: Am I a devil now?
KEERTI: You know how she cherishes her father’s memory.
VIMALA: I’m sure she’s concerned about her mother’s life.
KEERTI: Why doubt, sorry once again.
VIMALA: Bye.
KEERTI: Bye uncle.
PRATAP: Good luck.
(PAUSE)
VIMALA: Be on hand if I need.
PRATAP: Handle with care.
VIMALA: Don’t I know.
(PAUSE)
SFX – A crying Prati in her room.
(PAUSE)
VIMALA: You hate your mummy, don’t you?
PRATI: (Sobbing) I love you mummy, sorry for hurting you but..
VIMALA: You don’t want me to remarry.
PRATI: I never thought you would.
VIMALA: Why so?
(PAUSE)
VIMALA: You took it for granted.
PRATI: Maybe.
VIMALA: You want me to live and die as your father’s widow.
PRATI: I don’t want to be rude but …
VIMALA: Remarriage is amoral for a forty year old woman with a teenaged daughter.
PRATI: Why do you put words into my mouth? I just can’t think of any man in your life.
VIMALA: But why? Have you thought about it?
PRATI: You know what father’s memory means to me.
VIMALA: Are you not bothered about your mother’s life?
PRATI: I’ll give up my life for you.
VIMALA: But you don’t want me to improve mine.
PRATI: Like it or not, your life is behind you.
VIMALA: What about the rest of it. Won’t it count?
PRATI: It’s different if you were a young widow.
VIMALA: How it’s different being an older widow?
PRATI: Don’t you’ve a teenaged daughter?
VIMALA: What if I were childless.
PRATI: Why, you would be shaming none.
VIMALA: So you’re not against widow marriage. But she should be a young mother or a childless oldie. You make me envy young widows with or without children.
PRATI: And pity middle-aged ones with teenage dudes like me. You may curse your luck but at your age there’s sanctity to widowhood.