Onto the Stage – Slighted Souls and other stage and radio plays
Page 5Mallamma: Don’t they say woman is woman’s enemy. Let’s hope Renuka’s fate prevails over vadina’swhims.
Yellaiah: How I wish that happens.
Mallamma: I’m quite hopeful, more so as times are changing.
Yellaiah: Wish I’ve your strength of belief Malli.
Mallamma: Maava, if you want change, you’ve got to dream about it.
Yellaiah: How’re we to dream Malli, when life itself is a nightmare? Oh, how the peddolluhave reduced us.
[Enter Sarakka with a slate and a few school books, and collapses in front of them.]
Yellaiah: Malli quick, fetch some water for Sarakka.
Mallamma: What happened to you my child?
Sarakka: I felt thirsty on the wayamma. But they didn’t allow me to drink from their well.
Yellaiah: They refuse water to a thirsty child! Oh, how lowly are these peddollu.
Mallamma: Well, their well is full of frogs, yet they think it gets polluted if we drink from it. What an irony?
Yellaiah: Why, being a frog in the well is better than the bane of being a dalit.
Mallamma: Oh, why did God make it so inhuman for us?
Yellaiah: And see their gall; they say its God’s own will. Isn’t it like rubbing salt on our wounds?
Sarakka: We’re dearer to God, that’s why Gandhiji said we’re harijan.We’ve that lesson in our class.
Yellaiah: If only Gandhiji lived long enough to make it true for us.
Sarakka: Maastaaru says God helps only those who help themselves.
Mallamma: Who knows another mahatmamight be waiting in the wings to pick up the threads?
Yellaiah: Having made us anguthachapsall along, mercifully, they’re letting our children study these days.
Mallamma: Well, grudgingly. Whatever, it’s going to be the turning point for us.
[Enter a tired Narsimma with his schoolbag]
Mallamma: Why’re you so dull my boy?
Narsimma: I couldn’t go to school amma.
Yellaiah: Why what’s the matter?
Narsimma: I was crossing the gadiand the dorasaniheld me. As their Maali fell ill, she made me work all day in the garden.
Mallamma: Why, when it’s julum on us, the dorasanluscore no less.
Narsimma: And all the while she was yelling, Narsiga, Narsiga, Narsiga. It’s as if she can’t get my name right.