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 elder 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 followed 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 Miss 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.