[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] My God, the poor thing could be dead.
Gopal: [Exiting behind Rekha.] It’s all Mr. Nayak’s making.
Nayak: Who expected this? [He sinks his head on the conference table.]
[Exit: Ramya, Preeti and Sunil, all sighing and Margaret, crossing herself.]
[Curtains down.]
Scene – 5
[Curtains up: Partially visible body of Nritya face down (not the head) is seen lying in a pool of blood on the ground. Rekha, Gopal, Ramya, Preeti, Sunil, Margaret are around it with their backs to the audience.]
[Enter: Rakesh hurriedly.]
Rakesh: [Examines Nritya] Oh, she’s dead. What went wrong?
Rekha: Sir, she was upset by Mr. Nayak’s character assassination.
Rakesh: Well, we will deal with that later.
[Rakesh signals to Preeti and as she goes to him, he whispers in her ears (mime)]
[Exit: Preeti.]
[Rakesh takes Rekha aside.]
Rakesh: Mrs. Rekha, I understand you know her sister.
Rekha: Yes Sir.
Rakesh: I know how it hurts you, but [He pauses]
Rekha: Our Company’s reputation is at stake.
Rakesh: I know you are part of it for thirty-five years now.
Rekha: It’s hard on my conscience Sir.
Rakesh: There is no way out for us but to keep quiet.
Rekha: [Keeps mum.]
Rakesh: Why don’t you call up her people?
Rekha: I’ve to shut up to save one and open up to hurt another.
Rakesh: Don’t think the irony is lost on me.
[Rekha moves away from Rakesh into a corner and talks to Navya on her mobile (mime).]
Rakesh: Sunil, why not you call up the cops.
Sunil: Yes Sir.
[Exit: Sunil.]
Rakesh: Gopal, let the guards take care till the cops come.
Gopal: Yes, Sir.
[Exit: All of them but Gopal.]
[Curtains down]
Scene - 6
[Curtains up: Split setting of the chambers of the Managing Director, Hares & Hounds Ltd. One third of the stage on the right is Managing Director’s office, in which sits a downcast Nayak. Preeti stands near the Managing Director’s chair with a bunch of papers pertaining to Nritya’s complaint and the related matters. Two thirds of the stage to the left is the visitors’ room with chairs and a centre table.]
[Enter: Rakesh followed by Rekha, Ramya and Margaret. Rakesh goes into his chamber as others sit in the visitors’ room. Preeti hands over the papers she was holding to Rakesh.]
Rakesh: Oh shit, what a mess this is.