ACT ONE Raghav [While setting up the arrangements}: [Breaks a vase inadvertently] Iam new to all of this. | have recently joined this law college and this is my first year. | still have not quite gotten the hang of it all. Truth be told, itis all the more frustrating because I never wanted to be here in the first place, But, here | am, setting up the scene of the crime. You must be wondering: What is this all about? Honestly speaking, even | have not formed a clear idea as of yet but a few months ago, Jus Scriptum, the Mock Trial Society, released their recruitment form and I thought that joining this society will finally please my father because according to him, this is where we learn how we transcend the theoretical realm of the classroom and comprehend how an actual court works. ‘One such event that the society conducted was a moot court competition. | was not part of it initially, they just included me in the last moment in order to help with the logistics. That evening, every aspect of a courtroom was set up. The sound of the judge's gavel made the trial palpable; the lawyers were present, so were the witnesses, the accused, as well as the usher and yet, one mere thing absent: JUSTICE. Raghav: Ahh! This is it, The hall | mean and looks like they cleaned it for tonight's show. [looking back at Benare] What's the matter? Did you catch your finger in the bolt? It always happens this way because these bolts are old and if you don't slide it clean to one side then you've had it. Locked yourself in for days. Happened to me once as well but don't you worry, suck on your fingers for a bit and hopefully the swelling dies down. Ismat: My goodness! It's nothing at all just my silly old habit but | have to tell you I feel marvellous and it seems to be days since | last felt this way. Raghav: why is that? Ismat: Who knows but I feel wonderful coming here [moving closer to Samant] especially with you since the both of us hurried along and left the other behind. [Giggles] Raghav: | usually do not walk this fast but your pace seems to be very livelyIsmat: Not always but today | walked like | was on the clouds far away in a dreamland [slight pause] with you, Raghav: with me? Ismat: You might not have noticed but | like you. You're a pure and good person whose heart is not stained with malicious intent. You seem like a bundle of positivity and | like that. Raghav: me? Ismat: Yes, and | like this hall as well. [She walks around it] Raghav: The hall is not as impressive as it looks but since we decided to use props and bring out the real essence of a courtroom, your performance tonight will surely be a blast. Ismat: | heard, the dance society usually performs here and | must remark, the girls are rather pretty. ‘Would you say, you have an eye for anybody? Raghav: What-no! Absolutely not! None of this piques my interest but do you know what does? Magic shows, hypnotism, and sleight of hand. Ismat: Oh, really? Did you see that? ‘Samant: I'm there for every show. | can show you a few tricks if you want. Ismat: If only | can judge the tricks from up close. Maybe even this close [She gets very close to his body and smirks] Raghav [aware of her closeness]: I mean...| could show you the cutting tongue trick that they do in hypnotism but now I'm not really sure because a tongue is... you know suppose to bleed when it's cut but it doesn't and... [He keeps stuttering]Ismat [As a response to his innocence]: where are the others and why haven't they reached yet? People should really learn a thing or two about punctuality. | am a part of NSS, and | will have you know that | am never late to that responsibility of mine. Although it is a compulsory part of my degree, that is not my ulterior motive. | find genuine comfort in teaching kids because children are so much better than adults because at least they don't have the blind pride of thinking that they know everything, There’s no biased nonsense stuffed in their heads and they don't scratch you till you bleed and run away like cowards, Please open that window. It's getting too hot in here. Ah, now | feel better. No, no, | feel wonderful. Raghav [opens the window and offers Ismat a chair to sit on]: Do sit down, you've been standing for allong time. Ismat: Don't you worry about me, I'm used to standing while teaching. In that way, | can keep an eye on everybody and no one can act up. The children are scared stiff of me but also love me immensely for | take my job very seriously and I'l give my last drop of blood to teach my kids. [In a different tone] That's why most of them are jealous. Especially the President of NSS, Aryan or something. But what can they do? Hold an enquiry, Let them see that I've never faltered or slacked one day at the NGO, and if it's because of that one personal mistake, then I'm obliged to ask who these people think can dictate my life and tell me what | can and cannot do. My wishes are my own and no one can kill those...no one. I'll do whatever the hell | want with my life because I'm in control and | get to command my personal choices, not society, not my colleagues or friends or family, heck not even God himself can tell me how | should lead. Raghav [nervously]: should i go and see where the others are? Ismat: No, they'll come eventually. Raghav: Are you not feeling well? Ismat: Nonsense, I'm feeling just fine, Do you know what we are going to do in the evening? You know about the comeptioton right? Professor Roy keeps mentioning it. So we are holding a trial of Shashi Tharoor. It’s all a pretense and the verdict is also different. We get judged on the basis of originality and the accurately we simulate a court setting. We've done it a couple of times already.You are in first year right? You wouldn't know but you can learn a thing or two today when you see our team perform Raghav: | have heard about the team but I have never met them personally. Ismat: Well, who would be a better person to tell you all about the team if not me? Trust me, you would love to meet them, First on the dock, we have Mr. Arjun Mathur, also known as Mr. Prime Objective. He is the President of the society as well as a social work enthusiast. He has taken the burden of reforming the society all by himself, using his ideas and principles, which frankly, seems a bit dubious to me. Then, we have, Ms, Sara Arjun whose entire personality revolves around her boyfriend, to the extent that he even chooses the shades of lipstick she is allowed to wear. | do not understand why women put up with such bullshit in the name of relationships. Moving on, unlike Sara, we have the society's joke, Karan Singh, in our opinion, he has even lesser backbone than Sara. The only reason why he is even in the society is because Arjun allowed him. He is like the Chatur to Arjun’s Virus. To him, Arjun is the ultimate God. Who else? Well, we have expert on the law just by virtue of his father being a judge. He is a know: all, smug bastard who believes with conviction that he runs the world just because he knows every article by heart. And, there is a Hmm with us- a scientist-who failed his JEE entrances twice and has now come to repeat the same outcome in law as well. Finally, we have Mr. Faraz Ahmed Ali, the reason why Shakespeare will never rest in peace. Calls himself a thespian, assuming he is the main character of every story, when in reality, he is nothing but the background noise. Raghav: Looks like you have strong opinions on everybody, Well, go on, tell me, what do you think of Professor Roy? Ismat: He claims to be an excellent professor who prides himself on his great repository of knowledge but whenever a real conundrum arises, he is the first one to slip away. Raghav: Damn! How do you know that? Ismat: Shh... Come on, hide. Here they are, Karan: How loudly, Ismat! All this might have fallen down! | would have been scolded by Sara. And all for nothing. Whatever happens, it's me she blames.Ismat: Well, don't you deserve it? I's only because of Arjun that you are here anyway Kshiti: Oh... gosh! Where is it? Sukhatme: Grow the fuck up, Ismat! Ismat: Why, in the classroom, | am the soul of seriousness! But | dont see why one should go around all the time with a long face.! Like that Kshiti! We should enjoy life in the rare moments that are permitted to us. When your life is over, do you think anyone will give you a bit of theirs? What do you say, Raghav Do you think they will? Raghav: You are quite right. The great professor Roy said...at least I think it was her- Ismat: Forget about professor Gauri. | say it - |, Ismat Khan, a living woman, | say it from my own experience. Life is not meant for anyone else. Its your own life, It must be. It's a very, very important thing. Every moment, every bit of it is preci us Kabir: Wow, Ismat, hear, hear! Ismat (in the same tone): Wow, Kabir, sarcasm, sarcasm! Kshiti {in a casual tone]: What's the matter? Ismat: Kshiti, tell the honest truth. Did you or did you not go in looking for the ‘arrangements’? To deal with your usual nervousness before any deadline? Kabir: Say what you will, Ismat. Kshitij looks most impressive during the trial. The scientist in the witness-box! A pipe and all that! No one would believe he has just failed to crack his JEE entrance for the second time. And | must say, you truly suit better in the law profession than the scientific domain. Kshitij: Don’t you laugh, Karan! I didn't get into the society by kissing Arjun’s ass. Ismat: Speaking of asses, where is Faraz?Faraz: Lights, camera, action! Here we are! | thought | had lost my way but life is serendipitous. The spotlight has arrived! What all have I missed? Kshitij: The world is a stage but we have better actors, Faraz. Stop this nonsense, we have work to do Faraz: Well, since you have already aced your JEE entrance, the one realm you will never be unsuccessful in is disappointing us. Kabir: Brooo....Burn! Faraz: | was ruminating on how Hall would put even a real court to shame. Ismat: Goodness! That's wonderful! Our mock court tonight should go over welll Just like a real one! Karan: But, where's Sara got to? Faraz: She's on her way here. | saw them making their way to a desolate classroom in order get their feathers disheveled, So, | picked up my despondent self and rushed ahead, All that walking got me tired. Ismat [yawns]: Don't even mention being tired! | have to get up early everyday for my Ikhtiyaar Social Project! | get to teach ebullient children on the daily! | must complete my hours before my final year ends otherwise | will not get my degree. Speaking about not getting degrees, have you noticed something about Arjun and Sara? Karan: What? Kshiti: Yes, what? Kabir: I'l tell you, But, no, | won't, You tell us yourself, first.Ismat: Although our Arjun is the revered President of Lus Scriptum, and Sara is a bimbo. Although their intellectual levels are disconsonant, they are still quite in touch with each other. It is appreciably heartwarming, Faraz: When | for one see such public formalities between husband and wife, | suspect something quite different. Karan: That's the effect of modern theatre. Faraz: Don't meddle in what you don't understand, Karan. You're still a child, Just stick to your college work. For my part, | would never pull a hombre aside in order to fix my bulge but | reckon that's just how cishets work. Ismat: Teh. Toh Faraz: What's the matter? Ismat: If | were in your place, | would like to get a little adventurous. Kabir: | have lost count of all these “adventures” you keep having. | wonder who will turn out to be the most fortunate man you'l finally settle with. Ismat: Most definitely will not be you. Couldn't we please have some tea, Mr- What's your-name— Raghav: Tea? Oh, my name's Raghay, I mean! I'll have a look. How should I know. Kshitij: Same! | could kill for some tea. Kabir: When we were at the cigarette shop, | asked if you wanted tea and you said, “No”. Kshitij: Gosh, I didn’t want it, then. I don’t agree with the way you people plan everything in advance. Call that living? In this scientific age, it's fun to get everything at the last minute, without effort, Like that! You know what, Raghav, go, get us some tea right this instant! | know my soul needs it Hmmmm.Ismat: Hmm. Once there was a Hmm! And he knew a gitl called Erhmm! Kshiti: Shut up, Ismat. There is a time and place for everything Sara: Look here they all are, after all! Kabir: Come in, Arjun! How was it? At least zip in your pants before entering, Karan: How did it go? Arjun [slaps Karan]: Have you brought all the props? Karan: Absolutely. ‘Arjun: Each time you say you have brought it all, Karan, and each time you forget something. Have you got the gavel? Karan: Here it is. I have got the witness box as well. | only forget things sometimes. Not all the time. Arjun: | don't care if you always forget. At least today I hope everything is in order. Or, you will make a mess of things. My judge's wig? Did you bring it? Karan: Yes, | brought that first Arjun: You, Kabir, did you bring your lawyer's gown? Kabir: Yes, milord! | don't forget that even in my dream! What about you, Kshitij? Kshitij: Well, | come formally dressed, so I won't forget a thing. | have this nervous temperament a bit, you know. If! don’t have my pipe, | can’t remember a thing in the witness-box. Sara: I'l rehearse your lines with you a litle, before today’s show. Kshitij: No need for that.Ismat: Your lipstick is out of place Sara: Just like your love life. Ismat: Arjun: | wonder, should we have the judge's chair this side or that? Faraz: Here, of course. The entrance is over there, That room next door can be used for the judge. You can enter from there. Kabir will stand over here like this- Raghav: President Kabir! Arjun: No, no. Kabir's dock should be left over there. So when I speak as the judge- Faraz: I don't agree. If you look at it from the audience's point of view, it should be right here- Kabir: Faraz, | shall prosecute you for seeing things from the audience's point of view! And you a man of the modem theatre! Faraz: Yet again! Will someone please tell me what this Modern Theatre is supposed to be? People just play with words without knowing what they mean. | do what seems right to me. Whether it's, modern or old-fashioned doesn't matter. Raghav: What's the case about? Karan: It has something to do with Shashi Tharoor. Sara, Professor Roy has not arrived as of yet. He is always here to supervise us. Sara: Well, he will come late as usual. He is doing a symposium on something in the university. Ismat, did you meet him? Ismat: Whom?Sara: Professor Roy. Ismat: No, | did not, Kshitij: What happened afterwards to that friend of yours, Ismat? That gitl-the one in trouble-whom you found for my brother to marry... Sara: So, how do we perform today without his guidance? Faraz: This is not done. | am telling you, Professor Roy is extremely calculative in this regard. He always does this. He would cancel every programme at the last moment, then sit at home. Karan: Sara, | dropped him a text as usual- when I sent one to all the others. It is not fault of mine. Arjun: Here is a hitch! Kabir: What's so serious about it? Don't worry in the least! ‘Arjun: How can | not worry? A mock court is no laughing matter. Sara: Oh, | forgot to mention: Avinash texted me that he will not be able to come. Then, who will play counsel for the accused? Kabir: Of course you did. Anyway, don’t you worry. For today, I'll do that role along with that of the prosecuting counsel. What's so serious about that? | am the best lawyer, anyways. | tell you, Arjun, just leave it to me. Faraz: Yes, | think that will be much more dramatic! Kshitij: Definitely! Ismat: Definitely!Karan: And the fourth 1ess. Kabir, he is missing too. Rishav is down with Covid. We had decided to take a first year. That is, you had decided. Kabir: True. A freshie. Karan: Can | please do that part today? It's just a small one - anyone can do mine - | know the fourth witness’ lines off by heart... Faraz: | oppose it! Even if you are just an usher, your character is not an easy one to play. So, what if he has no lines? It can’t be managed by putting up someone else at the last minute. Stick to your part, Karan, Karan: But, how does it matter if just one day I play another role? ‘Arjun: No, Sara: Karan, if he says no, then don't do it. But, then, who will be the fourth witness? Kabir: -know! Here's your fourth witness-Raghav. Raghav: What is the matter? Kshiti: Umm, not bad! Arjun: Have you ever done a moot court? Raghav: Good heavens, no! Never at all. What is the matter? Sara: Will you be the fourth witness? Look here, Ismat. What do you think of this gentleman as the fourth witness? Ismat: This gentleman? Great - | think he is handsome! Asa witness, | mean. The fourth witness.Kabir: Sara, Faraz, Kshitij, don't worry! | will take the responsibility. Nothing to it! | will prepare him. Mister - what's your name? - Raghav: Raghav Ramakrishnan. Kabir: Raghav, you have been called as fourth witness for today's Lus Scriptum, Raghav: But, | honestly do not know anything about it! Sara: You have seen a court, haven't you? Raghav: Never in my Faraz: In a moot court, at least? Raghav: No, not at all! No moot court like that has ever been seen here. Kabir: It's a good thing, he has not seen a courtroom in play. At least, he will not have all kinds of wrong notions about it! Faraz: Confine your remarks to certain plays! Kabir: Raghav, | shall have you word-perfect before hearing. After all, you need not teach a lawyer how to coach witnesses! Raghav: But, | am not used to it at all! The very thought that itis a court will terrify me! Sara: | suggest we have a rehearsal with him. What do you think, Arjun? What do you think, Ismat? Ismat: Yes, | have no objection at all. | was wondering what to do till the show. | forgot to bring a book to read.Kabir: Well, we have the Bible and the Bhagavad-Geeta for the oath-taking-! mention it because you want something to read. By the way, Karan, you did bring along the Bible and the Geeta, did you not? Or, have you forgotten? Karan: No, they are here. | will show them to you, if you want. Ismat: Leamed Counsel, | am not yet so old as to be reading those books! Arjun: Then, you must be reading True Stories or magazines like that. That is what Sara reads. Quite amusing, they are, Because of my social work, | cannot manage to do more than look at the pictures. Sara: Really! Arjun: What do you mean, ‘Really’! Was I not speaking the truth? Faraz: | think the idea of rehearsing the Lus Scriptum is excellent. If only someone would fetch four or five packets of cigarettes. Kshitij: | do not mind. Ismat: Shall | tell you something? We have done tonight's trial seven times in the past three months Tonight's the eight time. I have no objection to do it once more before that but | do think tonight's proper show will fll flat. Kabir: | agree with Ismat. | have an idea. See if you like it. When we lawyers are at ease in the barristers’ room, we sometimes play rummy. Or, patience. Or, a certain other game. Just to pass the time, that’s all. You bring a new and imaginary case. So, Raghav here will understand how a court works. And we will pass the time more pleasantly. What do you say, Arun? Do we have your sanction? Arjun: That's all right. It does not do much for a man in a position of responsibility to show too much hesitation. One must act in accordance with the majority's wishesFaraz: Three cheers for this novel idea! In Drama Theory, we call this a Visual Enactment. | heard of it at the Government Drama Camp last year. Kabir: Why give such a hard name to a simple thing? This is just a game. Eh, Ismat? Ismat: Games are very good for you. It's fun. Kshiti: All right, we shall play. Raghay, could you please fetch some packets of cigarettes from the comer? Sara: Why are you paying, Kshit? Raghay, give it back. What | say is, let us call it Performance Expenses - that will be all right. In any case, we have to demonstrate our lawoourt to Raghav because of the performance, don't we? That settles it. Raghav, take this. Bring half a dozen packets of the kind everyone wants. Raghav: Yes. Don't start, will you? | will be back in a minute. Ismat: Poor thing! | will be back Sara: Karan, start arranging the court. Faraz: Kshiti, come here a minute, The same group as tonight? In other words, the same judge, counsel, etc? Kabir: Oh yes. By all means. Why change it? | will play the lawyers. Sara: But, what I say is, let the accused at least be different. What do you think, Faraz? Faraz: No. That will not be necessary. Do you know something, Kshiti? Kshiti: What? Faraz: About her? About Ismat? Karan told me.Kshitij: What? Faraz: Not now, Remind me tonight. After the show. Kshiti: | have got something to tell you, too. About Ismat. If you ask me, it is a good idea. A different prisoner. Arjun: It will add that bit of variety, | would say. Sara: Exactly. ‘Arjun: What do you mean, exactly? Hold your tongue. Can't say a word!... Kabir: | do not mind. The accused-| feel-why not Karan? Karan: Yes, indeed. | am ready to- Kshitij: No! | also have something to tell you-about her! Faraz: | will be the accused. Arjun: | suggest that if we are going through with it, should not be a frivolous facetious affair! | will be the accused, Kabir. Make me the accused. Faraz: What importance for him! He will the judge, he will be the accused Kshiti: Consider me, then! | am not keen, as such, you know. But if I will do, | am game. Karan: But, what is wrong with me, Sara? Sara: Shall | do it? | will if you like, Arjun: No. She cannot get among a few people without wanting to show off! Shows off all the time!Sara: Enough. | will not do it! Satisfied? Kabir: We do not need to take any of you. Arjun, let us have a really different kind of accused. Eh? Let us have Ismat. Eh, Kshtij? What do you think of my choice? Kshiti: It is good. Kabir: Then, where is the need for argument? Well, Sara? Sara: If you say so, it is all right. Anyway, | can already think of multiple reasons why Ismat could be found guilty of perpetrating a crime. Isn't that so, Arjun? One should have that experience- Arjun: Of course! | suppose, they are just about to make you a judge of the Supreme Court!- Sara: That's not how | meant it. Kabir: There is not much difference between one trial and another. But when there is a woman in the dock, the case does have a different complexion, that is true. That is my experience. Well, Faraz? Faraz: Its all right. | won't stay outside the team. | believe in team spirit. Sara: Then, it is settled, Our accused for now is Ismat. But, what is the charge? Arjun: It should be a charge with social significance, Kshiti: All right. Shall we do something? Come to me, all of you. Come on. Come here. Kabir: Karan, haven't you finished arranging the court yet? Karan: | am finished. Faraz: That is why I drew you a ground plan, Karan. To show which properties go whereKaran: | do not udnerstand your theatrical matters. | am not used to them. Arjun: | will give you a signal.Arjun : Prisoner Ms Ismat , under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, you have been accused of the crime of infanticide. Are you guilty or not guilty of the aforementioned crime 2 (the atmosphere is extraordinarily somber. Ismat stands numbly with a chair for support) Raghav <(still standing in the doorway,says softly to Faraz) Here they are. (at this the atmosphere , at once lightens) Sarah : One Mond variance for me. (Arjun gives Sarah a death stare) Sara [makes a sad face]: Nevermind Faraz: a packet of Malboro advance for me please. Karan : One packet of advance for me too! Karan : (opens a bottle of bisleri for arjun) Faraz: here, have one Ismat Ismat (hesitates): no thanks, i am trying to quit. kabir: why are you so grave all of a sudden; after all, it is just a game. Why are you being so serious? Ismat: (tries to laugh): who is serious? | am absolutely lighthearted. | just got a bit serious to create an atmosphere for the court. That's all, why should i be afraid of a trial like this? Raghav (lighting a cig for faraz): it seems there was some joke just now? Faraz: What a joke?Raghav: no, he made some accusation- arjun, but i didn’t quite catch him. Faraz: the charge? Infanticide. Raghav: infanticide? Giving up your infant for adoption for monetary gains? Isn't that right? Kabir (rolls his eyes): no raghay, infanticide is the orime of killing a new born child. Raghav: oh fuck. A terrible charge. That's exactly what happened in my aunt's village. It must be one or two years ago now- the poor woman was a widow. Kabir: Oh yeah, | remember reading about it. | remember reading about it in the women’s journal Arjun, you've really picked some charge! A first-class charge. There is no fun in the case unless there is a really thundering charge! Arjun: did you also notice that this charge is important from the social point of view? The question of infanticide is one of great social significance. That's why | deliberately picked it. | personally consider society's best interest in everything we do. Come on ismat. Karan, my gavel. (karan brings over the gavel fussily) It wouldn't have mattered if i didn’t have it just now. | was checking whether you'd bought it. Now to business. Come on, Kabir, make a start, (striking the gavel) Chalo, aarambh kiya jaye/ adhikasya adhikam phalam. Kabir (moving his lawyer's gown about with an imp air): milord, in the interests of the smooth functioning of the matter before this court, I beseech the court for an adjournment of a quarter minute at the beginning , so that all present may ash their ciggs out Faraz (puffing vigorously): can i have ten seconds to ash my cigg out. kabir(snatching the cig from him and thrashing it with his foot): see, you don't need ten seconds for that Ismat: is this a court of law or a contest for ashing your cigs out. Raghav: sir, does a real court truly work like this? It's very interesting, Faraz: shhh, you'll commit contempt of the court, just listen. (he winks at Kshitj) Asjun(banging his gavel): silence! Silence must be observed.Sarah (whispering to raghav): itis all for fun, just notice the practice in the court. The important thing is you need the court's permission for everything or you'll make a mistake tomorrow. Raghav: no of course, ism watching but. Arjun (banging his gavel): silence must be observed while the court is in session. (looks at sarah) can't shut up anywhere. Sarah: But | was just telling raghav here... Kabir: let it pass sarah, he's just joking. Sara: so what? Scolding me at every step! Ismat(a little worries to karan who is the usher) i say, monty, Karan (angry but controlling his voice): you don't have the right to call me monty Arjun (clearing his throat, banging the gavel): now back to infanticide. prisoner , miss ismat benare, are you guilty or not guilty of the charge that has been brought against you? Ismat: would you admit yourself guilty of it? Arjun(banging the gavel): order! Order! The dignity of the court must be preserved at all costs or raghav will not understand the nitty-gritties of it. Ismat: Really, I don't like your words at all! Infanticide, infanticide. Why don't you accuse me instead of hmmm snatching public property? That has a nice sound about it , don't you think? Sara: | don't think so at all. There is nothing wrong with the present change.Ismat ( banging her hand on the chair ) silence must be observed while the court is in session. (looks at sarah) can't shut up anywhere. Milord, let the court's family be given a suitable reprimand. She has never committed the crime of infanticide, Or stolen any public property except for milord himself. Sara: That's enough, Ismat! Ismat: | say monty- [Karan bites his lips angrily] Raghav: ha ha, ismat is lit AS [kabir corrects him- AF] Kshiti: in many respects Arjun: prisoner miss benare for abrogating the authority of counsel and obstructing the due process of law. Reprimand is hereby issued to you, Ismat (getting up from a seat and coming to him and offering the bottle): thanks for that, a bisleri is hereby issued to you. Faraz: this is it, this is what i meant. If nothing is going to be taken seriously at all, that's the end of the matter. Ismat, please obey the rules of the court, be serious. Kabir: Otherwise, this game becomes really childish, we need seriousness Ismat{coming back to her place]: Now back to infanticide. | was wrong, but there is no reason for the prisoner to show such respect to the judge. | plead not guilty. I can't even kill a common cockroach, i am scared to do it. How can i kill a newborn child? Arjun: karan, the book for the oath-taking, [Karan hurriedly takes out the Oxford English Dictionary and places it on the stool nearby.) Kabir: What is wrong with you, Karan?Sara: After this, there is the prosecution's speech. Kabir: Milord, the nature of the charge brought against the accused is a most terrible one. Motherhood is a sacred thing- Ismat: How do you know? Order, order! Arjun: Prisoner Ismat, for obstructing the work of the court, a second reprimand is hereby issued to you, Counsel for the prosecution, continue. Kabir: Mother pure. Moreover, there is a great - er - a great nobility in our concept of motherhood. We have acknowledged woman as the mother of mankind. Our culture enjoins us to to perpetual worship of her. ‘Be thy mother as a god’ is what we teach our children from infanoy. Arjun: You have forgotten one thing. ‘Mother and The Motherland, Both are even Higher than heaver Sara: And, of course. If | were a mother, | would dispense of my honourable responsibility most faithfully and under no circumstances, would | let my darling son be brought up without his father’s, love. Ismat: Being a woman in this epoch, you are partaking in such nefarious acts? You, Sara? And you call yourself a feminist? Kabir: Summing it up, ‘Woman is a wife for a moment, but a mother for ever’ Sara: It's all right now, but you must not do that tonight. Raghav: All right. | just could not help it. What a sentence, eh?Kabir: It is true. Considering this, what would respectable citizens say if any woman were to take the life of the delicate bundle of joy she has borne? We would say, there could be no baser or more devilish thing on earth. | intend to establish by means of evidence that the prisoner has done this same vile deed, Ismat: | say, Kaju- Karan: My first witness is the world-famous scientist, Mr. Kshitij Desai. Well, Kshitij? Are you happy? Ihave suddenly promoted you to world fame, eh? Arjun: Call the witness to the itness-box. Kshiti: |, Kshitij Desai, placing my hand upon the Oxford English Dictionary, do hereby solemnly swear that | shall tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Sara: Kaju, where is the Gita? Karan: | forgot it. | brought the Dictionary by mistake, How much can | possibly remember? Ismat: Poor Kaju! Karan: Don't pity me, | am warming you! Arjun: Begin the examination! Sara: Just observe this examination. All right? Kabir: Your name? Kshitij: Kshitij Desai. Go further on, We can have all the details tonight. Kabir: Mr. Desai, are you acquainted with the accused? Ismat: Hmm!Kshiti: Yes. Very well indeed. Kabir: How would you describe her social status? Kshitij: A law college, fourth-year student, who surprisingly devotes most of her time at an NGO, teaching kids. Ismat: Surprisingly? Kabir: Is the accused single or committed? Kshitij: Why don’t you ask the accused? Kabir: But, if you were asked, what would you say? Kshiti: To the public eye, she is single (lonely). Ismat: And to the private eye? Arjun: Order! Miss Ismat, self-control. Don't forget the value of self-control, You may continue. | will just be back Kabir: The wrong things always seem to happen to Arjun at the wrong time...Kshitij, how would ou describe your view of the moral conduct of the accused? On the whole like that of a young lady. You, at least, should take this trial seriously. Ismat: But, how should he know what the moral conduct of a young lady is like? Kshiti: It is different. Kabir: For example? Kshiti: The accused is a bit too much.Kabir: A bit too much-what does that mean? Kshiti: It means-it means that, on the whole, she runs after men too much. Ismat: Tut! Tut! Tut! Poor man! Kabir: Miss Ismat, you are committing contempt of court. Ismat: The court has gone into that room. So how can contempt of it be committed in this one? There is not much point that remark, Kabir! Kabir: There is no point in coming to grips with you! Ks! Nobody at all is serious! Kshitij, can you tell me-does the accused have a particularly close relationship with any man-married or unmarried? Any married or unmarried man? Ismat: Yes, with the counsel for the prosecution himself! And with the judge. To say nothing of Kshiti, Kaju, here or Faraz. Karan: Ismat, | am warning you, there will be trouble! Kshiti: In these circumstances, Kabir, is there any point in continuing this farce of a trial? Nobody is. serious! Arjun has gone inside. Ismat is acting like this. No one lets me speak- Faraz: I take my classes more seriously than this. Sara: Don't make trouble, Ismat. It won't do if tonight's show's a flop because of you Ismat: | am just helping the trial along. Arjun: What's happened? Kabir, continue. Where is my earpick?Ismat: | think | will go out for a stroll through the village. You can carry on your trial. Infanticide! Hal At least, | will get some fresh air, Faraz: If that is so, let's call it a day. Sara: No, At least let us finish the trial. Let us at least complete the job in hand. Raghav: Does that mean it all ends here? Arjun: Found it! Come on now. The hearing is to continue. Kabir, what are you waiting for? Kabir: For your earpick to be located, milord. Ks! Has anything ever struck you about the prisoner's behaviour? Kshiti: Yes, a lot. Kabir: What? Kshiti: The prisoner sometimes acts as if she were off her head. That is, there is sometimes no sense at all in her actions. Kabir: What example? Kshitij: For example, once she tried to arrange a marriage for my brother, and-why go further? Right now, she is sticking out her tongue like a lunatic! Kabir: Good! You can sit down now, Kshiti-the great scientist. Our next witness is Faraz-the great actor. Faraz: Ask! Kabir: Oath-name-occupation-all over? Now, Faraz, you are an actor?Faraz: Yes, and | am proud o Kabir: Be proud! But Faraz, do you know this lady? Faraz: Yes, sir, , Ithink-I-know-this-lady. Kabir: What do you mean by ‘think’, Faraz? Faraz: ‘Think’ means to consider or feel. There is a dictionary here if you want. Kabir: | do not need that. Faraz, please state definitely whether or not you know this lady. Faraz: It is strange! Sometimes, we feel we know someone. But, in fact, we do not. Truth is stranger than fiction. Karan: How did you get to know each other? Faraz: Through this group, you see. We do performances of the Jus Scriptum. She is a member. Yes, | remember it clearly. Kabir: What kind of performances are those, Faraz? Faraz: Smash hits! Kabir: Milord, | submit that this important statement be noted in the official record. Arjun: It shall be arranged. Proceed. Kabir: Faraz, tell me truthfully. In the plays you perform, what is the description of a mother? Faraz: The new plays do not mention them at all. They are all about the futility of life. On the whole, that is all a man life's is.‘Arjun: That's it! That is what | zeal for striving’ should be one’s motto, A purpose iin life, that is what one needs. agree with! Men should have some purpose in life. ‘Endless is our Kabir: Let that pass. If you had to give a definition of a mother, how would you do it? Faraz: A mother is one who gives birth, Kabir: Faraz, who is the mother, the woman who protects the infant she has bone or the one who cruelly strangles it to death? Which definition do you prefer? Faraz: Both are mothers because both had given birth. Kabir: What would you call motherhood? Faraz: Giving birth to a child. Kabir: Even a bitch gives birth to pups. Faraz: Then, she is a mother of course. Who denied it? Who says only humans can be mothers and not dogs? Ismat: Then, | am a bitch, by all means. Kabir: Faraz is in form today. Asjun: Show us the form tonight, Faraz. Let us now have straight answers. Kabir: Mr. Faraz, think carefully before you answer my next question. What is your opinion of the prisoner's conduct? Faraz: Do you mean this mock trial or in real life? Kabir: In real life, of course.Arjun: | reckon, it is better if these little questions pertain to the trial, Kabir. Faraz: That's right, is it? Then, it does not matter. | do not know anything about the moral conduct of the accused. Kabir: Nothing? Are you sure? Faraz: Nothing at all. Nothing where the trial is concemed. Kabir: Mr. Faraz, have you under any circumstances, on any occasion, seen the accused in a compromising situation, yes or no? Answer yes or no. Faraz: Not me but Karan has. Karan: Me? I do not know a thing. Kabir: Mr. Faraz, thank you very much, you may take your seat now. Now, Mr. Karan, please enter the witness box. Sara: You are grasping it all, aren't you? Raghav: Yes, Karan: Not me! Kabir: Milord, the usher Karan’s evidence is extremely necessary to the trial. He should be summoned to the witness box without delaying. Karan: | won't come, Don't you fucking mess with me. Arjun: ROKDE! Kshitj [to Faraz]: | say, what did he see?Faraz: Who says he did? | was just joking, that is all. You passed the buck to me, | passed it to him. The game has got to go on, hasn't it? Kabir's, | mean, Kabir: Oath-name-occupation to continue, Mr. Karan. Mr. Karan, you heard Mr. Faraz refer to you while giving the evidence. Can you throw any further light on the subject? Sara: Kaju, now give a marvellous bit of unbroken evidence, if you can manage it. if you can manage this, you will get a chance later on in our subsequent mock trials. Kabir: Speak on, Karan, what do you see? Mr. Karan, take God as your witness and tell me what you saw there. Mr. Karan, what did you see in a certain important circumstances on a certain important occasion, Answer me, please. Karan: | saw-hell! Arjun: He has been an idiot like this, from the start, Sara: Kaju, you won't have another chance, answer him at once! How dare you be so scared? Shouldn't a man have some guts about speaking up in public? Arjun: Speak quickly, Kaju Ismat: Speak Kaju, A-B-C- Karan: That is enough! [Everyone pauses.] Raghav [Narration]: It was all fun and games till things started getting personal. At this point, 1 understood that whatever was about to happen in the next couple of hours would change the trajectory of everyone's lives. | did not want to partake in this but the adrenaline rush claimed the better of me and I too became a puppet in this procession to hellKabir: Mr.Karan Karan: No, wait a minute, | will tell you. | went to his house sometime ago Kabir: Whose house? Mr. Karan, to whose house did you go? Karan: Don't keep interrupting me. | went to Professor Roy’s house. Kshitij: Our Professor Roy? Faraz: You must have been in his room in the college hostel, you mean? Karan: Yes, | went there in the evening as night was falling and there she was Miss Ismat! All of them: Who? Karan [Looking at Ismat]: Now, laugh! Make fun of me! This bitch was there, Professor Roy and this-Ms, Ismat, Raghav [To Sara]: Is it true or just for the trial? Kabir: Mr. Karan you went to Professor Roy's house as night was falling? What did you see? What did you see? Arjun: So, Kabir, | feel this is getting on too a personal level. Kabir: No, no, no, no, Milord, this is just for the trial, So, Mr. Karan Ismat: | do not agree, | say. What's all this got to do with the trial? Sara: But, why are you getting in such a state, Ismat? [To Kashikar] Go on.Ismat: There is no need at all to drag my private life into this. | can visit whom | like. Roy was not eating me up. Kabir: What did you see there, Karan? Yes, tell us, tell us! Miss Ismat, listen to me, do not spoil the mood of the trial. This game is great fun, just be patient! Now, Karan, do not be shy, tell everything you saw. Karan: They were sitting there. Kabir: And? Karan: What do you mean ‘And’? They were both sitting there in that room Kabir: What else did you see? Karan: That is all. But, | got such a shock sitting there in Professor Roy's the night falling. Ismat: What a baby! The poor thing! Karan: Then, why did your face fall when you saw me? Just explain that! Professor Roy got rid of me without letting me come in Ismat: Professor Roy alone knows why he got rid of me and do you know why you imagined that my face fell? Because Professor Roy snubbed you in front of me. Why should my face fall? It is right where it should be. Kabir [To Arjun]: | submit that what the witness Mr. Karan saw-and he alone knows why he stopped at that- | submit that what he saw be noted in record. Even to an impartial observer, it reveals that Miss Ismat's behaviour is certainly suspicious.Ismat: It reveals nothing of the sort! Tomorrow, | may be seen in the Principal's Office. Does that mean my behaviour is suspicious? Ha! Our Principal is 65. Karan- She doesn't want a dad, she wants a daddy. Ismat- don't you bring my dead father into this, Karan- After this verdict, your father will not be the only dead person in your life. Kabir: Milord, | request that this statement made by the accused also be noted as we wish to introduce it in evidence. Ismat: if you like, | will give you the names and addresses of 25 more people with whom | am alone, at times. Holding a trial, are you? Suspicious, indeed, You do not even understand the meaning of simple words. Kabir: Milord, since | consider that statement too, to be valuable the prosecution requests that it be noted in evidence. Arjun: Which statement? You do not even understand the meaning of ‘words’ Kabir: No-'the names and addresses of 25 people'- with whom she sometimes- Ismat: A little while ago, Mr...Raghav and I were quite alone together. Go on, write his name down, too. Why don't you? Raghav: No, no, she behaved in a most exemplary manner. We just talked of magic shows, hypnotism, and the lights, that's all. Kabir: Milord, | request that the reference to hypnotism being most imperative should be noted in evidence. Arjun: To what extent is all this within the jurisdiction of the court?Faraz: This is just a rehearsal, in any case. Kshiti: This is just a game, a game that is all. No one is serious about the trial. Itis fun, Kabir, do go on. Raghav [to Sara]: But, by hypnotism, I only meant it has nothing to do with ordinary... Sara: Do sit down, itis all just games Faraz: Kabir, do not stop. Let the case go on. Well, Arjun what do you think? Arjun: The whole affair is warming up nicely; | would not have imagined. As a matter of fact, Kabir, do not stop, carry on. Kabir: Mr-Karan, you may leave the witness box. Now, Mr. Raghav. Raghav: Me? Did you say me? Kabir: Don't be scared, You just have to answer- Raghav: -The questions, | am asked. Sara: There are no odds and ends to remember Besides, this is just a practice trial. Raghav: | am not scared at all. | just get a bit confused, that is all. | will take the oath just for practice. Kabir: Alright, usher Karan! Raghav: I think he has gone inside. I will do it myself. |, Raghav Rasghunath Ramakrishnan, do hereby swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. True enough for the trial, 1mean. What is true for the trial is of course, quite false really. You see | do not want the sin of falsehood. Go on. Kabir: Name-occupation that is all dealt with. Raghav: No, do you want to ask all that? Then, go ahead. Kabir: No. Now, Mr. Rajnikanth Raghav: My name is Raghav. People keep forgetting my surname so I have to keep reminding them. Kabir: Okay, R Gandhi, do you know the prisoner Miss Ismat? Raghav: Of course, but not all that well, | am not familiar with every senior. Page 90 - Ismat- I'm awake. | can never, never sleep just when i want to ,never. Kabir- Moving on, Raghav, Karan saw the accused - ismat in professor roy's room in the evening when it was quite dark Raghav- that's right Kabir- on that occasion, there was no third person there with professor roy and the accused Raghav- correct. But now do ask me something. Kabir- that's just what | am going to do. Half an hour after that you reached there. Raghav- where? Oh there! Alright, After half an hour, i reached professor roy's room, What next. Kabir- You tell us that.Raghav- how can i tell you? Kabir- then who will? Raghav- thats true. | will have to. But its hard. The prisoner and professor roy. Room Evening. Kshiti; it was quite dark Faraz- half an hour after that. In other words which meas when it was very very dark. Throughout the college grounds, complete silence... Raghav - [suddenly] go on ask me- so i reached there, eh? i reached there and, and what happend was - the door was locked Kabir- the door was locked! Raghav- Yes. the door was locked. Not from outside.from inside and i banged on the door. No that's wrong. | rang the bell. The dorr opened. A known stood before me, guess who it was professor roy! Kshitij- Bravo raghav! Sarah-(to faraz) oh! He's giving his evidence beautifully! Raghav- (gaining confidence) roy was before me. When he saw me, he said with an annoyed expression, yes? Whom do you want? Kshiti;-{to faraz) he’s describing roy to the life! Raghav- | answered professor roy. He said i'm busy and slammed the door shut! For a second i stood there stunned, i began to think should i go home or press the bell once more, At that moment i heard a vague sound from the room of someone erying. Sarah- crying?Raghav- yes. An indistinct sound of crying. It was a woman. kabir-(excitedly) Yes Raghav- for a moment he stood where he was. He means me. He - | mean | - couldn't understand who was crying, | didn't think it was some female member of professor roy’s family. Well, from the way the woman was crying she didn't seem to be a member of his family. Why? Because the crying was soft. That is, it was secretive. Now, why would anyone ory secretively in her own house? Thinking over all this, i stood where i was. Just then, i heard some words. Sara-some words? faraz and kshiti- who spoke? Raghav- tsk tsk tsk! You're not supposed to ask. This gentleman- the council- will ask me. Kabir- who spoke? Raghav- the woman of course. The one inside. Karan- [ eager] who was she? Raghav- no. he was ask me- the council will. Not you. Kabir- i'm asking, tell us. Quick raghav, what were the words you heard? Don't waste time. Tell us quick raghav be quick. Raghav- the words were -shall tel it all? Kabir- whatever you can remember- but tell us. Raghav-{ looking ata book in his hand] if you abandon me in this condition where shall i go?[ismat is tense] Sara- is that really what she said, Raghav- how can i tell you. Kabir- then who else on earth can? Raghav- no no! | am telling you the professor's answer. His answer. Professor roy. Kabir : oh isee Raghav : where you should go is entirely your problem. | feel great sympathy for you. But | can do nothing. | must protect my reputation. At that, she said “that's all you can talk about, your reputation? How heartless you are!” He replied, ‘Nature is heartless’. Arjun : Simply thriling! Raghav: ‘But this threat will not make me budge an inch away from my considered course of action,’ he said. She replied, ‘bear it in mindthat you will not escape the guilt of murdering two'- two? I'm wrong-no, I'm tight...’ Two living beings.’ And then came a terrifying laugh. Ismat: That's enough! Arjun: Order, Order! Ismat: It's a lie! A complete lie! Kshiti: Ofcourse, itis! So? Ismat: No, stop all this! Stop it! Not a word of this is true, Kabir: Raghay, a terrifying laugh... what happened after that?Ismat: If anyone says one word after this... will go away. Kabir: Mr, Raghav. Ismat: I'll smash up all this! ll smash it all to bits- into little bits! Sara: Ismat, as your conscience is clear, why are you flying into such a violent rage? Ismat: You've all deliberately ganged up on me! You've plotted against me! Ragav: No, no. Really, its nothing like that Kabir: Raghav, answer. Professor Roy gave a terrifying laugh. Then what did the unknown woman inside the room say? Raghav: (hurriedly consulting his book) Wait ill find the page and let you know. Ismat: Raghav, if you say one word more- IIkjust you wait. Kabir: (in the right soft and threatening tone) Raghav. Raghav: Its quite a problem. | just can't find the page~ Kabir: (to Arjun) Milord, the occurrence as it has been related speaks so vividly for itself that there is. hardly any need to add anything over and above it. This entire statement should be noted down as part of our evidence against the accused. Arjun: Request granted. Ismat: Note it down. Note everything down! Just take down note after note. What can you do to me? Just try! Raghav: (sympathetically) Oh god! Whatever's happened so suddenly to her?Arjun: (picking his ear) It's all become quite unexpectedly enjoyable- the whole fabric of society is being soiled these days, Kabir. Nothing is undefiled anymore. Sara: You're absolutely right! Kabir: If thoughts alone are not enough, we must use deeds, Action! Faraz: Yes, Action! Kabir: Here, feelings are not enough. We must all get together. We must act. Sarah: But whatever's happened, really? Arjun: Keep quiet! What could have happened, Kabir? What's your guess? Kabir: That is the mystery. And i think we know the answer to this mystery Everone: (except Ismat and Raghav) What? Kabir: Well mates, the conclusion is obvious. There is some substance in what Mr Raghav said. Even though it came from a book. It holds water! Sarah: Do you mean that Ms Ismat and Proffesor Ro- Kabir: Yes! Beyond a shadow of doubt! There's no question about it! Sarah: Good gracious! Karan: (very daringly) | knew it all along, Kabir: Shhh.(Seeing Ismat in the doorway, they all fall silent. They all look at her...A peculiar joy begins to show on everyone's face but Samant’s) Raghav: Oh Ismat, you have pulled the bolt the wrong way and it has slipped shut. Now the door's locked from outside. It's always the case. Try as you will, it just won't open. And what's more, there won't be anyone outside just now to help. | saw the guards leave for their tea break. We could try calling someone. (everyone looks disappointed) Sara: | don't think there is network available inside this hall. Check your phones. (Everyone pretends to check their phone and nod their heads unconvincingly) Samant: But i think i have netw... (Sara signals him to shut up) (ismat is stil standing at the door with her back to the others) Arjun: Oh stop it guys! Let's just continue with the trial. Kabir, we should go ahead Kabir: Yes, milord. Kindly let the accused be summoned to the witness-box. tin Kabir( Bowing in the manner of a complete perverse excitment ), Yes my lord ( his eyes are gleaming ) my lord , first let the accused herself be summoned to the witness box.‘Arjun: ( picking his ears) Prisoner Ms Benare , enter the witness box. Enter it, Ms Benare! (Benare stands where she is ) Incredible! Usher Karan conduct the accused to the witness box. Karan : (frightened , trembling a little ) ME..? (Benare stands still) Sara: wait, 'l take her, why do you need him? (she starts pulling ismat along forcibly) Come on now, ismat. (she puts ismat into the witness box. Ismat's face reveals the terror of a trapped animal) Kabir: raghay, sara, kshiti, faraz, seat yourselves there exactly as you should, (praying) my father taught me the habit, arjun, of praying to our family god at the beginning of any new enterprise. How pure it makes one feel! (he takes two steps in the manner of a wrestler who has gained new strength) Good! Now to business, let the accused take the oath. (karan comes and stands in front of ismat with the dictionary; ismat is silent like a statue) Arjun: prisoner, miss benare, take the oath. (ismatis silent) raghav(softly): why not get it over with ismat, it is just a game. (ismat is silent) Sara(coming forward): give it to me, rl make her take the oath. Just wait (taking the dictionary from karan) Ismat, say, “i hereby swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” (ismat is silent) ‘Arjun: this is the limit Sara (giving the dictionary to karan): let's say she has taken the oath, her hand was on the dictionary. Go on, ask her what you want, kabir. Arjun: prisoner ismat, the court hereby wars you that we will not stand contempt of court. Go ahead, kabir. Faraz: fire away. Kabir(walking around in front of ismat a while and suddenly pointing a finger): your name is ismat roy. Raghav(at once): noo. Noo, i-is-ismat. Roy is the professor.Sara: do listen raghay, let her answer. Faraz (randomly waking from a daydream): ohh, so the charge is of infanticide....(theatrically) ‘Arjun(angrity) : please maintain the decorum of the court. (calms down) Yes, infanticide (emphasizes); (pause) i totally second the roe vs wade judgement. One can either be pro life or endorse killing, (adamantly), that's my frank opinion (lightly). Kabir: yes, milord. (karan has written down arjun’s sentence in his notebook, ismat is silent and is in the witness-box. Kabir going behind ismat suddenly) Miss benare, (she starts jerking away from him), do you mind me asking how many sexual encounters have you had? Let me frame my question somewhat differently- kindly tell the court what is your body count? Arjun: answer him! (takes out his watch and taps it in front of him, she is silent) This is really too much. Sara: it seems she has decided not to behave herself and answer properly. (ismat is silent) Kabir: milord, i closed the examination of the accused for the time being. It could be resumed at the appropriate time, (ismat leaves the witness-box and goes to the door which is locked; kshilj blocks the way so she turns aside, by then sar has caught hold of her and leads her to the dock), Agjun: next witness Kabir: sara (sara eagerly enters the witness box) Arjun (to kabir): look, that's eagerness for you, you've hardly called her and there she is Sara: you needn't be like that. | have already taken the oath, ismat and i, let's say we took it together; and of course i will tell the truth, who's scared? Kabir: very well sara, can you give me some information please? How many men do you think she has slept with? Sara: ohh, that’s easy, as many as you know of. Kabir: that's it sara, but HOW MANY? Arjun (interrupting): let's count it as anywhere between 30 and 50. Kabir: how is that- 30 to 507! an educated, well brought up girl. Sara: oh, I think itis commitment-issues.Kabir: has she ever tried an open relationship? Faraz: Maybe even that did not work out for her. Sara: what else, that's what happens when you get everything without commitment, And then recklessness kicks in- pleasure without protection and what not. | personally believe when you are sexually intimate with another person you exchange energies. it's like going around and plugging your phone into random computers and downloading their files. If their files are corrupt, you download them as well. arjun: and then they want to delete them. Sara: | feel that sex is a sacred act and should be trated as such (rokde is joitting everything down) Sara: finished writing, go on, ask me more. Kabir: you said that this is what happens when you get everything without commitment. Sara: yes, i did Kabir: what do you mean by everything? Give me an instance. Sara: everything means everything in this life. Kabir: don't you feel that to say this about the accused might be unjust. Sara: i don't think so, We've seen too many such examples. Kabir: forget about the others, have you any proof where miss benare is concerned? Any proof, Tell me if you have. Sara: what better proof, just look at the way she behaves. I don't like to say anything since she is one of us. Shouldn't there be any limit to how freely a woman can behave with a man? How can she be so improper? How loudly she laughs, how she sings, dances, cracks jokes and she's wandering alone with how many men, day in and day out. Kabir: sara, the most, one can say all this suggests that she is a free bird. Sara: free free, she's free, alright, in everything. | shouldn't say it but since it has come up in court, i will. Why would she have professor roy and roy alone to see her home after class? Tell me that. {ismat is deliberately silent) Kabir (brightening up): I see that Miss Benare needs professor Roy to see her home after class. (kshitij and faraz and signaling to each other). Sara: What else? Once Arjun and | offered to give her a ride back home, she very slyly went off with roy. We looked for her but she just vanished. Kabir: peculiar.Sara: just a while back she was protesting it is a lie, a false accusation. Now you see how she is dumbstruck, That shows you can't hide the truth. (pause)Moreover, the other day, she was making a move on karan as well after practice, in the dark Karan (weakly): yes...no Raghav (to Faraz): no no, she was alone with me a little while ago. (Faraz silences him). Kabir: sara, you may step down, your evidence is complete, Milord, | submit that karan we called, once more to give evidence. (karan cringes where he is; kabir strolls over to stand near ismat in confidential tones) Kabir: Miss Benare, the game has really warmed up, hasn't it? Arjun: karan, come and give evidence. (karan hesitantly goes to the witness box without looking at ismat) Sara(as he passes): kaju, speak the truth, don't be afraid Kabir: Karan, you have taken the oath. Well, karan, in the course of her evidence, Sara has made the most disturbing statement about you and the accused. (karan begins to shake his head) Sara: kaju, didn't you tell me so? Kabir: karan, whatever happened after practice that evening, good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, tell it all to the court, That's your duty. After the practice ended, what happened? Karan(feebly): i... Kabir: After the practice, all of us had left the hall, then? Faraz: only and only these two remained behind, Sara: well then it seems she took his hand, kaju’s | mean. Kshiti: gosh Kabir: And then? What did she do then? Karan, what more did she do, what next? Sara‘Il tell you. Arjun: no, you won't, let him tell, don’t interrupt all the time, Kabir: yes, karan, tell it breavely, don't be afraid. Arjun: afraid? Why should he be? There’;s some law and order here, isn’t there? (karan takes stock of the situation and then realizing he has enough protection against ismat, he plucks up courage). Karan(bravely): she held my- hand Kabir: yes? Karan: so- then, so-then- i said this isn't proper, it's not prope! | don't like this at all- that’s what i said.Kabir- And then ? Karan - | freed my hand, She moved away. She said dont tell anyone what happened Ismat - Thats a Lie! Arjun- (banging the gavel ) Order! The accused is reprimanded for disturbing the proceedings of court. Continue Karan, continue. Karan- If you tell anyone , ill do something to you,-thats what she said to me sir, Kabir- when did this happen Karan Karan- A week ago,after our practice had ended, in the classroom Kabir-My lord,this means that the accused committed an outrage in a lonely spot, on a boy like Karan, younger than her.Not only that but she threatened him with consequences,if the matter came to light, She tried to cover up her sinful deed. Sara: But the truth will come out. Kabir: so karan the accused threatened to harm you somehow? What next? What happens then? Karan: | slapped her. Kshitij: what?! Faraz: how melodramatic. Karan: yes, what do you take me for? Do whatever you like. | won't stay quiet about this, Thats why i told sara, yes that's why. ‘Arjun: go on, tell her everything karan, don’t tell anything to me. karan(indistinctly): i am sorry sir i was wrong, i thought i thought, in any case you'd fine out- from sara here. | mean- “80+ kabir:. What happened next, karan? What next? karan. Then?-then nothing. That's all. Can | go? kabir. Yes karan [Takes a scrap of paper out of his pocket, and writes on it, muttering loudly, ‘A week ago,after our practice had ended, in the classroom,’ karan hastily leaves the witness-box, and stands at a distance, wiping the sweat from his face. His expression is calm and satisfied.] sara, But you hadn't told me this last bit, kaju-about slapping her! Raghav [To kshiti]. Impossible! | can't believe it! [A pronounced excitement is in the air.]kshitij(From his seat, puffing hard at his pipe]. kabir, my evidence now-call me as a witness! Call me now! [His gaze is on the hapless ismatt... His tone is impatient,] Just call me! Pg 104 Arjun :Kabir , call kshitij. Let's hear him .......call him now .....for once and for all Kabir: Mr. Kshitij be called to the witness box! Kshitij: shall i take the oath again? | hereby place my hand upon the oxford english dictionary, and i swear that- Atjun:it is understood Kabir , proceed. Kabir: Mr.Kshiti, the accused , miss benare Kshiti(gazing at Benare ) - is what i have something important to tell you about. (Benare stiffens where she is ) Just ask her this, Why does she keep a bottle of TIK -20 in her purse (Benare flinches ) Sarah: what more now ? Kshiti: That's a powerful bed bug poison. It's famous. Raghav(to Farhaz) Perhaps she was taking it home- Kabir: Can you tell us , Mr Kshitij , how and when you first found out that the accused was carrying such terrible poison in her purse ? Kshitij: Yes. One of my roommates, about ten days ago , came to me and said , Ismat has sent you this, Agjun: THK -20 Kshitij: No, a note in a sealed envelope. | opened it, Inside which there was a note which read “wil you meet m.e ,please ? | have something to discuss with you come at quarter past one. Wait in the Udipi Restaurant, just beyond college”. Of Course i did not like it at all. But I said to myself , let's seewhat her game is. So I went along just for the heck of it. 5 minutes later , Ismat cam,e there hurriedly » quite guilty, (Ismat has become more tense ) Kabir: | see Arjun: Then ? What happened then kshitj 2 Kshitij: We ordered tea. When Ismat's problem had been discussed, she opened her pursue to take out her handkerchief and out of it, rolled out a small bottle. (For a moment, there is silence ) Kabir: A bottle of TIK- 20 ! good ! But MrKshtij , what had happened between you and miss Ismat before that?i mean what was the thing that she wanted to discuss with you ? You haven't told us that. (Benare shaking her head , telling Ksjti not to do so ) Kshitij: She made known her desire to marry my elder brother. Farhaz and Arjun: What ? Arjun: This appears terribly interesting Kabir. Kabir: True Milord, it is and it will be. Did she tell you she was in love with him or not ? Kshiti:No but she told me that she was pregnant, Farhaz: Are you telling the truth Kshiti? Kshitij: what do you think? That i am lying ? Arjun: Who was the father. Continue kshitij continue , do not stop. Kabir: MrKshitj- Kshitij: Ismat made me promise never to tell anyone the name of the man who_so she said_had made her Pregnant. So far i have kept my word, Sarah: But who was it ? Arjun What will you take to shut up ? the cat will be out of the bag anyway. Don't be so impatient ! But what i don't understand is why , if Miss Ismat was pregnant by one man , she expressed her desire to marry another. | mean your brother. Kshiti: Exactly. Kabir:What was your answer ? were you prepared to accept her for your brother ? Kshiti: The answer is quite clear. Kabir: You weren't prepared of course. Kshitij: No i wasn’t Kabir: and this is after this Mr kshij that the bottle of TIK-20 rolled out of ms. Ismat's purse.Kshiti: | picked it up and returned it to her. Shall | give you the whole conversation tell that too, ‘you want Ill Ismat: No! No! Arjun: Silence! Mr. Kshiti, give us the conversation.( To kabir ) Now will hear the name. Ismat; No..... you promised Kshiti Kabir; Mr Kshij , what could be the conversation had been for Ismat to be so agonised. ‘Arjun; Tell us Kshitl , don't wait .quick . This is a matter of social importance. Kshitij; But she won't like this. ‘Arjun:Who is the judge here ? Since when has the question of the accused's likes and dislikes been admitted in court ? When ? | say to you , continue. Ismat ( coming in front of Kshitij):Kshiti. Arjun : order | the accused to the dock. Karan conduct the accused to the dock. (Karan holds forward and halts ) Ismat: Just you tell it and see, Kshiti ‘Arjun: Prisoner at bar , go to the dock - Karan take her to dock, Sarah (grasping Benare's hand) : First stand over there. Come on Karan , hold her hand (Kran lingers behind them ) Come benare .....come on (she drags her to the dock. Sarah and Kran stand guard ) Discipline means discipline Arjun : Speak mr. Kshitij, what was your conversation about ? go on mr. Kshitij, what was it about ? Kshiti: First , we chatted aimlessly, Like how Kabir is a good man but smothered by ill luck and when he becomes a lawyer and someone takes their case to him , that person will go to jail, for sure. Kabir( swallowing his rage and sense of insult ):1 see ......yes , go on- Kshitj....Arjun torments Kran because he constantly suspects an entanglement between him and sarah. Kshiti after some talk of this nature, we came to the real issue. Fathaz: wait. What dis she say about me , Kshitl ? Kshitij: Nothing. Fathaz:She must have said something - that i am a rotten actor, or something. | know what she thinks of me. | know it well . Kshitij ( Ignoring Farhaz): Then suddenly, she asked about my brother like was he fixed up somewhere? So i said , “unless he finds someone to his taste he is not interested in marrying” so she asked, ‘what exactly does your brother mean by the rather vague idea of'taste “? | replied * onthe whole, he thinks girls are wants to marry a mature partner’, Then she asked, “don't you think that maturity - a rather fully ly and frivolous and | too agree with him and that being said , he developed understanding - comes to a person only with experience, "No comments,” | replied She then said So | asked whether she had some promising bride in mind and she said, “yes , | feel she’s the kind your brother wants, He just has to understand her unusualness. “ | couldn't see why she was making this great effort to get my brother married. | asked casually , 'what sort of unusualness do you mean ind experience comes with age , with a slightly unusual way of life”. 7 She replied , “The gir’s just gone through a shattering heartbreak , and - wait , I'll think of the exact words - yes - “the fruit of that love” -here she stumbles a ttle - “is in her womb Actually it is no fault of hers but the situation is very serious indeed, She wants to bring up the child. In fact it's only for the child she wants to go on 1g and get married” she spoke some more in the same vein, | grew suspicious. So in order to get the truth out of her said , oh! Poor girl ! Her luck seems really bad. Who is the scoundrel responsible 7” Kabir: Thereupon she said it was professor Roy ! Kshitij: No. First she sai very great and wise. She may have fallen short. She may not have been able to convince him how deeply she feels for him, The woman is not the crucial factor. It's the baby that comes first Kabir: And then ? * please don't call him a scoundrel. He may be a good man. He may be Kshiti: then she said, “ she worshiped that man's intellect. But all he understood was her body.” She added other things, on the same lines. How she couldn't find a place in professor Roy's life. His—- Raghav , Farhaz , Kabir: Professor Roy ’s ? ‘Arjun ( Banging on the table ). The cat's out of the bag! Kshiti: To tell you the truth :1 was bound by oath not to tell the name . but - Kabir: Doesn't matter Mr. Kshitij, it doesn't matter at all. I's not sin to break your oath inadvertently — at least, not in court. So the child she's carrying is professor Roy's ? go on , go on — Kshitij: Then she fell at my feet. Arjun : ise ~isee Kshiti: yes, she fell at my feet. And I said , “This doesn't become you, miss Benare. It's an insult to have asked about my brother. Do you think he is so worthless. When she saw my face , she got up at once , and said , laughing , " Did you really think | was telling the truth ? it was just a joke! That's all!" Then she bursts out laughing Sarah:A joke , did she say !Kshitij:But she had tears in her eyes. That made everything quite clear. Then she went off in a hurry saying she was late. Kabir-Thank you Mr. Kshiti , for your valuable evidence (Kshitij comes out of the witness box. Kabir takes out the piece of paper, and mutters loudly , notes down , “Ten days before the incident of holding karan’s hand ) That's fine milord , this evidence needs no comment. It's so clear -and , i may add , so self evident. The accused first accosted mr Kshitij. When she realized there was nothing doind i that quarter, she committed the outrage on Karan. THe next witness will be the accused , milord (he points at Benare . She looks half dead. )Page 109- Faraz- Wait wait i have something important to disclose regarding the case. Kabir- Mr Faraz, into the witness box. Kabir- Speak faraz, what do you wish to tell the court. Faraz- the evidence given to the court by karan, conceming the accused and himself, is incorrect. Karan- what business is it to you? Faraz- because by chance i happen to be a witness of what was said and done on the occasion. Atjun- which one? Tell us what you have to tell without complicating the issues, Faraz- life itself is a complication these days, the western playwright. Arjun: to the point! Dont digress stick to the pointKabir- what amendment would you suggest to what has been stated before regarding the accused and karan Faraz- as god as my witness i must state that karan did not slap the accuse. Karan: it’s a lie Faraz- what happened was roughly like this. The accused accosted karan i saw that. So i stood aside in the darkness to see how it woud develop. The accused asked “ then what have you decided.? Karan's answer came over, ‘i can’t do anything without arjun’s permission. Don't press me.' The accused then sai “how much more of your life will you spend under Arjun’s thumb? Karan replied- it's insane you're just 23 how can you even talk abvout marriage at this age. My family would kick me out, The accused said to him ‘ my family will support you. Think again” Karan then replied "support? Marriage is out of the question, But if you're interested in an arrangement where you would want my company say during the night then that could be arranged.’ upon this the accused in a rage- Karan- it's a lie Faraz- struck karan in the face. Karan- it's a le, it's a barefaced lie, Kabir- thank you [my] mr Faraz. This means that it is true the accused was pressing karan to marry her. The only difference in what you say is about who slapped whom. Faraz- not just what i say but what i saw. Kabir- perfect faraz Faraz- i have something more to say. Arjun- ifit isn’t anything useless and irrelevant let's hear it.Faraz- milord- Arjun- Order! Who do you think you are? A lawyer? Just say ‘your lordship’ like any other witness. Do you think this is a episode of suits. Faraz- your lordship- Arjun- thats it. That is the way. Speak but no complications. We want everuything STRAIGHT and simple. Karan- sara... Sara- don't speak to me at all Faraz: your lordship, i happen to know a friend of the accused, a common friend of ours. | mean she knew about the accused. Arjun- i see, And whom are you chatting like this? Show respect to the court. Faraz- yes. Well then, the friend of the accused and i had just met and the subject casually came up. she gave me some important information about ismat. Kabir- for instance? Faraz- for instance, the accused had attempted suicide once before. Kabir- That is the point, there is a precedent for the bottle of Tik-20. Faraz: | cannot say that exactly. | can only tell you what happened. My information is that the accused attempted suicide because of a disappointment in love. She fell in love at the age of 15, with her own maternal uncle! That is what ended in disappointment, Sara [Totally floored]: Her uncle!Kabir: Milord- her maternal uncle- her mother's brother, what an immoral relationship! Arjun: In other words, just one step away from total depravity, Kabir: The present conduct of the accused is totally licentious. We know that. But, it now seems that her past too is smeared in sin, This shows it as clear as daylight. Sara: Where do you think you are going? The door is locked! Sit down! Faraz: | am finished. Arjun: There is no doubt at all, Kabir. No doubt. Kabir: About what, Milord? Arjun: | will tell you! Kabir, | wish to set out the tradition of the court, and give a cardinal piece of evidence. Kabir: Milord? Arjun: This case has great social significance, Kabir. No joking! | must put aside the practice of the court and give evidence, Ask my permission. Ask me. ASk? Kabir: Milord, considering the importance of the case, | humbly submit that tradition should be broken to allow the judge's worshipful self to enter the witness box. Arjun: Permission granted. Examine me, come on. Not a doubt of it Kabir: Mr. Arjun, your occupation? Arjun: Social worker, Kabir: Do you know the accused?Arjun: Only too well. A sinful candor on the body of the society-that is m y honest opinion of these grown-up unmarried gifs Kabir: Do not give your opinion unless you are asked, Mr. Arjun. Arjun: An opinion is an opinion. | do not wait for anyone's permission to give it. Kshitij: Bravo! Kabir: Do not wait for it, then, Mr. Arjun. Can you place before the court any important evidence about the charge that has been made against the accused? Arjun: Well, that is why | am standing here. Kabir: Then, speak. Arjun: | often have cause to visit my dear friend, Aryan Sharma, who happens to be the President of NSS, So, recently, I was at his house, say about 9 0’ clock at night, in order to play Valorant. When he got a calll and the voice coming from the other side seemed eerily familia. Sara: Whose was it? Arjun: Kabir, give me a reprimand, go on. You must not interrupt a witness. Anyway, before | could tell, the conversation was over. In a while, Aryan mentioned that one of the NSS members who taught at one of the NGOs calls him continuously because she wants us to drop the inquiry against her. He did not mention who she was but | have come to realise that the woman, far from being a stranger, was this one. | mean, she was Ismat. | am cent percent certain! The same voice, not a doubt about it Sara: Oh my God! Arjun: Ask me, Kabir, how | am so certain. This very morning I went to Aryan’s house to retrieve my headphones that | had left the other day. He was talking angrily to someone on the phone. Its a sinfor a college girl to be pregnant and to teach poor kids in such an objectionable condition. This would reflect very badly on the society and subsequently, on NSS, on the whole. Therefore, there is no other alternative, we must dismiss her and we cannot give her her hours as well. Finally, he instructed, send the order for my signature this very day. Now, who else comes to your mind, tell me, I say, it was Miss Ismat. Raghav: Oh God! If she does not get her hours, she will not be able to graduate.\ Kabir: It cannot be helped; tit for tat. As you sow, so shall you reap, such is the rule of life. But, Mr. Arjun, what made you think that ‘that woman’ was this our Miss Ismat? Arjun: There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that it was Miss Ismat. Just see whether or not she gets the order for dismissal tomorrow. That is all | wanted to record here. The prosecution may continue. Kshiti: Tik-20. Arjun: The prosecution may continue. Kabir: With this last and most important piece of evidence, the prosecution was complete. Milord, the case for the prosecution rests. Arjun: Counsel for the accused, Call the witness for your side. Kabir: Yes, milord, our first witness is Professor Roy. Karan: Professor Roy? Professor Roy? Professor Roy is absent. Arjun: Next witness, please. Kabir: Our next witness is Aryan Sharma, Arjun: Absent. How could he come here? Next.Kabir: The other member of the group, Mr.Das. Arjun: He is absent too, Are those all the witnesses for the defence? Kabir: | wish to cross-examine the witness for the prosecution, milord. Arjun: Permission refused. Take your seat. Kabir: The case for the accused rests. Arjun: Good, Now, counsel for the accusation pleease plead your case. Do not waste time now. Be brief. Kabir: Milord, the nature of the charge against the accused, Miss Ismat is truly dreadful. The accused has made a heinous slot on the sacred brow of motherhood which is purer than heaven itself. For that, any punishment, however great the lord may give her, will be too mild by far. The character of the accused is appalling; it is bankrupt of morality and the accused should be considered public enemy #1. Therefore, | am of the stance that the court must take a very stern, exorable view of the prisoner's crime without being trapped in any sentiment, The charge against the accused is one of infanticide but the accused has committeed a far more serious crime - | mean, unmarried motherhood. Motherhood without marriage has always been considered a very big sin by our religion and our traiditons. Moreover, if the accused's intention of brining up that offspring of this, Unlawful maternity is carried out to completion, | have a dreadful fear that the very existence of society will be in danger. The very sacrosanct institution of marriage will be in peril. Immorality will flourish and before our eyes, the dream of a pulchritudinous society will crumble into dust. Therefore, it is the sacred and the imperative duty of your lordship and every wise and thoughtful citizen among Us, to destroy the plot among us. No allowances must be made because the accused is a woman because women bear the grave responsibility of building up the high values of society and this woman, Miss Ismat Benare, is not fit for independence. With the urgent plead that the court should show no mercy to the accused but give her the greatest and sevrest punishment for her terrible crime, | close the argument for the prosecution. Arjun: Good! Counsel for the accused.Kabir: Milord, the crime is very serious. | do not dispute it but consider this - man is prone to error. Youth leads a person astray Let the terrible crime that the accused has committed and is committing, be regarded with mercy. Mercy, milord, for humanity's sake, mercy. Arjun: Now, prisoner, Miss Ismat. Prisoner Ismat, before the sentence is pronounced, have you anything to say about the charge that has been made against you? Ismat: Yes, | do, in fact, have a bit to say. For so long, | haven't said a word. Chances came, and chances went, Storms raged one after another about my throat, and there was a wail like death in my heart. But, each time I shut my lips tight. | thought, no one will understand. No one can understand! When great waves of words came and beat against my lips, how stupid everyone around me, how childish, how silly they all seemed. Even the man I call my own. | thought, | should just laugh and laugh till | burst. At all of them...that’s all-just laugh and laugh! And | used to ory my guts out! | used to wish my heart would break! My life..[roaring laughter which fades into sadness] My life... It was a curse, a burden, a sacrifice, a liability. But, when you can't lose it, you realize the value of it. You realize the value of living. You understand what happiness means. How new, how wonderful every moment is! Even you seem new to yourself. The sky, birds, clouds, the brand of a dried-up tree that gently bends in, the curtain moving at the window, the silence all around-all sorts of distant, little noises, even the strong smell of medicines in a hospital, even that seems full to bursting with life. Life seems to sing for you! There is great joy in a suicide that's failed. Itis greater even than the pain of living. Throw your life away-and you realize the luck of having it. Guard it dearer than life-and it only seems fit to throw away. Funny, isn't it? Look after it. And you feel like throwing it away. Throw it away-and you are blissfully happy it is saved! (Sings “I called you my precious and you said, you had to leave. You said, you had to leave, there was no other way") Nothing satisfies. ‘The same thing, again and again. Life is like this. Life is so and so. Life is such and such. Life is a book that goes ripping into pieces. Life is a poisonous snake that bites itself. Life is a friendly betrayal. Life is an expected fraud. Life is a drug. Life is drudgery. Life is a something that is nothing- or a nothing that is something. Milord, life is a very dreadful thing, Life must be hanged. Na jeevan jeevanamarhati. ‘Life is not worthy of life’. Hold an enquiry against life. Sack it from its job! But why? Why? Was I slack in my work? | just put my whole life into academia and social services and I loved it! | fulfilled my responsibilities dutifully. | knew that life is no straightforward thing, People can be so cruel. Even your own flesh and blood do not wish to understand you. Only one thing in life is all-important - the body! You may deny it, but it is true. Emotion is something people talk about with sentiment. It was obvious to me. | was living through it. It was burning through me. But-do youknow?-we asl did not teach any of this to the young, tender souls at the orphanage. | swallowed that poison, but did not even let a drop of it touch either my academia or the children. | taught them beauty. | taught them purity. | cried inside while making them laugh. | was cracking up with despair and yet I taught them about hope. For what sin are they robbing me of the one thing that brought me rare moments of happiness and respite? My private life is my own business. “We, the people of India, having solmenly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic, and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worshi Then, where, where is this liberty? Why | can't I get to decide what to do with myself; everyone should be able to! That can't be anyone else’s business; understand? Everyone has a bent, a manner, an aim in life. What's anyone else to do with these? Hush! Quiet there! Silence! What a noise! Sit still as statues! Poor things! Children, who all are these? These are the mortal remains of some cultured men of the twentieth century. See their faces- bel are full of how ferocious they look! Their lips are full of lovely worn-out phrases! And th nsatiated whims and fancies. No, no! Do not leave me alone! | am scared of them. It is true. | did commit a sin. | was in love with my mother's brother. But in our stringent house, in the prime of my unfolding youth, he was the one who came close to me. He praised my bloom every day. He gave me love...How was | to know if you felt like breaking yourself into bits and melting into one with someone-if you felt that just being with him gave a whole meaning to life-and if he was your uncle, it was a sin! Why, I was hardly fifteen! | did not even know what a sin was-I swear by my mother. | did not. | insisted on marriage. So, | could live my beautiful, lovely dream openly. Like everyone else! But all of them-my mother too-were against it, And my brave man tured tail and ran. Such a rage-! felt such a rage against him ther-I felt like smashing his face in public and spitting on it! But | was ignorant! instead, | threw myself off a parapet of our house-to embrace death. But, | did not die. My body did not die. | felt as if feelings were dead-but they had not died either then. Again, | fell in love. As a grown woman. | threw all my heart into it; I thought, this will be different. This love is intelligent. It is love for an unusual intellect. It is not love at allt is worship! But, it was the same mistake. | offered my body up on the altar of my worship. And my intellectual God took the offering-and went his way. He did not want my mind, or my devotion-he did not care about them. He was not a God. He was a man. For whom, everything was of the body, for the body! That's alll Again, the body! ‘Arjun: The time is up. The accused has no statement to make and in any case,m it would of no use, The cup of her crime is now full. Now, the judgement, Karan, my wig please. Prisoner, Miss Ismat, pay the closest attention, the crimes you had committed are most terrible, there is no forgiveness for them. Irresponsibilily must be chained down, social customs, after all, are of supreme importance.Marriage is the very foundation of our society's stability. Motherhood must be sacred and pure. This court takes a serious view of your attempt to dynamite all this. It is the firm opinion of this court that your behavior puts you behind mercy. Criminals and sinners should know their place. You have conducted yourself above your situation. The court expresses its indignance at your presumptuousness. The morality which you have shown through your conduct is the morality you were planning to impart to the youth of tomorrow. This court has not an ipota of doubt about it Hence, not only today but also tomorrow would society be endangered by your misconduct. It must be said that the NSS Committee has done a merit in deciding to remove3 you from your position. Neither you nor anyone else should ever do anything like this again, and no memento of your sin should remain for future generations. Therefore, this court hereby sentences that you shall live but the child in your womb shall be destroyed. Ismat: No..No..No...I will not let you do this. | will not let this happen. | will not let this happen. Person 1: You guys have five minutes to prepare before the mock trial starts. Are you ready? Raghav: Yes, yes, please wait outside, we will be out in a second. Sara: Goodness, | did not realise the time. Kshitij: What is the time? It is dark outside, it seems. Arjun: Karan, it was your job to keep an account of the timings. What were you doing all this while? Useless fellow. Kabir: Let him be, Arjun. We had such good fun! Felt just like fighting a real case. Arjun: Come on. Get ready quickly, everyone...come on. Kshiti: | am always ready- (He points to Ismat. They are all arrested. Silent, serious. They gather around the motionless Ismat.) Sara: Aw, seems like she has really taken it to heart. How dreadfully delicate she is!Arjun: You're telling me. After all it was- Kabir: Just a game. What else? A game! That's all! Kshitij: A mere game! Faraz: Let it go, Ismat! I's time. The show must go on Sara: Do get up, Ismat! Don't make a scene or you'll end up ruining our entire performance. (pauses) Look, it was all untrue. It would hardly be true, right? (Samant has entered) Kshiti: Do any of you have an aspirin or something? The girl seems to really need it. Samant: Let me check. ‘Arjun: (taking off his wig as he gets up. he notices the bottle of TIK-20 in front of him on the table. For a moment, he stays looking at it with staring eyes. Then, removing his gaze to the others) Come on...Come on now- pull yourselves together- enough playing about! Back to work, now! (long stage direction) The parrot to the sparrow said, "Why, oh why, are your eyes so red?" "Oh, my dear friend, what shall i say? ‘Someone has stolen my nest away,” Sparrow, sparrow, poor little sparrow. "Oh, brother crow, oh, brother crow, Were you there? Did you see it go? ‘No, | don't go. | didn't see. What are your troubles to do with me?" Oh sparrow, sparrow, poor little sparrow...(Lights on Ismat only. the rest of the stage in darkness.)