Onto the Stage - Slighted Souls and other stage and radio plays by BS Murthy (ebook reader web TXT) 📖

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Muthyal Rao: What a brilliant idea Gowd garu? What do you say Rami Reddy?

Rami Reddy: Why, it’s a case of hitting two birds at one shot. Besides, we can avenge ourselves at least to some extent.

[Enter: An apologetically looking Venkataswamy, the current MLA.]

Muthyal Rao: Swamy Saab, who is ruling the State, you people or the annalu?

Mallesam Gowd: Dora, didn’t I tell you that it’s the nexus of the naxals and the opportunists.

Venkataswamy: Gowd garu, why fish in the troubled waters.

Mallesam Gowd: Isn’t it like pot calling the kettle black?

Muthyal Rao: Gowd garu’s barbs apart, how do you explain the lawlessness, MLA saab?

Venkataswamy: Well, I’ve spoken to the C. M. In fact, it was the other way round. He rang me up to express his distress at the episode, and said an emergency cabinet meeting was held to root out the naxal menace once and for all. To tackle these guys, soon an elite force of Greyhounds would be grounded.

Mallesam Gowd: Heard dora, Greyhounds of these greenhorns. Won’t it make a case of balsam on self-inflicted wounds? They lifted the ban we had imposed upon them and held the so-called peace talks, that too when they came with their guns. They made merry with the carrots, and these are left holding their broken sticks.

Shaukar Suryam: Sure it seems too little too late.

Papi Reddy: By now, all know that whatever the politicians say against each other is only for the public consumption. When it comes to protecting each others interests, they’re ever hand in glove, aren’t they?

Muthyal Rao: Whatever, Swamy Saab, now it’s clear that your sarkar is running with the hares and hunting with the hounds. Well, it can’t go on like this anymore. You’ve to take your pick, quickly at that. It’s up to your party now.

Venkataswamy: Dora, don’t we know which side of the public bread has political butter?

Mallesam Gowd: Dora, don’t you know they’re postmasters at licking off the butter and throwing the crumbs at the rich and poor alike.

Venkataswamy: Don’t tell me you’re any political novices.

Papa Rao: How can there be novices in the cesspool of leeches that is politics?

Mallesam Gowd: Sour grapes Papa Rao Patel.

Venkataswamy: Set aside party politics, we’ve to admit that our public stock is low.

Muthyal Rao: Why not you people do something about improving your worse than ‘the last resort of the scoundrels’ image?

Venkataswamy: You won’t say that dora, if you’re in politics even for a day. Where’s the scope for that, and moreover why is it needed? Won’t people have to choose between a rogue of a Gog and a moron of a Megog? Well, the blessing that is electoral politics hands them power on a platter, well in turns. And five years is not too long a period to make good the lost opportunities. Is it Gowd garu?

Papa Rao: He’ll respond on the floor of the house or raise a hell of it in the well of it.

Venkataswamy: Well, that’s not going to happen till either of us changes the constituency. What do you say Gowd garu?

Muthyal Rao: It’s no joking matter Swamy Saab. If your Greyhounds don’t hunt them in their hideouts, they’re sure to hound us out of the villages. And that would be curtains down on your party propped up by the landlords.

Venkataswamy: Are we naïve not to understand that dora. Wait and watch, it will be thumbs up for us any way. But isn’t it time we cheer up with cheers, why don’t I see any preparations.

Muthyal Rao: Why not, some Scotch might drown our sorrows a little. What do you prefer, Johnnie Walker or Chivas Regal?

Mallesam Gowd: Maybe Johnnie Walker as any way they’re on the way out.

Venkataswamy: Dora why not let poor Gowd garu dream over Chivas Regal.

Muthyal Rao: And to keep both of you in good humour, won’t we have both.

Venkataswamy: Well, with three cheers to the Greyhounds on the hunt. [Curtains down]

 

Scene - 17 

[Curtains up: Narsimma, Mallanna, Srisailam, Renuka, Sarakka, Nirmala and others in the jungle hideout of the scenes-12, 13 & 15. Sitting by a transistor as Nirmala is impatient for the news, Narsimma looks at his watch restlessly, and others wait in anxiety. As the beeps heralding the news are aired, all hold their breath.]

News Reader: This is All India Radio. The news read by Swathi Rangarajan. Here’s a flash. Acting on intelligence, the A.P. Police have nabbed Madanna, a high ranking PWG leader from a hideout in Hyderabad. Even as he was frisked away to an undisclosed location, fearing retaliatory raids by the Madanna Dalam, the Government has placed the police on the alert. In the other headlines…

[Nirmala switches off the transistor, and looks at Narsimma anxiously.]

Sarakka: So, it takes them twenty-four hours to break the news.

Nirmala: I’m worried that he may be harmed anna.

Narsimma: It’s my word Nirmalakka; I’ll go to any lengths to see he is freed.

Nirmala: Don’t I know that anna. But still, I’m afraid as he’s high on their wanted list.

Narsimma: Renu, you better take her out and steady her nerves.

[Exit: Renuka with Nirmala.]

[Narsimma huddles himself with Mallanna, Srisailam and Sarakka.]

Mallanna: Who could’ve betrayed peddanna?

Narsimma: Can’t the post-mortem wait Mallanna. Let’s think of a tit-for-tat to free him.

Srisailam: But anna, now that they’re on the alert, I don’t see any soft targets to kidnap.

Narsimma: Who wants a soft target now? Well, we’ve to think it big. Won’t a tough ask with sentimental value soften their stance.

Sarakka: Why not the I.G’s kid if he has one.

Narsimma: Isn’t the I.G old enough to be a grandfather. Well, that works out better as he will be under varied pressure. Find out and plan for that. If not, think about some other kid with value addition. But who shall be on the mission.

Sarakka: Being a woman, won’t I be the best suited.

Narsimma: Well, you be at the forefront as we provide the back-up.

Mallanna: Why not you hold our fort as Srisailam and I will help her raid theirs.

Narsimma: Best of luck, but don’t throw caution to the winds, the dalam can’t afford to lose any of you.

[Exit: Mallanna, Srisailam and Sarakka.]

[Enter: Renuka and Nirmala.]

Nirmala: What happened to our couriers?

Narsimma: Well, for now, no news is good news. But Mallanna and others have left to create some very soon.

Renuka: Have you sent them on a rescue mission or what?

Narsimma: Well, we don’t even know where he’s kept.

Renuka: I think it’s time we think of penetrating their ranks.

Narsimma: It’s not a bad idea in the long run. Well, you look after the counter intelligence of the dalam. But for now, it’s about kidnapping one kid or the other of the I.G’s household.

Renuka: I love to build a network, won’t I? But why involve kids in this war of nerves.

Narsimma: Well, don’t we’ve to choose horses for the races?

Renuka: Women and children are always kept out, aren’t they? Why break rules.

Narsimma: Why not think I’m rewriting them.

Nirmala: Why not, if it helps to secure his release without harming any.

Renuka: Why don’t you both realize that it’s a dangerous game to start?

Narsimma: So be it. But why place the cart before the horse. Let’s wait for their return. Till then it’s sojourn.

[Lights go on and off to indicate the passage of a few days.]

[Bright light and Narsimma, Renuka and Nirmala are in anxious wait near the transistor.]

News Reader: This is All India Radio. The news read by Rakesh Tiwari. Here’s a flash. In a daring operation, Madanna Dalam of the People’s War has kidnapped Raja, the I.G’s six-year-old grandson from his school in Hyderabad. The two accompanying Home Guards were also taken hostage by the gang suspected to have been led by Sarakka. In a handwritten note left behind on the school premises, the dalam sought the release of their leader Madanna within twenty-four hours threatening to kill the hostages after the deadline. It may be recalled that Madanna was nabbed by the Police from his hideout in Hyderabad only recently.

Narsimma: Didn’t they make us proud. Won’t they deserve a hero’s welcome?

Nirmala [In Excitement]: I’ll go out and receive them at the frontier.

[Exits: Nirmala.]

Renuka: Your raising the stakes is really worrying me baava. I wish one won’t lead to the other.

Narsimma: Why don’t you see this as a breakthrough for the revolution Renu.

Renuka: Well, I’ll wait and watch with my fingers crossed.

[Lights go on and off to indicate the passage of time.]

[Bright light and Narsimma with Renuka in wait.]

[Enter Nirmala, Mallanna, Srisailam and Sarakka with Raja, the six-year-old grandson of the I G. of Police and two sheepish looking Home Guards. Even as Renuka reaches out to a nonplussed Raja, Narsimma in excitement hugs Sarakka, Mallanna and Srisailam.]

Narsimma: Hail the heroes [Goes up to Raja.] Don’t worry my boy; we’ll send you home soon.

Raja [cries]: O Mummy …, I want my mummy

Renuka: Don’t cry my Raja, she’s would come soon. Till then why don’t you play with me?

[As Renuka folds round him, Raja stops crying.]

Nirmala: Anna, the deadline is up and yet there is no contact. Now I see all my worries returning.

Renuka: You know it’s no easy decision, is it?

Narsimma: Won’t a tough stance make it easy for them?

Renuka: What’s that?

Narsimma: A Home Guard in a body-bag.

[Narsimma looks at Mallanna, and then he eyes one of the Home Guards. Exit: Mallanna and Srisailam with the Home Guards.]

Renuka: It’s atrocious to kill an innocent, isn’t it?

Narsimma: Sarakka why not see that Nirmalakka rests as I handle your restless vadina.

[Taking the cue, Sarakka tries to take Raja along he resists and cries. As Renuka holds Raja, Sarakka leads Nirmala away.]

Narsimma: Why don’t you understand Renu? The crisis calls for hard decisions. Besides, isn’t he guilty by association? After all, he sides with the system.

Renuka: But it’s his occupation to make a living. And he’s only doing his duty.

Narsimma: Sadly for him, his duty clashes with our cause.

Renuka: So be it, but they’re poor like us, and our struggle is supposed to better their lot.

Narsimma: It’s the price the poor have to pay in our struggle for them.

Renuka: What if they won’t yield?

Narsimma: They would have two more body-bags to count.

Renuka [She hugs Raja tight]: Oh, he’s just a kid as you and I were once.

Narsimma: But unlike us, he’s a potential class enemy. As a grown-up, won’t he serve the very system that oppresses us? But still we might spare him if that helps to secure our Madanna’s release.

Renuka: Why not hold out and see.

Narsimma: Why not turn the heat on them by killing the other guard as well. It’s then they would come around to save their privileged kid.

Renuka: Oh, what a change. Oh, how you had pleaded for Narsi Reddy’s life in that dalit adalat. And this Raja is just a kid.

Narsimma: In a way I was more of my mother’s boy than my own man then.

Renuka: Oh, how strange life could be. If you were not forthcoming then as your mother’s boy, now you are distancing yourself from me as your own man. But you were your own self when you symbolized the ethos of the Rampur Resolution. Not before and certainly not now.

Narsimma: Maybe, but then they were the early days of the revolutionary opposition. As the course of the struggle made me its leader, am I not obliged to give it a new direction. As a lot of naxal blood had flowed down the ideological bridge, let revolutionary aggression be the new mantra of the movement.

Renuka: Oh, what a ruthless leader you’re turning out to be?

Narsimma: Maybe, underneath I’ve always been ruthless Renu. Why, didn’t I keep you away till you showed me the way to save my studies?

Renuka: I am afraid we’re drifting away baava.

Narsimma: Don’t worry Renu, our love is sure to bind us together, and that’s forever.

Renuka: I feel as if your life has trapped our love in a padmavyuham. And my fear is that like Abhimanyu, you too don’t know the way out to save it.

Narsimma: But unlike his wife Uttara, aren’t you right in the middle to do that for me?

Renuka: It’s my only hope,