(Quiet again. Silence, goes closer to Lawrence and takes his hand.) Larins, say something. Why don’t you say something? I don’t mind … tell me that I’m wrong. I’m strong. But say something.
(Suddenly concerned.)
Are you all right? Then, why don’t you speak?
(She slaps him lightly on the face. He reacts. She smiles.)
Larins, I don’t want to leave you.
(Puts her head on his chest.)
I want to love you. Why are you sending me away? Don’t you love me any more? Tell me you don’t love me. For God’s sake, say something.
(Quiet again. Lawrence is like a stone. Rani continues to lean on his shoulder. Long pause. Suddenly she draws away.)
You can’t do this to me! Angrez or the Angrez’s father can’t touch me. Does the Angrez realize who I am?
(Slowly, deliberately imperiously.)
I am the Mother of the Punjab. I am the wife of the One-eyed Lion. You won’t dare! I am the Mother of the Khalsa. Touch me and you’ll have mutiny on your hands. Once I leave, a curse falls on the Angrez. And the first one to go will be you, Larins.
(Pause.)
Give me back my jewel!
LAWRENCE: (Hiding the jewel behind his back.) No.
RANI: It’s mine. Give it back.
LAWRENCE: No.
(She tries to grab it unsuccessfully.)
RANI: Why?
LAWRENCE: I can’t. The Governor-General has promised it to Queen Victoria.
RANI: Oh Larins! I gave it to you as a symbol of my faith—a symbol of our friendship. No! (Pause.)
Is this how you treat a Queen? You are dirty like the rest of the Ferangis. Never learn manners. There are ways of treating kings and queens. Do you know what the defeated Porus, king of the Punjab, answered Alexander? Alexander asked him, ‘Porus, how shall I treat you now?’ Porus replied, ‘Treat me as a king treats a king.’ And Alexander did so.
(Pause.)
You’re intoxicated, Larins! Something demonic is urging you on to your destruction. Believe me.
(Pause.)
God, now I understand your robes, your Darbars, and your ‘Angrez Badshahs.’ It all fits. And your obsession with my late husband. You’re drunk, my friend. Power’s gone to your head. And you’ve forgotten your friends.
LAWRENCE: That’s not true!
RANI: Of course it’s true. My old Larins is no more.
LAWRENCE: No.
RANI: It is and you know it. (Pause. Softly.)
When are you sending me away?
LAWRENCE: Today.
RANI: No! I’ll run away. I’ll hide. (Pause. Pleading.)
Will no one come and help? Will no one say ‘Stay, Rani, stay.’ You Sardars—I don’t expect anything from you. I’d love to kill you, you sons of pigs. You’re happy, I know, to get me out of the way. I spit on you—all of you. You fools, you don’t realize that the same fate awaits you. Your game is over. The Punjab belongs to the Angrez. The One-eyed Lion is dead today! (Hysterical.)
The Khalsa! Yes, the Khalsa will save me.
(Pause.)
Isn’t there a Sikh who needs me? What’s happened to you, men? I, the Mother of the Khalsa; I, the holy-wedded wife of the Lion; I need you. Where’s your heart, men? Has the Angrez reduced you to fighting for money? Where’s your honour? Shame!
(Pause.)
Dalip! Dalip! Where are you, Dalip? Have you too forgotten me? Dalip!
(Offstage sound of Dalip’s voice shouting faintly. ‘Mai, mai.’)
There he is! (Begins to cry. Dalip enters.)
DALIP: Mai, I was looking for you. (Rushes into her open arms.)
Mai, do you know … (Interrupts himself.)
Mai, you’re crying!
(Pointing to Lawrence.)
Is Larins making you cry?
RANI: No, my boy.
DALIP: (To Lawrence.) Larins Sahib, I don’t like you any more. Why do make my mother cry?
(Rushes towards Lawrence as if to kick him, but Rani pulls him back before he can touch Lawrence.)
You dismissed my Darbar. Only I can dismiss my Darbar—for I am the King. From today, you are not my friend.
(And he strikes his right thumb nail to his upper teeth to convey that they are no longer friends.)
RANI: No, my boy.
DALIP: And he doesn’t go on shikar with me any more, Mai. I’m going to make Baba write to his London Queen to change him. I shall sign the letter, and the Queen will do as I say—for I am the King, and Queens listen only to Kings.
RANI: No, my boy
LAWRENCE: Your Highness …
DALIP: (Interrupting, with the same gesture.) Go! (Exit.)
RANI: What are you going to do to him?
LAWRENCE: He’s perfectly safe. He’s going to Simla.
RANI: Shame! Larins, after all you told me. You’re dirty and cruel! How can you snatch my son away from me? For eight months I kept him in my womb. Then I brought him up slowly with care and love. What will I do if anything happens to him? He gets frightened, you know. He has no one except me. Who will look after him? I don’t need a kingdom, but don’t take my son away.
(Long pause. Suddenly excited she goes closer to him.)
Larins, I’ve an idea. Why don’t you take us to England? Let’s leave this dirty place to the Angrez. Come.
(Lawrence shakes his head.)
Why, what’s the matter? All right then we can go to Nepal.
LAWRENCE: No.
RANI: (Broken.) Oh Larins! I don’t want to go away. Larins, I love you. (Leaving.)
I’ll always think of you. You too, remember me. (Trying to smile.) Adieu, said the Queen.
LAWRENCE: Adieu, said her Resident.
(Exit Rani. Lawrence moves towards stage right. Whispering offstage. Commotion. Sounds become louder. Muffled shouts ‘The Rani is banished,’ ‘The Mother of the Khalsa is leaving,’ ‘Save the Punjab.’ Bells, confusion, music. Full lights, and Sher Singh bursts in.)
SHER SINGH: Ranjit Singh is dead today!
LAWRENCE: Why?
SHER SINGH: The Punjab is dead today!
LAWRENCE: Why, my friend?
SHER SINGH: You’ve banished the Mother of the Punjab.
