(Pause. Picks up the Bombay guidebook left on the table by Ansuya.)
Is it surprising that Ansu was attracted to Deepak? After all, he was handsome, he was doing well, and he lived in Bombay. She yearned for the voicelessness of the big city. A great city can be a great solitude. Ansu wanted to disappear in a crowd of strangers. A big city may be squalid, even callous, but it is also more tolerant of our fellow men.
(Pause.)
In the scenes that follows, I regret that you will not see Mamu at his best. But then, jealousy humiliates us and exacts a heavy price.
(As the lights come on slowly, Karan looks at his watch.)
It is six-thirty in the evening. Dusk has set in, which is not unusual for Simla at this time of the year. It has been raining intermittently since the afternoon. There is no further news from the front, but the radio bulletin at 6.00 p.m. said that President Kennedy in America has offered to send equipment and supplies to India. This should lift the morale of our jawans in the Eastern sector.
(Pause.)
As you can see, the living room of 9 Jakhoo Hill looks visibly different. It is cheerful and bright and there is a festive feeling in the air. Something about that boy: he has infected everyone in the house with his bright good humour, even the Mali, who has just arranged those flowers over the fireplace. You can tell that Rai Saheb is expected from the bottle of Scotch whiskey which is conspicuous on the table there on my left, surrounded by glasses and some bottles of Indian whiskey. Everyone is in his room, dressing up. But wait, what is Mamu doing, pacing about frantically?
(Mamu is pacing up and down. Lights change. He bumps into Ansuya.)
MAMU: (Frantic.) Where have you been?
ANSUYA: (Cool.) In and out.
MAMU: With Deepak?
(She nods.)
MAMU: Why does everything have to change just because he has come?
ANSUYA: I feel so happy!
MAMU: We were happy before he came.
ANSUYA: He is so alive.
MAMU: (Defensively.) What about us, Ansu? We were alive together, weren’t we?
ANSUYA: This is different, Mamu. Only my mind is alive when I’m with you. With Deepak, my whole being is awake. And I can’t control myself. It is as if I am being pulled.
MAMU: Ansuya, you can’t …
(Loudly.)
Oh no!
ANSUYA: (Concerned.) What is the matter?
MAMU: I’ve got something in my eye.
ANSUYA: What is it? Sit down, Mamu.
(He sits down on the sofa.)
Let me see.
MAMU: It’s in my left eye.
(She sits on the arm of the sofa and helps him.)
ANSUYA: Don’t move … keep still … now. There, does that feel better?
MAMU: (Nods.) My eyes are not the same as they used to be.
(She begins to get up.)
I like holding your hand, Ansu. It feels so warm.
(He kisses her hand.)
Ansuya, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you …
ANSUYA: Sh … don’t say anything. Keep still, Mamu.
MAMU: Please Ansuya, this concerns you and me …
ANSUYA: Mamu?
MAMU: I’ve been meaning to tell you for some time …
ANSUYA: Mamu!
MAMU: I must tell you now …
ANSUYA: No!
(Pause.)
You’ve been good to me, Mamu. I don’t want to spoil it. It is Diwali, I’m happy.
MAMU: (Sad.) Well, I am not.
(Pause.)
Look at me. I’ve lived all my life with books and ideas. And here I am, stuck with shallow people like the Rai Sahebs and Deepaks of this world. I have no one to talk to … except you, and even you are drawing away from me. I am beginning to feel like a complete failure.
ANSUYA: You say it as though it were my fault.
MAMU: No, no, my sweet Ansuya.
(He grabs her by the arm.)
It’s just that I can’t bear to lose you.
ANSUYA: Sh … Deepak and the others will come in.
MAMU: Why has Deepak come?
(Sounds of footsteps.)
ANSUYA: Mamu, please!
(Breaking away from him.)
There’s Deepak!
(Enter Deepak. He is suited and booted, the picture of confidence, but he is a little disconcerted by what he sees.)
DEEPAK: I … I didn’t mean to interrupt.
ANSUYA: You did not. We were just waiting for everyone. Do sit down, Deepak.
DEEPAK: (Uneasily.) Well, ah …
(To Mamu.)
Karan Uncle, how do you like the university?
MAMU: Which university?
DEEPAK: Where you teach.
MAMU: What do you want me to say?
DEEPAK: Well … ah …
MAMU: Are you making polite conversation, or do you really want to know?
DEEPAK: Well …
MAMU: If you want to know the truth, I hate it.
DEEPAK: I’m sorry.
MAMU: ‘Sorry?’ Why are you ‘sorry?’ Do you want to know why?
DEEPAK: Yes.
MAMU: No, you don’t.
DEEPAK: (With a good natured smile.) I don’t?
MAMU: Deepak, you are ambitious. All you want to do is to get on in life. You don’t really want to know about the dark side of things.
ANSUYA: (Uncomfortably.) Mamu, this is not the place …
MAMU: You are not even aware what the words you use really mean. Do you really care what ‘love-hate,’ ‘beautiful-ugly’ ‘true-false’ are all about?
ANSUYA: Mamu, please!
MAMU: (Ignoring her.) There’s nothing wrong with that. But, let me give you a tip. Don’t waste your time over small talk. Do you really care about my university?
DEEPAK: (Puzzled.) Well …
MAMU: Of course you don’t. So then, let’s talk about what you really care about.
DEEPAK: (Affably.) Certainly.
MAMU: Let’s talk about Ansuya.
ANSUYA: Mamu, for God’s sake.
MAMU: Tell us about your interest in Ansuya.
DEEPAK: (Suspiciously.) What about her?
MAMU: Well, I thought it would be nice
