(She bursts into tears.)
DEEPAK: I’m sorry, Aunty, I didn’t mean to upset you …
ANSUYA: Darling Amma, don’t cry!
(Goes to her and embraces her.)
Nothing will happen to this house.
AMRITA: (Weeping.) If only I had looked after things better …
ANSUYA: (Wiping her mother’s tears.) Shh … Amma!
(Turns to the others.)
RAI SAHEB: I say, Ansuya, let’s carry on with the game. It is your turn. Chitra my dear, your turn to ask the question.
CHITRA: I pass.
RAI SAHEB: What?
CHITRA: Pass.
DEEPAK: Ma, ask her a question!
CHITRA: Oh, all right. Haan Ansuya, Truth or Dare?
ANSUYA: Truth.
CHITRA: What do you want more than anything in the world, Ansuya?
ANSUYA: (Matter-of-factly.) I want to go to Bombay.
CHITRA: Bombay? Why?
ANSUYA: I don’t have to answer that. I already gave my ‘truth’.
RAI SAHEB: She’s right. It’s Deepak’s turn.
ANSUYA: No, it’s your turn, Bunty Uncle. You are on my right.
MAMU: (Shifting to the empty chair on Chitra’s right.) It’s all right. I’ll ask, Rai Saheb.
RAI SAHEB: Wait, that isn’t fair! That’s not your position. You’ve moved.
MAMU: It’s your turn to ask a question and it’s also your turn to reply. You can’t very well ask yourself a question.
RAI SAHEB: Oh, very well.
(Pointing to Deepak.)
But let him go first.
ANSUYA: But it’s not his turn.
DEEPAK: (Confidently.) Certainly I’ll go, sir.
RAI SAHEB: (Pointing to Ansuya.) You ask him, my dear.
ANSUYA: But it’s not my turn to ask.
DEEPAK: (Decisively, to Ansuya.) Come on, Anu, I’m ready.
ANSUYA: Oh, all right.
(Pause.)
Truth or Dare?
DEEPAK: Truth.
ANSUYA: DEEPAK, what is it that you want more than anything in the world?
CHITRA: Wait, I know the answer, ji.
RAI SAHEB: Let him speak for himself, my dear.
CHITRA: I’m his mother, after all. I should know.
MAMU: That’s the problem.
CHITRA: What is the problem, ji?
RAI SAHEB: Nothing.
(To Deepak.)
Answer the question.
DEEPAK: Well, I want to be a success at my job.
RAI SAHEB: False.
CHITRA: It’s true!
RAI SAHEB: It’s false.
CHITRA: How do you know?
RAI SAHEB: You can tell he’s lying.
CHITRA: You are calling my son a liar?
RAI SAHEB: Ask him.
CHITRA: Kyon Deepak, was it a lie?
ANSUYA: Was it, Deepak?
DEEPAK: (Hesitating.) Well …
RAI SAHEB: (Triumphantly.) So, False! The turn stays on you.
(Pause.)
Well?
(Silence.)
Well?
(Silence. To Ansuya.)
Ask him again, dear.
ANSUYA: Deepak, what do you want more than anything in the world?
DEEPAK: You, of course.
CHITRA: More than your mother?
DEEPAK: That’s not the question, Ma.
MAMU: Well, in a sense it is. If you want Ansuya more than anything or anyone, then you do want her more than your mother.
DEEPAK: (Laughing.) I’m not going to fall into that trap.
CHITRA: How could you, Deepak?
DEEPAK: Oh, I want you equally, Ma.
CHITRA: Rahne de, rahne de! Just look at him. You know what my fault is, ji? I am too good. Even if I get slapped in return, I can’t stop being good.
RAI SAHEB: (With irony.) You’re good, my dear.
MAMU: Deepak’s had his turn. It’s Rai Saheb’s turn to answer now.
RAI SAHEB: Oh, very well.
MAMU: Are you ready?
RAI SAHEB: (Nods.) Hmm.
MAMU: Truth or Dare?
RAI SAHEB: Truth, of course.
MAMU: Will you take a bribe in awarding the licence to Deepak’s company?
(Stunned silence.)
RAI SAHEB: I say, what sort of nonsense is this? I don’t have to answer this stupid question.
(Silence. He looks around for support.)
Come on, what the hell’s going on?
AMRITA: (Uncomfortably.) Bunty, you certainly don’t have to answer that question. I don’t like this game.
MAMU: He started the game, Didi.
RAI SAHEB: I didn’t think you would start insulting people.
AMRITA: Stop this childish nonsense.
RAI SAHEB: I don’t have to stand this insolence.
MAMU: It’s part of the game.
DEEPAK: Shall we stop the game, sir?
RAI SAHEB: Shut up, boy! You’re out of your depth.
MAMU: Well?
ANSUYA: Bunty Uncle, why don’t you merely say ‘no’ or ‘yes’ and we’ll move on?
RAI SAHEB: But, but … This is preposterous!
MAMU: What’s preposterous?
RAI SAHEB: It’s a matter of principle.
MAMU: What principle?
RAI SAHEB: (Pompously.) Do you know whom you are speaking to? You are insulting the Government of India.
MAMU: Ah … we are high and mighty, aren’t we!
RAI SAHEB: I say, this is supposed to be light-hearted stuff. We’re meant to talk about secret love affairs and fun things like that.
MAMU: You’d like that. You’ll proudly tell us of your sexual escapades. We are not talking of Sunday morning bingo, or ‘elevenses’ with the memsahibs, or cocktails in the Green Room, Rai Saheb. We’re talking of licenses and hard cash!
RAI SAHEB: Steady on, old chap!
MAMU: The hypocrisy of the bureaucrat!
RAI SAHEB: We merely carry out policy.
MAMU: Ah, but ‘we’ love the policy. It gives us the power to have the likes of Deepak grovel before us: ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, sir.’
RAI SAHEB: I admit it’s awkward—this licencing business. But someone has to do it!
MAMU: Ah, but it’s such a profitable business!
RAI SAHEB: Enough of this insolence! The answer to your question is “no”!
(Pause.)
All right! It is now my turn to ask you a question, my friend.
MAMU: Wait a minute …
RAI SAHEB: Not my fault that you changed positions. We’re going clockwise, remember?
AMRITA: Stop this game, you silly boys.
ANSUYA: It is Mamu’s turn.
MAMU: We’ve had enough of this game. Why don’t you play something else?
RAI SAHEB: Don’t be a coward, Karan.
MAMU: No.
RAI SAHEB: Just when it is getting interesting?
ANSUYA: Come on, Mamu. It’s only a game.
(Mamu senses the mood and reluctantly agrees.)
MAMU: (Looking at Ansuya.) All right, you asked for it.
RAI SAHEB: Truth or Dare?
MAMU: Truth.
RAI SAHEB: Remember, Karan, if you don’t speak the truth, the turn stays on you. Ready?
(Mamu nods.)
What is your biggest regret?
(Pause.)
MAMU: Er … that … um … that I’m not a good teacher.
RAI SAHEB: False! You are a good teacher.
MAMU: (Protesting weakly.) No … it’s true … I read from the notes I made fifteen years ago. My students don’t care for me.
ANSUYA: That’s not true, Mamu. You are a great teacher.
MAMU: Was.
RAI
