THE DUCKS OF ARUVIKKARA ( SHORT PLAY )

   The   characters

1.  Kunjan  ( 40)  :  a  casual  labourer

 2. Ammini  (35)  : his  wife

30th   June  2015

( A small house in the Aruvikkara  Constituency. 11 a.m. Ammini

is  feeding goats in the yard. She is very upset about something.

Enter  Kunjan, in a happy mood. He is carrying  a duck.}

            Kunjan

Hey,dear, why are you very gloomy today? 

            Ammini

Oh,nothing. It's only a minor headache. Why did you buy an extra

duck? The duck that you bought two weeks ago is already cut

and ready for cooking. Why do you waste money in these difficult

times,buying ducks almost every week?

              

        Kunjan

I shall explain it shortly. I know you are very upset about 

the LDF's rout. Forget it. There's no use crying over spilt

milk. I used to tell you time and again that LDF means the Lost

Democratic Front. Now I'm  vindicated. I didn't expect such a

resounding victory  for Sabareenath. I expected a thin majority of

about 2000 voes for Sabari. The people voted mercilessly against

your party. They found no mitigating  circumstances for your party.

              Ammini

Whatever it is, why waste money on another duck ?

              Kunjan

Ok. let me explain the whole duck saga. Today, there's an acute

shortage of ducks in the Aruvikkara  market, as I predicted a fortnight  ago. All the ducks had been bought by the thirteen

''duck'  candidates. I bought this one in the black market at double

the normal price because  an unprecedented joyous occasion like

this  will occur only next year.

               Ammini

If you are so keen about celebrating, do it yourself. I have nothing

to do with it. I have a headache.

( Kunjan  tries to hug Ammini in a conciliatory   manner, but

she evades it.)

                    Kunjan

I haven't  finished my story. The first duck is for  celebrating

Sabari's  victory. The second one is to celebrate NOTA's victory,

surpassing the votes that  the AKVP ( All  Kerala  Road-based

Party or വഴിയാധാരം   Party)  got,despite  much  fanfare.

                     Ammini

What's  NOTA ?

                    Kunjan

I don't  know how to explain it. It's abstract. It's an invisible candidate; shall I say  a spirit or a ghost. Anyway, it beat the

road-based party to the fifth place in Aruvikkara.

                 Ammini

Our  party's   downfall is very  pathetic.It's  really hopeless.

               Kunjan

It's what's  called 'to dig one's own grave'. 

                Ammini

Chetta, please  don't  rub  salt on a wound.

            Kunjan

Actually  I'm  withholding my comments, just for your sake.

But I have to remind you that no-one should underestimate the

common people of today. Unlike the people of the past, who were

called donkeys, today's people are lions. If any political party

provokes it, it might tear  that party to pieces.As  for the LDF or CPM, they  provoked the lion, with violent politics and  foul

language. Pinarayi's  ''paranari' usage  cost his party  millions of

votes. VS's  "araattumundan'  usage against AK Antony   cost the

LDF a few thousand votes.

                  Ammini

Today  is a  bad  day  for  me.

               Kunjan

Leave the shocking  defeat behind you. Bring  some hot water.

It's  getting late. I want to prepare this duck. 

            Ammini

Ok. I shall bring it now,now.  ( exit)

            CURTAIN