The characters
1 Navya (17) Higher Secondary student
2 Divya ( 17 ) Navya's friend
3 Mithun ( 21 ) Navya's Facebook friend
4 Old man ( 80) (partially blind)
5 Mithun's grandparents
SCENE 1
The garden of a Higher Secondary School. The students are relaxing during break. Navya and Divya are sitting on a bench
under a tree. Navya is holding a mobile phone.
Navya
Divya, what should I do ? That young man has sent me another
friend request. I'm going to delete it.
Divya
Let me see. ( takes the phone ) Who is he ?
Navya
One Mithun from Bangalore. This is his third request.
Divya
I think there's no harm in accepting him. If he oversteps the
limits, you can just unfriend him.
Navya
Ok.Let me see.( presses 'confirm' )
Facebook chat opens
Mithun
Thanks for accepting me.
Navya
mmm..
Mithun
Where are you ?
Navya
At school
Mithun
How's school?
Navya
Fine.
Mithun
Are you free now ?
Navya
Yes. It's break. ten minutes left.
Mithun
Can I continue?
Navya
mmm...
Mithun
I am at work.
Navya
Where?
Mithun
Microsoft, Banglore
Navya
Ok.
Mithun
Your family?
Navya
Father ,mother, and younger brother. Yours ?
Mithun
Parents in Australia. One sister, married and settled in Canada.
I'm staying with my grandparents..
Navya
mmmm...
Mithun
Progressive family, secular, nonracial , nonsexist, with a
broad outlook...
Navya
mmm.. break is over...bye..
Mithun
Ok. bye for now.. can I see you in the evening. Thanks a
lot for chat..
Navya
I'm not sure...a lot to study...
Mithun
If time allows.. only a few minutes...
Navya
Let me see....but I'm not sure. ( switches off the phone)
He seems to be a nice guy.
Divya
Maybe. But who knows?
SCENE 2
( Two weeks have passed. Now Navya and Mithun are intimate
friends on facebook. Divya is at Navya's home .She knows all about Navya's friendship. )
( Chat starts and continues for a long time.)
MITHUN
May I ask you something?
NAVYA
What ?
MITHUN
Promise me, you won't be offended.
NAVYA
Not at all. We have known each other for long.
MITHUN
It might sound silly. Indeed , I love you.
NAVYA'
No offence, but I prefer 'like'.
MITHUN
To put it bluntly, my parents want to arrange a bride for me. But
I'm against it. I want the girl of my choice, and you are the one..
NAVYA
I'm too young to think about marriage.
MITHUN
I showed your photo to my grandparents. They are very impressed,
and indeed are keen to see you. Why not make a short trip to
Bangalore to receive the blessings of my grandparents?
NAVYA
Oh, no.It's impossible. My parents won't allow it.
MITHUN
Don't worry. I shall make a plan.
NAVYA
I am too scared.
MITHUN
Don't worry about anything. You can invite your friend Divya
to join. Just a one-day trip.
NAVYA
Give me time to think about it.
MITHUN
Ok. Take your own time.
NAVYA
mmm ....
( The chat continues )
SCENE 3
( Navya and Divya are in a train bound for Bangalore. The
compartment is overcrowded. Enter the old man. He is struggling
to find a seat. Navya and Divya make some space for the old
man.)
OLD MAN
Thanks, daughters. God bless. Mole ( daughter), can you read
this newspaper for me ? I am partially blind..you know..the
cataract...( gives a newspaper to Navya)
NAVYA
( reads) Man hacks wife's lover to death in the court....
Kozhikode, A man has been arrested.....
OLD MAN
What's wrong with this country ? The papers are full of
these horror stories...all in the name of love.... daughter, read
more....
NAVYA
( reads) College girl elopes with auto-driver..
OLD MAN
Did I buy the wrong newspaper ? Or,is this the rule rather than
the exception? Dear girls, be extra-vigilant.There are traps set
everywhere to lure you. Nobody can be trusted these days..
Why don't the parents take care of their daughters ? ..read more
( Navya reads )
Please remember, eagles are hovering above to spot chickens
on the ground.. God bless...
SCENE 4
( In front of Mithun's flat. Enter Mithun, followed by Navya
and Divya. It's 7 a.m. Mithun presses the button of the bell.
The door opens. Grandpa and grandma welcome the girls.They
hug them hard, and kiss on the cheeks)
GRANDPA
How was the journey,dear girls?
NAVYA
It was fine.
GRANDMA
You must be very tired. Mithun, put the backpacks in the bedroom. Girls, what would you like to drink? Coffee, tea,or
juice...
DIVYA
Not now. later.
NAVYA
We want to freshen up first.
GRANDPA
Good idea. You need a shower to start the day....
( Grandpa and Grandma start removing the girls' dress.Mithun joins
.The girls are extremely shocked, and resist, screaming.The
'grandparents' remove their wigs.)
NAVYA
Please, please ,leave us alone... please..
DIVYA
Please, please .. don't do this ..
( the three men laugh mockingly.They gag the girls.Lights fade)
SCENE 5
( Two days later. Navya and Divya are in a train running somewhere in Kerala. 9 a.m. The girls are very exhausted,
distraught.Enter the same old man. He sits near the girls.He
gets settled. He takes out a newspaper.)
OLD MAN
Daughter, can you please read this newspaper for me .I am
partially blind. I can read only the headlines.
NAVYA
(Reads) '' STILL NO TRACE OF THE TWO MISSING
SCHOOL GIRLS''
( Navya is too scared to continue. She looks around. )
OLD MAN
What happened ? Continue.
NAVYA
Uncle, I shall read later. I have a stomach ache. I want to go
to the toilet.
OLD MAN
No problem.
( Navya rises from her seat and beckons Divya to follow.
Both girls move to the door. Navya whispers something
to Divya. Now the train is running on a long bridge.
Navya opens the door. Both hold hands and jump. The
train roars away.)
CURTAIN
( Chat starts and continues for a long time.)
MITHUN
May I ask you something?
NAVYA
What ?
MITHUN
Promise me, you won't be offended.
NAVYA
Not at all. We have known each other for long.
MITHUN
It might sound silly. Indeed , I love you.
NAVYA'
No offence, but I prefer 'like'.
MITHUN
To put it bluntly, my parents want to arrange a bride for me. But
I'm against it. I want the girl of my choice, and you are the one..
NAVYA
I'm too young to think about marriage.
MITHUN
I showed your photo to my grandparents. They are very impressed,
and indeed are keen to see you. Why not make a short trip to
Bangalore to receive the blessings of my grandparents?
NAVYA
Oh, no.It's impossible. My parents won't allow it.
MITHUN
Don't worry. I shall make a plan.
NAVYA
I am too scared.
MITHUN
Don't worry about anything. You can invite your friend Divya
to join. Just a one-day trip.
NAVYA
Give me time to think about it.
MITHUN
Ok. Take your own time.
NAVYA
mmm ....
( The chat continues )
SCENE 3
( Navya and Divya are in a train bound for Bangalore. The
compartment is overcrowded. Enter the old man. He is struggling
to find a seat. Navya and Divya make some space for the old
man.)
OLD MAN
Thanks, daughters. God bless. Mole ( daughter), can you read
this newspaper for me ? I am partially blind..you know..the
cataract...( gives a newspaper to Navya)
NAVYA
( reads) Man hacks wife's lover to death in the court....
Kozhikode, A man has been arrested.....
OLD MAN
What's wrong with this country ? The papers are full of
these horror stories...all in the name of love.... daughter, read
more....
NAVYA
( reads) College girl elopes with auto-driver..
OLD MAN
Did I buy the wrong newspaper ? Or,is this the rule rather than
the exception? Dear girls, be extra-vigilant.There are traps set
everywhere to lure you. Nobody can be trusted these days..
Why don't the parents take care of their daughters ? ..read more
( Navya reads )
Please remember, eagles are hovering above to spot chickens
on the ground.. God bless...
SCENE 4
( In front of Mithun's flat. Enter Mithun, followed by Navya
and Divya. It's 7 a.m. Mithun presses the button of the bell.
The door opens. Grandpa and grandma welcome the girls.They
hug them hard, and kiss on the cheeks)
GRANDPA
How was the journey,dear girls?
NAVYA
It was fine.
GRANDMA
You must be very tired. Mithun, put the backpacks in the bedroom. Girls, what would you like to drink? Coffee, tea,or
juice...
DIVYA
Not now. later.
NAVYA
We want to freshen up first.
GRANDPA
Good idea. You need a shower to start the day....
( Grandpa and Grandma start removing the girls' dress.Mithun joins
'grandparents' remove their wigs.)
NAVYA
Please, please ,leave us alone... please..
DIVYA
Please, please .. don't do this ..
( the three men laugh mockingly.They gag the girls.Lights fade)
SCENE 5
( Two days later. Navya and Divya are in a train running somewhere in Kerala. 9 a.m. The girls are very exhausted,
distraught.Enter the same old man. He sits near the girls.He
gets settled. He takes out a newspaper.)
OLD MAN
Daughter, can you please read this newspaper for me .I am
partially blind. I can read only the headlines.
NAVYA
(Reads) '' STILL NO TRACE OF THE TWO MISSING
SCHOOL GIRLS''
( Navya is too scared to continue. She looks around. )
OLD MAN
What happened ? Continue.
NAVYA
Uncle, I shall read later. I have a stomach ache. I want to go
to the toilet.
OLD MAN
No problem.
( Navya rises from her seat and beckons Divya to follow.
Both girls move to the door. Navya whispers something
to Divya. Now the train is running on a long bridge.
Navya opens the door. Both hold hands and jump. The
train roars away.)
CURTAIN
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