The characters
1 Kunjan ( 40) : A worker in the rubber log loading and unloading industry. He is well-built and very strong
2 Ammini ( 35) : Kunjan's wife
3 Achu ( 3 ) : Their daughter
4 The Criminal : ( 25)
5 Human Rights Activist ( 50) HRA
Police Inspector, policemen, neighbours etc
Scene 1
Kunjan's modest house at Paika. It's 10 a.m. Ammini is
busy putting clothes on the line. Achu tries to help her. She likes
to play with the water in the bucket.
Achu
Where's Pappa gone? When is he coming back?
Ammini
Pappa went to Pala, in search of beef. You know, there's a
shortage of beef in the country. Your Pappa can't eat rice without
beef. He says beef is essential to keep fit.
( enter the Criminal. He has a strange look, with unkempt
hair and dirty clothes)
Criminal
Chechi, can I have some water to drink?
Ammini
Where do you come from, and what for ?
Criminal
I am from Tamil Nadu. I am in the building industry.
( Ammini eyes him with suspicion)
Ammini
( Aside) Nowadays, nobody can be trusted. Anyway, how can
a person be denied drinking water? ( She goes into the house.
After a few seconds, the Criminal rushes into the house. He shuts
the door behind him. Achu is very scared, and she starts to cry.
Noises are heard from the house. Ammini 's screaming is heard.
Then no noise.Enter Kunjan.He realises that something is wrong.
He takes Achu and tries to console her.)
Kunjan
What's wrong ? Where is mummy?
( Achu points at the door, crying. Kunjan knocks at the door.
He kicks the door in. The Criminal rushes out.Ammini falls into
Kunjan's arms, crying uncontrollably. Her blouse and skirt are torn.)
Kunjan
What's wrong? What happened ?
( Ammini points at the Criminal)
( Kunjan runs after the Criminal. The Criminal gets away.Kunjan
throws a stone at the Criminal. He falls down. He is subdued by
Kunjan. Some neighbours arrive at the scene.)
Kunjan
You bastard, what have you done ? I'll make mince meat out
of you. Someone bring a rope, quickly.
( more neighbours arrive. One of them brings a rope, and the
Criminal is tied to a tree.)
Neighbour
Call the police. Do you know the number ?
Kunjan
No. Wait. Don't call the police. I'll deal with this scum.
Ammini, what did this animal do to you ?
Ammini
He tried to rape me. Luckily, you came. Otherwise....
Kunjan
How dared you try to rape my wife? ( he slaps him left and
right). I'll teach you a lesson, an unforgettable lesson. ( he squeezes the testicles of the Criminal. The culprit screams )
Neighbour
Kunjan, stop. What if this scoundrel dies? Call the police
and hand him over to them.
Kunjan
What for ? If he dies, who cares? Did I invite him here?
What's the use of handing him over to the police ? What guarantee
is there that he will be punished ? Tomorrow he will be out on
bail, and he'll do it again.No, I don't trust the system. Tomorrow,
he'll be let free.I'm sure about it. ( he slaps the Criminal again)
Neighbour
Kunjan ,stop .Control yourself . For your child's sake, exercise
patience, and leave this matter to the police.
( enter the Human Rights Activist ( HRA) )
HRA
Hey, stop. What are you doing ? Untie this person immediately.
Kunjan
This rascal tried to rape my wife. Who are you ?
HRA
I'm from the Human Rights Commission.
Kunjan
What do you want ?
HRA
I got information that you are torturing a suspect here. You are
not allowed to do that. It's a violation of human rights.
Kunjan
Who are you to lecture me about human rights in my yard ? You
say this man is a suspect ? My wife narrowly escaped rape,in front
of my own eyes, and he is still a suspect ?
HRA
Yes, he is only a suspect until proven guilty. That's a matter for the
courts to decide. The suspect has his rights.
Kunjan
You mean, even the right to rape ?
HRA
I don't mean that. The suspect should be treated humanely.
Kunjan
This country is no longer safe for the vulnerable, that is:
girls, women, and the elderly, who are abused, raped, battered
and killed with impunity because the criminals are emboldened
by the support you people give them. You form long Qs at prison
gates, with boquets to motivate the criminals inside, and encourage
the youths to join their ranks. ( he slaps the Criminal)
HRA
Stop it, or you will face dire consequences.
Kunjan
What other consequences are more dire than an attempted rape
of my wife, in broad daylight? The criminals laugh all the way
to the courts because they know that nothing will happen to them.
We, the suffering people have no rights. You keep tightlipped
about the families that have lost their loved ones. That poor
girl, Soumya, is forgotten, while her killer has fattened under state
care. There's no justice in this country. The rights are exclusively
for killers and rapists.
HRA
The rule of law and human rights must be upheld at all costs.
Kunjan
To hell with your human rights. You only uplift the bottoms of
criminals.
HRA
Mind your language.
( The Sub Inspector of Police, accompanied by several constables
arrive. )
SI
What's going on here ?
Kunjan
This man tried to rape my wife.
SI
Who told you to tie this man to the tree?
Kunjan
I did it to prevent him from escaping.
SI
You have no authority to do that.( to the constables ) Untie him
and take him to the hospital. he is injured. ( to Kunjan ) I heard
that you assaulted him.
Kunjan
Yes, I did.
SI
Why?
Kunjan
Because he tried to rape my wife.
SI
Even so, you are not supposed to do that. I've received a complaint
from the Human Rights Commission. So I hereby arrest you for
causing grevious bodily harm to the suspect.
Kunjan
Is this fair? Is this justice ?
SI
No talk. Enter the Jeep, quickly. I have to do my duty.
( The constables surround Kunjan. He is led off, while Ammini
and Achu try to cling to him, fruitlessly)
Achu
Don't go Pappa, don't go. ( Ammini and Achu cry uncontrollably, as the Jeep roars away)
( Curtain )
He takes Achu and tries to console her.)
Kunjan
What's wrong ? Where is mummy?
( Achu points at the door, crying. Kunjan knocks at the door.
He kicks the door in. The Criminal rushes out.Ammini falls into
Kunjan's arms, crying uncontrollably. Her blouse and skirt are torn.)
Kunjan
What's wrong? What happened ?
( Ammini points at the Criminal)
( Kunjan runs after the Criminal. The Criminal gets away.Kunjan
throws a stone at the Criminal. He falls down. He is subdued by
Kunjan. Some neighbours arrive at the scene.)
Kunjan
You bastard, what have you done ? I'll make mince meat out
of you. Someone bring a rope, quickly.
( more neighbours arrive. One of them brings a rope, and the
Criminal is tied to a tree.)
Neighbour
Call the police. Do you know the number ?
Kunjan
No. Wait. Don't call the police. I'll deal with this scum.
Ammini, what did this animal do to you ?
Ammini
He tried to rape me. Luckily, you came. Otherwise....
Kunjan
How dared you try to rape my wife? ( he slaps him left and
right). I'll teach you a lesson, an unforgettable lesson. ( he squeezes the testicles of the Criminal. The culprit screams )
Neighbour
Kunjan, stop. What if this scoundrel dies? Call the police
and hand him over to them.
Kunjan
What for ? If he dies, who cares? Did I invite him here?
What's the use of handing him over to the police ? What guarantee
is there that he will be punished ? Tomorrow he will be out on
bail, and he'll do it again.No, I don't trust the system. Tomorrow,
he'll be let free.I'm sure about it. ( he slaps the Criminal again)
Neighbour
Kunjan ,stop .Control yourself . For your child's sake, exercise
patience, and leave this matter to the police.
( enter the Human Rights Activist ( HRA) )
HRA
Hey, stop. What are you doing ? Untie this person immediately.
Kunjan
This rascal tried to rape my wife. Who are you ?
HRA
I'm from the Human Rights Commission.
Kunjan
What do you want ?
HRA
I got information that you are torturing a suspect here. You are
not allowed to do that. It's a violation of human rights.
Kunjan
Who are you to lecture me about human rights in my yard ? You
say this man is a suspect ? My wife narrowly escaped rape,in front
of my own eyes, and he is still a suspect ?
HRA
Yes, he is only a suspect until proven guilty. That's a matter for the
courts to decide. The suspect has his rights.
Kunjan
You mean, even the right to rape ?
HRA
I don't mean that. The suspect should be treated humanely.
Kunjan
This country is no longer safe for the vulnerable, that is:
girls, women, and the elderly, who are abused, raped, battered
and killed with impunity because the criminals are emboldened
by the support you people give them. You form long Qs at prison
gates, with boquets to motivate the criminals inside, and encourage
the youths to join their ranks. ( he slaps the Criminal)
HRA
Stop it, or you will face dire consequences.
Kunjan
What other consequences are more dire than an attempted rape
of my wife, in broad daylight? The criminals laugh all the way
to the courts because they know that nothing will happen to them.
We, the suffering people have no rights. You keep tightlipped
about the families that have lost their loved ones. That poor
girl, Soumya, is forgotten, while her killer has fattened under state
care. There's no justice in this country. The rights are exclusively
for killers and rapists.
HRA
The rule of law and human rights must be upheld at all costs.
Kunjan
To hell with your human rights. You only uplift the bottoms of
criminals.
HRA
Mind your language.
( The Sub Inspector of Police, accompanied by several constables
arrive. )
SI
What's going on here ?
Kunjan
This man tried to rape my wife.
SI
Who told you to tie this man to the tree?
Kunjan
I did it to prevent him from escaping.
SI
You have no authority to do that.( to the constables ) Untie him
and take him to the hospital. he is injured. ( to Kunjan ) I heard
that you assaulted him.
Kunjan
Yes, I did.
SI
Why?
Kunjan
Because he tried to rape my wife.
SI
Even so, you are not supposed to do that. I've received a complaint
from the Human Rights Commission. So I hereby arrest you for
causing grevious bodily harm to the suspect.
Kunjan
Is this fair? Is this justice ?
SI
No talk. Enter the Jeep, quickly. I have to do my duty.
( The constables surround Kunjan. He is led off, while Ammini
and Achu try to cling to him, fruitlessly)
Achu
Don't go Pappa, don't go. ( Ammini and Achu cry uncontrollably, as the Jeep roars away)
( Curtain )
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