Trouble

“We are children of one mother

But some beautiful and some ugly.

So ugly that he can’t stand head high.

Along with those beautiful children of his own mother.”

In the play:    Prem Badhur Magar (worker) - Maoist people’s movement supporter

                        Krishna Magar as his brother - who is in not favor of movement.

                         And a Maoist leader

Background: inside the house, In front of fire, in cold winter night.

Prem Magar

Inevitable sounds of footsteps echoing

Of newly arouse engulfed fire.

To end the era of greedy pigs.

Who drinks western wines for pleasure.

Abandoning, thirsty lips of commons folks

As if illusion of their own suffering.

Krishna Magar

Krishna looks at the flame of the fire

I heard,

In night

They will come to knock your door

If open

Has trouble, they will loot your young son.

If not,

Has trouble

They will storm to burn your heaven.

Pray, fragrances of gunpowder don’t reach our doorstep.

 Krishna went kitchen to bring alcohol after emptying a jug, talking. 

Prem Magar

What if you are wrong?

Krishna entered living room carrying jug of homemade alcohol in right, a potato snacks on left.

Krishna Magar

I am not,

Haven’t you heard of incident occurred in neighbor village?

Poor mother, poor lady

What gone inside her heart, who knows?

When her only son taken

Eye banded

Handcuffed.

Prem Magar

Yes, I heard about that,

But don’t you think his mother will be proud of his son

When revolutionary  force he get  call.

Singing people’s song he march,

When each of his march heads for liberation.

Krishna Magar

I don’t get it,

Liberation? Liberation from whom?

From me, from you

Each of us is suffering being, who wants to get liberate.

But from whom is a question when we all are branches of same tree.

Children of one mother.

Prem held his glass in one hand and gazed alcohol.

Prem Magar

Yes, we are branches of same tree

But haven’t those two big eyes of yours’ encounter bloom flowers and death flowers on same branch.

Yes, I also agree we are children of one mother

But some beautiful and some ugly.

So ugly that he can’t stand head high.

Along with those beautiful children of his own mother.

Krishna Magar

Who is to be blame for this?

Prem Magar

Bourgeoisie, Bourgeoisie

They ripped our blood, exploited each of us,

Captured power of the State

And made us puppet to dance for them.

Sing for them.

Krishna Magar

Aren’t they too making us dance, to sing?

Since yesterday act in people court

I doubt, they too are reddish from same field.

He was beaten up, forced to kneel down

His legs got wounded, body dropped unconscious.

He died before dying.

I don’t consider that severe punishment for informer.

I wonder, can’t things resolve peacefully.

Prem poured the glass half full of alcohol, emptying entire jug.

Prem Magar

Oh! Brother, you only witnessed what happened

Not heard what Maoist leader said in speech.

“Informers are the dangerous elements to cripple people’s movement.”

The way you are expressing grievance,

I am suspicious you are one of them.

Krishna Magar

Who?

Prem Magar

Informer.

Krishna Magar

No, I am not

 I belong to no one,

But in same way I belong to everyone

Prem Magar

That I know, since I understand you

You are coward, don’t have courage to stand

And act like cunning crow

But be careful, brother

One day, some day you might get caught by foolish cow.

Krishna Magar

It’s better to escape and wait for that day,

He readjusted his leaning posture.  While, worriedly he moved his hand back and forth.

I am worried for tomorrow

When army arrives

Immediately start to inspect,

Asks question of involvement.

Interrogate and if force to confess of involvement.

My involvement.

Without any.

Prem Magar

Yes, if army detain you,

Force to open your mouth

 For means of getting information.

In process torture you, threaten you

Will you going to speak words?

See, trouble is in both.

Krishna Magar

I don’t know.

Knocking door enters the Maoist leader with five young arm groups, on black dress, red band around head.

Maoist leader:

Yesterday, I think both of you have witness.

How torturously he died.

Fear in his eyes.

Maoist leader fixed eyes towards Krishna.

I hope you don’t want such consequences occur to you.

LAL SALAM, LAL SALAM (Red salute, red salute)

 They exit, leaving both the brothers awe.

©2013