Drama > Time. : (10minutes)
CONJUGAL CONFLICT
Genre: Short Fiction
Venue:
*One Bed-room Apartment of Fourteenth floor, Lower Manhattan
* Main Characters :-Kausik(Indian husband)and. Linda(America wife),
* And Badsha, the baby-son
* Minor characters: police (2) Security guard , Apartment Concierge
and some Handymen.
{[***Characters. (behind the curtain )>.
Parents of Kausik ; Linda's Ex-Boyfriend
Time : Friday Evening , 7:30PM}]
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Act-1 (scene 1)
Kausik and Linda were taking dinner in their dining cum living room, accompanied with the watching of entertainment channel in CVS on TV which was fixed on the opposite side of wall .They looked very much relaxed on Friday mood.
Linda:
After dinner we can watch a late-night movie on Netflix if our "cute enemy" doesn't wake up. When you'll finish, please take your favorite bottle 'Stella rose' with two wine glasses in the bed room .
Linda cast a meaningful glance with smile for Kausik.
Kausik took some tuna salads and brea, keeping aside the pasta on plate. There was a clear sign on his face that he was not enjoying the food at all . But Linda did not notice that .
She continued :'I can see a new Indian movie with you tonight, it's Bombay-Begam, a nasty hot movie; have you hea......
(interruption by shrilled ringing tone in the land phone rang by this time,) it was long-distance-call;
Kausik rushed hurriedly to pick up the phone, "hello mummy.!..........I can't hear you well ; Keep your phone, I am calling you.
Linda was watching[with open jaw] the face of husband and guessed something inauspicious . No call used to come from India except his birthday and it was too early morning in India for calling.
As kausik was about to wash his hand, she interrupted. "You can call them after finishing your dinner !
Kausik did not answer; instead he dialed the number and resumed to talk with mom, sitting on the stool near the phone-stand.
Linda finished her meal with displeased silence. She was irritated at the thought of spoiling Friday fun; but She kept her ear as alert as watch-dog to hear conversation of Kausik.
Kausik: "hmm.....when it happened?"
Mummy :
"After coming back from Ritu's marriage party he was feeling uneasy ; so I gave a call to the doctor Ayanger; he advised to get him admitted day before yesterday in Joshi Nursing home .But he was shifted to ICSU at yesterday midnight as his sugar was rising high. I was waiting for morning to inform you. "
"Be cool mummy ; I will be reaching Kerala as soon as possible ;I will call my friend Ramesh to give you some cash money immediately ;I wish my dad to get best treatment . .....Who is with you now mummy? "
Mummy:
" Sriprya , she always take care for us ; She is now in the final year of Ayurvedic Medical college. "
("Sriprya! Kausik murmured silently. [...parents' desired daughter-in-law]
Kausik's parent wished to include her in the family as their daughter-in-law").
Then Kausik dialed his friend Ramesh and informed him everything .
Linda was cleaning the table Coming near to Linda , Kausik told her about hospitalization of his father .
Kausik:
"Listen I have to go India as soon as I get direct flight to Kerala. I am thinking that if my father doesn't survive, I can not leave my mother alone . After the the funeral rituals I will bring my mummy here with me .!"
For a moment Linda stood like a statue with Stony gaze at Kausik.
Then said with icy voice ,"is it necessary to take such quick decision to bring your mom here ?''
Kausik:
Yes. It is urgent for me. But what bothers you, Linda?".......[Continue]
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Linda :
" I think it is a kind of torture to bring her in this foreign land at this late age." .
Kausik :
You needn' t to think that! I am the nearest and dearest to her on earth ;she needs nothing else than to spent rest of life with me; and I will be also in peace.
Linda :(with stern voice)said thoughtfully:
There are many more problems ; some are potent while others are latent, unseen.
Kausik:
"As for? looking at Linda questionably...
Linda:
"This is a one bed room apartment. We have to move at least One and half bed room apartment which will create financial pressure on us ."
Kausik:
"You will join to take your part time old job in the WallMart so that no financial pressure comes. My mom will be happy for the opportunity to spend some time with the grand son ."
(Linda was enraged , her face became red; she threw forcefully the moist dirty napkin for cleaning table and leaning on other hand on the table she demanded,)
Linda screamed :
"Why, should I support you for your mom? Your parent were against our marriage. They warned you to cut up relationship with you ,even they may go to court! black-mailer parent, huh ! They tried to pollute your mind with their opinion of mean nasty idea about American girl as wife . Linda continued like a counselling.....
"One of my divorcee friend, Judy, who married an Indian boy, told that that it was her widow mother- in -law who caused her divorce . She poked her nose in every matter ; always advising what to do or not; she can take better care of her son than I do or know.
Too much worrying and babying was so annoying for Judy; her husband became powerless against his mother . He turned into alfa male which caused her behavior pattern to change also: rough, arrogant ,abusive ; all communications reached to stand still; their relationship became bitter and degraded from worse to worst ; quarreling and arguments were the only conversations between them ; her mother-in-law seemed to be happy, she wanted their separation. My friend requested her husband for counseling;but he did not pay ear to her. At last the marriage ended in separation.
Judy consoled me that I was lucky that my in laws keep no relation with me from the beginning. But warned me to remember always,' beware of Indian mother-in-law!"
..."So I am the last person to support you of bringing your mother. to live with us. Better solution is to send financial support so that she can live well in India."
(Linda tried to study facial lines of Kausik, - if her lecture about Judy left any positive effect on him!)
Kausik:
"Listen , this is not the time for quarreling ; I have least interest to argue with you now . My mind is burdened with the thought whether I will see my dad last time to beg pardon and ask him to forgive me for disobeying him..(his voice choked in grief..)..I have to prepare for going India.
My mom will lie on this sofa-cum bed /or the foot-on bed which I kept folded in the cupboard until we move somewhere. Please keep the small cupboard empty for my mom's suitcase and other staff."
(Kausik moved to the bedroom and brought the old carry -on cabin suitcase of his student life which was little dusty for not being used long time.)
Linda frustrated to experience that her story of divorcee friend did not affect a bit to KK. (She used to address kausik) Husband's impassiveness infuriated her toxically. She flung to the front of KK who was dusting his cabin suitcase, and said as a hissing snake :
" I see ! you wouldn't hear me ! '
she spinned around the table ( crushing her teeth in vain anger)
- "You are ready to risk your 'family life' miserable at the cost of your male chauvinistic attitude, right ?At the back of your mind, your alfa 'ego' is working which is :
'I will do what I wish'!
(She again moved her body dramatically. with her conversation).!'
But look here, in conjugal life you can't take any such unilateral decision.
......." she was gasping!
(She bended her slender body and swayed her indicator finger violently near KK's nose ).
"I am the last person to allow you to do so ; Let me see. how far the water ultimately flows!"
Linda:
"you are a son of Tamil Brahmin priest ; it would have been better for you to follow your hereditary profession of priest hood in temple and marry a rustic woman as efficient cook , a true replica of your mom (Uttered sarcastically), instead of coming here for higher education and to marry me to hell rest of my life ".
Kausik:( voice-tone like thundering )
"Don't forget that I rescued you by marrying !
There was no love affair as such between us . Kausik dusted the suitcase well to clean up before pulling the chain and opening it . (simultaneously with the conversation)
." I have to marry you out of sympathy, on humanitarian ground.
(Now KK threw a sharp piercing glance at Linda.)
Suddenly Linda looked a little bewildered as if trying to looking back....
....for what?.....
....apprehending?.....
.....memorizing?.....
......or, calculating?.....
Within few moments Linda controlled her weakness and asked in challenging voice:
"S-o-o. you mean you married me not out of love but for empathy?
This one and half years you played only 'game of love 'with me?
you imposter, a humbug bastard!
I can't live with you any more . I must leave this house right now ."
Kausik :(impatiently)
"You are at liberty to do that"- replied shrugging his shoulder."
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(Linda rushed into the bedroom and within short period came out with her backpack and pryam with sleeping baby) .
"I am taking your son with me . "
Kausik( declared firmly)
"He is not "my son "; so you can take him also with you .
Linda
Raised a shrilling scream with striking the dining table-top...
"What? Wh-a-a at. ?
Linda threw a metallic verse towards wall which hit and cracked their framed wedding photo with white gown and white veil of transparent lace !.
"You mean creature , a heinous vulture ! Aren't you ashamed to deny even your fatherhood ?.... just to avoid alimony!
The baby in the pryam woke up from sleep due to the noise and started crying .
(Chaos and commotion spread out in the room)
Kausik:
"Don't shout! don't!"
Kausik went on divulging the secret from the closet, locked so long......
"You had affair with my friend Ricardo who also came from Argentina for higher study. like me .You were undergrad student and also doing a part time job of waitress in college canteen to meet up your own education and other expenses .
Ricardo was a son of wealthy businessman.... .You piled on him to earn a secured life for yourself..Linda! Ricardo was only flirting with you; You were too ambitious to care little for your feminity! You began to stay in the room of his hostel when he finished his Master and got job in several places .You insisted him to marry before joining any job.
One day Ricardo came to me in the evening and asked me to drop him to the airport . He disclosed me that he is fleeing to his home land Argentina to escape from you. Because you were blackmailing him that you will attempt suicide if he does not marry you that month; you are carrying his baby in your womb . You refused stubbornly to go any doctor's clinic for abortion. Then Ricardo handover me an envelop which contained your suicide note. He was terrified.
Now I should disclose what I kept as secret to you. Though not pleasant but you must listen to know the back ground fact of me to marry you !
Ricardo [afraid and anxiously] :
"I lied Linda that I will be going out for seven days to Sweden and Amsterdam for job interviews ."
Kausik:
I came back home from airport after dropping Ricardo with heavy heart . After one month I met you in the Walmart collecting carts and arranging them in order;
....Linda , you look pathetically sick,-- physically and mentally. I was touched to see that . You asked me whether I am in touch with Ricardo. I just nodded my head without looking at your eyes.
On that day , coming back to my room I got the offer of job -letter . ..
As your sad image that I saw in Walmart floated in my mind, I took out the 'suicide note'( kept secretly) to read several times Then I decided to propose you. Before proposing I used to go Walmart frequently to meet you. .......The rest is known to you : how I struggled over the storm of objections from my parents .Your baby was born within seven months of our marriage ......I pretended to all as if ' pre matured baby' to save your prestige!. .........
The baby was crying and wanting to get on the lap of his mom .But Linda did not pick up him on lap.
Linda was standing against the wall, her bewildered face was distorted utterly with contempt and helplessness !
Linda :( now she clapped dramatically)
" Wow, goo-d Samaritan; then like vomit she emitted, ff uck, you fake Shame- ari- tan !"
(The baby was crying....)
( Kausik came towards her ; picked up the crying baby affectionately, to hand over Linda .)
Kausik:
"He is hungry ; please. feed him !
(Linda turned her face to the baby looking vacantly, as if, to some creature never seen before)!
Then glanced at Kausik deeply with her stunned. and tearful eyes, for few moments .
{ Both fixed their eyes on each other with their mouth little agap, like still-image ! their untold speech was conveyed through gazed eyes ! {(Perhaps all the past moments of last fifteen months flashed in lightening speed in their minds like some snap-shots-!!}
Linda. took the baby from kausik in her lap and went to the bed- room silently.)
Kausik; ( rested on the sofa-cum bed, quite exhausted; it was mid-night As he switched off the light, a deadly silence swooped down, pervading all around Just as in war field , at the end of battle !
Kausik lay down on the sofa. ..... amidst the silence he heard the baby was enjoying breast-milk from Linda with sweet sucking noise .....chuk, chuk ....chuk. Aah!Aah....
He felt into deep sleep with that lullaby ..chuk,chuk..........
( In early morning door-bell and also the ring-tone from land phone puzzled sleepy Kausik. He struggled to get over from sleepy bewilderment ... With drowsy eye he opened the door ; his sleep evaporated to see two cobs with uniform, standing behind the security guards of their building who looked pale, terrified.
Police:
You have to come down with us in the back yard of swimming pool..
Kausik followed them in his bewilderment without questioning
Outside the indoor swimming pool there was a open place surrounded by some tall tree and swimming chairs to relax under open sky .There was a crowd of several cobs, concierge, two three staffs of the apartment ,The police stopped near a body covered by white sheet. One cob lifted the white cover.
Police:
"Do you recognize. this woman?'"
Kausik : nodded his head .
"What is her name?"
Kausik :
"Linda, my wife".
Police. :
"When did she came here?"
(Kausik nodded his head again.)
Police. :
"Why was she out of apartment at mid-night?"
(Kausik nodded his head , confusedly.)
The cleaner of swimming pool was the first to see her body hanging from a tree of this garden.
Kausik : (looked at her wide-opened sea-green eyes fixed at the grey unclear sky and protruded tongue, as if, to mock Kausik !
(Kausik asks silently: What are you searching with such penetrating look at the sky , Linda? fault of our stars?
He wanted to ask the cob to shut her eyes and insert her tongue inside; but nothing came out from throat .)
Two cobs in white robe with the concierge came to Kausik.
" Sir, we need to take look of your apartment; please accompany us "
Kausik followed them like puppet.
The cob took multiple photos of the whole apartment . They discussed among themselves in low voice while taking ..the cracked wedding photo In the bed room they picked up an. open envelop. from the baby-cot.
The three cobs leaned over the piece of paper to read .
Police :
"Sir, you have to go to the police station with us .
There are two lady cops to take care of your baby".
Kausik followed the cobs;
Coming near the elevator as he turned back abruptly towards the door of his apartment , he visualized his father standing, waving his right palm.
Taking seat in the police Jeep car Kausik covered his face with two palms; he apprehended his father passed away; his berieved mother would be looking for him to come; his only descendant Badsha,the 7month's baby-son, left under the caretaker of two unknown lady cobs, and he is on the way of police station ,perhaps to be prisoned !
How a life can be be turned to polar distance by fate only in couple of hours!
The cob patted him softly and assured,"It is just formality's sake; nothing would happen to you, sir ; he gave the note from the envelope to read :This is her suicide-note, written at 4: 15 AM,
'Nobody is responsible for my suicide; it is my Own decision.
Kausik, my husband, is innocent !'
Linda. Srinivasan
NB:
"I want to be loved and live in your heart ; true love never
dies, isn't? xx
"Only yours Linda".
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