[Enter dairyman]

Dairyman - [chanting] Doi, Doi mishti doi! Taja doi! (starts low and proceeds to become louder
as character enters the stage)

[fast pacing, with deliberate steps, moves a bit ahead of Amal]

[comes back when Amals voice is heard calling out, Amals voice is weak but enthusiastic]

Amal - Dada, dada, suno ek bar, ap suno to!

[Dairyman stops, and returns to Amal, leans backward to look through window. Reply is non
committal]

Dairyman - Haan, kya chahiye bol, dahi lega kya?

Amal - (innocently) mein kaise lu, mere paas to paisa nahi hai. (in a bengali accent)

Dairyman - (in bengali) why call out then, why waste my time

[begins to walk off in irritation. Is called called back by Amal]

Amal - (innoncence) kaash mein apke saath chal sakta

Dairyman - (laughing) Mere saath? (looks him up and down with a slight pause) Kyu nahi chal
sakta?

[dairyman notices Amal's state, and that theres a *child* sitting near a window in the middle of
the day]

Amal - Jo doctor aye the, unhone mana kiya tha mujhe bahar jane se, isliye mein sara din yahan
pe baitha rehta hu

[dairyman is concerned and curious, and keeps down the matka to talk to this child]

Dairyman - (first few words in bengali then hindi) kyun? Tujhe hua kya hai?

Amal - Pata nahi, I’m not learned, to mereko pata nahi, ki what is happening to me? (pause)
Leave that, ap bolo, ap kahan se aa rahe ho. (enthusiastically)
Dairyman - (deadpan) mere gaown se (stands and wipes his sweat with the gamcha)

Amal - is your village really far?

Dairyman - Haan mera jo gaown hai na, wo Shamli nadi ke paas hai.

Amal - (pauses to think), Shamli river? Mene dekhi hai shayad, but i dont remember when.

Dairyman - (shocked bengali word) tu wahan pe gaya hai kya?

[dairyman pulls up his dhoti and sits down taking support from the wall and winces in bengali]

Amal - (after a pause to think, and a soft cough, Amal starts enthusiastically) Aur wo apke
wahan pe, auratein, red saree pehen ke, paani lene jati hai na?

Dairyman (huff of laughter) - haan baba haan, jaate hai, par sabke paas lal saree thodi hoti hai
pehenne ke liye?

Amal - Jab doctor mujhe, bahar jane dete hain, will you take me to your village?

Dairyman - haan baba, haan re, leke jaunga (in a fully bengali accent)(laughs and stands up)

[dairyman asks amal if he wants dahi, and proceeds to take out dahi as hes going]

Amal - But i dont have money.

Dairyman - (laughs and waves it off) arre koi nahi

[as the dairyman is taking out the curd, Amal speaks up]

Amal - Will you teach me your chant of doi doi!

Dairyman (laughs and exclaims in bengali) Kyu, tereko kyu sikhna hai? Kyunki tujhe to bada
admi hona hai na, padha likh ke?

Amal - Nahi nahi, i dont want to be learned (whiny childish tone)

[dairyman hands him the curd, during this action-]

Amal - Ap mujhe sikhaoge na?

Dairyman - haan haan, sikha dunga baccha (as he pats his head with a laugh)

[dairyman goes, lifts his dhoti and matka, gets ready to leave]

Amal - I didnt keep you too long na?

Dairyman - nahi nahi, mera kuch waste nahi hua.

[walks off with a smile and chants resume]

-​ Sudha

[payals khan-khan is heard, and gets louder as character enters the stage]

[Sudha walks in a diagonal to slanted manner, stops when Amals voice calls out, and walks
towards him]

Amal - Arre suno tum kahan ja rhi ho? Who are you? (politely says this)

[as sudha approaches curiously due to the call out, anklets tinkle]

Amal - Oh look how your anklets tinkle! Thodi der ruko, will you talk to me?

Sudha - Mere paas time nahi hai, mein already late hun

Amal - I see you dont wish to stop, mereko bhi man nahi hai yahan rehene ka. (says this in a
pitiful voice)

Sudha - [comes back and asks curiously] to maat raho, rukne ko kaun bola. [comes back and
actually looks at him] kuch hua hai kya tumhe?

Amal - Pata nahi, the doctor told me not to go out.

Sudha - (nodding and agreeing and says seriously) Haan doctor ki baat zaroor sunni chahiye,
otherwise log tumhe naughty bulayenge!

Amal - (in an slightly irritated tone and cutting her off) Acha acha, ye to bol, who are you?
Sudha - Mein? Mein to sudha hu! (chirpy nad energetic voice)

Amal - (confused) Sudha? Which Sudha?

Sudha - (huffing) Arree, the daughte rof the flower seller? (questioning and challenging tone)

Amal (curiously and innocently) - To tum karti kya ho?

Sudha - (incredulous laugh) - mein apni basket mein phul todke lati hu.

Amal - Oh! Flower gathering? Is that why your feet seem so glad? Agar mein bahar jaa pata, to
zarroor phul todke lata!

Sudha - accha tujhe bada pata hai phulo ke bare mein. Aur wasie bhi, doctor ne tumhe ghar pe
rehne bola hai. Badmashi mat karo, aur ghar pe raho.

Amal - Please wait a little longer.

Sudha - Ill come once i collect the flowers. Tab tak ke liye bye bye!

Amal - Promise karke jao ki tum aogi na. Please remember my name, I’m Amal

Sudha - Dekhna tum, nahi bhulungi tumhe

[Sudha skips and hurries off stage into the opposite side]

-​ WATCHMAN

[lathi is heard tapping against the ground as the watchman spins it and enters the stage]

Amal - Watchman uncle! Watchman uncle! Baat karke to jao!

(watchman walks over Amal and stops at the window)

Watchman - Arree? Tumhe dar nahi lagta kya mujhse? (trying to be intimidating)

Amal - Why should i be? (innocent and childlike voice)

Watchman - Agar mein tumhe uthake raja ke paas le jaun to? (teasing and challenging voice)
Amal - (exclaims excitedly) To the king?! Raja? Ap mereko raja ke paas le sakte ho? But mein to
nahi jaa sakta, doctor ne mujhe mana kiya hai

Watchman - (gets kinder, and more curious instead of intimidating) Oh poor fellow, doctor ne
aisa kya bol diya?

Amal (sadder voice) - arre wo mere madhav uncle hai na? Unhone doctor bulaya tha, aur unhone
mujhe bahar jane se mana kar diya If i go out ill get even more sick.

Watchman (trying to be optimistic) - arre koi nahi, tera bhi time ayega bahar jane.

Amal - mein abhi bahar ja sakta hu kya?

Watchman - Nahi nahi, your time has not come yet.

Amal - Kuch log kehte hai, ki, time has gone by, and kuch kehte hai, that time has not come yet.
Mera time kab ayega.

[watchman laughs]

Amal - (thinks for a few seconds) Accha, apko kaise pata chalta hai ki apko gong kab bajani hai.

Watchman - I strike the gong only when its time. It tells people ki wakt kisike liye nahi rukta bas
chalta jata hai. Somaye karor jonno daraye na, bas cholte thake baba.

Amal (innocently) - Jata hai? (pauses with astonishment) kahan jata hai?

Watchman (laughs solidly) - wo to kisiko nahi pata.

Amal - mujhe bhi jana hai wakt ke sath! But doctor mujhe jane nahi dedge.

Watchman - Abhi ke liye chod, ek din tu bhi jayega, ek jona ashbe amateke bachate.

Amal - Watchman uncle, what's going on there in that big house on the other side.

Watchman - oh wahan pe? (pauses and glances over) thats the new post office!

Amal - Post office? (soft pause) Kiska?

Watchman - Kiska? Aur kiska? King ka! Wahan pe raja ke letters ate hai, kya pata tumhare liye
bhi a jaye kisi din.

Amal - (dramatically) a letter for me? But I'm just a little guy.

Watchman - (laughs and pats his head) haan haan, ek din, raja ke postment ake tumhe tumhara
letter zarroor deke jayenge.

Amal - wo log jate kahan hai, Bada hoke mein king ka postman banunga.

Watchman (laughing) - haan haan zaroor. Arree yaar ye pagal headman a gaya, mein chalta hu.

[watchman takes his leave and cane taps off into the distance. Headman comes in with a self
imoportant walk]

Amal - Mister headman!!!! Mister headman!!! Kya mein apse baat kar sakta hu?

Headman - (egoistic vibes and a evil smirk) Hunh, Whats the good in that? (mocking)

Amal - Mere liye koi letter aya hai kya

Headman (smirks and huffs) - abe tujhe letter likhega kaun.

Amal - (innocently) the king!

Headman (with an incredulous laugh) - Haan haan tum to uske jigri dost ho na, jo wo tumhe
letter likhega. Dont worry, wait till tomorrow, youll get your letter.

Amal - (slightly saddenned /upset voice) - Ap mujhse aise kyun baat kar rahe ho.

Headman - Haan haan, king ko letter to likho! Im sure tumhe tumhara letter mil hi jayega. Ek
baar tumhare wo uncle ko haat ot lagne do, bada uchal rha hai aj kal.

Amal - I will get my letter right?

Headman - Ei kuttar baccha, Haan haan bhijwata hu tera letter, tujhe tera letter mil jayega. One
of his footmen will come along and give the letter to you.

[headman walks away laughing pompously. Boys enter, jumping aorund energetically, start
playing in a corner-ish area and get called over by Amal]
Amal - Say brothers where are you all off to.

Boys - We’re off to play!

Amal - Kya khelne jaa rahe ho tum log?

Boys - ham gilli danda kehlne jaa rahe hai

[boy 1 shows gilli very enthusiasticlly]

Boy 1 - ye dekh hamari gilli.

Boy 2 - aur ye danda! (as he swings it)

Amal - tum kya sara din kheloge?

Boy 3 - yep all day long

[they try to leave, but Amal calls them back]

Amal - kya tum mere samne khel sakte ho?

Boy 1 - Yahan? Yahan kya hi khel sakte hai?

Amal - Wait, ill give you all my toys, just yahan khel lo.

[boys get excited and exclaim]

Boys - oh what find toys (random toy names are said) You dont really mind right?

Amal - no no! Why would i mind, agar ye kharab ho jate hai, mein naya lake bhi de dunga, just
yahan khel lo. (must see desperation)

[in 15 to 30 seconds lighting and sound changes to show the afternoon environment. Amal
yawns, and is tired and sleepy]

Boy 2 - Tumhe neend aa rhi hai kya itni jaldi?

Amal - haan, mein yahan sara din baitha hu, so im sleepy now.
Boys - Thik hai tu soo ja, late ho rha hai waise bhi, to hum ja rhe hai

[the boys exit and laughing follows them.]

[Set change to inside of the house. Max time alloted 45 seconds. Madhav and Amal go to the
bed, and Amal is laid down, Madhav goes to close the window, and Amal interrupts]

Amal - Uncle (pause) i fear my fakir will pass and not see me by the window.

Madhav - Your fakir? Ye kaun he?

Amal - Arree wo fakir, wo ake merese baat karte hai and i love to talk to him.

Madhav - Kaunsa fakir, ye kaun hai jo tujhse roj ake baat kar rha hai?

[fakir enters]

Amal - Hey there you are fakir! Mere paas ake baitho na!

Madhav - eh? Ye to - [gets cut off by the fakir]

Fakir - MEIN FAKIR HU

Madhav - ye dono mereko kabhi nahi samajh aoge

[madhav goes to fill the water]

Amal - fakir abki baar tum kaha pe gaye the?

Fakir (with twinkling eyes and a grand smile) - mein gaya tha Isle of Parrots! (winks at Amal
playfully)

[Madhav from the distance] - Isle of parrots? Henh?

Amal - (talking happily) How jolly for you! Remember your promise of taking me there one
day?

Fakir - Of course i will!

[projector displays idle of parrots, in a timepsan of 10 seconds, to explain tot the audience
without words, what the fakir has seen.]

Amal - Kaash mein ek chidiya ki tarah udh sakta.

Fakir - But lekin mene to suna hai tumne dairyman se job le liya hai. Im afraid such business
wont flourish amongst birds. You might land yourself into serious loss.

Madhav - tum dono khud to pagal ho hi, mereko bhi kar doge

[madhav tries to leave but is interrupted by Amal]

Amal - kaka kya wo dairyman ake chale gaye kya?

Madhav - haan haan wo kyu nahi ayega (in a dismissive way). Tumhari fakir ki tarah, toto ke
sath thodi ghumta rahega.

[madhav leaves]

Amal - Fakir, uncle to chale gaye, ap batao na, king ne mereko letter bheja hai kya.

Fakir - haan i have heard that his letter is on the way.

Amal - (amal is excited) on the way kahan pe?

Fakir - I dont know yet, lekin aa jayega, aa jayega (pats his head)

Amal - Fakir, do you know the king who has this post office?

Fakir - haan haan, of course i know. (in an sarcastic all knowing tone)

Amal- To apko pata hai ke mera letter aya hai ya nahi? Or should i go to the gate and cry - Joi!
Raja Tomar Joi!

Fakir (in a sarcastic tone and a dramatic flair) - Splendid. But tum raja se mangoge kya?

Amal - I shall say make me your postman, and mereko sara din ghar pe na rakho.

Fakir - (incredulously) Paar ghar pe rehene se problem kya hai?

Amal - Ab koi problem nahi hai! But shuru shuru pe jab ghar pe akela rehta tha, tab din bohot
lamba lagta tha. Now i only wait for the kings postman and the letter for me.

[Madhav comes with the doctor tagging along.]

Doctor - How are you feeling today?

Amal - I feel awfully well, lag rha hai jaise ekdam se sara dar ud gaya ho.

Doctor - Dont quite like the look of that smile, and the scriptures have it that -

Madhav [interrupting the doctor] - for goodness sake! Doctor please leave the scriptures alone.

Doctor - I warned you before, this looks like a fresh exposure. Maine tujhe pehle bhi bola tha
isse bahar nahi jane dena, na hi bahar ki dhup dikhani hai, lekin phir bhi tumne khidikiya khol
rakhi hai.

Madhav - But all the windows are shut and so are his eyes!

[on set windows are shut as he talks to the doctor, Madhav lowers his voice when he looks at
Amal and remarks on the closed eyes]

[Doctor sees the headman coming and takes his leave. Headman enters]

Headman - Hello urchins! (in a loud booming voice)

Fakir - Shh, be quiet

Headman - Oh hi madhav! (in a sarcastic, i hate you type of tone) Your child here expects a letter
from the king it seems?

[Madhav sighs deeply and mutters prayers to himself. Headman goes near the fakir and Amal]

Headman - Tumhare liye ek letter aya hai.

[Amal is excited and gets up a bit, and the headman reveals the fake slip]

Amal (in a tired and hurt tone) - Please dont mock me.

[Amal lies down again]

Fakir -

Headman (with an evil grin that slowly fades to a genuine reality) - The king is however coming,
he has asked for puffed rice to be arranged for him.

Fakir (in a playful and teasing voice) - Oh? Puffed rice?

Madhav - Are you out of your mind?

Fakir - Mene kya kiya? The king is actually coming!

[Enter Herald with trumpets and flair + flourish]

Herald - OUR SOVEREIGN KING COMES TO-NIGHT

Headman - oh my god

Herald - Raja ji ne apke liye unka sabse acha physician bheja hua hai.

[enter physician, hes got a tired and grumpy expression of someone whos seen too much shit]

Physician (with a disappointed sigh) - Open all the doors and windows please!

[Fakir opens all the doors and windows and starlight streams in, theres a peaceful almost dark
atmosphere, with spotlight on Amal and the physician]

Physician [checks up on Amal] - How do you feel my child?

Amal - Accha lag rha hai, mereko ab koi dard nahi hai.

Physician - Jab raja ayenge, tab tum unse milne jaoge?

Amal (tone is very tired, and very sick by now and he coughs) - Haan haan, zaroor jaunga, im
dying to meet him.

[Madhav sits beside Amal and gently in a whisper asks him]

[Audio tape of background chatter and voices overlapping of the headman, fakir and madhav
when the royal physician cuts in]
Physician - Now be quiet, sleep is coming over him.

[Physician gets up, asks Madhav to blow out the oil lamp}

Physician - Mombotti bujha do.

[Madhav and Gaffar take their leave, Madhav looks broken, gaffar looks resigned to fate]

[Sudha enters, shes running again, sees the physician, looks at the sleeping Amal]

Physician - Wo so rha hai (and he stops sudha)

Sudha - Lekin mere paas uske liye phool hai, kya mein usse de sakti hu?

[Physician nods yes, and Sudha goes near and places the flower near his hands and comes back
to the physician.]

Sudha - Will you whisper a word for me in his ear.

Physician - Of course!

Sudha - Tell him Sudha has not forgotten him.