INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN XX

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN XX
SCENE XX

Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao (Retired)

(Gandhi is seen at Rajghat in Delhi, his own grave yard. He is strolling on the lawns with his stick. He is in his usual dress of loin cloth and lathi and chappals and is occasionally coughing. The black marble is clean and on it, the lamp is seen burning. Some children are also there. They were seen playing football on the lawns. A boy Suresh kicks the ball hard and it lands on the black marble. The boy runs to get it. A security guard rushes there)

Guard. Hey what are you doing here? This is no play ground. You have to maintain silence and decorum at this place. ..And pray too… At least act as if praying.

Suresh. Bhai… Please give me the ball. It is near the burning lamp

Guard. Please wait. I shall get a long stick to take out the ball..(He searches here and there and finds none. He sees Gandhi strolling with a stick at a distance and goes to him)

Gandhi.. Sir. What can I do for you?

Guard. Hey. You ill clad Old man looking like Gandhi! Give me this stick. I want it

Gandhi. What for? I can not walk without it

Guard. That is none of your or my business. Just I want it.

Gandhi You can not get like that.. Are you a guard here or a tyrant?

Guard. What… What did you say? Repeat again

Gandhi. I said , “are you a tyrant or a security person?”

(Guard gets upset with defiance of Gandhi and pounces on Gandhi and tries to take away the stick. He gives some blows to Gandhi. Gandhi is no less. He wards off all blows and holding his long stick at the middle whirls it around at amazing speed and also does some rare acrobats. In the mean time, some onlookers gather there and they cheer up Gandhi with loud clapping)

Raina (Onlooker). Come on sir. Kick that guy hard never to get up again. A big Joker. Has no respect to elders. He misbehaves like this always. We have been suffering from that guys for so many years. Come On sir!

(Gandhi whirls the stick at such a great speed that a great whining sound emanates from it and it resembles an air craft zooming past… Gandhi continues to do while the guard falls unconscious.. Gandhi gets into mood and does more whirling and sings)

Gandhi.. ( Sings)

I am the Gandhi the great and bold
And can whirl stick at infinite speed
I shall show the guys what I am?
And smash the guys who are full of greed

( Few miles away at Palam air base the air force pilots scramble as a siren is heard and they run to MIG fighter air craft feverishly while a pilot Rajesh speaks to other)

Rajesh. Ravinder. Looks like Pak air craft are already there on Delhi. Have you heard the sound? But I have not seen the plane. What type of plane it could be ?

Ravinder. No idea at all. Some strange plane could be and not seen on Radar.. Ok over.. The plane is making continuous sound.. It is scary. The jokers may be carrying a nuke.


(The MIG fighter planes scream loudly and take off after a short run . In the command room, the station commander speaks to higher ups)

Commander. Sir. Sir, Sir, This is station commander speaking sir. Two of our Migs are already up in skies sir. They will chase away Pak planes sir. They are not yet seen sir. Our lads will be in skies for some more time sir.

( At Rajghat Gandhi watches the guard unconscious and cools down. He slowly slows down the stick and finally the stick comes to halt)

On lookers. Well done sir. You are great. It is a miracle

Gandhi. That is ok. Thanks for the compliments. Please bring and sprinkle water on this guy fallen down.

( Some people bring water and sprinkle on the guard’s face. He shivers and gets up...)

Guard. Where I am.? What happened to me? Where is the old man with stick?

Gandhi. I am here. Relax now. Do you want stick now.

Guard. No sir. Thanks. Learnt lesson for life time

(Gandhi smiles and pats the guard who goes away completely shaken up)


(At Palam airport, the station commander is busy. He looks at his second in command. Ashok.)

Commander. Look! What happened to that aircraft? Now there is now sound. Probably Pakis have developed cold feet and ran away

Ashok. Sure sir. Sir looks! Our MIGs have returned. They just landed now

( After some time the pilots of Migs Ravinder and Rajesh arrive)

Commander. Well done my sons. You are very brave

Rajesh. Sir we have driven away the enemy aircraft

Ravinder. Sir. That plane was invisible. Not seen on Radar also. That must be the latest air craft they got from USA. The guy never exposed himself. Must be shit scared.

Commander. Heee…heee. Hee. Any how well done bys. I shall recommend you for Ashok Chakra a peace time highest gallantry award

Rajjesh. Thank you sir

Ravinder. Sir. I am astonished. Are we eligible for this award? We have never fired a single shot at enemy not even with our pistil

Commander. Where is the requirement? You boldly went up in the air at cal of duty. That is enough. Look now a day some guys get Ahok Chakras after getting shot by enemy while travelling too.

Rajesh. Then it is OK sir. Please do it fast sir. Before government frames some rules for gallantry award.

Commander. To morrow it will surely go by FAX. ( Within himself.. Hope some one will recommend me too for Ashok Chakra.. Cries and wipes his eyes with kerchief)

Ravi and Rajesh.. Thank you sirrrr… sirrr… sirrr

Dr K Prabhakar Rao
CURTAIN DROPS