INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...XVI

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN....XVI

SCENE XVI

M K Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are seen at the pass port verification counter at Delhi international air port. They are enroute to New York. Gandhi is dressed in his normal dress while Jawaharlal is in full suit with a holly wood hat )

Gandhi. Hey .Jawahar. You look Angrez completely. What a change after so many years?

Jawahar. Bapu, I was dressed on full suit with Hollywood hat when I visited USA first time after independence. You know I was looking very handsome out of all

Gandhi. That is good. Why not? You were always handsome. But after that visit you switched over to Sherwani ( Achkan) and Chudidar with a flower at button

Jawahar. ( Blushing ) True. I wanted to look different from all world leaders who put on suits. You must always do some thing different from others. Otherwise what is special about you. See there is always a joker among clowns, He is special.

( They submit pass ports at the counter and the official queerly looks at them)

Officer. Gentleman. I think your name is Gandhi as per the pass port. You are also boarding the plane for New York. Sir, Can’t you put on some good dress covering your body? What the other country men will think of Indians? Have a heart sir. At least when you abroad care for this nation. As it is we are being laughed at. Whites think we are nuts.

Gandhi.Plesae Do not call me just Gandhi. Call me MK Gandhi. There are many pseudo Gandhis in India. That too in politics there are many. They use my name to get votes and fool public. What is wrong with my dress? Am I ugly looking? Look ,my clothes are spotless white. I use Tinopal while washing ( Sings doing some jig holding the long stick)

Kapdo ki raksha karta hai Tinopal
Gandagi bhagaye deta mera Tino pal….TinoSir call me MK Gandhi.pal.. Tinopal
Paani me dallow thoda neeli and Tinopal
Kapda hojayega poora sufed dekho mera Tinopal.. Tinopal

(Tinopal takes care of clothes
Dirt is also driven off by my Tinopal)
Put some blue aquamarine and Tinopal in water
The cloth would get white and look at my Tinopal)

Officer. That is OK. I only told you because I was worried for our nation. It is up to you

Gandhi. But where do I get a suit now?.

Jawahar. Bapu. I am carrying some extra suits in my cabin bag. You may use one with a tie

( Gandhi takes the suit from the bag and goes to a change room and quickly comes back, however with his usual slippers.)

Jawahar. Bapu. That is bad. Slippers do not go with suit. I shall get a shoe set. I think no.8 will suit you

( He goes and purchases one black oxford shoe set from a nearby show room near the counter. Gandhi puts on them. The old clothes and slippers are put in the bag. He is still holding the stick)

Officer, That is nice sir. You are looking great. Sir there is one deficiency. That is a
Hat. He goes to near by shop and purchases a Hollywood hat and gives to Gandhi. Sir this is a compliment from us. Thank you sir. Have a nice journey. Plesae hand over your stick to the cabin crew.

( Gandhi and Nehru thank the officer and take the boarding passes. They then stand in the queue for security clearance)

Gandhi. What we have to do here? Why this test for me? Am I terrorist? I am father of nation. How shameful it is?

Security officer. Every one has to go through this test. How do we know you are father of nation? If you are such a great guy where is the junta with you? You are alone along with this guy. Either go through this test or go home.

Jawaharlal. Bapu, Why create problem to yourself. Go through the test. Look I am also going through. I was the PM of India.

Officer ( Laughs) You appear to be a sane guy. This old man is cranky. I can’t believe he was the father of nation. See how is he dressed. He does not look like Gandhi.

( He asks Gandhi to remove hat and looks for any explosive hidden inside. He finds nothing. Gandhi gets irked up.)

Gandhi. Come on officer. What is the use? 11 guys entered Bombay all with police patrolling and Tamasha and smashed hotels and killed hundreds of guys. What type of security we have here. Then you are asking a man like me take off hat and show my bald head. Please look at my head. It is so shining. You can play sliding game on it.


Officer. Sir . we are doing our bit. We are not responsible for their goofing up. Ok You are cleared. Now you can go and wait in lobby till you are allowed to board the plane

Gandhi. Thanks God bless you..

Officer. I do not believe in God.

Gandhi. You must believe. Otherwise how India is surviving all these years? Is it because of our kleaders? Heee….heee. It is only because of God.

Jawahar. With so many castes, creeds, religions, languages, political parties, independents.. Oh.. What not. All must believe in God after seeing India..

(Gandhi and Jawaharlal walk from there and wait in the lobby. In the mean time announcement is made for boarding and both enter the plane and take up seats)

Gandhi. Thank god. We are in

Jawahar. True Bapu.

( The plane goes to the end of runway, turns around and races to break neck speed and takes off with thundering roar)

Gandhi.( Looking through the window) Jawahar. Look. India also looks like America when seen through the window. Only clouds are seen at this height

Jawaharlal. Bapu. Everywhere same scene will be there above the clouds. Only we get down we know whether we are in hell or heavens. , In clean waters or shitpot,

Gandhi. Heee…heee.heee

( In the mean time drinks trolley arrives and the stewardess offers drink to Gnadhi. It being a German airlines the girls are smart, fair, well dressed in skirts and beautiful)

Gandhi. Drinks….eeee….eee. no drinks. I want some goat milk

Stewardess. ( Looking lost) What.? How can we serve goats milk in air craft? Strange guy! Are you sure sir you want goats milk? Thank god you did’nt demand bears milk. But why so?

Jawahar. He is Bapu. Great Bapu, Mahatma Gandhi the father of India. He is fond of goat’s milk.

( the cabin crew go to the end and keep laughing at Jawahar and Gandhi. Both get upset)

Jawahar. Look girls. You can not make fun of us. It is our wish. If you have please serve or say thanks

Stewardess. Sorry sir. Please do not get upset. He airlines could not imagine some one could ask for such milk. Next time we shall cater for you guys. We will keep milk of ass and bear too

Gandhi. OK that’s alright. Relax. Now do not pull fast one on us.

( Gandhi looks around and finds George Washington and Kennedy too travelling in same plane and seated few seats away. He gets excited and stands up)

Gandhi. Washington sir. Kennedy sir, Good evening. How come here? Nice to see you in the same plane. In the same boat. How nice it is.

Washington. Hello. Yeah… Now days India wants to be what America is.. We had boms. You also have.We went moon. You almost went there. We had 9/11. Now you have26/11

Kennedy. Hoi, cheers,( lifts his beer glass)

( Others look queerly at Gandhi. Jawahar pulls down Gandhi in to his seat )

Jawahar. Bapu. Please sit down . All are looking at us. It is embarrassing

Gandhi. I am not doing any sin. Only wishing the General and Kennedy, My friend.

(In the mean time Two guys in the middle row suddenly get up and shout. One guy Muqtar zalim is holding some round object. Another guy Nazir Mujahid rushes into the cock pit with a pistol. They shout that they were terrorists. Shout Allah Ho Akbar…Long live Islam.. Down with unbelievers.

Mujahid. Look every one. Be cool. We shall not harm any one. We are holding a small atom bomb pocket type. If I leave the bomb it will explode and all will be killed in second including me. Behave. We have hijacked the plane.)

Gandhi. eeee…eee… Hijacking? Why? What do you guys want?

Mujahid . We are from AlQaida. We want India to be ruled by Muslims

Jawaharlal. Look India is a democracy. Whichever party wins, it will rule

Mujahid . Muslims are in minorities in India. How can they win in elections?

Gandhi. So, Adjust with some parties and make coalitions
Mujahid . That is all nonsense. It has to be forced up on India by this method. Convert all by force or kill all non believers

Jawaharlal. You can not do that. Do you think others would watch the fun?

Mujahid . Look back few hundred years. Who ruled India? We. We defeated Hindus and ruled over them

Gandhi. Those days are over

Mujahid.. They will return. Insha Allah Allah Ho Akbar. Come on old man enough of stupid discussion. Sit down and shut up. Or shall I put a bullet in you

Gandhi. That you can not do

Mujahid. I shall show you if you do some mischief. Now keep shut and sit down.

( Gandhi and Nehru sit down sheepishly)

( Every one in the air craft is tense and seen praying. Gandhi is seen murmuring Ramdhun ( ram..ramm) while Jawaharlal is seen meditating.. after some time….Gandhi looks at Jawahar)

Gandhi. Look Jawahar. We are already dead . These guys cannot do anything to us. We can over power this guy. My worry is about the bomb in his hand. He may let it go. Let us give a try.Any how thes guys and passengers are desined to die, if not now after some years. No one is permanent in this world. He knows that we are weak physically and can not do anything.
Jawahar. OK Bapu. Let us go ahead

Gnadhi ( Gets up from Chair) Oh Bhai. Please pay attention
Mujahid . Sit down

Gandhi. I want to go to toilet

( terrorist thinks for few seconds )

Mujahid. Go. I am watching you. You keep your friend with me till you return . If you do any thing I shall cut his throat.. Now go.. He grabs Nehru close to him

Gandhi. That is fine

( He goes to toilet and returns after some time. When both of them are very close to terrorist, Nehru suddenly pounces on the terrorist and takes away the bomb while Gandhi gives a punch in boxing style. The terrorist stabs Gandhi with knife. Nothing happens to Gandhi. Jawahar runs away with the bomb.)

Gandhi. See nothing happened. Gandhi falls on the terrorist and closes his mouth. In the mean time Washington runs to them and with one blow makes the guy unconscious. Washington takes out a dagger and stabs the terrorist and silences him. Kennedy also joins and to make sure, cuts his throat with the dagger and blood gushes out like fountain

Washington . Well done John

John. This swine was telling that no one can stay in this world. What nonsense he speaks? Bloody baas…..now he himself is dead

Gandhi. Well done sir. Jawahar. Hold the bomb tight. Do not drop.

( All of them quickly goes near the cock pit and hide behind the door. Inside, a guy is seen with a pistol at the back of a the pilot. Gandhi imitates a cat )

Gandhi… mew.. mew

( The terrorist turns around and finds nothing.. He slowly tries to look into the plane keeping the pistol still directed at the pilots. Gandhi suddenly strikes the terrorist hand with his stick that is close by and the pistol falls down. Washington quickly picks up the weapon and shoots the terrorist) between eyes. He drops dead without a word. Pilot quickly takes control. He hands over to co pilot and looks at Gandhi and others)

Pilot. Thank you sir. All of you have done great service to us. We are very grateful to you

Washington. Hope you know all of us

( Pilot smartly salutes the General)

Pilot. I know you sir.Who does not know you! I saw your life history book. I was in USA for some time. You are the great General GeorgeWashington, Father of America

( Washington smiles and appears much more taller than what he is with chest uo and standing erect).

Jawahar. Hello Mr Pilot. He is Bapu, MK Gandhi, the father of India. You must have heard about him. A man of great achievements.

Pilot. Yeah. He is from India. Man of peace and non violence too. I read about him in history books.

Jawahar. I am Jawahar lal Nehru, the former PM of India

Pilot. Yes, heard about you sir. Again I thank you. Dear Mr Gandhi . Sorry there has to be violence to day. Otherwise all of us would have been dead

Gandhi. True. At times violence is also needed. I agree with you.

Washington. Mr Gandhi. You are very brave and clever too. You were able to overpower that bas….. son of a bit……. I like your mewing too to fool that guy

Jawaharlal.. True. You were no less. That stabbing could not be done by us. Our hands would shake

Washington.( Laughs ) haa…haaa. Heee. Hee. I am an army man that too an American. We use bayonets to kill in close Quarter battle. It is not new to us

Kennedy. The operation was quick and smart too. Mr Gandhi . You are great really

Gandhi. Thanks sir, But I can not do the stabbing and cutting throats. After all I a am civilian

( In the mean time pilot announces that the aircraft was approaching Heathrow airport enroute to New York and requests all to sit down and clamp seat belts.. All the passengers in air craft say long live Gandhi.. Nehru and General Washington and Kennedy)
The aircraft slowly lands and comes to the halt and immediately is surrounded by a dozens of army commandos and armored cars. General Washington , Kennedy and Gandhi Emerge out of air craft and entire commando unit is seen presenting arms to the heroes. The band is seen playing national anthems of UK , USA and India and all the three flags of the nation are seen fluttering at the airport. Gandhi is seen wiping tears)

Washington. Why are you crying Mr Gandhi now?

Gandhi. Sir, I feel sad for the guys who were killed in the plane

Jawaharlal. Bapu. It is part of game. Let us go. Pray for their souls.

Washington. They were on wrong path and misinterpreted their religion and scriptures. God has punished them that way.

Gandhi. True

( All the three are escorted by the security officials into the airport)

CURTAIN FALLS

Dr K Prabhakar Rao