INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...257

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…257

Dr K Prabhakar Rao


( It is New Delhi People are crowded up near Embassy of Israel. An explosion has taken place at a car and a woman of the embassy was seriously injured. There is a commotion around and many police men have arrived. Gandhi, Nehru and Patel happen to be near the place on walk.)

Gandhi. Patel. It looks there is a problem here.

Patel. Bapu. There are problems every where. Show me a place where there are no problems. We are born in problems, live in problems and die in problems. Even our cremation is also a problem.

Nehru. Patel. Please do not exaggerate things.

Patel. I am telling real things. Please recall what happened to PV Narsimha Rao the past Indian Prime Minister after his death.

Gandhi. What happened to him. He must have been cremated. That is normal thing.

Patel. Bapu, His body was not allowed to be cremated at river Jamuna banks in Delhi. Jamuna banks are reserved for special guys. It was sent to Hyderabad. Poor guy. His body was half burnt and left on roadside as there was no supervision. It was reported in media. State govt hurriedly did something as face saving and the remains were gathered and again burnt out. What a shame! When such things can happen to a great man like him we can imagine about a commoner. It was a disgrace that many politics were played in that sordid drama. That is why, I said those words. I was not speaking through my hat.

Gandhi. We have deviated and discussing falthu ( Useless) things.Patel, Find out what happened there.

( Patel goes to some guys and asks them. He collects information and returns.)

Patel. Some terrorist has put a bomb to a car of the embassy of Isreal and it exploded injuring a woman and few others.

Gandhi. They must be mad guys. What they will get by doing such things?

Patel. They want to create fear, Confusion and chaos. They also want to draw attention.

Gandhi. I think police were caught unawares. I understand. How can they protect every one?
Patel. This is not a simple one. They have targeted senior persons of the Embassy. This is not a stray case. They must have planned it well and executed the operation.

Gandhi. I think Senior officers of Police, Senior political leaders must have arrived.

Patel. Yea. The Home Minister arrived at the place.

Gandhi. What he must have done?

Patel. What he can do? He expressed shock at the incident. That is the easiest thing he can do.

Gandhi. This is a usual thing and first thing to express shock and grief whenever such things happen. It does not cost any thing to any one.

Nehru. He must be sincerely shocked.

Patel. We are not disputing about his shock. He also said that all efforts will be made to trace and catch the culprits at the earliest.

Gandhi. It is also the usual statement these leaders make after such incidents. God only knows when they would catch them. We have been facing terrorist actions since many years. We could not hang a single guy till date. We can only talk big.

Patel. Tragedy is that even after a guy was sentenced to death by the highest court, the guy is still in jail and alive and kicking too.

Gandhi. I think govt is waiting for his natural death.

Patel. God only knows. Some are saying that the work is by the Hizbollah group that wages war against Israel. Few are stating that its I the work of Iran’s agents. Naturally they have to be enemies of Israel. Time only will tell it. Till now no one has claimed it.

( In the mean time a TV reporter arrives along with his set up and crew.The reporter approaches the trio).

TVReporter. Look Gentleman . My name is Dukheeram and I am from loack TV channel Altu Phaltu.

Patel. Welcome Bhai. What we can do?

Dukheeram. I want to ask few questions about this incident.

Gandhi. Please go ahead.

Dukheeram. Were you there when the explosion occurred.

Gandhi. We were lucky. We would not be speaking to you if we were there.

Dukheeram. So you are not eye witnesses. You came here after the incident like many others.

Gandhi. True. Most of the people come only after everything is over including Police also.Haven’t you seen Indian movies? There police guys arrive in the end after the hero hammers the rogues black and blue only to say”’ Arrest them) and “” Thank you” to the hero.

Dukheeram. Heee,,Heee.. That is very normal. Police can not be there every where all the time.

Patel. But this is an important Embassy with enemies in Arab world. There should have been 24 hours watch.

Gandhi. True. It is up to the them. Any how ,bad thing has happened and our country’s name has been tarred. Usually America and UK warn their countrymen always not to visit this country and to be highly careful. What to do. Things have become like this. Very bad indeed.

Dukheeram. Sir. Have you seen the car after explosion?

Pate. Yeah. We saw it.

Dukheeram. How is it?

Patel. It has four wheels and it is standing on ground.

Dukheeram. I mean, was it damaged?

Gandhi ( getting irked up) It was looking brand new after the explosion. Whatever dust was there on top of it, was blown off and was shining.

Patel. Hee..Hee

Dukheeram. Sir. You are joking with me.

Gandhi. Then what to do? Why do you ask such silly questions? Will the car be fine after explosion?

Dukheeram. I am sorry. So car was damaged after explosion.

Gandhi. Say car was damaged in the explosion. No car gets damaged after the explosion. After explosion, everything will be quiet. Car will be further damaged when it is taken to court premises or a police station where it keeps lying uncared for. Have you seen the dump yards of Police departments where seized vehicles are taken. Nothing remains in them except skeleton. This is true in all states.

Dukheeram. Ok sir. You gave us valuable information. May I know your names?

Gandhi. I am MK Gandhi, Father of nation. These guys are Jawaharlaal and Patel.

Dukheeram. I heard your names. Are you related to Rajiv Gandhi?

Gandhi. No. No. I am in no way related to any one. I am related to only my sons. Are things so bad in India that guys in India do not know who was MK Gandhi?

Patel. Bapu. This is new India. You have been forgotten long ago.

Dukheeram. Bhai. I am happy that I met you guys. But the guy MK Gandhi and his friends must have died long ago. Any how, you have dressed up well.

Patel ( Angrily) We are not dressed up. We are real.

Dukheeram. OK. Ok. Be happy like that. Thanks again. Bye.

( Dukheeram goes away with his crew feeling sorry for the trio)

Gandhi. Patel. Let us go from here. Otherwise some other guy will come and start interviewing us.

Nehru. OK Bapu. Run

( The trio walks off hastily)

CURTAIN FALLS