INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...291

                         INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…. 291
                                  Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Patel and Nehru are sitting in the room of Gandhi in heavens. Gandhi is seen coughing wildly)
Patel. Bapu. What happened? You never coughed like this.

Gandhi. For everything there has to be a first.

Nehru.. Hee,,hee, A joke indeed.

Gandhi. Thanks. In fact, I read the news paper before you guys came in
.
Patel. Did the news upset you?

Gandhi. Of course. They did. You can look at the paper . it is lying in the chair.

( Patel picks up the paper and reads loudly from the front page)

Patel. Chinese army intrudes into Indian space in Ladhak region. They pitch tents too.

Bapu. This is dangerous.

Nehru. Why get upset?

Patel. Why? This is our land. How can we allow them to occupy?

Nehru. They already occupied thousands of miles in 1962.

Patel. This time it can not happen. We are stronger now.

Gandhi. Are we going to fight them again?

Patel. Then what?

Gandhi. Bhai. Fighting will not solve the problem. We must try to solve peacefully.

Patel. Bapu. They are not thinking like that. We have to teach them a lesson this time.

Gandhi. I have a plan. We shall go and talk to them.

Patel. It is for the Indian govt to do such things

Gandhi. What is wrong in trying?

Nehru. OK.. Let us go.

( The trio lands up close to Chinese tents in Ladakh area. The jawan of Chinese army sees them and challenges them)

PLA Jawan. Thamb. Kaun aata Hai ( Stop. Who is coming?)

Gandhi. We are Indians. Peace makers

Jawan. Why are you here? Go away. Or I shall shoot.

Patel. Bhai. Do not be excited. We came in peace.

Jawan. We are not supposed to talk. We only act.

Gandhi. Bhai. Why are you here? This is not your place. Go back to your place. Leave this place.

Jawan. Shhaa.. hee..hee..Chik..chick.. Chin.. Chin.. choo..choo.. chee..

Patel. What is this chick.. chick choo?

Gandhi. We can not understand their tongue.

Patel. I know chowmein. It is a delicacy.

Gandhi. Bhai. If you do not go, we shall do protest here.

Nehru. Bapu. Why waste our time? See this land. How barren it is! What India will do this land barren completely? Better India does not make a fuss for thee small things.

Patel. Jawaharlaal. Is it a small thing? In 1962 you said something in parliament .

Nehru. Yeah. I said.

Patel. You also know what Mahaveer tyagiji said.

Nehru. I do not remember .

Patel.Tyagiji removed his cap and said . “Look at my bald head. This is also barren and nothing grows on it. Should I also cut and hand over it.”

Gandhi. Haa.. Haa. Haa.. Did he really say?

Patel. Yeah. He said.

Gandhi. Well said.

Patel. Bapu. This soldier is getting shaky. Better we leave the place. Your days are over. No one will listen to you.

Gandhi. I thought he would see reason. But things are different. Let us go.

( The trio vanishes while the Chinese soldier laughs loudly )
                                                    
                                         CURTAIN FALLS