INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...305

                                                 INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…..305

                                                             Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Nehru and Patel are seen  going on a road at outskirts of Hyderabad. They are in usual dress. They are already 20 Km away from centre of Hyderabad)

Gandhi. Patel. The road is not that busy. Not many vehicles are plying on this side.

Patel. True Bapu.

Gandhi. Do you have any idea what lies ahead. Arewe going aimlessly

.

Patel.Bapu. There is a medical college ahead.

Gandhi. Iam sure it must have been named after Rajiv  Gandhi like any other thing in Hyderabad.

Nehru. Bapu. Is it a crime to name after him?

Gandhi. Did I say it a crime?. Why are you getting upset about it? There is some thing wrong with you.

Patel. Leave him Bapu. He thought you remarked sarcastically as every thing is AP or at Delhi are named after Rajiv.In AP, govt is mad after his memory. They have Rajiv Khel Ratna, Rajiv sadbhavana award, Rajiv Arogya sri, Rajiv employment scheme, Rajiv awas yojna,  Rajiv Gandhi International airport… oh fo.. there is no end..

Gandhi. Haa..haaa.. They have forgotten me so soon.

Patel. You were forgotten on 30 Jan 1948 itself when you were shot dead by Nathuram Vinayak Godse at point blank range.

Nehru. Patel. Why do you say such harsh words?

Patel. Should I say Godse kissed him? Did Godse Embraced him? Then what should I say?

Gandhi. You guys relax. I am feeling pain in Bullet holes.

Patel. Bapu. How can you have pain now? You have no body.

( Suddenly, a Van stops near them and two well clad men step down from it. They are Vinay and Reddy)

Reddy. Hoi guys. Where are you going?

Patel. We do not know you. Why you stopped for us?

Reddy. I saw this old man sick and frail and thought you need help.

Gandhi. I am fine.

Vinay. Look. We are  ready to give you lift.Please do not hesitate.

Patel. OK, We do not mind as you are pleading.

( The trio sit in the van and it speeds up soon)

Vinay. Guys. Where do you stay in Hyderabad?

Patel. We do not have any place.

Reddy. Are you street children?

Gandhi. Are we looking like children?

Reddy. Sorry, I donot mean that way. I should have said street adults.//

Vinay. Look guys we need your help.

Gandhi, What help we can give you? We have no power, We are  common people.Your request Looks strange

 Reddy. Yet you can help us.

Patel. What type of help we can give?

Reddy. Now I shall come to the point.

Vinay. We are froma Medical college which is few Km ahead from here. We belong to the management of the college.

Gandhi. Are you doctors.

Reddy. No .. No.. We are not doctors. We are the promoters of the college. It is private Institution  waiting to get approval from Medical council.

Nehru. But we are not doctors either.

Vinay. Never mind.

Reddy. Tomorrow an inspection team is arriving from Delhi to inspect our College and teaching hospital

Gandhi. In what way we canbe useful to you.

Vinay.You have to act as patients.

Gandhi. Why act?

Reddy. There are many beds in hospital that are vacant and we are not finding patients.

Patel. Now I understand

Gandhi. What did you understand patel?

Patel. These guys want us to get admitted as patients in that hospital.

Vinay. We make records, case sheets and lab records etc.

Gandhi. But we are fine. We have no ailments

Vinay. I said you have to pretend and act. ( Looking at Gandhi) This man is already looking like a moving skeleton. He is a befitting example of under nourishmnet and tuberculosis of lungs

Gandhi( Caughs) Ugh..Ugh..Ughh..aa…aaaa…Ugh.Ugh

Vinay. I already said he is not well.

Patel. How I should act?

Reddy. You can  act like a mental patient. No one can detect these symptoms.

Nehru. I shall  act to have great pain in my knees and all joints of hand

Reddy. Thanks for co operation. Once the inspection is over we shall pay you Rs2000 each and drop you in city.

Gandhi. Do you have sufficient doctors.

Reddy. There is no problem.We are actually hiring few  doctors from city who are not employed in govt 

hospitals. Other staff deficiencies we shall make up by dressing up our attenders  and other low paid staff as doctors. We shall ensure that the inspection team does not interact with them.

Patel. The team may inspect their certificates.

Vinay. We have already got many certificates printed at Charminar  from a consultant who is an expert in forgery and fake certificates.

Gandhi.I am worried.  Are you going to start a medical college or a butchery.

Reddy. Why? Of course it will bea medical college.

Gandhi. But you are resorting to unethical practices.You are cheating the governmnet and people.

Reddy. Look Mr. Every one does these things now.

Patel. Look friends. We are sorry. We can not cooperate with you. This is also crime. It is unethical

Reddy. If you want we can give more money.

Patel. No thanks. Please stop the vehicle.

Reddy. We are almost at the college.

( Suddenly the car gets punctured and tyre gets flat. Vehicle is stopped suddenly)

Reddy. Ohfo. There is no spare wheel.

Vinay. Did you not check before we left college.

Reddy. I had no time.

( Gnadhi, patel and Nehru open the door and jump out of the van and run)

Reddy. Stop..stop..stop..

Gandhi( Shouts) You are scoundrels and cheats. We are going. I shall inform police

Reddy.Go and tell. Are we scared. Every one does these things. If you do not come I shall find others. There are plenty in market.

( The trio run away fast while the van  and Reddy and Vinay wait near it holding their heads)

                                                             CURTAIN FALLS