Preview of “Strange Lives”

17/7/2021

Note from Publisher

Dear reader,

The first twenty scenes in this drama were written by the writer but the final scene was added after our conversation at his home. I personally felt that without that scene, Neelkanth’s journey is incomplete.

- Rohan.

Characters

Bhadra - Hero
Rohan - Younger brother of Bhadra
Madhuri - Younger sister of Rohan and Bhadra
Maina - Bhadra’s Lover
Nivedita- Younger sister of Maina
Keshav - Hero
Karthik - Younger brother of Keshav
Neelkanth - Rohan’s employee.
Nivedita - Keshav’s Lover
Pratyusha - Nivedita’s friend
Padma - Pratyusha’s aunt
Mukund - Pratyusha’s Lover
Mahesh - Madhuri’s lover
Chandini - Maina’s friend

Scene I
Educated Fool?

[This scene takes place in Mind’s Quill office located on the top floor of Rohan’s home. On a sunny morning, Rohan and Neelkanth sat facing each other reading the drafts submitted to their publishing house.]

Rohan:
Stories are just like living beings Neelkanth. Just like we possess a soul within us, they should too. Honestly, how many of our recent releases do have a soul?

Neelkanth:
Oh! Now you are concerned about having a soul all of a sudden? What happened to “Our writers are getting sold and we are earning money!” Wasn’t that our only concern?

Rohan:
Yes… I said that but almost all our books are filled with dark acts that instill nothing but negativity into our reader’s mind. What pains me the most is that we feed ourselves with the money earned by selling such disgraceful pages.

[Before Neelkanth responded, Madhuri, Bhadra, and Maina entered the office.]

Bhadra:
Maina, I would like you to meet my younger brother Rohan and he is Neelkanth, my brother’s partner in crime. While my brother owns this publishing house, both of them manage it.

Madhuri:
Bhadra almost forgot, Rohan writes too. However, they are not the page-turners we hope them to be.

Maina:
Nice to meet both of you.

[While Neelkanth shook hands, Rohan stood looking at his elder brother Bhadra seriously. After a moment of silence.]

Maina:
Is something wrong, Rohan?

[Rohan continued staring at Bhadra and wishing to give her brothers some privacy, Madhuri intervened.]

Madhuri:
Maina, let me show you my home. Let’s also unwrap the gifts Mahesh gifted me this Valentine’s day.

[Maina looked at Rohan and Neelkanth for one last time before leaving. Neelkanth closed the door as they walked out.]

Rohan:
After everything we have discussed, you can’t do this! You will destroy our reputation in our community if you welcome her into our family!

Bhadra:
You should have told me that our mother is visiting our aunt today!

Rohan:
Yes, we got lucky. Brother, sometimes I think you are forgetting that she is not a member of our caste! You cannot welcome her into our family. You are the elder child. Shouldn’t you be a bit more responsible?

Bhadra:
One more word Rohan and you would regret saying so in the first place... I know you oppose Maina being welcomed to our family. However, I have made up my mind to lead a life with her. I wish not to pretend to lead a happy life without her. As far as I know, the caste I am born in and the religion I follow have nothing to do with the woman I am marrying. Please don’t be an educated fool!

[Bhadra walked out as soon as he finished.]

Neelkanth:
I agree with Bhadra. You are being foolish, Rohan. To put it bluntly, you are like a slave bound to the mortal constraints that we humans enforced on ourselves. Don’t you believe that we should be united rather than confining ourselves to nationalities, castes, and color?

Rohan:
My brother would realize who the educated fool is in a few years. What must be understood is, the mortal constraints are no easy barriers to overcome, my friend.

Scene II
Double Standards?

[This scene takes place in the common room of the girls’ apartment. Chandini, Pratyusha sat on the sofa watching television while Maina just returned back from Bhadra’s home and Nivedita sat on the floor leaning on the sofa cutting vegetables as it was her turn to cook.]

Nivedita:
I wish Madhuri stayed back after dropping you Maina. Why do her parents insist that their children be back home before 9 pm?

Chandini:
Maybe they want to have dinner together. Don’t you think it is the only hour in the entire day when all the family members meet? Personally, I never knew the value of family dinners until I started working in a different city.

Pratyusha: [While chatting on her phone]
I agree. Madhuri is lucky to have her family located in the same city where she works.

Maina:
Yes. Madhuri is lucky to have her family in the same city where she is working.

Nivedita: [Nodding in agreement]
Maina, how was your visit?

Maina:
I couldn’t meet Bhadra’s mother but I did get to meet Bhadra’s younger brother Rohan. Before you visit his office Nivedita, you must know that he looks like a clown, especially with his red nose. Along with him was Neelkanth. Rohan’s partner in crime it seems. Quite a charming fellow with a perfect dressing style. A rare quality for a bachelor.

Pratyusha: [Throwing her phone on the sofa beside her in frustration]
This Pallav never gets it! I told him many times that I am not interested in a relationship with him but he never stops asking. To get rid of him, I blocked his number. He still keeps messaging through other numbers. So I had to tell him about Mukund. Even after that, he says, he can’t give up on me. I think he is crazy! He says he is the most romantic of all guys. My God! Who says that?

Nivedita:
As long as it is Pallav, you can never make him understand. I don’t know why, but he believes that you and Mukund can’t work it out.

Chandini:
As much as I hate to admit, I have to agree with Pallav. Mostly because I believe that we only have one soulmate in our lifetime.

Pratyusha:
Not this soulmate thing again…

Chandini:
Come on Pratyusha, you should be happy that Pallav still loves you. I don’t think many boys continue loving a girl after being rejected. Just look around you, we live in such times where relationships are like contracts. Unfortunately, love is not even a clause in them.

Maina:
In a more detailed way about soulmates please.

Chandini:
I believe that all of us are destined to have a soulmate in our life. However, our dear Pratyusha does not agree to it. Maybe because it is not applicable in her case.

Nivedita:
Why is it not applicable in her case? Isn’t Mukund supposed to be her soulmate?

Chandini:
I think Pratyusha considers him to be so. However, Mukund is in love with two girls. So I don’t think he has chosen his soulmate yet. Perhaps he doesn’t want to welcome trouble.

[Maina’s face turned pale. She did not believe what she just heard and was lost in her thoughts.]

Nivedita: [Furiously]
You can’t tell us that this is true?

[Pratyusha stayed silent.]

Nivedita:
But why? Don’t you think he is fooling you? Or that you are fooling yourself? Come on, at least after Mukund told you that he has feelings for another girl, you should have left him.

Pratyusha:
Oh! Now even you are talking about relationships Nivedita? Remember Keshav? Maybe he deserves a response after all this time.

[Nivedita grinned her teeth.]

Maina:
Come on Pratyusha! Loving a boy who loves two girls at once is foolishness. You need not be a genius to know that. If I am being honest, you would either shatter another relationship or would be sunk in sorrow.

Chandini:
Exactly! Why don’t you just love the guy who loves you?

Pratyusha:
None of you guys know the pain of letting a lover go! You talk so much about a soulmate Chandini, but what if your soulmate loved another girl? Would you let him go? And Maina, if your cute Bhadra loved another girl, can you just wipe your memory to forget him? All of us are the same! We are all selfish but we preach when it isn’t our fault. I am not fooling myself and if any of you were in my position, you would have acted exactly the same!

[After a few moments.]

Pratyusha:
I am sorry guys but for me, this is personal and I understand that you were trying to knock some sense into me but... it would take time… And Chandini, if you like Pallav so much, why don’t you start a relationship with him?

Chandini:
Pallav and Me? My God! He is younger than me. He is like my little brother!

Scene III
Hopeful Beings?

[This scene takes place in Keshav’s bedroom in the evening after Keshav returned from work. The neatly organised bedroom with nothing more than a shelf, table and bed had fresh air gushing through the open window.]

Pallav:
Brother, I need your help... I’m so stuck in my life that nothing seems interesting. My one-sided relationship is so disheartening.

Keshav:
Let me guess, so Pratyusha is still with Mukund and she is not giving up.

Pallav:
No, she is not.

Keshav:
My sweet little brother, you must learn one important lesson today and that is, two people love each other only when they are happy together and can envision a prosperous future.

Pallav:
But shouldn’t she give me a chance…

Keshav:
Why should she? Her relationship with Mukund seems to offer her more joyful moments than sad ones. So, she invested hope and trust. The two pillars on which every relationship stands. Happiness leads to hope and that in-turn is the inception for trust and over time, this trust in their partner would make every moment of their relationship blissful!

[Pallav was surprised that it was all so simple when his brother said it.]

Keshav:
Here is the tricky part. In our world filled with millions of minds in it, a few of us hope to have a relationship with the wrong person and this, unfortunately, would never work for them. It’s unfortunate that you and Pratyusha are both hoping for a relationship from the wrong person.

Pallav:
Why do you say that?

Keshav:
If Pratyusha realizes that her relationship won’t work, she would be devastated. Which means, she would in no way even think of starting a relationship again feeling betrayed. Especially with you after you stalked her unendingly.

Pallav:
I stalk because she needs to know the truth. But for some reason, she never understands that he is just using her when it is just plain and simple! Why can’t she for once pay attention and realize what is happening! Am I asking too much? Or is she being foolish?

Keshav:
She isn’t being foolish. She sees a happy future with Mukund. Plain and simple!

Pallav:
Alright. Then please tell me if you are also hoping for Nivedita in the same way as Pratyusha is hoping for Mukund?

[With a smirk, Keshav stayed silent.]

Scene IV
Instant Love?

[This scene takes place in Mind’s Quill’s office. A few hours before the working hours for the day ended. Rohan and Neelkanth heard a knock. While turning to check who it was, Neelkanth saw Nivedita. Walking to the door to welcome her.]

Neelkanth:
Hello Nivedita, my name is Neelkanth. Nice to meet you in person.

Nivedita:
Hello Neelkanth. Nice to meet you in person too.

Neelkanth:
I was looking forward to meeting you in order to welcome you to our community after reading your manuscript. Though it needs a few corrections, I can admit that you are good with your words. Please take a seat and this is my brother and your publisher, Rohan.

Nivedita:
Hello Rohan. I am glad that you guys liked my novel. Most publishers have lost their taste for tragedies.

Rohan:
If I am being honest, I like tragedies. Mostly because they reflect how the world works.

Nivedita:
Exactly. As a matter of fact, being a reader is tough nowadays. Out of the numerous characters in a plot, one character is chosen to be the hero just because the writer wishes so. The worst part is that this character possesses no admirable qualities and the heroine is just a supporting character in most of the stories.

Neelkanth:
No wonder you wrote such a serious story.

Nivedita:
To give you guys an example, I have recently read a book titled “Nude’d” after it was suggested to me by three of my close friends. Honestly, every word in it is shit! My friends told me that they enjoyed the lead female getting drunk, partying late night, dating random boys for sex and what not! Given a chance, I would punch the publisher for publishing such a piece of garbage!

[While Neelkanth smiled, Rohan smirked looking at him. A moment later.]

Rohan:
Then, you can just punch me. I am the idiot who published it through one of my partnering publishing houses.

Nivedita:
Oh! I’m so sorry.

Neelkanth:
So are you against women going beyond the rules?

Nivedita:
No... I’m against irresponsibility just because it’s entertaining.

Rohan:
No. Forgive me; I regret publishing it more than you do but sometimes we don’t have a choice. Honestly, a publisher can only risk publishing an artistic work after ten entertaining books are published.

Neelkanth:
If not, the publisher wouldn’t earn his investments back.

Rohan:
Anyway, I found your book quite captivating and I find your views impressive. Business aside, would you like to have a cup of coffee with me sometime?

[Neelkanth was surprised on hearing Rohan’s request.]

Nivedita:
I wouldn’t mind at all. Shall we meet at 6 pm?

Rohan:
Perfect. Let’s meet at the Casting Cafe then.

[Nivedita stood up and left hoping to complete the business talk in a few hours.]

Neelkanth:
What the frock! Did you just ask your author to have a cup of coffee with you?

Rohan:
Yes. Look at her Neelkanth, she looks beautiful and let alone her beauty, her way of writing words and her argument about the various aspects in life is impressive. What more could I seek from a girl before asking her to join me for a cup of coffee?

Neelkanth:
A friend of mine once told me, “Even the most idiotic work in writing would have an essence imbued in it. All that it takes is to see it from the perspective the writer intended.” and that idiot is just staring at me now. When your ideas align, everything she writes works.

[After a moment of silence.]

Neelkanth:
Rohan, please do not make the same mistake as Bhadra. The Gods’ aren’t cruel but they wouldn’t hesitate to test every one of us. They wish to see if we would really live up to what we deeply believe in our life.

Rohan:
And the Gods’ would be amazed to see me answer them!

Scene V
The False Hero?

[This scene takes place in Mahesh’s apartment. While the sun is bidding goodbye, Madhuri sat on the bed caressing Mahesh’s hair as he lay in her lap.]

Mahesh:
You seem to be lost in your thoughts. What are you wondering about?

[After a few moments of silence.]

Mahesh:
Madhu, don’t worry about our future. I have a job and will take good care of you. By the grace of the Gods, we belong to the same caste, so I see no reason for being rejected by your mother.

[As the silence continued.]

Mahesh:
If it is the age gap of eight years between us that you are wondering about...

Madhuri:
I’m not worried about us Mahi. I’m worried about my elder brother and Maina. It is unfortunate that Rohan failed to convince Bhadra to let go of his relationship with Maina at-least for our family.

Mahesh:
For the family? What good is family if your brother’s life is a living hell?

Madhuri:
Family is everything, Mahi! I cannot see my brothers argue anymore and my mother isn’t the woman she once was. Not since we lost our father. My elder brother thinks he could marry Maina making her a part of our family while my mother wouldn’t even allow Maina to set foot in our home.

Mahesh:
Don’t worry, Madhu. Mothers wouldn’t let go of their children, especially their sons. It is because most mothers believe that their sons are their most prized possessions. Trust me, your mother would welcome Maina wholeheartedly as a member of your family. On the other hand, Maina is a good girl and she is beautiful. What more could your mother ask for? She might not be of our caste but she is from a royal background after all!

Madhuri:
You don’t understand Mahi! Maina isn’t nearly perfect and I don’t blame her. Not many girls of her age are perfect, personally, do you think I’m perfect? But there is one specific problem with Maina. She is short-tempered and I can’t even dare to imagine the argument between her and my mother that would inevitably happen. Neither Bhadra nor I can pick a side then.

Mahesh:
Say whatever you want to about Bhadra but I like him. Your brother has got the courage to stand up for the person he loves. I think Rohan lacks that, thanks to your mother. He is as stubborn as she is and I’m afraid he might suffer a lot in the future!

Madhuri:
And that is why I say you are crazy. You praise the family idiot while forgetting to even acknowledge the likely hero!

Scene VI
A Lover’s Price?

[This scene takes place at the Casting cafe where Mukund and Pratyusha usually met. Since it is Wednesday at 3 PM, there weren’t many customers in the cafe.]

Mukund:
I’m still surprised that you called me. What is the matter? Were you missing me?

[Observing Pratyusha hesitate.]

Mukund:
Please answer before I start imagining things that never happen.

Pratyusha: [Hesitantly]
Mukund, I asked you to meet me to talk about our future. Can you tell me when you are planning to tell your parents about me?

Mukund: [Surprised]
Pratyusha, you talk like you want to get married tomorrow! We are just twenty-five! Believe me, only fools plan their future while the intellectuals rejoice in the present. So don’t ask me these stupid questions. Our future? Puff! If it makes you feel any better, I have never thought about my future.

Pratyusha:
I’m confused. Please help me. If you love me, why not plan our future?

Mukund:
Because it is not easy…

Pratyusha:
Why? Because of Rithika?

[Mukund stayed silent.]

Pratyusha:
Tell me, Mukund. If you were to choose between me and Rithika, whom would you choose in order to lead your life? I plead with you to tell me the truth.

Mukund:
What has happened to you all of a sudden? Haven’t I always told you that I love you more than her? Why don’t you just listen to me? We had great times in the past...

Pratyusha:
Give me an answer! If you were to choose, whom would it be?

Mukund: [Closing his eyes]
Rithika it is!

[He expected Pratyusha to either slap or throw water on his face but nothing happened. When he opened his eyes, the chair before him was empty.]