Baskadia

(PGI is the largest hospital of Chandigarh, but it is infamous for the fact that only it is often the place where the patients leave for their heavenly abodes. Only the patients which are critical and have low chances of survival are referred here)

The curtains open to a cacophony of background noises, some being the cries of the families who have lost their loved ones, some being the prayers being offered to God by the families of the patients wishing for their speedy recovery. It is implied that it is the scene of a hospital. Mrs. Kalyani is seen kneeling and saying the rosary while occasionally shedding a tear or two.

Ram Dayal: Ma’am shall I bring water for you?

(Mrs. Kalyani doesn’t respond)

Ram Dayal: Ma’am I will be back in a minute.

                                                                                                  (Ram Dayal exits)

(Mr. Balbir then enters the stage and sees Mrs. Kalyani reading her prayers. He decides not to interrupt)

(Ram Dayal enters with two glasses of water)

Ram Dayal: Sorry ma’am I forgot to tell you that I informed Balbir sir about Vinay Sir’s condition and told him to come here.

Mrs. Kalyani (in a frustrated tone): Yeah, that is visible.

Ram Dayal then offers water to both Mr. Balbir and Mrs. Kalyani.

(Mr. Balbir graciously accepts but Mrs. Kalyani politely shakes her head. It is implied that she is dismayed enough that thirst holds no importance to her at the moment)

(Doctor Lal enters from the operation theatre adjoining the ICU ward)

(They stand up in anticipation and look towards him with hopeful eyes)

Doctor Lal (while shaking his head in disbelief, perhaps wondering why he has to deliver the disheartening news most of the time): We tried our best, but we couldn't save him. I am deeply sorry.

                                                                                                   (Doctor Lal exits)

(Mrs. Kalyani falls on her knees and starts to pull her hair and cry her heart out. Mr. Balbir also bursts into tears. Ram Dayal starts to bang his forehead against the wall)

Mr. Balbir (to himself and the audience, barely being able to speak): It...It doesn’t make sense. He was very conscious about his health. It was his routine to have fresh juices every day. He would exercise for hours and had a well-built body. I am not ready to accept that a more-than-physically-fit man in his twenties could die of natural causes so suddenly. There has to be something which I am missing.

                                                                                                                                     (Curtains fall)