PRATAP: What about other possibilities.
SEKHAR: With a widow you mean.
PRATAP: Partly right but I’m single to boot.
SEKHAR: I’ve heard you married an American.
PRATAP: We were divorced for ages.
SEKHAR: But still, I’ve to discourage you.
PRATAP: Why, she wants to be forever wedded to her husband’s memory or what?
SEKHAR: She’s not the one to live in the past any way.
PRATAP: Then what’s the hitch?
SEKHAR: It’s her daughter.
PRATAP: Why should she be a hurdle?
SEKHAR: Its emotional stagnation my boy, India is not sexually modern.
PRATAP: What is she doing?
SEKHAR: M.B.B.S pre-final.
PRATAP: I’m glad Vimala would see herself in her daughter as a doctor. What’s her name?
SEKHAR: Prati.
PRATAP: (OFF) Pratap and Prati, sound similar, don’t they?
SEKHAR: What are you thinking about?
PRATAP: Oh, what dreams Vimala had of becoming a doctor? I had a hard time consoling her when she missed the bus.
SEKHAR: Well, I don’t know. So you were closer than we thought you were. But still, she may not like to hurt her daughter’s future. If she ties up with you, her daughter’s marriage would be jeopardized.
PRATAP: Damn the cultural prejudices. How they make life materially complex.
(PAUSE)
SEKHAR: Don’t lose heart; love hath its way, more often than not.
PRATAP: With your pushing and prodding, hope it leads us to the altar.
SEKHAR: So that I’ll do the décor. Well, I’ve booked for you in the Krishna Oberoi, but still I prefer you stayed with me.
PRATAP: It’s okay that way.
SEKHAR: With my wife and son having gone to my in-laws place. PRATAP: What a shame! I didn’t enquire about Vijaya and Suresh.
SEKHAR: Understandable preoccupation, isn’t it? For the record, Suresh is doing his M.B.A program in the Central University here.
SFX - Their car drives into the corridor of the Krishna Oberoi. Sekhar and Pratap come out of the car as the latter’s luggage was picked up by the chauffeur.
SCENE - 2
EXT - Sekhar and Pratap and go up to the reception at the Krishna Oberoi and the receptionist allots Room No. 303 to Pratap. The hotel attendant transports the luggage as the friends go up to the elevator. Once out of the elevator at the third floor, they all reach Room No. 303.
INT – The attendant opens the door and Pratap and Sekhar go in. As the attendant leaves the room, the friends settle down.
b/g – Sound track of classical instrumental music.