(PAUSE)
PRATI: I know you’re guilty. Why marry on impulse and live in guilt.
VIMALA: You got it wrong. I don’t wish to talk about my married life with you because it involves your sentiments of your father.
PRATI: It’s no excuse; there is nothing I don’t know about you and father.
VIMALA: I never knew you were an eavesdropper and a voyeur combined into one.
PRATI: Oh, I don’t mean it that way.
VIMALA: Leave it at that, and get to the realities of your life.
PRATI: What realities?
VIMALA: I won’t mean much to you once you marry…
PRATI: If you drop your idea, I won’t get married at all.
VIMALA: These are no Mahabharata days my dear. But still if you keep your vow, it will make it worse for me. Well, Bhishma didn’t marry to let his father have the woman he fancied. And you want to remain unmarried to prevent your mother from marrying the man who loves her.
PRATI: But don’t love him, do you?
VIMALA: What for you if I love him or not?
PRATI: Won’t it reflect on your marriage?
VIMALA: You’re just a girl not even a newly wed.
PRATI: Maybe, I’m old enough to understand.
VIMALA: If only life is as simple to comprehend…
PRATI: I know it’s the stock stuff to gag the young mouths.
VIMALA: Okay, I’ll tell you about a stark reality. If ever you were in my position, you would feel as much need for a male company as I do now.
PRATI: Don’t think I don’t care for your needs. But I can’t bear your shaming dad’s memory by marrying. If you still go ahead, I know I can’t prevent it. But I’m not sure whether I want to live to see you as someone else’s woman.
VIMALA: I think doctors save lives and not take lives.
PRATI: Why do you forget I’m no less a devoted daughter.
(PAUSE)
VIMALA: Prati dear, know my love is as precious as your life.
PRATI: What, you love him!
VIMALA: Had my father cared for my feelings, Pratap would have been your father. (PAUSE)
SCENE - 12
INT – Vimala goes to Pratap.
VIMALA: The sentimental fool has put her life on line.
PRATAP: Didn’t you foresee that?
VIMALA: No, I thought I could put some sense into her stupid head.
PRATAP: Now would you put my love on line or what?
VIMALA: No way come what may.
PRATAP: What if she acts stupid; it’ll cast a shadow on our love life.