Navya: How is Nritya?

Rekha: [She hugs Navya with tears in her eyes.]

Navya: Oh God, where is she take me to her.

Rekha: No dear, you can’t bear the sight.

[Navya becomes unconscious and collapses on the floor.]

[Exit: Preeti to fetch some water as Rekha takes Navya into her lap.]

[Enter: Preeti with a water bottle and she sprinkles some water on Navya’s face. Navya regains her consciousness.]

Navya: Where is her body?

Rekha: The police moved it to the Gandhi Hospital.

Navya: Take me there.

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Rekha: Let your husband also come.

[While others try to console Navya (mime) and Preeti goes into Rakesh’s chamber and informs him of the developments (mime). Rakesh comes out of his chamber to see Navya.]

Rakesh: I’m sorry madam.

Navya (Wiping her tears): Oh, how she brought it upon herself.

[Enter: Naveen and a sobbing Navya falls into his hands.]

Navya: Let’s go and see her.

Rakesh: Madam, Inspector Balram is here and he would arrange things.

[Rakesh leads Navya and Naveen into his chamber and introduces them to Balram who receives them by getting up from his chair [mime]. Rakesh motions Navya and Naveen to sit and as they take their seats, Rakesh and Balram too take their seats.]

Balram: It feels sad really.

Navya: [Sobs silently.]

Naveen: I wonder why she should commit suicide.

Rakesh: It’s no good talking ill about the dead but as it involves the life of the living, I’ve to be frank with you. In hindsight I see she has a troubled psyche. Wonder how she mistook Mr. Nayak’s patronizing behaviour as sexual harassment. Why he’s on the wrong side of fifties with a thirty-year-old clean slate. When he tried to set the record straight before the complaints committee, she took it as a personal affront and lost her balance. Devastated by her act, now Mr. Nayak looks on the wrong side of sixties.

Navya: Well, the day I came to know of her complaint, I wanted her to pack up and go home. But she was not to listen.

Rakesh: Maybe, you can throw some light on her private life. Inspector Balram may like to have a word with you. [Rakesh moves to get up from his seat] I better leave you alone.

Balram: Why, you may as well stay.

Rakesh: As you please [He sits back in his chair.]

Balram: Madam, I’ve got to look at her death from all angles.

Navya: I understand Sir.

Balram: Is your sister put up with you?

Navya: She stays in a ladies hostel.

Balram: Was there any domestic discord or was she jilted by someone.




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