Navya: I swear I’ll drag you to the court.
Naveen: Leaving your home, you’ve become lame.
Navya: Wait, I’ll show you what I am
Naveen: What a sight it makes, a lame woman dragging her man to the court.
[Exit: Naveen with Ranjan and Nrupa yelling ‘mummy’.]
Rekha: I think you must bend for your children’s sake.
Navya: Well, I’m more focused than ever. Let’s go to Lawyer Bhagawan.
[Exit: Navya, Rachana and Rekha. Curtains down.]
Scene - 12
[Curtains up: Lawyer Bhagawan’s Office. Bhagawan is at his desk poring over some papers. The clock (not in the scene) strikes seven.]
[Enter: Rekha, Rachana and Navya.]
Bhagawan: Hi Rekha. I’ve read about your MAWAW in The Hindu and wanted to compliment you. Why, work may not kill man but surely it kills his social life.
[Bhagawan asks them to take their seats and as they sit his mobile rings. He checks the caller number and answers the call.]
Bhagawan: I’ve some clients with me. You can come and collect the decree.
[Bhagawan switches off his mobile.]
Rekha: Sorry for barging in with my battalion.
Bhagawan: You know you’re always welcome.
Rekha: Thank you and let me introduce the co-activists of MAWAW. This is Navya [Bhagawan and Navya greet each other] and this is Rachana [Bhagawan and Rachana greet each other].
Bhagawan: Is it about a legal dilemma or a liberal donation. [Bhagawan laughs heartily.]
Rekha: You’ve put an idea into my head. Be MAWAW’s honorary legal advisor.
Bhagawan: Done, I deem it an honour.
Rekha: Thanks a lot. Now we have a twin dilemma, one is about bigamy and another is about divorce.
Bhagawan: Why not we deal with the prosaic before we go to the poetic. Which of these two ladies seeks divorce?
Rekha: Men are men whatever be their calling.
Bhagawan: If not, where’s the charm for women.
[Rekha briefs Bhagawan about Navya’s case (mime)]
Bhagawan: I think you should give him the benefit of doubt.
Navya: I‘ve no doubt about his guilt
Bhagawan: What if Mithuna is a questionable character?
Navya: Lawyer saab, this is no argument in the court.
[Bhagawan pulls out three case files and places before them. Navya reads one and her colour changes. Rekha and Rachana too peruse one each.]
Rachana: [Exclaims.] Oh, it’s our company’s suit against Mithuna. Without taking her name, Kumar told me about her.
Bhagawan: How do you know him?
Rachana: He’s my boss.
Bhagawan: And he’s my client.
Rekha: The world is small indeed and the other side of the sexual coin is no less ugly