Play : The Embarkation

(Written: September 2018)

The Embarkation : Part 1

[Evening. Sunset. Dev and Sudha are meeting at their favorite place, apparently for the final time.]

Sudha: You can leave now.

Dev: But...

Sudha: But what?

Dev: [Pauses] Are we done yet?

Sudha: Why, weren't 5 years sufficient for you. Don't make this anymore difficult.

Dev: Sudha, how do I make you trust me on this. It is not my decision alone.

Sudha: [Angrily] It is your decision! No one's gagging you and smuggling you to the States.

Dev: Sudha...

[Silence falls, only to be interrupted by the periodic splashes on the shore]

Sudha: You know, I understand life better now as each relationship passes by. My best friend in school, my boyfriend in college, my father, and now you...

Dev: Sudha, don't go into that zone.

Sudha: Oh why, I want to. You know, I gave my 100% to every relationship. And somehow, it has never been enough. My best friend in school, we were inseparable. We had made plans to do everything in life together. But then, we couldn't even get to the same college. And just like that, life happened. My first ever romantic relationship. It was all fireworks. I was in my fairy land and he was in, well, whatever land he was in. And it all came crashing down when college got over. I was bewildered by the extent of pain my heart could experience. You know, you're confronted with things you never knew existed within you. It was the worst breakup anyone could ever go through. And then, the only constant love in my life, my father, who was only about one thing, giving. He couldn't even take care of himself. He loved his family more than anything, but not more than his liquor. He used to say, I'm a captive of my own volition. He struggled in the end, but gave up. I had just completed my college and had just suffered the worst breakup anyone can go through. And now the sky fell on my head and just crumbled me to the core. And then I came to this city for my job. And I met you. And now...

[Dev puts her arm around her and pulls her closer to console]

Sudha: You know the difference between my other relationships and my relationship with you? You came in my life at a point when I was totally crumbled inside. And you just effortlessly brought me back to my self. You became the pillar to support me whenever required and a padding for all my emotional outbursts. You came in my life and you were all about... giving. Just like my father.

[Sudha's eyes welled up. Dev notices and puts her head on his shoulder.]

Sudha: You never made me suffer his absence. I remember in the initial years, whenver such a subject would present itself, or something referential to my father would come up, you would just cleverly try to deviate those topics. And I would know what you were doing, and I would stop myself from going into that zone just because of you. It's like, you could just peek into my soul and know what was happening.

[Silence falls. Dev and Sudha look unblinkingly at the setting sun over the sea, sitting at the shore]

Dev: Let's go get some coffee.

Sudha: Why, you don't want your chai today.

Dev: No, today is all about things you love.

Sudha: Oh, so it's about you again.

[Dev smiled]

Sudha: Let's sit here for some more time, until the sun sets fully. And even so on our relationship.

Dev: Why are so hell-bent that this is the end of our relationship?

Sudha: Because I know how life works. It's not going to work. You are going for your masters now, you would definitely do your PHD, and then you're never coming back.

Dev: You don't know that.

Sudha: I know. I'm not blind to the world.

Dev: But why can't you see a future with me there?

Sudha: Because I have my mother, whom I can never leave. And she can never move to the states. If she did, she would be leaving her soul behind. And I have my younger sister. They need me, and I need them.

[Silence for a brief moment]

Sudha: And I know how much this opportunity means for you. How much you were aiming for this scholarship. How you would never be satisfied with your work life here.

Dev: [Sighs] When did life's ambitions took better of us.

The Embarkation : Part 2

[Flashback. 5 years ago.]

[Scene 1]

[Top floor of an MNC building. People working on their desks. Sudha walks in, accompanied by HR.]

HR: [To the manager, Vikram] Hi, this is Sudha. She just completed her orientation. She is ready to join from today.

Sudha: Hi Sir. Good morning. I'm very excited to be here.

Vikram: Hi Sudha, welcome. And we're glad to have you in our team. And please call me Vikram.

Sudha: Ok, Vikram. So, what technology would I be working on.

Vikram: Well, our team works on a variety of technologies - Analytics, AI, Big Data. So I'd rather have you get a flavor of what we're working on and then we can decide. Here, I'll ask Dev to ramp you up on the projects we've been working on. Dev joined us just 6 months back. Dev, meet Sudha.

[Dev, who was already looking at Sudha unblinkingly since the moment she had entered, got startled by his mention]

Dev: Yeah, Hi, Dev here. [Shakes hand]

Sudha: Hi. So, shall I take this adjacent seat.

Dev: Yeah, sure!

[Scene 2] 

[2 months later]

[Sudha walks in to the office]

Dev: Why are you late?

Sudha: It's nothing.

Dev: But you're never late. And why are your eyes so puffed.

Sudha: Just leave it.

Dev: Ok, so tell me, is your presentation ready for today.

Sudha: Well, is it ever? It's always a rough draft with me which I keep changing till the last minute.

Dev: Well, show me. Maybe I can give you some inputs.

Sudha: Ok, sending it over.

[Sudha presses the enter key with style and scoots over to Dev's desk. They have a look at the PPT.]

Dev: Ah. Don't mind Sudha, but you need to improve your PPT skills.

Sudha: Why, what's wrong?

Dev: Well, everything. Too much text, no bullets. Diagrams don't have straight lines. Urgh.

[Sudha looks at him earnestly, waiting for him to say more.]

Dev: Ok, all right. I'll fix it up for you. But meanwhile, would you take a look at this code I have been working on since morning. I'm not able to find the issue. I could really use a fresh set of eyes.

Sudha: Ok, show me the error first.

Dev: Here. [Points to the screen]

Sudha: Ok, it's a stack overflow error. Have you used recursions in your code?

Dev: Yes. [Opens a windows] These ones.

Sudha: [Points on the screen] Here, this function's exit condition would never be met.

Dev: [In amazement] Wooow... You're a genius. A clumsy one, but a genius.

[Sudha ruffled Dev's hair and moves back to her desk]

[Scene 3]

[6 months later]

[In the cafeteria]

Dev: Just have a sip. It's... like nectar.

Sudha: Well, I already have mine. Filter coffee.

Dev: Don't underestimate the power of ginger tea.

Sudha: I'm not. I'm just fully satisfied with my coffee.

Dev: You won't know what you're missing out on.

Sudha: [Smiles] See, I always say, tea and coffee are like two different religions existing peacefully. And they both take you to the same place.

Dev: Nice analogy, but my religion is better.

[Sudha gives Dev the bird. Dev collides the sides of his fists together]

Dev: Ok, tell me. So how was hometown last week.

Sudha: Hmm. Heavy.

Dev: Why?

Sudha: Too many memories of too many things.

Dev: How is your Mom and sister?

Sudha: Well, my sister is better. She is already involved in her school activities and dance classes.

Dev: Which class did she go in?

Sudha: 9th.

Dev: And aunty?

Sudha: Well, she doesn't go to school.

Dev: [Chuckles] I meant how is she holding up.

Sudha: Well, definitely better. It's almost a year since, you know, dad passed away. But somehow I think my presence makes her reminiscent of him. I can see the sadness in her eyes. It almost makes me not want to go home.

Dev: You know, you're her strength. She relies on you. You must keep on visiting.

Sudha: But, what about me? Do you know how difficult it is to keep up the appearance that everything is fine. Whom do I confide in? Whom do I rely on?

Dev: [Places his hand on hers] Me?

The Embarkation : Part 3

[Present Day]

[At the airport. Everyone who came to see off Dev has now left. Only Sudha and Dev remain.]

Dev: Ok, so now it's just you and me and this trolley and this last cup of tea.

Sudha: Why, are you dying next?

Dev: No, it's just that I would miss this chai in US. Here, in every street and corner I could get this, any time of the day.

Sudha: And what else will you miss?

Dev: I'll miss... Dosa, definitely.

Sudha: And?

Dev: And, my parents, my pet, my maid, my milkman...

Sudha: Asshole.

[Dev laughs and kisses Sudha on her cheeks]

[Sudha takes the cup off Dev's hand and takes a sip]

Dev: Wow, that's a first! And all this time I nagged you to have it.

Sudha: Hmm, not bad though.

Dev: Told ya. Listen, I have something to give you.

[Dev takes off his wrist watch and hands it over to Sudha]

Sudha: What! No Dev. I cannot take this. This is your family's watch. That's too valuable.

Dev: No Sudha, I insist. You were a family to me. This is reminder that time cannot steal you from me.

[Sudha gets overwhelmed and hugs Dev]

Dev: Besides, I know how much you like to wear my things.

Sudha: Shut up.

Dev: Sudha, now I have to leave in another 10 minutes. You want to say any parting words?

Sudha: Yes, don't go.

Dev: Hmm.

Sudha: Dev, just listen to my heartbeat. [Sudha places Dev's hand on her heart].

Dev: It's racing! Just like mine. [Dev places Sudha's hand on his heart].

Sudha: Dev, take me with you.

Dev: You don't have your passport. They won't allow.

Sudha: I can get it in half an hour.

Dev: You don't have a Visa.

Sudha: Just take me any how. Put me in one of these bags and I can travel in the luggage section.

[Dev laughs]

Dev: Sudha, I don't know if this decision is right or wrong. But if we've taken this path we have to tread it and see.

Sudha: You know, I always think why do people crave for relationships. And I think, it's our souls that want to expand and become one with the other. And I think mine is very fond of you. So if you go I might die and you could be haunted for life.

Dev: [Laughs] Nice attempt. You know I'm spooked easily. Listen, now I think I should leave.

Sudha: No. Don't. [Sudha's breath gets racing]

Dev: Sudha... I will be late. I will call you as soon as I check-in.

Sudha: No, don't. Please, don't.

Dev: Sudha, leave my hand.

[Sudha starts to sob]

Sudha: Dev please, I cannot live without you. Please don't go.

Dev: Sudha, even I cannot live without you. This is not the end.

Sudha: It is. I beg you. You want me to beg you.

[Sudha goes down on her knees, still holding Dev's hand]

Dev: Sudha, we talked about this, we would not do this. I don't want to cry and leave. Don't make it difficult.

[Dev goes down on his knees and picks up Sudha. Sudha hugs Dev tightly.]

Dev: You're stronger than this, Sudha. I know you are, much stronger than me.

Sudha: I'm not. That's just an appearance. I'm very weak. Please don't leave me weaker. Just stay.

Dev: Sudha, I have to leave now.

Sudha: I swear if you go in through that door you'll never see my face again.

Dev: You know that's not possible.

Sudha: I'm serious. As soon as you enter the airport I'll block you everywhere.

Dev: Take care Sudha. And remember, this is not the end.

[Sudha sobs profusely]

[Dev kisses Sudha on her forehead and moves towards the Departure gate with tears in his eyes.]

[Sudha watches him go inside the airport and out of her sight].

The Embarkation : Part 4 (The Conclusion)

[6 years later]

[Sudha is sitting at the coffee shop, checking her mobile. Dev enters.]

Sudha: [Enthusiastically] Dev.

Dev: Hi Sudha.

[Dev extends his hand to shake while Sudha opens her arms to hug. They both get awkward. Sudha extends her hand to shake but now Dev goes for a hug. Finally they hug each other.]

Sudha: Hi Dev, how have you been! How is it going?

Dev: It is going quite good. Quite well.

Sudha: You've become... healthy.

Dev: Why, did they change healthy to mean obese in India.

Sudha: No, you're not fat. That's normal with age.

Dev: Well, agree to disagree.

Sudha: So how is everything? How is your PHD going?

Dev: My dissertation just got accepted. So I'm actually through.

Sudha: Wow, congratulations! That was really fast.

Dev: Yeah, I wanted to get over with it so worked really hard last year.

Sudha: Awesome. So now you're gonna be a doctor, huh! Can you check I've got this pain in my right tooth.

Dev: Haha. How long have you been practicing that joke?

Sudha: Tch tch.

Dev: And I also got a job in Silicon Valley. I'm joining a startup in a leading role.

Sudha: Wow. That's amazing! See, didn't I use to say, you're made for that. Well this calls for a party. What would you have?

Dev: Well, we're in a Cafe so, coffee?

Sudha: [Laughs] Indeed. But don't do bottoms-up on that. But hey, coffee? No chai?

Dev: Yeah, I'm a coffee person now. Black, without sugar.

Sudha: Hmm. I guess old habits do die.

[They order coffee]

Sudha: You know, I'm glad to see you without your stubble. Every picture you upload on Facebook is with a heavy stubble. And you know you look better with clean shave.

Dev: Yeah, there was no motivation to shave. So how is it going with you? How are aunty and your sister? And how's Karthik?

Sudha: Yeah, mom's good. Quite content actually. Half of her "responsibilities" are over with me getting married now. Now she only worries about my younger sister and how she can find a groom for her. And my sister is only in 3rd year of college. You know, we both call our mom 'Wedding Ninja'.

Dev: Haha. The obsession of Indian parents with marriage is unimaginable. They do mean well, but, do they really. And how is Karthik?

Sudha: Oh, he is good. Although he is in office today on a Saturday so not really good. But that's why he couldn't come today. He wanted to meet you too.

Dev: Yeah, I wish to meet him sometime. It's already been what, more than a year since you guys got married?

Sudha: Yes, 1.5 years actually.

Dev: Wow, time flies.

Sudha: Yes. Unless you smoke pot. Then it stays right there.

Dev: Haha. You smoke?

Sudha: No, but Karthik used to. Still does sometimes. I guess that's why he is so... sorted.

[Dev laughs]

Sudha: Yeah, you know whenever I'm in trouble or under any stress, he offers me a solution. And that's always ganja. He says you'll experience time dilation and then you'll be able to see things with clarity and objectivity.

Dev: He sounds very interesting!

Sudha: So, what are your plans? Isn't marriage on the card yet?

Dev: Well, it is now. I hadn't given it enough thought up till yet. But now, the search is on.

Sudha: Well, my sister is only in 3rd year so...

Dev: Hahaha.

Sudha: But it's high time for you to get married.

Dev: Why?

Sudha: Because you're needy. It's strange you've survived so far.

Dev: Oh, is it. But you also married so late. Why was that? How could you fend off Mrs. 'Wedding Ninja' for so long?

Sudha: Oh, don't ask. She used to get mini heart-attacks each day that went past by me not getting married.

Dev: But, why didn't you for so long?

Sudha: I really don't know. It's not easy to find someone who matches up to your perception. I mean, there were a lot of good proposals. And most of them were too good for me. I could not accept. My mom had declared me mad for giving up such good proposals. And then I met Karthik. Found him perfectly flawed to the right amount. I met him and I knew, he was the one. So, how about you? You didn't find any one? No flings, no affairs?

Dev: Hmm. Yeah, I had, but nothing serious. Nothing lasted. I guess when you come from a higher experience, these things don't fulfill you easily.

Sudha: Hmm. Higher experience.

Dev: Sudha, I wanted to apologize to you personally, face to face.

Sudha: What for?

Dev: For the way I behaved with you last time I was in India?

Sudha: That's all in the past Dev. That was more than 2 years ago.

Dev: No, but still. All I did last time was quarrel and argue with you. It went ugly. When I went back to US I realized that I have destroyed something very beautiful.

Sudha: No, you didn't. Life does that. I have nothing against you from that time as I could see you were not in the same place as me.

Dev: Yes. You had completely moved on. Yet you wanted everything to do with me. I could not understand that.

Sudha: I would always want everything to do with you. You mean the world to me. You know, any kind of relationship has a very strong friendship at its core. It's difficult to arrive at, but it's beautiful. You have to wait until the garbs of relationship are shed. When the superficial is lost, the meaningful remains.

Dev: Wow. If only I could've understood this perspective.

Sudha: I knew you would one day, that's why I never gave up on you.

Dev: I find it strange. For all that was beautiful between us, somehow everything turned ugly over the years. From talking to each other daily to fighting with each other daily and then not being in touch for months... I could not believe it. I was the one doing it yet I could not believe it

Sudha: Well, I had anticipated it. Distance is like an evil whisperer, casting doubts in each others' minds. It's bad company.

Dev: Yeah, but the decisions that we take, we have to live it. We reap it's benefits, we suffer it's consequences.

Sudha: Every consequence is a new possibility.

[Cups clink]

Dev: To new beginnings.

Sudha: To new beginnings.