First scene
[The scene is of a neat room. On the wall there are photos of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Sarada Devi. Father-in-law is reciting the pathetic story of Sita from the Ramayana. A little later the mother- in-law enters, wiping her hands.]
Mother-in-law    :     It is only because of you that the boy has dared to be so disobedient.
Father-in-law    :     Oh, ho, well tell me what it is?
Mother-in-law    :     I had guessed long back. When I told you, you did not heed it; then you said my son is a college teacher! He has a good character. He cannot have an affair!
Father-in-law    :     Yes, I had said so. Did I know then that this good son of mine would, instead of falling for a girl from a respectable family, go and have an affair with a Charal girl? You know, Ginni, I feel surprised to think that he, being a Brahmin’s son, did not find his self-respect hurt in the least in marrying that low-caste girl?
Mother-in-law    :     Why will it be hurt? Isn’t there that saying, with whomever the mind is obsessed, what is the Hadi or Dom identity?
Father-in-law    :     Yes, you are right. In love one does not take note of good or bad caste.
Mother-in-law    :     It is my ill-fate that I conceived such a son. Yet, looking at the one-year-old son Gurudev had said, ‘In future your son will win great acclaim.’
Father-in-law    :    Gurudev’s words have not gone wrong. In college – university the boy has gained very good results and everyone praises him. As a writer too he has fame.
Mother-in-law    :    Of what use is fame, if he does not have intelligence, conscience and taste? At that time itself I had repeatedly told you, if Khagen Mukherjee was giving one lakh in cash and unlimited gifts, get our son married to his daughter. Had you listened to us then?
Father-in-law    :    What a problem! If you could not make your son agree then, is it my fault?
Mother-in-law    :    You had said, I have brought the elder daughter-in-law from a big family by taking fifty thousand rupees dowry and now she does not do a single bit of work for the family.
Father-in-law    :    I had said that to you, but I had not said it to my son! The son sticks to the single vow – I shall not take dowry, I shall not give dowry.
Mother-in-law    :    I shall see how he marries off his sister without dowry.
Father -in-law    :     The son has done whatever he wished to do, but here I tell you, I shall not even take water from the hands of that Shudra girl.
Mother-in-law    :    I am also telling you, that girl shall not enter my prayer room and my kitchen. The few days I live, I shall spend my time in the prayer room chanting the name of God. I do not wish to stay in the range of touch of low and bad castes.
Father -in-law    :     Please, will you give me a glass of water– when had I asked for it?
Mother -in-law    :    What! They haven’t given it? Where are you, mother of Kajal? Come and give a glass of water to the master. Each of the domestics is like that….

[Manisha enters ]
Manisha     :    Father, here is the water.
Father-in-law    :     Why did you bring the water? I do not wish to take anything from your hands.
Manisha    :     Mother, it is quite a few days that I have come . . . from today I shall do the cooking.
Mother-in-law    :    No, you need not cook. The cook is there, she will do it. It is better that you sit outside the kitchen and help them. Wash the dishes, sweep the rooms. That will do.
Father-in-law    :     And, look after the son; see that he has no difficulties.
Manisha    :     Father, Won’t you give me the chance to even serve you all, a bit?
Father-in-law    :     I have not become totally disabled as yet that I must take the services of someone.
Manisha    :     I too feel like doing something for you; to serve you.
Mother-in-law    :     You don’t have the qualities that are necessary to serve.
Manisha    :     Mother, am I totally a misfit for your family?
Father-in-law    :     Would you have been able to entrap my simpleton son if you were totally worthless?
Manisha    :     The meaning of your words is not clear to me baba
Mother-in-law    :     The meaning is clear. How well have you laid the trap of love and got onto the shoulders of my son and ascended the caste ladder?
Manisha    :     Why ? Don’t I have any caste?
Mother-in-law    :     Yes, you had. Namasudra, Chandal, Charal.
Manisha    :     The term Charal is abusive! That apart, are the Namasudras not human beings?
Mother-in-law    :     The Muchi, Methars are also human beings.
Manisha    :     The Muchi, Methars are also friends of society. Apart from this, I have not married a blind Brahmannawadi- upholder of Brahminism.
Father-in-law [laughing] : No one can wear a wrap of Brahmannawad and become a Brahmin. That is why even today the Brahmins are the best caste in society.
Manisha    :     I have heard that the Brahmins have the highest qualities. I do not hate any caste. But you, even though of the highest caste, neglect the people.
Father-in-law    :     If a dog says I do not hate people, what does it matter to people?

[Saugata enters]
Saugata    :     Father, What is all this that you are saying? Manisha’s father is a highly educated, polite gentleman. Manisha too is no less qualified.
Father-in-law    :     You have married for your happiness, you did not think about ours.
Saugata    :     Why are you saying this, Baba? Where is my fault if I have married an M.A. qualified girl from a dignified family?
Father-in-law    :    You have done no wrong. I have done it. In teaching you, I have not succeeded in giving you a correct upbringing.
Saugata    :     What does that mean?
Father-in-law    :     You have destroyed the aristocracy of our family.
Saugata    :     How?
Father-in-law    :     By bringing an untouchable Shudra girl into the house and giving her the dignity of being a wife.
Saugata    :     So many times have I heard from you that those who are at the top of the society will pull up those who are below, this is the rule. Tell me, haven’t you said so?
Father-in-law    :     Yes, but that was regarding the workplace, not in matters pertaining to the family.
Mother-in-law    :     Many people say such good words, as words only….
Manisha    :     Baba, but before marriage I had not concealed my caste. I had told him that I belong to the so-called Scheduled Castes.
Saugata    :     In reply I had said I do not believe in caste. Today, at the end of the twentieth century, when people are going to the moon, creating revolution with the computer, to think of who is a Brahmin or a Shudra is nothing but going back in history.
Manisha    :     I had said that day that in reality society cannot keep pace with the speed of computers. A long time would have to be spent in eradicating the beliefs of thousands of years. Your parents and relatives are probably under the sway of the ancient traditional beliefs and you will lose their sympathy. What, dear, had I not said so?
Saugata    :     Yes, you had said so. Today I can understand your words were correct. I could not comprehend earlier that my parents have such a low mentality.
Mother-in-law    :    Son, what did you say? We are lowly? We have low mentality? You could abuse us like this? Did I not conceive you, nurture you in my lap, feed you breast milk and bring you up that you …..[she cries]
Father-in-law    :     Don’t cry dear, this is just the beginning. Since the evil has entered the family, it will proceed to do its work.
Mother-in-law    :     I swear by the touch of you that if they remain in this house I shall not touch water [exit].
Manisha     :     Mother, dear Mother, what is this that you have sworn! Dear,  fall at Mother’s feet immediately and seek pardon –-
Saugata    :     I have done no wrong that I shall seek pardon.
Father-in-law    :     Listen, Son, long before you were born, I had got your mother near me; just as you do not hesitate to insult your parents for the wife that you have got just a few days back, in the interest of your mother I feel compelled to ask you to leave the house –
Saugata    :     Come along, Manisha. I shall not stay here for a single moment!
Manisha    :     What are you saying? Perhaps your parents have, in their fit of rage, used some abusive words, does that mean we have to leave them and go away?
Saugata    :     Yes, we have to. These are not just abusive words. It is an insult to humanity.
Manisha    :     If they have done so, they have done it to me. I have not taken it seriously. Why do you take it seriously? Parents have become aged. It is our responsibility to look after them.
Father-in-law    :    See, I am not being swayed by your honeyed words. If you do not leave this house immediately, I myself shall go away.
Manisha    :     Father, I did not come here to stay happily only with your son. I came here with the desire to be harmoniously together with all of you in this family. Please don’t deprive me of that opportunity, Father.
Father-in-law    :     All right, then. You stay in this house. I am going away [exits].
Saugata    :     Let it be. You don’t have to go. It is your house, you stay in it. Come, Manisha.
Manisha     :     Wait a bit. Let me touch the feet of Father [She touches the floor with her head. The father-in-law takes a couple of steps backward and turns his head away. Saugata touches his feet and does pranam.]
Saugata    :     I am leaving, Father [in a choked voice]. Give my pranam to Mother [both exit].
Second Scene
[Manisha was combing her hair and listening to the radio. Saugata enters and keeps the side bag, that was on his shoulder, by his side and says]
Saugata    :     Give me a glass of water, dear. I am feeling very thirsty.
Manisha    :     I am bringing it just now [exits].
        [Saugata rotates the knob of the radio in search of programmes of his choice. Manisha enters with a glass of water .]
Manisha    :    Take this. Shall I put on the water for your tea?
Saugata    :     No. Let it be. I am not feeling like it.
Manisha    :     Well dear. Why are you so late getting back home from college today?
Saugata    :     The way in which you have been nagging me for some days, I was forced to go to that house.
Manisha [happily] : That is very good! Hadn’t I told you that if you go and stand in front of your parents their anger would subside. Say, didn’t that happen?
Saugata    :     I could not meet my parents.
Manisha    :     Then what was the use of pleading with you for all these days?
Saugata    :     I met my elder brother and sister-in-law. I hesitated and I could not enter my parents’ room.
Manisha    :     How is everyone in that house?
Saugata    :     Father is not well.
Manisha    :     What has happened?
Saugata    :     Blood is in his cough.
Manisha    :     Blood! Has the sputum been tested?
Saugata    :     Yes. On seeing the report of the tests, the doctor has said that father has TB. The ailment is contagious; it is better not to keep him at home. If at all he has to be kept at home, everyone should be cautious; or else he should be admitted to a TB hospital and treated.
Manisha     :     What did Dada say ?
Saugata    :     Neither my elder brother nor sister-in-law wish to keep him at home. Sister-in-law said, never mind what happens to us, but the two children would get this ailment, for fear of that –-
Manisha    :     What is Father saying?
Saugata    :     Baba is terribly hurt at the words of Dada-Boudi; still he is saying – if I am sent to the hospital, I shall not survive. Bring medicines for me according to the instructions of the doctor, that will do. You need not give me delicacies to eat. I shall not go to any of your rooms. I shall go and stay in the prayer room.
Manisha    :     What is Mother saying?
Saugata    :     It seems Mother has been weeping and saying, ‘None of you have to do the looking after; I shall do the care-giving for your father. Do not send him to the hospital.’ When Boudi was not around, Dada told me all this.
Manisha    :     Which hospital has it been decided to send him?
Saugata    :     Dhubulia TB Hospital.
Manisha    :     Leaving aside Jadavpur and Kalyani, why so far to Dhubulia?
Saugata    :     Couldn’t you understand this? It is after all a contagious disease, so the further away he can be kept the better. Actually –
Manisha    :    No, all these are lies. I shall go immediately to see Baba. You, too, come along –
Saugata    :    They will be taking him in a cab tonight itself. If we go now, we may not be able to see him.
Manisha     :     I have a gut feeling that we shall definitely be able to meet him, come on –
Saugata    :     Let us go -

Third Scene
[On entering the house, Saugata and Manisha see that the elder son and his wife were holding father-in-law by his two hands and trying to lift him from the bed.]
Sugata    :     Father, come along, the cab is waiting outside –
Father-inlaw    :     But my body does not wish to leave this house.
Sugata    :     I have visited the hospital and cleared the formalities. You will not face any difficulty there. Besides that, we shall take mother along and visit you every Sunday.
Elder daughter in law : After some days, when you are perfectly fit, we shall go and bring you back to this house.
Father-in-law    :     I shall not survive if I go to the hospital.
Elder daughter in law : And so you will not care whether your grandson and granddaughter survive?
Father-in-law    :     Yes, Bouma, you are correct. I have at least seen seventy springs in my life, enjoyed happiness and peace, you have not done so, Boro Khoka [elder son].
        Come on, take me.
Mother-in-law    :    Oh dear, there is no place for you in this house, how shall I live here? [weeping ]
Father-in-law    :     Oh, why can’t you understand, if I stay here they will become afflicted with TB.
        Goodbye –
Manisha [enters]    :  Wait Baba. We will do pranam. [Saugata too does pranam . Manisha holds one of her father-in-law’s hands with both her hands.] Father, shall I not get the opportunity of serving you even a little, because I am a Shudra girl?
Mother-in-law    :     Oh, who is around! Bring some cowdung and Ganga water and I shall sprinkle it here.
Manisha    :     Baba, where will you go? Can there be no treatment at home?
Father-in-law    :     [in a choked voice]: No, Bouma .If I stay here it seems everyone will become ill. Rather than that, let me go away and let them stay happily.
Manisha    :     Baba, we are not your children! Come to our house and I shall look after you and ensure your recovery.
Father-in-law    :    [weeping] Really, you will take me, Ma [mother]?
Manisha    :     You have called me mother, and yet you do not understand this, can any mother leave her ailing son and go away? She cannot, Baba.
Sugata    :     Bouma, taking this risk is not right.
Manisha    :     Dada, I have cured my own father too from this disease. I have the experience. So I shall be able to cure this aged son of mine. Please do not object.
Mother-in-law    :     [embracing her] Mother, you are my daughter, too. We had failed to recognize you for what you are. That is why we had abused you. Take him with you to your place.
Manisha    :     But then, you too must come along with this Shudra girl.
Mother-in-law    :     [placing her hand over Manisha’s mouth]: Never say that again, you are far superior to a Brahmin.
Saugata    :     Come along Mother, both of you will remain like an umbrella over our heads. We shall be spared of the scorch of the sun.
Mother-in-law    :     Yes, let us go.
Father-in-law    :     Farewell, Boro Khoka. Keep well. [They depart. Like defeated soldiers, the elder son and his wife look at each other’s faces.]

Translated into English by Debi Chatterjee
First published in 2001.
Based on a novel written by Nakul Mallik. Name of Nakul Mallik’s story is ‘Sudra Kanya’. It was published first in the magazine Adal-badal, then in a collection of Nakul Mallik titled ‘Premer Golpo’. Could not get the dates from Raju Das.
Originally published by Raju Das, Ektrishti Dalit Andolaner Muktir Natak, Chaturtha Duniya, Kolkata, 2016, pp. 76-82. By courtesy, author.