Prologue
Through this drama the theme of 'Karma'
has been emphasized upon. By giving reference to the 'Mahabharata' an
effort has been made to show that whatever happens in anyone's life
is due to his 'karma'. No particular thing or person is responsible
for any happening or event in the nature. Even God is not responsible
for the fate of any person nor can he change it. It's the 'karma' of
a person that determines his destiny and no one can change it but the
'karma' of that person. God only gives us directions and guidance its
up to us how we interpret them. In nature everything is balanced. If
one uses treachery against others he also gets it from others. If a
person is wronged its because he wronged someone else. The
Mahabharata war was the destiny, Lord Krishna the co-ordinator,
Kaurava and Pandavas the actors. Thus if there is anything that could
be held responsible for the war it was-' nature'. No one can change
the rule of nature, for it sets everything according to one's
'karma'.
In this drama few people are
shown sitting in the waiting room of the railway station, waiting for
their train. There starts a discussion amongst them about the
Mahabharata, as to who was responsible for it. Everyone has different
opinion and different justifications. The debate does not give any
conclusion but certain happenings on the station do give a conclusion
that who is responsible for the activities in nature.
Scene I
Some men were waiting for train at the
station in the waiting room. The place is Varanasi and the train has
been delayed for three hours.
Scene I – Waiting room
One man- Now this is called
Kalyug, nothing comes on time be it police or train.
Second man- He! He! Right. But there
are things than that, like- job, salary and even wife. Its like after
an age that they
come.
One man- Quiet right. By the way
whats your name?
Second man- Parth.
One man- Thats nice! My name is
Krishna.
Third man- Wow! Hope there is no
Duryodhan or Dushasan sitting near otherwise I have a fear that
the Mahabharata
will soon begin.
(Everyone
laughs).
By the way my
name is Rajesh, so nothing to do with the Mahabharata.
Fourth man- Speaking of Mahabharata,
lets discuss something about it, like what was the main cause
of Mahabharata.
I mean who was responsible for the war- the Pandavas, the Kauravas or
... Krishna.
Rajesh- Krishna how old are you?
Krishna- Why?
Rajesh- No, because you don't
look so old to have been involved in the war.
Fourth man- Very funny!
Rajesh- I know, because that
was a joke. Anyways jokes apart I feel it was the Kauravas. What do
you think sir
Fourth man- Well I suppose it was
Krishna, it was he who instigated everyone. What about you two?
Parth- I suppose it
happened with the efforts of each and everyone.
Krishna- According to me, no one
was responsible for it. If anyone was, it was the Karma of those
people.
Rajesh- Wow! Thats a deep
answer now and a unique one too.
Parth- Sure it is, but what
exactly do you mean by this?
Krishna- I mean everything
happens at the will of nature and destiny. According to you it took
place
because of
everyone, according to Rajesh because of Kauravas and according to
this man,
I'm sorry what is
your name sir?
Fourth man- Ashwin.
Krishna- Yes, according to Ashwin
it was Lord Krishna. But all of you do not seem to observe the
deep rooted cause
of this war.
Parth- Really! Then please
enlighten us with your knowledge.
Ashwin- Yeah sure, even I would
like to know about it.
Rajesh- Oh man, seems like all
these people are living in darkness. Now I am dead sure it is
Kalyug!
Parth- Very smart, looks like
you have understood everything what he said.
Rajesh- To be truthful, I
didn't, but I wasn't asking for enlightenment like you all.
Ashwin- Which proves that you are
more ignorant than us who doesn't even want to come out of
the darkness.
Rajesh- Ok, I surrender! Krishna
please go on with your enlightenment process now.
Parth- Yes, what do you mean
by the deep rooted cause?
Krishna- See its very simple. In
our life we do certain good things and certain bad things.
Whatever we do,
good or bad, comes back to us. To say it scientifically- “Every
action has
an equal and
opposite reaction”. The Kauravas were treacherous and deceitful so
they got
defeated by the
same treachery.
Ashwin- Were only Kauravas
treacherous? Didn't Krishna use treachery as well, he even ran away
from the battle
field.
Krishna- Yes he was! When did I say
he wasn't. But like I said every action has an equal and
opposite reaction.
Since Kauravas cheated Krishna replied them in the same manner. It
was
a tit for tat
policy.
Ashwin- You said whatever we do
good or bad comes back to us. So even if Krishna used treachery
as a way of replying
to others he should also have got the fruit of those actions which
though were done as
a reaction, but yet were done.
Parth- Well I suppose he did
get the fruits of those bad actions as well. The curse given by Kunti
was nothing but the
fruit of his treacherous actions.
Ashwin- Ok, I agree to everything
but then lets go to the start. Kauravas were the rightful owner of
the throne of
Hastinapur, but they didn't get it all because their father couldn't
sit on the
throne simply
because he was blind.
Rajesh- I suppose we were
discussing what was the cause of Mahabharata. Now where does the
topic of throne of
Hastinapur comes.
Ashwin- How does it not comes? The
whole war was for this throne. In the history all wars have
been fought for the
kingdom or throne only.
Rajesh- Now you will say that
Draupadi was also the cause of Mahabharata because if we see by
history women were
also responsible for the wars and battles.
Parth- You have a point by the
way this time. In fact, this is the only time when you have a point.
Rajesh- Thanks! Was that a
compliment or comment?
Parth- Accept what you like.
Rajesh- Well I prefer to take the
compliment.
Krishna- See actually...
Rajesh- Sorry to interrupt I feel
its time for the train to come.
Announcement- The train going to Ujjain
has been further delayed by two hours. We deeply regret the
inconvenience caused to the passengers. Kindly bear with us.
What bear with us?
You come here and lets see how much you can bear!
Parth- Seems like you aren't
liking the conversation.
Rajesh- Problem is that I know the
whole story of Mahabharata.
Parth- So do we, but there is a
difference between knowing and understanding of things.
Rajesh- Ok I got it but don't you
think we need a break now. Its been hours since we are sitting here
and talking,
Krishna- Yes even I agree to that.
Lets go and get some refreshments.
Scene II
Rajesh
and Parth are going together.
Rajesh-
When is this train going to come? Its been ages.
Parth-
God only knows.
Rajesh-
I think the rail authorities would know better. Wait I'll go
and enquire.
(Meanwhile
a girl shouts. Her luggage seems to have been stolen. Ashwin is
talking to her)
Ashwin-
But Madhvi how and when did this happen?
Madhvi-
It was just for a moment that I had gone to take water from the
stall, when I turned back the
luggage was gone.
Ashwin-
How careless that is now! Couldn't you tell me before going. Now
what to do? I suppose
we'll have to postpone our travel now.
Parth
and Rajesh come to them.
Parth-
What is the matter here?
Ashwin-
Our luggage has been stolen. Now we'll have to postpone our travel,
all because of my
sister's stupidity.
Parth-
Why don't you go and complain about it.
Ashwin-
You think it would help? Upon that we haven't seen the face of that
person.
Parth-
Fine, do as you wish. But don't shout at your sister like
that. She already seems scared.
Ashwin-
Why not? She is the one responsible for it.
Rajesh-
I don't think she is responsible for it because no one is
responsible for anything, you
remember?
Ashwin-
Please don't start it here I am in no mood to debate about it.
Rajesh(whispers)-
And people say I don't understand things.
Ashwin-
Did you say something?
Rajesh-
No, nothing
Ashwin-
I guess we'll have to leave now. Come Madhvi.
Madhvi-
Dada, your luggage?
Ashwin-
Oh yes! I'll get it from the waiting room.
Parth-
Now why did you leave it like that. It can also get stolen.
Ashwin-
Krishna is there, I asked him to watch it.
Rajesh-
Great when Krishna is there, what is the fear? After all he is
Krishna.
Ashwin-
You all wait here. I'll just be back in a moment.
Scene III – (Waiting
room)
Krishna
is sitting when Ashwin comes.
Ashwin-
Hi, thanks for seeing my luggage, but I have to go now.
Krishna-
Go? Where? I suppose the train hasn't arrived as yet.
Ashwin-
Actually my sister's luggage has been stolen and so we have to
cancel our travel. By the way
the talk with you was a nice one.
Krishna-
Yeah, you feel so?
Ashwin-
Yes I do.
Krishna-
Well its good then. By the way how did the luggage get stolen?
Ashwin-
My sister's stupidity you see!
Krishna-
Why you say so?
Ashwin-
She left the bag without telling anyone to guard it, to take
water.
Krishna-
Well so did you left it.
Ashwin-
But I left it under your guard.
Krishna-
Well couldn't I steal it? How could you trust me so easily?
Ashwin-
Oh come on, I have talked to you. So at least I know something
about you.
Krishna-
Probably but not everything. Thieves do not have a label you
see.
Ashwin-
But they don't talk about Mahabharata also.
Krishna-
But you do! So you should know...
Ashwin-
Yeah! Yeah! I know no one is responsible for anything.
Krishna-
Ok, come now, I'll come with you to see you off.
Scene IV – Outside
the Station
Krishna
and Ashwin come out of the station. They all are talking when a loud
sound somes.
Parth-
What was that?
Rajesh-
Its sounded like a blast to me.
(Everyone
starts running here and there)
Ashwin-
My God, I can't believe we just came out of that place and now
it has blasted.
Krishna-
Do you understand now why your luggage was stolen.
Ashwin-
Huh?
Rajesh-
I suppose to save us all.
Krishna-
Nothing happens without any reason and neither anyone is
responsible for that happening.
Everything is set according to our karma.
( END
)
