Characters:
Ahalya
Rishi Gautama, Ahalya's husband
Indra, Deity- King of Swarg
Narad
Lord Rama,
Lord laxman
Three ladies, Ahalya's friends
Scene: i
[Early morning, near
river Godavari]
First lady: Ahalya….. Where are you? (Coming behind the tree, basket is swinging in her hand.)
Second lady: Ahalya…..Ahalya….. (Shouting loudly) Can you hear us? (Roaming here and there)
Third Lady: Have you
seen her? She is not there. (Coming to the other two)
Second lady: (departing
to different direction)
….Aha….lya……..?
First lady: Hey, come here… (Slow voice coming from a far)… I found her…
Third lady: (going to
the voice direction, stands behind the tree with other two) oh, she is
here! (With gasping) …And we are searching her all around the world…
(Ladies watch Ahalya, sitting
on her knees, serving a heifer, her basket, lying aside with fallen flowers.)
Second lady: so pure! So white! So innocent! So kind! I
cannot blink my eyes! Is it full moon on sunny day?!
First lady: (Suddenly
looking to the second lady) whom you are talking about? Heifer or …Ah…
Second lady: Er…. Both…
Third lady: Of course… (Walking
towards Ahalya, speaking loudly) Ahalya, what are you doing? We tired
finding you… where have you been?
Ahalya: Calm down dear ladies, look at this… (Pointing to the right feet of the heifer)
her feet… she cannot walk properly.
First lady: Oh! She is injured badly!
Ahalya: I have bandaged the wound. She will be fine
soon.
Third Lady: (Coming
near them) Aha… you did it well, let’s move. We will be late.
(Preparing to leave)
Ahalya: (To, little
heifer, with foundling her) you will be alright dear… don’t worry... (Takes
her basket)
Third lady: Be quick… Ahalya
(They start walking)
First lady: That little animal is so beautiful…. But
injured!!
Third lady: That poor thing will be ok, Ahalya has done
well… (To the second lady, who is unaware of their talking) why you are so
silent? What are you thinking?
Second lady: Er… no… nothing….. Ahalya, can I ask you
something?
Ahalya: (With plucking
white lily) of course
Second lady: You are looking so beautiful…
Ahalya: (Smiling)
Thanks… (Plucking red rose)
Second lady: Well, you are so young and beautiful and Rishi
Gautama is a sage, so old, busy in his meditations. (Walks without looking back)
Ahalya: (Her hand
stops) what you want to say?
Second lady: (Hesitates)
I …I mean…. Have you not ever felt that you deserve better husband? Handsome,
young…
Ahalya: (Feeling
uneasy) what make you think so? (Still
calm, in a low voice) He is my husband, my lord, God for me, as your
husband for you. If any feeling of dissatisfaction, despondency arises, it’s
his insult…
First lady: But, Rishi Gautama always remains busy in his
ascetic life… the old sage…
Ahalya: And we should not judge person with his age and
body, but knowledge and virtue. (Smiling)
First lady: Do you really think what you said? (Pause) Perhaps you are right, but we
must appreciate your devotion and services to him…
Ahalya: (Seriously)
Oh… please… Don’t make me think that way, it’s not my duty, I consider it…
happiness I always feel… (Looking aside, her lips stretch) And we
reach… hey… come fast…
[View of the river
Godavari can be seen. Calm and cold water welcomes the ladies. They put aside
their Baskets and their legs become wet. Their laughter echoes everywhere.]
Third lady: (Seriously)
hey, slow your voice…shhh
First lady: what happened?
First lady: (Looking sharply
in the water) shh… I saw something there… (Pointing to opposite direction)
Third lady: (Cries)
come outside…it’s ….oh my God… It’s crocodile!!!
(Ladies start running
outside with a yell)
Second lady: Oh, look there… (Standing far from the water, pointing right) look that poor
animal!
Third lady: isn’t it the same? The same injured little
animal!!
(In water, the crocodile
is rushing towards heifer, which cannot run fast from it. Ladies gaze the scene
with a pale eyes and fearful faces.)
First lady: We should do something. (Their legs are frozen they don’t move.)
Second lady: (turns
her eyes from the scene) Ahalya… where are you going?
(Everyone turns their
eyes to Ahalya… who is snatching a hunter’s arrow from the tree)
Third lady: Stop Ahalya…where are you going? It’s crocodile… (They watch Ahalya, going near the sight where heifer is still struggling
to free its foot from its mouth. Ahalya, standing some foots away from the
water, with a great strength throws an arrow which hits crocodile’s tail. The
tail sticks with sand and it can’t move. )
First lady: (With
happiness) yes, wow, you did it…. (Ahalya
comes back to them) Wow… that’s very
good. But you missed the stroke.
Ahalya: no, I don’t. I don’t want to kill it. I want to save
that injured heifer. (All watch the scene)
Look, it cannot move and its attention is diverted from its prey to tail. And
that little animal can save herself.
Second lady: oh yes, she is running, you have saved her
Ahalya… wow, it’s great…
Ahalya: (Smiling)
thanks… look her now… How one feels after facing death! (Smile vanishes)
Third Lady: Ohh… We are late enough; we should leave for
home fast… (Still gossiping on a way to
home.) How big it was! I saw it. I couldn’t move. But I am impressed with
you Ahalya.
Second lady: I am feeling very sad for you Ahalya…
Third Lady: (Disappointed)
why? Why are you telling this?
Second lady: I heard many people telling ‘Ahalya is very
beautiful, she is so young and pretty…..’ But what about her other virtues? I
never heard anyone talking on her kindness, how courageous she is or about her
modesty, services… they never discuss!!
First lady: You are right…. Perhaps, her beauty has covered
all other virtues.
Ahalya: Perhaps… they don’t know! Perhaps, I am not what you
are saying…
Second lady: Oh don’t
be silly everyone knows well. Ahalya,
Didn’t you said that, ‘we should not judge a person with his age and body, but
knowledge and virtue’, then why they don’t judge you with your virtue… and only
beauty??! (Silence)
Ahalya: (Pause) I
don’t know…perhaps… It is different for man and woman?!! (Pause) Ok… Ok now don’t feel sad, you can start first… don’t you? …
(All ladies disappear
far on a way but their laughter echoes.)
Scene: ii
(Late evening time, Small
hut with a door and window near verandah is visible. Dim light is coming through
the window. At the corner of the room, Rishi Gautama is doing meditation. Ahalya
enters, goes near him, silence is broken with her words.)
Ahalya: It’s dark now my lord… (Rishi Gautama opens his eyes) It becomes colder this evening; your
legs will start aching… Do you have any idea of surroundings!
Rishi Gautama: (Smiles)
why should I worry about surrounding, if you are always here to take care of
me??!
Ahalya: (Turns red
with shyness) here is hot water for you. You can relax yourself if your
meditation is over. (She passes bucket near Rishi Gautama and
sits near him) Are you not tired?!
Rishi Gautama: Yes… But I always forget my tiredness when I
see your smiling face. (Rishi Gautama puts
his legs into the bucket of hot water.) Do you know Ahalya? What gives me
strength to work hard, to do difficult meditations??
Ahalya: (Pause)…
perhaps, your meditations, your spiritual inspirations show you the right path!
Rishi Gautama: Yaa… But it’s not all, It’s my feeling…
feeling of proud which moves me up & encourages me. I feel proud for two
things in my life… can you guess?? (Gazes
Ahalya)
Ahalya: oh… Which are
they??
Rishi Gautama: first is my power of ascetic life which I
gained with meditations, and second… second is you… Ahalya… Both I have
achieved with hard work… I won both… and that’s why I feel so proud for these.
Ahalya: your ascetic life is very precious, don’t compare me
with it. By the way, (smiles) I
started feeling so proud to hear this.
Rishi Gautama: (Smiles)
so… don’t want to move for today’s dinner!
Ahalya: Oh…Yaah… (Stands
up, prepares to leave) I am waiting for you… dinner is almost ready. (She leaves him alone… Silence falls again)
Scene iii
[Midnight, Ahalya is
sleeping alone on a bed. Darkness has covered the room and the sky. Suddenly
she wakes, sees around and exclaims as she can’t find Rishi Gautama near her.]
Ahalya: (Looks around)
where are you my lord? (Searches) My
lord!! (She opens a door of the room
where Rishi Gautama, in a candle light, writing something. She goes near but he
has not noticed. ) It’s too early… to wake…or… didn’t you slept?!
Rishi Gautama: (Looks
up once and again carries on writing) I can’t wait for the dawn Ahalya...its
inspiration… you know…
(The candle is near to
end. Ahalya replaces it. She gazes him as if she wants to say something.)
Ahalya: I… Er… I… (Silence…
she leaves him without disturbance. Comes out at verandah, looking at the sky,
thinking… speaking silently…) sometimes darkness is also beautiful. The
moonlight will disappear soon; these shining stars will be covered by sun
light. How amazing it is to see this night without waiting for a dawn. This beauty is vanished after a moment. Still
it’s beautiful the way the sight vanishes… (Continues
watching, after a moment, goes inside and comes back with something in her
hand.) I can’t sleep now. Let me try to beautify this night… (She sits and starts making Rangoli near
verandah.)
[From outside the hut,
the sight of Ahalya doing Rangoli at the entrance and through the window Rishi
Gautama is visible… And Dawn in the sky…]
Act: 2
(Indra’s palace,
Indra and Narad come out walking and gossiping in a light mood.)
Indra: So, you have seen Apsaras’ dance. Now what will you say?
How is it?
Naradji: (smiles)...Amazing,
beautiful obviously, but… still…
Indra: But! Still? Why these words? Everyone I have asked said
they have no words to appreciate it. And you…! What you want to say?
Narad: they are true no doubt but… but it seems something is
missing.
Indra: (laughs out loudly)
Naradji, you have seen dance of Apasaras’ of Swarg, the most beautiful, the
most precious place of the universe… (Pause)
Do you know? Many rishies, sages, do austerities, penances; they suffer to get
the comforts which I have, to get the life I have and to enjoy their best time
with Apsaras, the dance you have seen. (Eyes
full with pride) now you tell me what is missing?? Apsaras are not able to
enchant you!!?
Narad: (Still smiling)
Indradev, of course your Apsaras are beautiful but cannot succeed to charm me,
not even wearing precious cloths and jewelries. I am not impressed than… a
natural beauty.
Indra: (seriously) What
are you talking about? Aren’t they beautiful?!
Narad: your Apsaras are… but not the most. They are precious but
not for all. Have you not heard about Ahalya! The natural beauty…
Indra: Ahalya? The daughter of Brahma, are you talking about?!
Narad: Yes.
Indra: I heard, but never took the talk seriously.
Narad: Oh, but the talk is true. Ahalya is the most beautiful
woman of the universe… at the earth. Well, Ahalya, who Swarg, your beautiful and
precious place, doesn’t have. Look… there she is…
[Narad points a sight, scene emerges
before their eyes, where Ahalya is plucking flowers and playing with water.
Indra watches constantly.]
Narad: Well, you said well. Many sages, many people suffered hardship
to gain your place, to have your gorgeous Apsaras. But one person doesn’t have
to do all this. Rishi Gautam has the most beautiful woman Ahalya, as a wife. (Smiles)
Indra: (silently, still busy
watching the scene) So, charming, she enchanted me… I cannot blink my eyes.
(Becomes conscious with Narad’s last
spoken words) Er… you are right, but don’t you think, it’s not right, A
beautiful young Ahalya, living on earth as a wife of a sage! (Pause) (Silently) she should be at Swarg.
Narad: (laughing) now
you got it? What are you missing…! (Going
away slowly with a smile)
Indra: (looking somewhere
without noticing Narad’s exit, but hears his laughter) (silently) I have
not the most beautiful woman! The Swarg … which everyone desires, the Swarg
doesn’t have the most beautiful woman at all! (pause) The wife of a sage…so beautiful! Still not a t Swarg! Not
with me! (loudly) I, the admirer of
beauty, I, the king of the Swarg, don’t have the most beautiful Ahalya…!! The
old sage… the old Rishi has the most beautiful, young woman!!... (confused, worried) something is
missing… Apsaras… still not… missing… Ahalya…I, God have not… man has. I have
not… I… I will have (glimpses in eyes and
cynical smile on his face) yes, I will have… nothing will be missed, no one
will laugh … I will have…
Act: 3
[Early morning, Ahalya is sleeping in her
hut.]
Ahalya: (Waking up suddenly,
anxious) Oh my God… thank God… its dream only, what a worst dream it was! …
My lord… suffering…with a pain…unbearable pain… (Consciously) is it bad omen?! (Looks
around, loudly) where are you my lord? (No
answer) isn’t it too early! For a bath! No, he must be on time, I may be
late. Yes, I must be late because of stupid dreams. (Stands up and goes near window, watches outside as if mapping something.)
[Behind the tree near hut, two eyes are
starring the window carefully. He is Indra.]
Indra: Hmm. It’s the best time. Everything is according to my plan (Sees Ahalya, leaving window and going
inside.) I should be quick… before (comes
out from the tree.) …but wait a minute…
(Transforms himself to Rishi Gautama, Smiles) now… It’s perfect. (Goes in the hut with a speed. He smashes
Ahalya’s Rangoli by his Saul at the entrance of the hut.)
[Inside the hut, Indra stares Ahalya,
combing her hair with fingers without noticing him.]
Indra: (Silently)
Beau…tiful… what a beautiful…
Ahalya: (Becoming aware, her
fingers stop)
Indra: (Consciously) Er…
A
Ahalya: (Turning back)
Is it you my lord? Are you… are you back so early?! (Starts braiding her hair)
Indra: (In low voice) Let
it be… as…
Ahalya: (Goes near) Hmm?
Are you ok? Feeling well?
Indra: (Silently) I must
behave like a sage, otherwise she starts doubting. I must act properly. (Loudly) I… I am alright. A… Ahalya…
what I was thinking… (Pause, turns back
to avoid Ahalya’s eyes) yes, I feels guilt… you know?
Ahalya: Why? What makes you feel so?
Indra: I always remain busy in my ascetic life, busy with my
meditations… I feel… I ignored to admire beauty… I have forgotten you.
Ahalya: (Worriedly) what?
I don’t understand. What are you saying my lord? What happened to you?! Don’t
you want to follow your routine today? Forgot me? What makes you think like
this? Did I ever complain? I am perfectly alright… (Softly) stop thinking like this. Don’t you want to go for
meditation? (Starts to go away)
Indra: (Stops her with
holding her hand) That’s what I am doing. (Ahalya stops and looks back) let me meditate… (Starring her) let me admire you. Let me worship beauty today.
Ahalya: (Feels unusual) Have you forgotten what you said?
Indra: About what?
Ahalya: Oh my lord, you said, you are feeling proud for ascetic
life, the power you have earned with it and me!
Indra: (Confuses) Er…
hmm… yes, I… I am proud of it… and you… I am feeling proud that’s why I want to
worship you… your services, your devotion (goes near her) your… your beauty. (Gazes her, tries to hug)
Ahalya: (smiles, looks down
with shyness) My lord… (Slow noise of
footstep) (Suddenly, she becomes
conscious) The footsteps… the footsteps… (Noise becomes loder and louder) (she goes away from Indra, speaks
seriously) unbelievable… how can I? I know… it’s my lord’s footsteps… (Indra becomes conscious, looking here and
there worriedly, he cannot bare Ahalya’s constant stare.)
Ahalya: (Confusedly)
what is happening?
Indra: (Silently) I am
late. What should I do now? The sage is back… what… I… I must leave, yes I must
run… (Starts going outside hurriedly)
[Ahalya is standing alone ambiguously.]
Act: 4
[Rishi Gautama comes near the hut, sees a
person looking like him, stops ambiguously.]
Rishi Gautama: (Seriously)
Oh my God! What is happening! What he was doing in my hut?!! (Walks fast to catch the person, yells)
stop… don’t try to run… otherwise I will curse you… turn this side. (Indra in form of Rishi Gautama turns
without facing him.) What’s the matter? Who are you? (Angrily) Why you are in my form? Answer me… otherwise…
[Ahalya comes out from the hut. Rishi Gautama notices her
scattered hair, worried eyes.]
Ahalya: (confuses for two
similar looking man) Oh my lord…
Rishi Gautama: (In a
trembling voice) With whom you are? You infidel witch! (Shuts eyes, his lips are trembling).
Indra: Wait… Rishi Gautama… don’t curse… (Transforms himself to Indra’s appearance)
Rishi Gautama: You! Lord Indra…!!! It’s you… you try to…
Ahalya: (Worriedly) Oh
my God, I can’t believe… but now I get it…
(To Rishi Gautama) my lord…he…
Rishi Gautama: Don’t be innocent… you betrayer! How can you raise
your eyes to face me? You…
Ahalya: (In a low voice)
I… my lord, never aware… what was…
Rishi Gautama: Shut up. Why you have done this? … Why?? (Pause) I should understand it earlier!
The same one… young woman’s wishes… you have different desires. If you cannot
be a faithful wife of a sage, why you married me?!
Ahalya: Please… please… stop it now, (loudly) I didn’t know… I didn’t know he was lord Indra, not you.
What you are thinking is completely wrong… I have not done anything sinful.
Trust me… If you feel deceived, if you want to be angry ask Indra why he has
done this?! What did force him to do this kind of joke with us?! (Stares
Indra)
Indra: I am begging your forgiveness, holy sage. Please forgive me
for my faults. I am feeling ashamed for this reckless act. Actually I was
enchanted by Ahalya’s beauty and I… I have… please forgive me for this mistake.
I am…
Rishi Gautama: Lord Indra,
it’s not your mistke, it’s a sin, you have committed. Your apology is not
enough. (Angrily) you both must be
punished… for your infidelity… for your sins…
Ahalya: (Tearful eyes and in
a low voice) Don’t you trust your wife? Don’t you believe what I said? What
is…what is my crime in Indra’s trap? Why are you considering me equal in his
betrayal? Why should I be punished??
Rishi Gautama: (yells) Stop…
stop this you… you unfaithful woman! Instead of begging for forgiveness, are
you asking questions to your lord?! If you are trustworthy, you would respect
my words and never doubt my commands…
Ahalya: (sarcastically)
I am unfaithful? Am I?! Don’t I trust you? Have you forgotten all my services
suddenly? Don’t I respect your words? (Pause)
I trust you, your words, that’s why he has to come in your form. And you are
still telling me that…
Rishi Gautama: I said stop this… all vanity…
Indra: O… holy sage! Please It’s my humble request don’t be angry.
Forgive me. You are sage… show your kindness, gentleness… please forget and
forgive this… look it’s near to dawn. (Pointing
up)
Rishi Gautama: Are you serious enough to understand what the crime,
you both have committed?! (Angrily) I
am betrayed. You do not understand my feelings. You must be punished for your
lust (to Ahalya) and your adultery.
Ahalya: (steady low voice)
Punished! Punished… for the deed I never did? You… you have betrayed me my
lord! Not I!
Rishi Gautama: (trembling)
shut your mouth. I am cursing you… infidel woman… you will become stone at
dawn. The stone, not be loved by anyone. Your beauty is not praised anymore.
And I will not have to see your deceiving face again…
Ahalya: (In slow and steady
voice) What are you expecting from me? Should I beg for your forgiveness? This
means I have done something sinful! Should I accept your blame and prove myself
guilty?! (Laughs) I am accepting your
curse Rishi Gautama, without bagging for forgiveness, for mercy…
Rishi Gautama: (Stares her)
What makes you pronounce my name?!! You… you vicious woman!
Ahalya: (Sarcastically)
The same… the same which makes you not to pronounce my name!
Indra: Rishi Gautama, please be calm, don’t be so cruel, show some
mercy.
Rishi Gautama: (Angrily)
Mercy is not for mistakes. And for sins there are punishment… you should be
also punished. I am cursing…
Ahalya: What? What will you curse?! What… to a lord! You a man…to
a god! Don’t be fool. Actually, you are convincing yourself and me… but your
curse cannot punish him. (Raises voice)
and… who are you to curse? It’s me who is trapped? I am deceived more than you. (To Indra) what can I curse?! If I
curse you… you will transform it with your tricks. I cannot curse your
destiny... what I can curse is only your heart, your mind. I am cursing you
that even if you have all the comforts you cannot enjoy it. You will always
worry of losing it. Losing your throne, your Swarg, for which you are so
arrogant…
Rishi Gautama: Cursed… still not calm! I am punishing… I am doing
justice…
Ahalya: (angrily)
Justice! Justice… oh… do you really…? Is it justice for me? What I got after
devotion to my husband! Who says, he feels proud for me, once upon a time…
Rishi Gautama, now you have lost both of your prides… (Laughs) you have not cursed me… but yourself. Yes, yourself only.
Didn’t get? Stones have no feelings. They cannot feel sadness, love,
hate…betrayal and … and pity. But you are human; you have feelings of sorrow,
loneliness and re…remorse. (Stares him)
I don’t need to curse you for your betrayal to me, you have cursed yourself.
You are going to remember my devotion, you will miss my love, my services and
my admiration for you… think… holy sage can you live with forgetting all I have
done for you??!!! (In a low voice)
can you? Think…!!
Rishi Gautama: (With worried
face, looks here and there, pause, speaks loudly with hiding his fears) Er…
Ah… Ahalya… I am pleased with your duties you performed towards me. I should
show mercy on you. Yes, it’s my blessings that after remaining as a stone, you
will be librated, and be human again. You will be liberated… with a touch of
lord Rama’s feet. It will purify your sins and make you holy again… wait for
lord Rama; he will come, wait for a touch of his feet and you will…
Ahalya: (Angrily) Touch…
of a feet! Purify me!!!
Rishi Gautama: …Of Lord Rama.
Ahalya: (Trembling with
anger) I don’t need any touch of feet… Any touch of a man’s feet either he
is human or God. What are you saying? I will become pure? Liberated! I am pure
and I don’t need any liberation. What are you blessing? A lord will save me?
What a big joke on me! One lord tried to molest me, other man, who is lord for
me, has betrayed me, cursed me, and now you are saying, a lord, with his touch
of feet, will save me?!!! (Looks up)
what a fate I am facing dear father! (In
a low voice) why you made me beautiful!?? Or … or a woman? (Pause) (To Rishi Gautama) I don’t need any liberation. It’s you… Rishi
Gautama, who needs, who will wait for Lord Rama. He will be your savior. I am
denying any touch… (Bending down,
transforming into stone, still slow voice is coming from the stone) I am
denying to be transformed as your wife again… wait… wait… Rishi… wait…
[The Stone stops sounding, dawn in the
sky. Rishi Gautama and Indra are standing silently, listening echoes. Rishi
Gautama looks up, Indra still standing looking down shamefully.]
Act: 5
Scene i:
[Midnight, Rishi Gautama is sleeping on
his bed, looking pale and aged more than he is.]
Rishi Gautama: (Suddenly
opens his eyes) Ahalya… (Exhaustingly)
Ahalya… (Pause) once again, can’t
shut my eyes. (Wakes up) why this
scene is coming before my eyes, that smiling face… and then turning into
tearful eyes. I can’t sleep, I can’t forget her. (Standing up) it’s too cold. Where is hot water!? Aha…Oh! When can
I forget her? (Looks here and there,
becomes serious) I am a sage; I must come out from this feeling… I should
do meditations. It will relax me. No, I should do penance… (Walks in the untidy room.) Where is my book? (Finds the book on a writing desk at the corner. Goes near, opens it
and starts reading the title, “THE WAYS TO PERFORM REPENTANCE”. Takes an ink
and starts writing. Stops after some time, looks up)
When will lord Rama come! I am waiting… I am waiting for…
Scene ii:
[Early dawn, Rishi Gautama is sleeping in
his bed without shutting his eyes. Looks at window, goes near it.]
Rishi Gautama: The same, the same beautiful night, Ahalya… I am
not sure you pleased me more or this night which memorizes you to me. (Comes out and stands at the entrance of the
hut. Silence… Sits on verandah where at his right side big stone is visible.)
You where right Ahalya, absolutely right. Stones have not feelings. If they
have, you may help me in my pitiful condition without you. If they have
feelings you must cry on my agony. So painful, the loneliness… (In a low voice) where… where can I find
peace… when?? What else… but wait… just waiting… (Shuts his eyes for some time, unaware of how long he has been in
that situation.)
[With a distant view, it seems like Rishi
Gautama is mediating near the big stone at verandah. Silence and sun is rising)
Rishi Gautama: (Consciously)
What is going on today? Isn’t it different dawn! I am feeling bit relaxed! (Stands up) but what is this noise? (Voice of crowd becomes louder) what is
happening there? (Looks at the direction
of noise) who are they?
[Crowd comes near Rishi Gautama’s hut. He
recognizes leading man, who is looking glorious, impressive as lord Rama.]
Rishi Gautama: (Extremely
happy) Rama… my lord… (Goes near,
bows to him) my lord, you have no idea… for how long I am waiting for you.
This place became sacred with your presence. My lord I am very thankful to you…
(Bows again)
Lord Rama: Rishi Gautama, I am also very pleased to see you. I know
how all the sages are worthy of respect! But why you are looking so pale? Where
are your all the glories?!
Rishi Gautama: All my glories have gone with my anger. All my
happiness went away with a smiling face. Oh my lord, what can I hide from you!
You know my destiny. You… it’s only you who can save us. You, the almighty,
knew everything. Please my lord, release my respectable wife from my words.
Transform her from a stone with your touch… (Points
stone)
Lord Rama: Be calm, Rishi Gautama. I know, I have heard your story
from many people. Yes, that’s the destiny. I am here in search of my wife and
you… in search of your. I will be happy to help you. (Goes near the stone)
Rishi Gautama: My lord… wait… wait for a moment. Though I have
cursed that touch of your feet will transform her back. But I request, she will
never accept a touch of a feet… I can remember her last words… I insist… I must
do something else.
Lord Rama: don’t worry holy sage. I will not disobey her wishes. (Sits in front of the stone, joins his
hands) Devi Ahalya… O holy woman, I am requesting you to transform again
yourself to human as before.
[slowly, stone converts into figure of
woman. Ahalya, with complete detachment and steady emotions, emerges in front
of starring people.]
Ahalya: (To Lord Rama, with
steady facial expression) Thank you my lord for a respect you showed
towards me.
Rishi Gautama: (Happily,
goes near Ahalya, to Lord Rama) Thank you once again for your kindness. I
wish you good luck in your search. You have released me from my pain and
suffering. I cannot change destiny. But I am blessing you that you will receive
strength, tolerance and patience when you will meet with situation like mine. My
lord I am pleased today.
Lord Rama: (Smiles) It’s
all right, holy sage, thank you for your blessings. I am also pleased to see
you both happy… as before.
Ahalya: I am sorry my lord, but I cannot carry on living as
before…
Rishi Gautama: (Seriously)
What are you saying?! I didn’t get.
Ahalya: The moment, when you forgot me as your wife, no longer I
remain your wife. Perhaps you can live as before with forgetting the night. But
it’s not possible for me to forget… to live again as before, to trust you as I
used to trust. I am sorry my lord, but my life is changed. What I can do for
you holy sage… I am blessing you that you can live your ascetic life peacefully
without pain, and with forgetting that night and me.
Rishi Gautama: (Confusingly)
No… don’t behave like this…then… what is the difference in the situation the
day before and today??!
Ahalya: difference! It differs, now you can forgive yourself, you
can live your life with solitude, not loneliness. Now I will not bother you in
your meditations, inspirations and… and in your dreams. (Smiles) now you are free from all bounds and… I also. (Turns opposite, speaks in a low voice,
Rishi Gautama and Lord Rama are watching her from backside) I am also not
bounded with any burden… any more… (Starts
walking)
Rishi Gautama: But where are you going??!
Ahalya: (Stops for a moment,
then starts walking again) I don’t know. Where I … only I can rule my life.
(Speaks slowly) where I can make my
destiny… where no man bounds me… free me… where I… (Walks away slowly)
Rishi Gautama: (Walks some
steps) Wait… Ahalya… wait… (Stops)
[His hand in the air, on the direction of
Ahalya, Lord Rama stands near hut, some steps far from Rishi Gautama, who is
still looking at Ahalya’s direction with wide eyes and open mouth… silence…]
[Curtain falls]
