Scene 2 - In The Playground

 

Megha - What’s wrong Imdad? What are you looking at?

Imdad - (walking pass the bushes) No I’m not looking at anything but I thought I heard someone scream?

Iqbal - Oh please! Why not (faces the seats where Malini was sitting at) tell…

Imdad - (looking far away) Tell who?

 

(Megha and Thahmin look at Iqbal facing the seats and they follow his stare. They find Malini missing. Their faces immediately change to confusion)

 

Iqbal - Imdad? Please tell me your staring at sister-in-law.

Imdad - No I…(turns to Iqbal and sees him looking at a few empty seats. He follows Iqbal’s stare  to the bench and realizes that Malini is not there)

 

Imdad - (looking at the empty seats) Where is sister-in-law?

 

(no answer)

 

Will anyone answer me?

 

(no answer. Imdad calls to Malini and he moves around the playground looking in many positions. Megha, Thahmin and Iqbal help Imdad search for Malini and they also call out to her. After a minute of searching they meet together in a bunch, worried and angry. Imdad walks from one side to another)

 

Megha - But where could she have gone to?

Imdad - She has probably gone back to them without telling us!

Thahmin - No it can’t be! The family would scold her for leaving us here alone, particularly Aneetha mum.

Iqbal - Then where has she disappeared to?

Imdad - Shut up Iqbal! There’s no time to shout like a stupid idiot! We have to search for her!

Iqbal - Great! (he sits down on an empty bench) Instead of a child like us disappearing it’s an adult. How stupid!

Thahmin - What are we going to tell the family?

 

(Imdad, Megha and Iqbal’s facial expressions are full of fear)

 

Megha - (to Imdad) What are we going to tell them?

Imdad - We’ll have to tell them!

Iqbal - (shocked) Are you crazy? They’ll swear the crap out of us! They’ll say such things like (Aneetha’s accent) Why didn’t you look after her? Why weren’t you paying attention? (drops the accent) As if its our job to look after adults! It really is stupid!

Thahmin - (to Imdad) We’ll have to tell them!

Iqbal - (to Thahmin, angrily) Are you crazy as well?! Don’t you know they’ll just shout out rubbish?!

Thahmin - (shouts) Then what are you going to do? Kiss them on the cheek and tell them she ran away?

Iqbal - Perhaps she did run away like you did once upon a time!

Thahmin - Shut up!

 

(Imdad, Megha and  Iqbal stare shockingly at Thahmin because of her anger being seen for the first time)

 

What will you tell them eh? Tell us! Or are you going to stay here in one position never to go back?! Go on speak you idiot!

 

(Iqbal tries saying something but he stops. He turns his head away in embarrassment)

 

(to Iqbal) You have said enough Iqbal!

 

(Iqbal faces Thahmin angrily)

 

Now its my turn! People like you don’t know how important families are!

Iqbal - Yeah I do but you…

Thahmin - You think I don’t know a lot about them? Yeah your right but at least I use my head wisely as to how to solve a problem like this. Jees Imdad is right you are an idiot!

Iqbal - Well…

Thahmin - Shut up!! I have heard enough from you! Now you will see my attitude towards you. And this attitude won’t be hard to digest!

Iqbal - But…

Thahmin - I said shut up!! (to Imdad) Its better off we go and tell the family now!

 

(Thahmin stomps lightly on the grass towards the picnic area. Megha runs after her. Imdad faces Iqbal)

 

Imdad - (to Iqbal) You really are an idiot!

 

(Imdad looks away and starts jogging to catch up to Thahmin and Megha)