Kaamaala

Jaundiced

Story line: The King Emperor, the Peoples' Representatives and the People were working in unison till recently. Now the Peoples' Representatives think that the King has become a danger, a liability to the Nation. They unanimously ask the King to abdicate and give way to select a new King. The King was sure that there was nothing wrong with Him. But He could not understand why the Representatives were against Him. Some thing must have gone wrong some where. But He had no clue......The King decides to give in and abdicate. Queen feels that the situation demands an inquiry and gets the permission of the King. A quick investigation was ordered. The head of intelligence department Mathiman and two assistants make a quick thorough inquiry and get the clue. A popular Magician has put a chemical medicine in the Mahakoopam [public well] and that was the reason for the mental change of the Representatives and the People. The Queen and the intelligence officer feel that they are not competent enough to take action. So the Queen reports the matter to the King. The King was shocked but not upset. He wants to meditate on the issue and goes to the prayer room. The  Queen waits outside.

Part 5


[ The Queen is sitting on a side chair looking expectantly ai the closed door at the back of the scene.
Sound of a knock.]
It is me, Queen Mother!

Queen
Oh! Mathi! You have come back so soon!

Mathiman
I am on the point of bursting with anxiety..........Pardon me!

Queen
I can understand. I am also in the same condition.

Mathiman
Oh! My!!...............What did His Highness say when Your Highness reported this matter?

Queen
He was shocked, naturally! Only for a short time. Then something wonderful happened!

Mathiman
What?!.......Nothing very bad, I hope.

Queen
Not at all! The change was for good. His face hardened visibly. He looked at me and smiled brightly.... .....I felt like crying with joy!.....That confident courageous look was missing all these days.

Mathiman
Please Queen Mother!........I am so eager to know what His Highness said!

Queen
He said gravely: "Now the cause and effect are known. The continuing danger has to be averted......We are not blind now! We can see and understand the situation........Thank God!......Thank You!!  Queen!......Our best half!!

Mathiman
Then?!

Queen
Then He said:............The situation is really bad..........But it is better than what it was some time back......Though it is complex, it is clear.........known.....The  cause!.......The effect!..... We have to think deeply.......Possibilities looked into and evaluated...........................................................................
If Her Highness...........Our better half will excuse!..... I want to meditate for one Nazhika*. We don't want to keep Your Highness alone.......But no other way...........Shall We withdraw to Our prayer room?
Then I said............By all means.....Take Your own time.....Don't worry about me.........
Now it is almost time.......One nazhika must be over by now!

Mathiman
Oh! God!! Let everything become clear to our Highness! His sharp powers of observation and analysis are very well known. Given the data and the premises, He will come out with a variety of solutions,.......we have seen in the past. He will take one by one and  list the pros and corns, arriving finally at the best of the lot.

Queen
Don't you hear the sound of foot steps from inside?!........Yes!

[ When the door opens.....The King Emperor looks at the Queen with a happy smile.......Then sees Mathiman and acknowledges his greetings.] 

King
It is good that Our Mathi is readily available.............We wonder whether We have sufficient time to set things moving.........

Queen
[ Bubbling with joy]
So, Your Highness has found a way out! Oh! God!!

King
We think so. But We have to discus it first.

Mathiman
What is the way out?!  My Lord!! [ His voice breaks with emotion]

King
Let us not overdo!..........We think We have a way out! Much depends on how efficiently and effectively We act!......How related people respond to it..........and so on.....

Mathiman
Your Highness!

King 
Yes! Mathi!! We shall tell you.

Mathiman
I am so sorry! Highness!! I cannot wait any more!!!

King
We know! Both of you are eager.........We understand! Our Queen knows to avoid inconvenience to Us......That is why she is keeping quiet and waiting. Mathi! Your young hot blood tends to boil!

Mathiman
So sorry, My Lord!.......I should have thought better.

King 
Now! No more groping around!..........Analysing the present situation with the knowledge of its causes and effects, We have come to the following action plan.
One: Send an SOS call by all our Embassies to all Non Resident Country men,
[Mathi and queen do not seem to follow. But they don't raise doubts. The King understands the situation. Tries to be short in explanation]
They are the only People related to Our Mother Land who are not affected by the magic well water....We mean..excluding us who are connected with the Palace.
A great majority of them will respond to our call and come to Us here.
Most of them, especially those in Europe and America, are having material living conditions far better than that is readily available in our Mother Land..........They will be far less biased especially regarding the rules and regulations that We passed but the Peoples' Representatives objected.
So We will ask the Speaker of the House of Peoples' representatives an extension on the decision of Our abdication by 72 hours. He being an experienced knowledgeable Parliamentarian and sympathetic Statesman, is sure to oblige Us.

Mathiman
Yes!.........Your Highness..........We can do this!......Sure! I can alert all the Non Resident Countrymen with in hours and I know in a situation like this a good number will turn up here as early as possible.
Those who are unable to come personally may send their opinion by e mail.
Oh! Highness! I am sure we can alert and get the response.............But...........

King
What is it that's worrying you?! .....Our able bright young Officer?!

Mathiman
Excuse me!  my Lord!...........if I seem rude and raw...........How can Your Highness be sure that the Non Residents will be in Our favor?

King
We don't expect them to be in OUR favor. They should be able to take an unperverted stand because they are not under the spell of the Magic water.

Mathiman
Pardon me again........My Lord! Though this cursed well water has done a total poisoning, in other smaller scales, poisoning is there even otherwise..........

King
Sorry! Mathi!! We don't get your point!

Mathiman
It is simple, my Lord!........Being a Non Resident Country Man, does not simply make them unprejudiced and judicious. A good number of them are seen to carry with them all the Historic Social and Clannish prejudices.....

King
True! They cannot forget their past.But why should they be influenced by the negative aspects of that past? Their new situation in the migrated lands have given them a new opportunity and freedom. We thought that they would bother about the Universal aspects of our Cultural Heritage, the Sanathana principles.....And not the latter pettiness of selfishness and cruelty, .....of caste,.......of community.......region....
But....... Mathi.......We think you are too cynical and critical about them. Of course We are not fully aware of your reasons.

Queen
Yes! Your Highness! Mathi might be right or not! .........But remember we have no other go!......Than to take this last step..........I request that we use the entire time at our disposal to organize the Non Resident Countrymen.
I request Your Highness to give orders and Our able Officer to execute!

King
Let Us do Our best!

[When the curtain]  
 
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