His Hurry

CAST:

AARMAN: In early twenties, a university student.

DAVID: In late twenties, an actor.

MRS. NAWAZ: In early fifties, a homemaker, Aarman’s mother.

NADIA: In early twenties, Aarman’s cousin, a university student.

Time: The present.

Place: Vancouver.

Length: Two scenes

Seventh draft revision: 03/18/2002

Scene One

In a large bedroom with a king size bed, a large poster of Madonna on the wall, two bedside lamps on each side of the bed.

Aarman and David have made love and are getting dressed.

Aarman: You know death is the funniest thing in life.

David: You have cigarettes?

Aarman: We keep running away from it. But it’s so faithful.

David: I feel like having a Marlboro.

Aarman: In a hurry?

David: Huh? Nothing.

Aarman: You threw your socks under the bed.

David: Lets cross the border and get them.

Aarman: What?

David: Two cartons of Marlboros.

Aarman: Why can’t you get used to the Canadian fags?

David: You want me to?

Aarman: I can’t. You know.

David: Aar it’s always this shit with you.

Aarman: I can’t leave her here alone.

David: Aar...its just for a day.

Aarman: You know it.

David: But it’s for her own good.

Aarman: It’s hard.

David: Sure is. It just took my dad days to get into the meat market.

Aarman: My mom is from a different world David. And there is no meat market for her except the one in Super Store.

David: Well at least one obstacle is down for us.

Aarman: I don’t like it when you talk like that about my father.

David: Shit he is dead.

Aarman: It’s disrespectful.

David: Respect. Your scar.

Aarman: What?

David: The fucking scar he gave you with his belt. Your left thigh. Lucky that he missed his aim.

Aarman: One time in my life I felt glad he was drunk.

David: Fucking drunk.

Aarman: But now he knows all.

David: Shit yeah. Just because he is up there…whoo hoo.

Aarman: Shh.

David: Don’t you think she already knows? We aren’t exactly in Grade two.

Aarman: (Pause) You know my cousin Nadia?

David: Hmm. Mark’s party. On the floor? Your mom and her mom-

Aarman: Yeah. They both think we are good candidates.

David: Lab rats?

Aarman: No.

David: Holy...what did you tell her?

Aarman: Nothing.

David: Its like I am climbing a winding staircase and I never reach the door.

Aarman: Be patient.

David: Be patient...Go with the flow...I am so sick-

Aarman: David I have tried. How many more scars do you want to see? In grade five when I had my gut punched for being brown, you were not there to walk me home. Steven Sawyer had his teeth in my bones...and the police ride from Cheers to home...you were not there...but she was. How can I?

David: (Pause) So you will marry her?

Aarman: I will try not to.

Nadia knocking on the door.

Nadia: Aarman! Aarman you in there? Coming for lunch?

David and Aarman look at each other. David waves his hand over the lamp and drops it on the ground.

Nadia: Hello? You have someone in there?

Aarman: We are coming...in a minute. Its just David.

Nadia: (Pause) Auntie is asking if she should set his plate on the table too?

Aarman: Yes...his plate too.

David: (Pause) Your mother needs to know.

Scene Two

Dining Room. A round table. David sitting next to Aarman. David’s Gym bag on the floor.

Mrs. Nawaz: Then your Uncle tells me that the weather in Karachi is fine but the political climate is not but I told him what do I have to do with any of those climates, all I have to do is go to our old house, get some cleaning done, there then go to Zareen’s house and get that cleaned too. Zareen was telling me Nadia that you wants to go there to write something about sociology...David you have hardly touched your chicken. Is it too spicy for you?

Aarman: No mother its good. David likes spicy-

Nadia: I have a little idea but I am not sure.

Mrs. Nawaz: So Naseem said that I will be there too and it has been seven years since I have been there. The last time we went there was with Aarman’s father and that summer poor Aarman got so sick with diarrhea. It was terrible for him...being born in Canada and not being used to so many people. David have you ever been to Pakistan?

David: No. But I went to India once.

Mrs. Nawaz: India. My mother was from India. God bless her soul… all her life she longed to be in India. During partition she had to leave her home overnight. They ran scared for their lives. Her heart was always there. She told my father all the time take me to India, take me to my Rajkot, but my father was always busy with his cloth shop. And then so many children.

Nadia: How was India for you David? Beautiful?

Mrs. Nawaz: Ofcourse India is beautiful. Me and Aarman’s father went there together after our marriage. When I saw Taj Mahal I felt very envious of Nur Jehan. How can any man love a woman so much. In those days your father promised so many things and I was-

Nadia: It’s a tomb.

Mrs Nawaz: Yes...Yes but what do these young people of now understand. Love is not what its used to be.

David: Err...

Aarmaan: Not now David.

Nadia: (Singing) Whats love but a second hand emotion...

Mrs Nawaz: Now Nadia don’t sing all these tunes. In our days we could never sing at the dining table. We used to fear our elders. Father would come home and if we had food with him he demanded complete silence otherwise...

Nadia: So what were you doing in the bedroom?

David: (Glares at Nadia) Playing.

Mrs Nawaz: Aarman did you show David your new guitar?

Nadia: I am sure it is probably old by now.

Aarman: I never showed it to you.

Nadia: Will you?

Mrs Nawaz: Of course he will...Now that you will be his bride...David you know of this good news?

David: I have some news too Mrs Nawa-

Aarman: What the fu-

David: So what do you want me to do? Be a mime?

Mrs. Nawaz: I thought you were an actor?

David: Yup...always an actor.

Nadia: Maybe we will have our honeymoon at Agra.

David: So you said yes already?

Mrs. Nawaz: Of course.

Aarman: Nadia...

Mrs. Nawaz: Now only if your father would have been here.

David: He is here.

David and Aarman talk in whispers growing louder and then silence. David presses his own head.

Mrs. Nawaz: Nadia, eat more. You have hardly touched. Beta, this is your house now.

Nadia: Have a tumor?

David: Its all your fault.

Mrs. Nawaz: Aarman beta, is your friend having a headache.

Nadia: I don’t want you to die David.

Mrs Nawaz: Get some medicine for your friend.

Aarmaan stands up and walks off stage. David watches Nadia eating. Stands up.

David: I need something- (Leaves the stage swiftly)

Mrs. Nawaz: These two. Always making so much noise.

Nadia: In the room?

Mrs. Nawaz: David did not come often before but now they are always together. Aarman’s father was very strict with guests at home. Especially Aarman’s friends. But I don’t mind it.

Nadia: Uncle...he was very strict.

Mrs Nawaz: Oh don’t believe everything your mother tells you.

Nadia: No...I remember-

Mrs Nawaz: I was cleaning the ceiling.

Nadia: And Aarman’s hands

Mrs Nawaz: Some young boys need discipline. My father was just like that. Ask your mother.

Nadia: Aarman is my cousin.

Mrs: Nawaz: Its does not matter in our culture.

Nadia: I don’t mind even after knowing everything.

Mrs Nawaz: (Pause) Love is not everything.

Nadia: Living is.

David and Aarman return quietly. Not looking at each other. David picks up his bag from the floor.

Aarman: Don’t leave...just listen to me.

David: (Pause) But you have already left...(Exhales) Congrats Aarman...Thank you Mrs. Nawaz. Nadia...What could be better than Taj Mahal. (Pause) If only life...(Exits the stage)

Mrs. Nawaz: This fast...running...He didn’t even finish his food. What was his hurry?

Aarman: Him?...some acting problems.

THE END