The Unseen Thread

Scene 1

Scene opens: Two farmers talking at a distance, a young hermit sitting under a tree deep in meditation

Farmer 1: “Who is this strange sage, I have never seen someone so deep in meditation? I had once met a rishi from the Himalayas, he told me that meditation was a way to connect to God, however he never talked about a meditation after starving yourself”

Farmer 2: “I have heard he is some dethroned king looking for salvation. I wonder why he chose our city. He had the Himalayas to go to. Everyone goes there to meditate!”

Farmer 1: “Anyways I have got lots of work to do. You keep admiring him while I finish my chores”

(Farmer 1 walks off)

Farmer 2 walks closer to the hermit and watches him for some time. The farmer knew that the hermit had been sitting under the tree more 48 days now and had neither risen nor had eaten anything. He wondered what madness drove this lunatic so much that he wished to die of hunger while meditating. The farmer was of a kind heart though, and wanted to help the hermit. So he decided to wait there for sometime hoping that the hermit would open his eyes and he would then ask him if he needed any food or water.

So, the farmer silently whispered in the hermit’s ears, “I will wait here for some time. If you plan to open your eyes and eat something, just tell me” and sat down. No sooner did he sit than the hermit opened his eyes and smiled at the farmer.

Farmer 2 was a little surprised and said, “So you actually were hungry!”

The hermit kept smiling and replied, “Not anymore!”

[Scene closes]

Scene 2 (Post war scene)

Bodies lie pell-mell, with red blood strewn all over them. Bows, arrows and spears all red with blood thrown around carelessly. One man stands in the middle of it all with tears in his eyes. He walks up to one body after another crying endlessly, frantically. He was looking for something, someone probably and suddenly stops. He falls down on his knees and picks up the body of an old lady.

The wailing gets louder as the man hugs the dead old lady close to him. His eyes, redder than the blood flowing, filled with remorse, guilt and pain, look up seeking redemption. He falls down un-conscious.

[Some hours later]

He wakes up in his camp. Still no word spoken. He lifts his sword and arrows and places it down on the ground and folds his hands kneeling down before the bodies lying in front of him.

Little did he know that he was about to write history on stone (literally!)

[Scene closes]

Scene 3

Two gentlemen seated in a makeshift meeting room consisting of a table, two chairs, two teacups and a briefcase. The older of the two seems animated and starts off, “Don’t worry now, you just leave the briefcase here and sleep peacefully”.

The younger man gives a sheepish smile, folds his hands and leaves the room. Another man enters the room and complains, “Sir, it is wrong! Taking money for granting a project is ok, but this would put lives of a thousand common men in jeopardy!”

The older man retorts, “Shut up! Just do as I say and you will get your share too!” The man shakes his hand as if dismissing all complaints and gets back to his unfinished tea.

The younger, seemingly displeased, lifts the briefcase and leaves the room.

[Few months later]

A newspaper headline reads, “Train derails near Kushinagar, as newly constructed bridge collapses. More than 700 feared dead.”

[Scene closes]

The ideas that should have paved the way forward for a new India somehow got lost in the sands of time. A young prince disregarded all his wealth and left his home in search of truth, because he could not bear the pain which he saw people suffering from. An emperor probably the greatest ever, wrote down in stone the facets of effective governance. Yet very few pay heed to it!

The thread that should have been a binding force for our nation has either been lost or chooses to remain invisible.