A Fictional Play !! :: "No Need of a Second Opinion" ::::::: (The Mirror tells me about my ego ... it tells me I am a tiny insect -- Revolutionary Leader )

                                                    Act 1

The stage is set. A tastefully decorated hall. Looks like a roof top. Windows wide open and large.

Character - Revolutionary Leader (Standing in front of Mirror) 

                         and reluctantly stares at the large mirror on the wall. Reluctantly starts talking to it .....

                       "This life is full of agony..... What did I get in my life and what is the legacy I will leave behind".

        He pauses - expecting a response from the mirror. Certainly, the non-living creature does not talk.

       At his ripe age around 90; he seems to have forgotten that.   

      He gestures his left hand more by old habits. But it does not move much. And when it moves it moves shakily.  He was always forthcoming with his left hand -- more comfortable.

   "My hands know ... I have grown old. So what if I am at the top. Life is a wide sea of misery...but deep ... so deep" -- he tells the mirror again.

The second character enters the room -- he turns back a little and says "Thank you" to the person who probably guided him to the room.

He appears a bit tired. He climbed up the stairs. The second character realises that but he is not complaining.

He looks around 70. Says - "Sorry sir, hope you remember you gave me time".

Revolutionary Leader : Yes. I know. Look at my suit. I was prepared and well dressed to welcome you. But why you wanted to meet me. You are a successful historian, documentary film maker and also a good journalist.... once upon a time.

Second Character/Historian : (Smiles). You are right sir... that was all once upon a time. Today, I feel age has caught up with me. I am unable to write much or write anything that will be palatable to the new media ... the new readers.

 

Revolutionary Leader (Taking his seat) : Why don't you sit here ! We are meeting after ages and we will have plenty of things to talk about. 

Historian : Well, you are right as you have been in the past. Generally I thought I should meet you before your birthday. 

 

Revolutionary Leader -- seems unmoved. 

Historian continues -- "I wanted to know sir ... what keeps you busy these days. How you pass your time. Do you still read the fiction... the war stories".

Revolutionary Leader : Oh I talk to my mirror. It is of same age as I am. It is elder to you man ! 

Historian : Talk to the mirror ? Did I get it right? But how long in a day and also evening hours ? You have been a legend. A big leader.....

Revolutionary Leader: All non-sense. Life is like waters of wide agony. I have not said it. Shelley did.

Historian : Oh, that means you have not given up. Poetry was something common between us. Me, you and your lady love. Ha ha ha !   

Revolutionary Leader : Love means pathos man. It's all about tragedy. I talk to my mirror and you know .... what it tells me. It says --- I am a coward. 

I hated humanity. I killed people and by killing people ... I called it by the name Revolution.

Historian : 

No revolution can come without getting killed and without killing someone. You have worked hard. Today, you  are a great leader. There are schools in your name....a large football stadium. 

 You have achieved so much from life. But look at me .... children don't bother about my history books. What I write for newspapers and my books ... even my wife does not read.

When we meet friends in the Evening Cherry Club .... I keep asking people of my age - have you read my articles on the American trade policy? Have you read on the riots in Vietnam? Nothing has changed sir....

 Only thing I see change is the peculiar manner .... young people behave.

Revolutionary Leader :  Your wife will never read. I used to meet her those days traveling in Singapore and Dubai. She loved shopping, But get a mirror like I have one.... A large mirror. It will read to you and it will talk to you.

Historian : How do you look back at life sir... you have achieved so much... ?

Revolutionary Leader : 

Achievement ... you mean I am great ... No No... I am hardly great my friend. I ordered 'Operation Safed Hathi' and killed probably 20 or even 30 people.... It was all because someone had challenged me saying ... you cannot order killing of people when they are celebrating a festival. I wanted to prove him wrong.

And I ordered the merciless killing.... the operation. Even my love died that evening. She was pregnant with my child. That's life. Bloody love....  bloody achievement.

Historian :  You are saying all that because I am no longer a journalist. Moreover, I am your old friend... I will not betray you.  I will not report anything ... are you being frank or sarcastic ?

 Revolutionary Leader : You know the power of word 'betray' .... The biggest Betray is when you think and you know ...  you have achieved nothing for your people. The people who thought you are their savior; their leader. That's betrayal. 

Life shows you in the end that it has betrayed you in your selfish game.

Historian : Meaning ? .... the pinnacle of your success means nothing ?? ....... How do you actually feel being at the top ? Can  you feel like touching the sky ?

Revolutionary Leader : No. I don't think like that at all. 

At top how I feel you want to know --- I feel alone. Selfish but alone. This is a point where you look down and get scared. 

Now the end will come. It's imminent. Anytime that end would come... and I have to go down and down .... there is no halt .... and there is never a chance to come back to the top. 

Life makes you understand yourself .... you understand and know oneself  better ... you know you are a small man. 

Look at the mirror and ask it -- it will tell you -- 'You look like pygmy'. It tells me about my ego and how much I have harmed my own people.

I am a tiny insect ..... a tiny parasite.

Historian : You are angry over something today ?

 

Revolutionary Leader :   No I am being truthful. I was never this honest. 

Mirror is a great teacher. Over the years now -- it has taught me to be truthful. 

No matter how bitter or distasteful it is.  

       

To be continued .... 

ends