SCENIC DIALOGUE

This dialogue covers carried Nandita’s thoughts to the marriage bond with James and the
argument which is happening in their room. “Those were the days!” she thought, almost
aloud. But her face gave no indication of the joy of that thought. She looked sad and
wishful. And her fingers, knotted out of anger, nervousness and frustration, revealed the
story of what had happened between then and now and how it became a tragic end for
Nandita in the end.
James was taking a shower and she was waiting on the living room sofa, prepared to
broach the subject of their loveless married life. A thousand thoughts whirled about in
her mind. Some happy, some not-so-happy. It was as if she was being thrown about in a
tempestuous wind. And she was frightened which way her life will go.
At last, after some 45 minutes, James emerged, water dripping from his broad shoulders.
He looked at her and then looked away. As if she did not exist.
“James, I want to discuss something,” Nandita blurted. She surprised herself because she
had intended to wait until Sanjeev had dried, combed and reached the dining table for his
breakfast.
James, with a shade of irritation, “Can it wait until I get dressed?”
Nandita, still shaky with her false start, “Yes”
James disappeared into the bedroom, out of her sight but very much in her thoughts.
Minutes slipped by.
“Why is he taking so long?” Nandita thought.
“It is because he does not want to talk. That is how it always is with him. I am the last in
the queue for his time and attention,” she answered to herself.
James was struggling to locate his crimson t-shirt. And the idea of Nandita waiting
outside did not help focus his mind on where he had kept the garment. After a few
frantic minutes he finally found it, neatly folded and placed along with his other clothes.
“That is not where I kept it! Why must she keep re-arranging my stuff when she knows I
dislike it?” he thought. He did not notice that the neat folding helped create space in the
wardrobe or that it kept the garment’s crease just the way he liked it.
He hurried with getting ready and walked into the living room, glancing sideways at the
dining table to see if his food is served.
James, “You haven’t set the table yet?”
Nandita, in an explanatory tone, “I did. But since you were taking longer than usual, I
kept the food back to help keep it warm”.
James, almost shouting, “Why do you need to do that? You know I am OK if the food
goes cold. Now hurry up, I am hungry.”
Nandita, “It won’t take a minute. Why are you shouting at me?”
James did not answer, picked up the newspaper, and sat down at the table. He did not
even look at her.
She arranged the food and took a seat opposite to James. He had not changed much since
they first met nine years ago. Both, in outward appearance and the person he is. Those
warm eyes were as attractive today as ever. It is just that the warmth did not get
expressed in little deeds and actions like it used to. It seemed he was holding back his
real self and all that she was presented with was this man who sat before her now. And
this is not the James she met, fell in love with and married!
“What are you dreaming of? More clothes to buy?” said James, breaking her reverie.
“No,” she replied.
“What was it that you wanted to talk about,” he asked, staring at the plate before him.
He knows and wants avoid it, she thought. But today she wanted some answers.
“About our married life,” she said.
“What about it?” he cut in.
“There is something missing in it. This is not the life we imagined, is it?” she said, half-
heartedly. She was already feeling lost.
“You have an enviable house, chauffeur driven car, two lovely kids, and excellent living
standard. What is missing?” said James.
“That’s not why I married you!” Nandita replied with a hint of anger in her voice and it
changes into heated argument.
“Love is missing. Companionship is missing.” she added.
He kept silent and looked out of the window. She waited. The sudden quiet was
uncomfortable; like the silent space bounded by clanging of swords.
“Save me save me” Nandita shouted with a hint of running away from her husband
“don’t shout”, he said and threaten to kill her.
“What have I done”, I have killed my own wife due to frustration.
he said those previous words after killing her wife due to heated argument which has
been going on for years and now after investigation he is in custody and he eventually
repents on what sin he had committed in his life.