I Met Her Shadow...

SCENE 8: THE PICTURE

2033

At the bar, Sidharth is sitting with his mouth covered by his hand. He’s drunk and on the verge of crying.

Sidharth (antagonized) she got married?

Omar (smiling) yes she did.

Sidharth But, how? Wasn’t she supposed to be in second year when you left?

Omar (finishing his last bit of beer) apparently, she realized she didn’t want to study anymore. So she went back to India where her parents threatened to disown her if she left Uni midway. It took her a while to convince her father. So he struck a deal with her. Either she went back to London and completed her studies or she would have to marry his best friend’s son who also lived in London.

Sidharth (disgusted) and so she got married? At twenty? Hang on a minute, wasn’t she in love with you?

Omar I don’t know about all that. We never discussed such things. But I shall never doubt her love for me. Not then, not now (pauses.) I don’t know why she did what she did. All I knew back then was that she was married, she had a son, and she lived in her own little world with a man, who loved her, had enough resources to support her, was accepted by her family and above all kept her happy. And I could do none of those, not back then at least. I left her crying when could’ve held her hand and spent a lifetime with her, but I didn’t. Besides, I had nothing back then. No money, no job, no house to take her to. So I thought it would be best to just leave.

Omar takes out his wallet from his pocket. He opens it and smiles at a picture in it.

Sidharth Did you tell her you broke off your engagement for her?

Omar No, I didn’t want her to feel she’d lost something by marrying and starting a family. I told her I was getting married.

Keeps his hand on Omar’s shoulder to show sympathy. He tries getting up from the barstool, stubbles and falls over. He happens to drop Omar’s wallet on the floor, bends down to pick it up and notices a picture in it. He looks carefully at the picture and begins to get restless.

Sidharth (restlessly) Is that (pauses) Is that your Ayesha?

Omar (worried) Yes, Sidharth. Are you ok? You look a (pauses) pale.

Sidharth (breathing loudly) Omar, can you walk me back home? My uncle lives two streets away.

Omar helps Sidharth get up. They both leave the bar and walk towards Sid’s Uncles’ house. Omar rings the bell and a man almost his age opens the door. The man and Omar put Sidharth on the couch where he passes out. Omar finally looks at the man carefully and realizes something.

Omar (startled) Dhrup? Dhrupesh Oberoi? Are you Dhrupesh from India?

Dhrup Omar! Omar, Oh my god, I can’t believe this. How are you man?

Omar’s excitement soon ends as he settles down and starts joining the ends.

Omar (mortified) Ayesha? Is Sidharth Ayesha’s son? Dev, is he my Aesh’s son? Is she no more (his eyes begin to tear up)?

Dhrup (keeps his hand on Omar’s shoulder) He’s your son Omar. He’s Ayesha’s and your son.

Omar looks at Dhrup with eyes filled with tears. He finally starts realizing what had happened.

Dhrup (sympathetically) She didn’t want to break a happy home Omar. She knew you were engaged. She also knew you’d wouldn’t get married if she told you about your son. (Pauses and sighs) Her parents disowned her the moment she gave them the news of her pregnancy. She knew she’d never be accepted by your family. She didn’t want you to go through the pain she went through. She wanted you to be happy, even if that meant staying away from her own happiness.

Omar hugs Dhrup and starts weeping.

Dhrup She left Uni and worked part time until the time she could. She borrowed money, did assignments for Uni kids, did everything she could to have Sidharth (pauses). She really wanted the baby, abortion wasn’t an option. He was her most prized possession until the very last day of her life. (pauses and smiles) She used to call him (points at Sidharth) ‘A Gift from You.’ A gift you gave her without your own knowledge. She really loved you Omar, she really did.

Dhrup gets up and leaves the room. Omar walks up to the couch where Sidharth is sleeping. He keeps his son’s head in his lap and begins stroking his hair and sobbing.

CURTAIN