Page 234 - Musings 2020

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The Will

Avanti Sontakke 2017B4AB0613P, Tanya Syag 2017D2TS1242P and Chandra Prakash Joshi
2017A2PS0910P

CHARACTERS

Renu: a petite woman in her early sixties, with less than average height and grey hair. She’s
recently widowed and lives alone in an old two-storey house in Borivali, Mumbai.

Saket: Renu’s 26-year-old son, he has a rather crooked nose and an otherwise average build.
He lives in a different part of the city and isn’t a frequent visitor to his mother’s home.

Mr. Mehta: Renu’s lawyer, a bald elderly man who has worked with the family for years.

SETTING
Renu’s front hall, the most spacious room in the house. The entrance is a simple framed door
leading in from a small porch. There is a wooden cabinet to the right of the entrance, which
stretches from the floor to the ceiling and is filled with souvenirs, books and family pictures.
The wall to the right has a big window from where you can look into the neighbour’s yard. A
small green sofa, with two plastic chairs on either side of it, sits touching the wall opposite
the entrance, slightly off centre. A short rectangular table is in front of the sofa. Part of the
dining table is visible from the door to the left of the sofa. Close and perpendicular to it is a
door leading off into the kitchen on the wall left to the entrance, and opposite it is a flight of
stairs. The walls are faded yellow.

BEGIN.

The doorbell rings. Renu shuffles out of the kitchen and moves towards the entrance door.
She opens it and there’s a look of surprise on her face.

Renu: Saket! What a surprise son, come in, come in.

(motions him to enter and moves towards the sofa)

Saket: It’s good to see you, mother, what are you doing this morning?

Renu: Why are you so cheerful today? It’s just another day for me.

(coughing, sits down and Saket sits on the chair close to the window)
Saket: Oh I’m just happy to see you.

Renu: Yes, you look very happy indeed, what is it, do you need money?

Saket: (indignant) I come to you only for money right.

Renu: If seeing me made you happy you would come to see me more frequently.

Saket: You know I want to, especially since dad-

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