Page 236 - Musings 2020
P. 236

Saket:   I   asked   why,   why   would   you   talk   like   that?   I   don’t   want   to   lose   you   like   I   lost   dad.

               Renu:   So   this   is   guilt   then?

               (he   has   a   thoughtful   look   on   his   face)

               Saket:   You   could   say   that.

               Renu:   (smirking)   That’s   what   I   thought.   You   never   cared   about   your   parents  before  your
               father   died,   did   you?

               Saket:   I’ve   made   mistakes,   I   accept   them.   But   I   just   want   one   chance   to   correct   them,   please-
               Renu:   Saket   my   boy.

               (Renu  has  a  sad  smile  on  her  face,  she  picks  up  the  glass  from  the  table  and  takes  a  sip  of
               water)

               Renu:  You  seem  to  have  forgotten  that  I’m  your  mother,  and  it  means  that  I  know  you  better
               than   you   think.

               Saket:   What?   I   guess   you   do   mother.

               (Renu   gets   up   and   walks   toward   the   cabinet)

               Renu:    Remember   the   Sethis?   They   were   good   friends   with   your   father.

               Saket:   Um   I   don’t   remember   them   particularly;   I   saw   them   long   ago   right.
               (she   opens   it   and   removes   a   framed   photo,   brings   it   to   Saket)

               Renu:   They   also   came   to   your   father’s   sixtieth   birthday   party.

               Saket:   Oh   yes,   what   about   them?

               (he  looks  at  the  photo  from  the  party,  of  the  Sethis  with  his  parents  and  looks  confused  and
               increasingly   embarrassed.   Renu   takes   the   glass   back   to   the   kitchen)

               Renu:   You   weren’t   there,   so   you   wouldn’t   remember.

               (she   comes   back   and   sits)

               Renu:   They   have   a   son,   Kamal.   He’s   studying   law   now.

               (Saket   suddenly   looks   up)

               Saket:   That’s   nice,   what   about   him,   mother?
               Renu:   Oh   nothing.   Good   lawyers   are   rare   now.

               (Saket   looks   alarmed,   and   speaks   very   carefully)

               Saket:   Yes,   obviously.   Speaking   of   lawyers,   how   is   uncle   Mehta?

               Renu:   (contemplating)   I’m   sure   he’s   fine.

               Saket:   Haven’t   you   seen   him   recently?





                                                                                                      236
   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241