SCENE 5A (OPTIONAL) — LATE NIGHT: MANTU TRIES
(The table sits untouched. Candles low. SUBHAS stares at nothing. MANTU stands near the phone, conflicted. The clock is loud.)
MANTU:
Borda… let me call.
SUBHAS (without looking):
No.
MANTU:
Why not?
SUBHAS:
Because then it becomes charity.
MANTU:
Not charity.
Just… a door.
Maybe they forgot. Maybe they’re unwell. Maybe they’re already coming.
SUBHAS (a bitter smile):
And maybe they don’t care.
MANTU:
Let me try once, Borda. Only once.
(SUBHAS doesn’t answer. That is permission.)
(MANTU dials. Rings. Rings. He waits too long. No answer.)
(He tries another number. Ring. A voicemail beep or cut.)
(He stops, lowers the phone, ashamed.)
MANTU (soft):
No answer, Borda.
(SUBHAS closes his eyes. The failure becomes a sound in the room.)
SUBHAS (quiet):
Good.
Now we don’t have to pretend.
SUBHAS (to audience, minimal):
There are rejections you can fight.
Silence is not one of them.
SUBHAS:
Put it out.