SCENE (3) – BAYAZID SHAH CLAIMS THE THRONE
Setting:
- The throne hall. Morning.
- HAMZA SHAH’s body is covered in white cloth.
- IMAM, PHULJANI, GANESH and COURTIERS are standing at their places.
MINISTER
The treasury requires immediate instruction.
SECOND MINISTER
The army awaits confirmation.
(BAYAZID SHAH sits. No one is looking at him.)
BAYAZID SHAH
I claim the throne.
IMAM
By what right?
BAYAZID SHAH
By blood.
COURTIER
You were a slave.
BAYAZID SHAH
So was truth.
IMAM
(IMAM hesitates—then lowers his gaze.)
You claim to be—
BAYAZID SHAH
—his son. Born in the harem. Hidden for convenience. Ask the midwives. Ask the women who raised me.
(Ganesh does not react. He does not object. He does not support.)
BAYAZID SHAH
You didn’t object.
GANESH
I observe before I decide.
BAYAZID SHAH
Then observe this carefully.
COURTIER
You murdered him.
BAYAZID SHAH
Or someone else did. Ask yourselves—who benefits from certainty?
(The silence does not break.)
(No one bows.)
(The IMAM looks at the throne—then away.)
(A courtier steps forward, then stops.)
(The throne remains empty.)
(BAYAZID waits. The room does not answer.)
(SAFA shifts behind the screen—unseen, but listening.)
(GANESH remains still.)
(A bell rings in the distance—funeral, not coronation.)
(LIGHTS SHIFT. Not blackout.)
(The hall drains of people without ceremony.)
(The IMAM exits without blessing.)
(COURTIERS scatter in low murmurs.)
(The white cloth over Hamza’s body remains.)
(PHULJANI stands alone for a moment.)
(She looks once at the throne.)
(Not longing. Calculation.)
(She turns away.)
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