SCENE (5) – TRIPURA VS GANESH, TRIPURA VS PHULJANI
Setting:
- TRIPURA’s chamber. Lamps steady.
- (TRIPURA seated —composed, lethal in calm.)
(GANESH enters. TRIPURA offers a glass of water to GANESH and then asks.)
TRIPURA
How long have you been lying to me?
GANESH
Which lie?
TRIPURA
The one where I am queen.
GANESH
You are legitimacy.
TRIPURA
Legitimacy requires loyalty. She has returned.
GANESH
Yes.
TRIPURA
And you allowed it.
GANESH
I did not forbid truth.
TRIPURA
Do you intend to be king—or caretaker?
Take the throne.
Or, one day she will sit there before I do.
GANESH
And then I —
TRIPURA
Choose between two kingdoms – law and desire. A regent serves. A king decides.
(GANESH exits.)
(TRIPURA remains seated straight-backed, controlled.)
(PHULJANI enters slowly. She does not bow.)
(A long silence.)
TRIPURA
You were difficult to summon.
PHULJANI
I was unsure which name you wished to speak to.
TRIPURA
Do not flatter yourself. There is only one woman in this room who is addressed by title.
PHULJANI
Then speak, Rani.
TRIPURA
You have been meeting him quietly.
PHULJANI
Yes.
TRIPURA
Do you know what you threaten?
PHULJANI
Yes. Do you know what you defend?
TRIPURA
I defend legitimacy.
PHULJANI
You defend position.
TRIPURA
You loved Azam Shah.
PHULJANI
Yes.
TRIPURA
And you also loved my husband.
PHULJANI
Yes.
TRIPURA
You slept with consequence.
PHULJANI
Sultan Azam Shah never reduced me.
TRIPURA
Neither did Raja Ganesh—until you returned.
PHULJANI
You think I weaken him.
TRIPURA
He is contained.
By law.
PHULJANI
And what did law do when Hamza Shah destroyed Safa?
TRIPURA
Do not use another woman’s pain as your shield.
PHULJANI
I use it as evidence.
I want nothing he does not already carry.
TRIPURA
And when he breaks?
PHULJANI
Then he will finally be honest.
TRIPURA
I am not pretending my love.
PHULJANI
You are enduring.
TRIPURA
Endurance is power.
PHULJANI
So is refusal.
TRIPURA
If he must choose—
PHULJANI
He already has.
TRIPURA
Then know this.
(She stands.)
If the throne falls, it will not be because of men. It will be because women refused to stop fighting quietly.
PHULJANI
Then history may finally tell the truth.
TRIPURA
Do not mistake his weakness for love.
PHULJANI
I never did.
TRIPURA
Good. Then we understand each other.
PHULJANI
Yes. We both lose differently.
(They hold each other’s gaze. No victor. No forgiveness.)
BLACKOUT.
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