SCENE (7) – GANESH PROTECTS SAFA
Characters
- GANESH
- SAFA
- INSPECTOR (minor antagonist)
Setting
- The records chamber adjoining the administrative court.
- Low shelves. Scrolls. A sense of scrutiny.
- (SAFA kneels at a low desk, copying figures.)
(INSPECTOR enters—too curious.)
INSPECTOR
This one—
(gestures at SAFA)
—handles land records?
(He circles slightly. SAFA keeps her eyes down.)
(INSPECTOR bends as if to inspect the ledger—his hand hovering near SAFA’s sleeve – almost touching. SAFA stiffens. She does not move.)
(GANESH enters, holding a separate ledger. He does not look at SAFA.)
GANESH
Inspector.
INSPECTOR
Raja Ganesh. I was just—
GANESH
—misplaced.
(He places his ledger firmly on the table.)
GANESH (cont.)
The coastal registers are incorrect.
INSPECTOR
Those are not my concern.
GANESH
They will be.
You will review them tonight.
INSPECTOR
Tonight?
GANESH
Unless you prefer explaining inaccuracies to the Sultan at dawn.
INSPECTOR
I will attend to it.
(He turns back once—glances at SAFA.)
INSPECTOR (cont.)
This one—
GANESH
—belongs to the inner audit.
(The INSPECTOR bows stiffly and exits.)
(GANESH turns to leave, as he passes SAFA, he stops—not looking at her.)
GANESH (Barely audible.)
Use ink, not thread.
(He continues walking.)
(SAFA remains still for a moment. She slowly adjusts her sleeve—thread hidden. Then resumes writing, steadier.)
(Lights fade.)
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