SCENE (9) — GANESH-PHULJANI ALLIANCE
Characters
- PHULJANI (Queen; formerly Basudha of Bikrampur)
- GANESH
- SAFA
Setting
- A harem garden pavilion, late afternoon.
- Open sides, filtered light, attendants at a distance.
- PHULJANI sits, SAFA hands over some petitions, PHULJANI reviewing petitions.
SAFA
Sultan asked you to review these petitions before he approves.
PHULJANI
Did Raja GANESH review these?
(SAFA does not answer.)
PHULJANI (cont.)
Too hot here.
SAFA
May I bring cold sorbet for you?
(SAFA turns back and then stops. Sees GANESH is coming. She announces GANESH and exits.)
PHULJANI
You may approach.
(GANESH bows—not deeply.)
GANESH
My presence here is procedural.
PHULJANI
Everything here is.
Have you reviewed these petitions?
GANESH
I follow Sultan’s order.
PHULJANI
I see your notes. Want me to read all or just sign it?
GANESH
You are the Haseki Sultana, most favored wife of the Sultan.
I’m only an advisor.
PHULJANI
Well said.
Landlord of Bhaturiya.
GANESH
I pay tax to the Sultan.
Bhaturiya is not far from Bikrampur.
PHULJANI
Bikrampur was my first home. It had river air. Not this hot, humid, and not this stone silence.
GANESH
Stone holds silence. Everything flows with rivers.
PHULJANI
You speak as one who has lost.
GANESH
As one who learned to keep what remains.
PHULJANI
Sultan listens to you.
GANESH
For now.
PHULJANI
I need more than for now.
A queen without reach becomes decoration.
GANESH
And a man without protection becomes expendable.
(GANESH pulls out a paper, approaches closer to PHULJANI to give it to her. SAFA appears with a glass. She notices, pretends she didn’t. GANESH moves back and sits apart, studies a seal.)
SAFA
Your sorbet, Begum Sultana. I will come back later to take these petitions.
(SAFA exits.)
GANESH
This seal is new, Basudha.
(She freezes—just for a breath.)
PHULJANI
Nearly forgotten. No one uses that name here.
GANESH
I do not use it publicly.
(GANESH spreads his arm in the air, and says, again)
Bo-su-dha.
(PHULJANI shivers, then controls herself. Their eyes meet. A formal alliance is set.)
PHULJANI
Then we understand each other.
GANESH
As much as you want.
PHULJANI
You may give me the paper now.
GANESH
I thought you didn’t see it.
PHULJANI
Don’t underestimate my senses.
(They rise. Still formal. GANESH gives the paper to PHULJANI. Still restrained.)
GANESH
When you feel appropriate.
PHULJANI
Now.
(PHULJANI unrolls the scroll and reads)
Bikrampur is not far from Bhaturiya!
(LIGHTS FADE.)
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