1991
Character List:
AIDA, British-Pakistani - 7
ANJUM, Pakistani - 8
TEACHER, Pakistani - 20s
Location: Classroom in Jhelum, Pakistan.
AIDA and ANJUM are cousins.
[ ] Translation.
/ Overlapping speech
There is a cane hanging on the wall.
AIDA and ANJUM enter a classroom. With her back to AIDA, ANJUM immediately snoops around the TEACHER’s desk. While AIDA takes out her books, her small coin purse falls to the floor.
AIDA sits on a chair. It is unstable. She moves that aside, takes a different chair and takes out her textbooks and lunch.
ANJUM turns, looks at AIDA’s food and licks her lips.
AIDA: (Struggling to read) Bill, bill-ee [c-cat].
ANJUM: Are you eating or studying?
AIDA: Eating and studying.
ANJUM: Boring.
AIDA: I am hungry, and I need to study.
ANJUM: The girls/
AIDA: I don’t care.
ANJUM: -have tricked the guard.
AIDA: I don’t care.
ANJUM: Boring.
AIDA: We are not allowed outside the gate.
ANJUM: We should be outside the gate.
AIDA: Mam said I must stay in school.
ANJUM: (Taunting) Mummy’s girl…
AIDA: No.
ANJUM: Bending to every bark from that woman’s mouth.
AIDA: Oi.
ANJUM: Like a chotha kutha [little puppy].
AIDA looks up at ANJUM with a scrunched face as ANJUM inspects her sandwich, creating tension.
AIDA looks terrified. Will she eat her sandwich? - ANJUM tauntingly and reluctantly hands back the sandwich.
ANJUM: They’re eating aloo tikka [potato patties].
AIDA: We don’t have money for aloo tikka.
ANJUM: (Emphasising the I) I don’t have money.
AIDA feels sorry for her cousin. She squares her shoulders and extends her sandwich to her cousin. ANJUM advances, accepting the offering and deliberately savours each bite, making it clear to AIDA that she relishes the moment.
AIDA: I’ll bring you sandwiches.
ANJUM: Every day?
AIDA: Yes.
ANJUM: A sandwich a day. Like the Queen.
While ANJUM finishes the sandwich, AIDA goes back to studying her textbook.
AIDA: Bill-ee [Ca-at]
M-mur, mur, mur [chick, chick, chick].
ANJUM: Murgee. [chicken]
AIDA: Kaaaaaaaaa.
ANJUM: Khargosh [rabbit].
AIDA uses her pencil to lightly write chicken and rabbit in English in her textbook.
Oi
AIDA: I’ll rubber it out later.
ANJUM: These pages are meant for reading. Nothing else.
AIDA: It helps me.
ANJUM [Possessive] Why are you even at my school?
AIDA: I want to learn.
ANJUM: By cheating.
AIDA: It’s not cheating.
ANJUM: (Resentful) It’s a waste of money.
AIDA: No, it’s not.
ANJUM: My Mum said it is.
AIDA: Your Mum?
ANJUM: She said you’ll return to England and forget everything.
AIDA: Khala said I will forget Urdu?
ANJUM: (Ambiguous) You will forget.
AIDA: I won’t.
ANJUM: She’s always yapping that woman.
AIDA: She’s your Mam, have some respect.
ANJUM: (Confident) Yapping and yapping, that’s all they do. Women yap, but when I grow up, I won’t yap. I will never yap.
AIDA: You’re rude.
ANJUM: You’re boring.
AIDA: You’re sinning.
ANJUM: Your mum does it too.
AIDA: No, she doesn’t.
ANJUM: Yap, yap.
AIDA: Stop it.
ANJUM: I rather sin.
AIDA: I need to study.
ANJUM: You will forget once you get home.
AIDA: I won’t.
ANJUM: Prove it.
AIDA: How?
ANJUM: Pay my deposit for our school trip.
AIDA: I’m not doing that.
ANJUM: So, you will forget me.
AIDA: I have no money.
ANJUM steps on AIDA’s coin purse to conceal it.
ANJUM: You always have a twenty rupee note.
AIDA’s eyes widen.
AIDA: I am not paying for your deposit, and I will not forget.
ANJUM moves closer to AIDA. She looks her in the eye and picks up her textbook.
Give that back.
ANJUM: Do you want help?
AIDA: With Urdu?
ANJUM: I’ll help you; you help me with my English.
As the lights dim, ANJUM quietly aids AIDA in her studies. Seizing the moment the TEACHER enters and the room fills with children's voices, ANJUM discreetly retrieves the coin purse from under her foot and conceals it, seamlessly returning to her role as AIDA's study partner.
The scene shifts as the TEACHER observes the cooperative interaction between the AIDA and ANJUM.
TEACHER: You two.
AIDA and ANJUM don’t look up.
TEACHER: Aida, Anjum.
AIDA and ANJUM slowly lift their heads.
TEACHER: I want to see more of this.
ANJUM: Yes Miss.
The TEACHER is suspicious of ANJUM.
AIDA: You're always getting us in trouble.
ANJUM: She’s getting fat.
AIDA: Shh.
ANJUM: She lets the Headmaster kiss her.
AIDA, surprised by this gossip, lets her mouth drop.
ANJUM: He kisses her everywhere.
AIDA: She’s dirty.
ANJUM: Dirty, dirty, dirty.
Both girls snigger.
TEACHER: Everyone turn to page fourteen.
(Gently) Aida, continue with yours. I will check your work in a bit.
AIDA and ANJUM open their books.
ANJUM: Do you think there’s a baby in there?
TEACHER: I said silence…
ANJUM: (Puts her head down) A bastard baby.
TEACHER: But no, not over there. Anjum?
ANJUM: (Smiles) Yes, Miss.
TEACHER: (Amused at ANJUM’s confidence). Anything you’d like to share?
ANJUM: Nothing Miss.
TEACHER: Stand up.
AIDA stands up.
TEACHER: How are you today?
ANJUM: I ate a sandwich.
TEACHER: Aren’t you lucky?
ANJUM: I’m going to be eating a sandwich every day.
TEACHER: Your cousin certainly is generous.
ANJUM smiles at the TEACHER.
Anything you want to share with me? Anything with your classmates?
ANJUM looks at AIDA, and she hesitates for a moment.
TEACHER: You still have my attention, but not for long. Speak up.
ANJUM: Well, Miss… I was thinking about our school trip.
TEACHER: … Oh.
ANJUM: I’m excited, that’s all.
AIDA looks up at ANJUM, trying to figure out what will come from her mouth.
TEACHER: Did you persuade your parents?
ANJUM: Did I persuade my parents?
ANJUM strides confidently to the desk and deftly retrieves AIDA’s coin purse.
AIDA is horrified as she realises what is happening. She looks into her bag, hoping her coin purse is there.
With deliberate and measured movements, ANJUM extracts the note, unfolds it slowly and extends it toward the TEACHER.
ANJUM: They said yes because of you.
TEACHER: You are full of surprises.
ANJUM: Thank you, Miss.
TEACHER: You’re welcome.
ANJUM confidently walks back to her chair, smiling at AIDA.
TEACHER: (Impressed) I shall collect all deposits now.
AIDA’s face grows with concern as the TEACHER collects the deposits and gradually moves closer to her.
The TEACHER arrives at their desk. AIDA takes a gulp.
Do you not have it?
AIDA shakes her head.
TEACHER: What have I said about manners?
AIDA: …
TEACHER: (Gently touches AIDA’s shoulder) Speak.
AIDA: I’m sorry.
TEACHER: Where is your deposit?
AIDA: I’m sorry.
TEACHER: It’s okay.
A snigger is heard from across the room.
(Gesturing at ANJUM) We can’t have your cousin going without you.
AIDA: I’ll have it tomorrow.
TEACHER reassuringly touches her shoulder.
TEACHER: The Deadline is today, but okay. Now, come, let’s test your Urdu.
TEACHER returns to her desk, and AIDA follows.
Start where we left off last time.
AIDA: (Deliberately reads with some difficulty). Eyk bil-lee [one cat], Do do, do, [two, two, two].
TEACHER: Why are you struggling?
AIDA: (Speedily). Do murgee. [two chickens]. Teen khargosh. [three rabbits].
TEACHER snaps the textbook from AIDA’s hand and looks at the page.
TEACHER: Oh.
AIDA: (Fearfully) I’m sorry.
TEACHER: What is this?
AIDA: Khargosh [rabbit].
TEACHER: (Pointing at AIDA’s English translation) What is this?
AIDA shrugs, and the TEACHER laughs.
It may surprise you, but I can read English.
AIDA: It helps me.
TEACHER: This is school property.
AIDA: I’m sorry Miss.
TEACHER: Who will replace this textbook?
AIDA: I wrote it in pencil.
TEACHER: Will you pay for a new textbook?
AIDA: Yes.
TEACHER: You haven’t paid your deposit.
AIDA fearfully looks at the cane.
AIDA: I’m sorry Miss.
TEACHER: Okay, go… but I will speak to your Mum about this.
Anjum, it's your turn. Come here.
The lights dim as ANJUM and the TEACHER interact. Under the spotlight, AIDA simmers with anger and humiliation. She sits at the desk, tapping her foot, and reaches a breaking point. Swiftly, she replaces the crooked chair with ANJUM's chair.
A knock interrupts the class. The TEACHER signals ANJUM to return to her desk. Adjusting her attire, the TEACHER heads to the door with a smile. She steps outside.
ANJUM: (Stood next to AIDA) It’s the headmaster.
AIDA: …
ANJUM: What’s wrong with you?
AIDA: …
ANJUM shrugs her shoulders.
ANJUM takes a seat and swings in the chair, and it breaks. Laughter erupts. She glances around, embarrassed. She kicks broken pieces around the classroom, imagining each piece hitting those faces, especially Aida's.
TEACHER returns, flushed, eyes watery. Notices the broken chair.
TEACHER: (Thunderous voice) Who did this?
The room falls into a deafening state of silence.
I asked who did this.
Deafening silence.
I want a name.
AIDA stands up.
(Surprised) You?
AIDA: Anjum.
The TEACHER gestures for ANJUM to come to the desk. ANJUM once again confidently arrives while the TEACHER silently waits for ANJUM to perform their ritual.
ANJUM removes the cane from the wall and hands it to the TEACHER. ANJUM surprises the TEACHER by keeping out her hand.
TEACHER: Oh, so no fear?
ANJUM: …
TEACHER: You want to be caned?
ANJUM: It’s not about what I want.
TEACHER: You think you’re so brave.
ANJUM: I don’t think this Miss.
TEACHER: What do you think?
ANJUM: There are things in life that I can control. I can’t control this. You will do what you want, and I will have to endure it.
TEACHER simultaneously is impressed yet humiliated that this child is outsmarting her.
Cane me.
TEACHER canes ANJUM. ANJUM is clearly in pain but does not cry. She walks away.
TEACHER: Come back.
ANJUM was not expecting this, she hesitates but walks to the TEACHER.
Put out your hand.
ANJUM puts out her hand.
The other one.
ANJUM puts out her other hand. The TEACHER canes the other hand. ANJUM returns to her desk, and AIDA now sits down with her.
TEACHER: If we had started this class as scheduled, Anjum, this would never have happened. Now, everyone, back to page fourteen, and I don’t want to hear any sound.
ANJUM: (In a low voice, affirms to AIDA) I will forget you.
Lights down.