FM: yes?
G: I’m the grocer….or have you conveniently forgotten me? I’m here for the money.
FM: aren’t we all.
G: (pretending not to here) You have been buying things in credit. You are currently Rs. 458 overdue.
FM: I know. I’m sorry but Im rather busy right now…come back….
G: Busy doing what? Being unemployed? (puts his foot through the dorr suddenly and takes FM by surprise. He quickly steps inside before FM can do anything)
G: I had promised I would not sell you a candy until you cleared your dues but yesterday you came to my shop when I wasn’t there, took advantage of my stupid assistant and you did your shopping. You bought another 125 rupees worth stuff.
FM: (cowering) Look I’m sorry….I fully intend to pay for that….I didn’t realise I was so overdue….
G: (now shouting seeing that FM is cowering) Didn’t Realise? Every time I come you peep through your eye hole and pretend not to be home. I’ve got you today. I’m not going back till I get every last paisa. (moves in)
FM: I’m so sorry but I have been really busy. I have to got to the bank. I don’t have any money in the house…. And the bank is on strike….so come back tommorow….
G: Enough. Look if you cannot pay right now I’ll understand. Why don’t you give me something, some valuables so that I can hold them as security until you can pay.
FM: I don’t have anything….valuable….
G: Let’s see….what about this 2 in 1.
FM: (emphatically) No you can’t have that. I need it. I can’t give that….please leave.
G: (goes into the other wings as if he has not heard. He comes out almost immediately with a kit bag.) I found this under the bed. It’s quite heavy. Anything worthwhile? (he shakes it to hear what kind of sound it makes)
FM: (he looks possesed by fear. He shouts out wildly telling G to leave it. He makes a dash for G and in the proces tumbles over the tables and chairs. G gets shocked and drops the bag.)
FM: (panting and angry. He makes a grab for the man’s collar.) Who do you think you are? Coming into my house and searching through my things. Who gave you that right. Get out of here now or….
G: (he’s angry too. He takes FM’s hands off his collar by a quick move) Or what? What will you do? Loafer. Cheat. (he straightens himself and starts walking out). The local OC is my personal friend. If you don’t pay up by tomorrow I will get the police to arrest you.
FM: (that cowering desperation is back in his voice) Police? Police? I am the police!
G: (with an ugly sarcastic grin) Ja, Ja ! “ex” police. That too you were a traffic guard in Behala. Hmph! Police! (walks out) Tomorrow.
FM: Tomorrow. Tomorrow will not be new day. It will be a new world.(He stands for a second oiling in anger. Muttering things. Suddenly he realises something and takes out a battered wrist watch from his pocket.) Idiot. Made me forget about the news. (he turns on the radio. A voice is reading the news. As he listens he picks up the kit bag and sits down. He opens it and carefully starts bringing out sticks of dynamite, bombs and things in plastic baggies. He piles them on the table one by one checking everything carefully. Lastly he takes out a revolver and starts checking it and then starts loading it with bullets from one of the baggies. As he is doing this the news item he has been waitng for comes up)
N: Among other news today there was a bomb scare at The Esplanade Bus Terminus. A suspicious looking briefcase was found to contain a small amount of explosives. Fortunately the police diffused the bomb within minutes and nobody was hurt….
FM : Diffused? Diffused? You nitwits it wasn’t supposed to go off in the first place.
N: Police were baffled for some time as to who could have planted the bomb. A terrorist attack was suspected but a audio tape found in the briefcase helped allay their fears to a great extent. The tape contained the following message. (it plays FM’s voice) “I take responsibility for planting the bomb. Now you have witnessed my power. So be awed. (it goes on to repeat FM’s initial speech)
N: Police are carrying out investigations. No possiblities are being ruled out but it is suspected that this is the work of an amateur. Probably that of sick individual who is playing a prank to gain attention. The authorities say there is nothing to fear. The situation is under control.
FM: (really angry. Turns off the radio) Under control! Nothing to fear! I’ll show you what fear is! You think this was a prank? Wait till tommorow. Just wait. The messiah is sick. The Final Messiah is an amateur prankster. (Pulls out his gun at the radio.) WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO? WHO? Do you realise what wrath you bring upon yourself. Fall down on your knees and beg for my mercy. Kiss my toes and BEG! (Cocks his pistol) Beg to The Final Messiah.
(The calling bell rings. He composes himself. Puts everything back into the bag.)
(He opens the door to see F. F is an old school buddy of FM although they have not been in touch. F is dressed for work and it is obvious that he is an important executive. However he has a tired and irritated look on his face all the time which is intensified in FM’s presence. He is always on a short fuse with a fidgety impatience about him and he has a habit of avoiding looking in the eye for long.)
FM: Ohmigawd! It’s you! I’m so glad you came. (He goes and grabs F in a tight bear hug.)
F: (he does not reciprocate the hug.) uh…you’re crushing my shirt. (FM let’s go immediately)
FM: (still excited) Look at you! You look fabulous.
F: (after a beat. Without any real feeling) You look great yourself. How long has it been? 10 years. I haven’t seen you since the school farewell party.
FM: No. You met me just 8 months ago.
F: I did?
FM: Yes. Remember. 14th February. Near midnight. You were driving down Park Street. I stopped your car to test you for intoxication. I let you go.
F: (vaguely remembering) Oh….right. The policeman.
FM: Exactly. You said you were so glad to see me. You told me to call you whenever I needed something…money or any help.
F: I said that? I wasn’t trying to bribe you or anything….just being friendly.
FM: Of course. You were in your Ford. With that girl sitting next to you.
F: (suddenly defensive and nervous) Girl? What girl?
FM: That pretty, young girl. Shoulder length hair. She was wearing a leather skirt and had a flower in her hair. You two were holding hands.
F: There was no girl. I don’t remember any girl. Infact I don’t remember going out on Valentine’s Day. I probably didn’t even meet you.
FM: But you did. (takes out a visiting card) You gave me this card. Told me to call you.
F: (trapped) Okay. But she was my sister. Not my secretary or anything.
FM: (innocently) I don’t remember you having a sister.
F: (after a beat) She’s a cousin. Okay? People have cousin sisters you know. Or is that against the law.
FM: Okay whatever. (trying to change the topic) Listen the reason I called you is that….
F: You are a sick person my friend. What are you insinuating. I am a happily married family man.
FM: (now a little irritated himself) I don’t care. I don’t give a damn. Now listen to me….
F: What do you mean you don’t care that I am happily married. What are you trying to pull? You’re trying to break my marriage? I’m leaving….(he goes to walk out of the door. FM stops him physically)
FM: I’m sorry. I didn’t call you hear to talk about…. that. We have something completely different to discuss. There was no girl. I never met you on the 14th of February. Or ever for that matter. Now can we sit down and talk.
(F looks at him suspiciously. FM leads him to a chair and makes him sit.)
F: What is this about.
FM: Okay…you remember what you used to call me in high school?
F: (smiles and nods his head for a second) I have no idea.
FM: Final Messiah. That’s what everybody called me. You guys said that I was the chosen one and everything.
F: (bursts out laughing) Yeah….Now I remember. That was a great joke.
FM: (surprised) Joke?
F: Yeah. It started after you Meghna had that lab accident in class 11. Her clothes caught fire. You put it out. Then you would walk around school like a super stud. That’s when someone said “He thinks he is the Final Messiah” From then on everyone called you that.
FM: (shocked) can’t be. Every one was serious. They always said that I was the saviour and things like that.
F: (giggling) The whole school knew about it. In front of you everyone acted like they were completely in your awe and then they came to the canteen and we all had a hearty laugh as they told us your response. Oh it was great fun!
FM: (slowly) You sure it was a joke? I didn’t think so.
F: It was. I hope you aren’t still offended about it or anything. It was all very innocent. (looks at his watch) Uh…I’ve got a meeting so I’ll have to run. It was good to catch up on old times but can we do more of this later? I must run.