INJUSTICE IS HUMANE
Outside a Jhuggi-Jhopri, Gheesu and Madhav are seen sitting, facing each other. Inside the house, Gheesu's wife is in the process of giving birth to his child.
"What do you think, dad, do you think she will survive?" Gheesu asks his dad.
"What're you saying, beta, of course she will come out alive" He replies.
"I don't know dad, I feel that there has been so much injustice and sorrow in our lives, that even thinking about happiness makes feel like as if she will run away".
"Madhu, happiness is a state of mind, it's a thought. Look at Khocher, he's an invalid, and he can't even speak, but even so, he stays happy".
Upon hearing this, Gheesu feels very irritated.
"Don't talk to me about Khocher, papa, he's always high and he always keeps his sorrows locked away in his drugged out mansafe".
"Arre Beta, think from a soft heart, in his life, in our lives, there was nothing, there is nothing, nor will there be anything. At least this way that poor soul can find some happiness, and so can we".
"Papa, in my life, my happiness is lodged inside you, Priya and our child in her womb, without you all, my life would be destroyed, my love would be buried in a cemetary and my humanity would be orphaned".
After saying these words, Gheesu became quiet, and a heavy silence fell on and between them. His words hit Madhav's heart like arrows.
After sometime Madhav speaks and says, "Beta, I just wanted to make you a little happy. You will never be orphaned, I will never leave, God would never let such an inhumanity, such an injustice win over humanity and justice".
"But papa, injustice is humane".
"We don't cry, suffer, impoverish, destroy, kill, beat, etc. things, we only do this to human beings, because their response is similar, is familiar".
Madhav on hearing this, starts punching his head with his hands, and starts keening with grief. Seeing this, Gheesu reaches out to him to stop him, to comfort him, but Madhav slaps him. Gheesu is caught off guard by this, and he just gawks at his father with his mouth open, he had never slapped him ever, never even raised his hand on him, before this.
"This kind of despair will only happen when I die! You stupid cunt!"
Madhav now had tears in his eyes. They were rolling, streaming down his face. Gheesu hugged his father head, as he pressed to his shoulder, and he started to rock back and forth.
"Forgive me, beta, I understand your sadness, even I am wrought by despair".
"Papa, forgive me as well, you were just trying to make me happy".
Gheesu looks into his father's eyes as he wipes away the old man's tears from his eyes.
"Priya will give birth without any difficulty whatsoever, we will have not have one but uncountable children, you will make a great dada, and I will never be orphaned".
Hearing this Madhav couldn't help but laugh out loud with great mirth and joy.
And they both started to bawl with laughter, as tears roll down.
And just a little later, the door of the house opened and out stepped a woman, well, actually, she was just half out, well, actually she just poked her head out. And a woman's voice called out, "You can come in now".
They both looked at each other, and got up to go in.
END