Stage Settings:
A Park. Afternoon.
Rows of multi-coloured dahlia on the left (Red, yellow, orange, purple etc. Bright colours).
An empty park bench in the middle, with a tree on each of its two sides.
Green grass elsewhere.
Characters:
Poorva: A Girl,
Ishaan: A Boy,
An Old Woman: Of Course a Woman!
[Curtains Up. Enter Poorva and Ishaan. They are seen walking towards the bench. Both have a magical wand.]
Poorva: The way you put that hex on Avantika was awesome. She looked so funny with her hair all frizzy.
Ishaan: She had first tried to curse you behind your back. Then she tried to slip in a lizard in your bag. That was so not right.
Poorva: Oh! I thought you hexed her because you didn’t like her.
Ishaan: It’s true that I don’t like her. She has such a high air around her. But unlike you, I don’t go around cursing everyone I don’t like!
Poorva: What? I hex people for fun? How can you say such a thing?
Ishaan: That day in the café you gave Nishant a bleeding nose!
Poorva: That was because he took the last vanilla pastry I so much wanted. It was so mean.
Ishaan: [Chuckles] And what about Srishti in the library yesterday, the awful acne that you gave her?
Poorva: She had this week’s copy of Witch Vanity with her! I had to see the feature ‘Crelovera: More than magic for your hair’
Ishaan: And still you say that, you don’t hex anyone and everyone who crosses your way!
Poorva: I never hexed you!
Ishaan: That is because I have never pulled any tricks with you. I knew you were called the ‘Hex Queen’ before I met you.
Poorva: That’s crossing the line Mister!
[Poorva pulls out her wand and throws a spell at Ishaan. A red light is seen emerging from her wand. Ishaan blocks it with his wand, which produces a green light.]
Ishaan: Is that all you can muster?
[They have reached the bench. Poorva sits.]
Poorva: That was just a tickling charm. I do not hex friends.
Ishaan: I am honoured your Majesty. [Bows]
[Poorva again tries to put a spell on Ishaan. She points her wand at him. This time a blue light emerges from her wand. Ishaan effectively blocks it, this time with an orange light form his wand.]
Ishaan: Tch, tch…. A nail growth curse. You are losing your touch!
Poorva: [Giggles] Like I said. I do not curse friends.
[Ishaan sits beside her.]
Poorva: [Continues] Wasn’t I talking about Avantika? I thought you fancied her.
Ishaan: Uh? Didn’t you just say that I did not like her?
Poorva: I was just testing then. I know you fancy her, don’t you?
Ishaan: No…no! I have already told you, I find her too high headed. What does she think of herself? And, then she doesn’t like you.
Poorva: Now what does that mean?
Ishaan: Nothing… nothing…. Umm…. just that you are my friend and she is not your friend. So, effectively she cannot be my friend.
Poorva: Yes you are my friend. My best friend……
Ishaan: [Cuts in before Poorva can finish her sentence] Poorva, I wish to tell you something.
[Ishaan conjures a bunch of flowers with his wand. Not seen by Poorva.]
Poorva: Me too. Me too. I will say first!
Ishaan: [Hides the flowers] Ok, ladies first.
Poorva: Actually, Siddharth asked me to be his date for the President’s ball tonight. Do you think I should go?
Ishaan: [Hides the flowers further] Go if you want.
Poorva: You don’t mind right?
Ishaan: No… No. Why will I mind?
Poorva: Yes, why will you mind? [Fumbles] Actually I just remembered something. I have to take back my book from Naina. I will be back in a minute.
[Poorva hurriedly walks away. Exit Poorva]
Ishaan: [To himself] Why will I mind? I am just a friend…. Best friend but still a friend. [Throws the flowers on the ground. Lowers his head and hides it in his hands.]
[Enter an old woman. She is seen carrying a handbag and knitting. She walks to the bench and sits beside Ishaan.]
Old Woman: [To Ishaan] You like her?
Ishaan: [Surprised] Like whom?
Old Woman: [Slowly] The girl… The girl who was sitting here. You love her don’t you?
Ishaan: Yes. So what? She doesn’t love me. I am just a friend for her.
Old Woman: How do you know, that she doesn’t love you? Did you ask her?
Ishaan: She is going to the President’s ball with someone else. She hates politics!
Old Woman: You are just making excuses. Have you ever told her about your feelings?
Ishaan: I was just going to, and she asks me if she should go to this ball.
Old Woman: Did you try to stop her?
Ishaan: How could I? Who am I to stop her?
Old Woman: If you are no one, then why did she ask you about the ball in the first place?
Ishaan: I don’t know. I am sure she doesn’t love me. I should just try to be friends with her.
Old Woman: How can you be so sure without asking her? You should first express your feelings to her. Here take this potion. [Pulls out a blue bottle from her bag and gives it to Ishaan.] Drink it before you tell her about your love, it will help.
[Ishaan takes the bottle and eyes it suspiciously.]
Old Woman: [Continues] I must take leave now.
[Exit Old Woman]
[Enter Poorva]
[Poorva walks towards Ishaan. Ishaan stands, waves his wand and the flowers disappear. He turns back and takes a sip from the bottle.]
[Poorva reaches the bench]
Poorva: There was an Old Lady walking away. Never seen her here before. Do you know her?
[Poorva sits]
Ishaan: Errr…. Where is your book?
Poorva: Which book?
Ishaan: Your book! You had gone to take your book from Naina!
Poorva: Oh! I couldn’t find her.
Ishaan: Is it important? You can borrow mine.
Poorva: No... No, it’s not urgent.
Ishaan: Poorva, you remember I wanted to tell you something.
Poorva: Yes.
Ishaan: I want to tell you how special you are to me. The night the poison dart hit you, was the longest night of my life. For the three hours that I waited before the Operation Theatre I thought that I had lost everything. It was then that I realised what you meant to me.
[Ishaan takes Poorva’s hand in his hands]
Ishaan: [Continues] Every morning the glimpse of your face makes my day. If I don’t see you I feel a part of mine is missing. You complete me.
[Ishaan stands]
Ishaan: [Continues] I wanted to tell this to you earlier. But, I could never gather the courage for the fear of losing you. Then I realised, that if I didn’t tell you at all, then someday I will surely lose you.
[Ishaan kneels on one foot, conjures a bunch of roses with his wand and gives it to Poorva]
Ishaan: [Continues] Poorva, I love you. I love you day and night. I love you more than anything in the world.
Ishaan: [Continues] Poorva, I don’t want to force anything on you so you can answer no. Do you love me?
Poorva: No….
[Poorva stands]
Poorva: [Continues] No….No…No…No… That’s not the answer. [Giggles] I just wanted to try saying it.
[Ishaan stands up shocked]
Poorva: [Continues] Yes…. Yes…. Yes, of course I love you. Couldn’t you say this earlier? You idiot! [Softly] Of course I love you! Of course I do!
[They embrace]
Poorva: I am so excited! I want to tell everyone! I have to tell this to Naina! Now!
Ishaan: What?
Poorva: I will meet you at the aviary in the evening.
Ishaan: Aren’t you going to the ball?
Poorva: You seriously thought that I would go?
[Poorva winks. Leaves hurriedly. Exit Poorva.]
[Ishaan jumps and conjures fireworks from his wand in excitement.]
[Enter Old Woman. She walks towards Ishaan.]
Ishaan: It worked! It worked! She loves me! She loves me!
Old Woman: What worked?
Ishaan: The potion you gave me worked. Poorva said yes!
Old Woman: That bottle? [Points at the blue bottle on the bench] It has mineral water for my troublesome stomach. [Smiles]
[Curtains down.]
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My submission for a creative writing assignment. The original pdf submitted is attached below.
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