IRA

By Saraswathi Priyadarshini

Ira is a breath of fresh air and a whisper of hope! In world reeling with agony and affliction at the moment Ira shines the light on dreams coming true, and even if for a little while this book will draw its fragrance of hope and happiness inside you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BlueRose Publishers
• Release date: Jul 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354722318

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Doors open to a large auditorium. It's empty, dark and quiet, the seats are turned up.

Grand maroon velvet curtains part, a group of young theatre enthusiasts are seated, a buzz of excitement and expectation fills the stage.

Roshan, a young, attractive and charming man in his mid-twenties sits quietly, a calm in his face and eagerness in his eyes. He was every girl’s dream. He was reliable, gentle, sensitive and determined. Always sure of what he wanted.

Enter Aditi, a woman in her mid-fifties clad in a comfortable cotton saree.

For Aditi drama was life and life was drama, one easily slipped into the other. Never married but had adopted a baby girl Nikita who was now studying drama at the London School of Dramatics in London, England.

Both passionate and scrupulous, she was stern at times yet good natured, creative and fun. An exemplary teacher, her greatest gift was to inspire youngsters who weren’t naturally gifted in the art of acting, persuading and pushing to give their best. She demonstrated great belief that anything can be learnt. Having made a dramatic entrance on stage followed by her two assistants who were holding big files looking rather nervous, she stands with her hands intertwined and her grey hair tied up in a messy bun, her spectacles dropped to the tip of her nose, her deep eyes accentuated with thick kajal scan the room.

The chatter drops to a sudden silence.

I see you have all made it through the auditions she says smiling.

Congratulations !!

I think you must applaud yourselves for you are all stars in the making, she continues with a certain affirmation in her voice.

Excitement and applause fill the air.

I don’t see her!! Where is she??....surely she can't be late today?!

She questions anxiously.

What is her name?!....Ah?!. An assistant whispers in her ears.

Yes! Ira!.

CHAPTER 2

Pink, yellow and orange rays of twilight ease through the window and fall like a veil over a young lady kneeling down in prayer. Her cascading lustrous hair covers her face. Thank you!! whispers Ira, she opens her bright expressive eyes, she is startled to see her brother Dhiraj with his palms raised as if to bless her.

It shall be done, he teases her.

Go study! she says as she pecks him on his forehead.

First year engineering, not easy she warns with her finger raised.

She then sprints down the corridor of pictures, pictures of her in various costumes. In one she is Cinderella, in another Snow White and in one she is the personification of love!!

She jolts to the kitchen to find her mother.

She hurriedly wraps her arms around her saying I’m late, I’m late, I’m late mimicking her favourite character the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Grabbing her bag from the table, she glances upon the picture of her father whom she lost when she was only eight and her little brother barely three.

Ira had learnt to be strong, as life demanded it of her!

Inside she was gullible, vulnerable and deeply sensitive.

As she sat in the bus that would take her to the auditorium, she knew in her heart that her dreams would soon be a reality.

CHAPTER 3

Love is patient, Love is kind, no eyes of envy, true love is blind…

She forces open the heavy doors of the auditorium with a bang interrupting Aditi’s narration. After rushing down the aisle, she jumps over to the stage, I am sorry, I’m late she says panting.

She could sense all eyes shift their gaze on her.

Oh! There you are! I was beginning to wonder! Please take your seat, you missed the introduction she says in a rather strict tone.

Ira rushes like a nervous student to the only empty seat she could find next to Roshan, who is captivated by her angelic presence and couldn’t help but stare at her, not realising that she was requesting him to move a bit. He quickly breaks from the spell and moves slightly to his right. May I continue? questions Aditi as if to seek Ira’s permission. Sorry! Ira whispers, shrugging her shoulders.

"Love is gentle, makes no demands, despite all wrong, True love still stands the test of time.

Love forgives and forgives.

It lasts forever.

It endures", recites Aditi with a natural ease as if speaking from experience.

There is a reflective silence in the group, they listen in a daze as if touched and drawn by what they hear, it was not just what she was saying but also how, it seemed to strum the strings of their heart.

While we try to capture the true essence of love in this drama let us also show this world full of hate that real love goes against that flow!! She stops, yet no one moves. She claps to shake them up as it were!!

There! Ok! Thank you! You all looked lost! She laughs.

Now let me give you all your scripts with your parts, she says signalling her assistants, who start to hand out the files. Pushing her spectacles up Aditi reads out names of who would play the role of dancers, friends and finally the main lead. Roshan and Ira exchange a brief glance. Please read the scripts, understand and explore the characters you are playing instructs Aditi. Oh! I almost forgot! Let me introduce Sushma and Roopa who will be helping with the props, costumes, make up and everything else. They do a lot, she says looking at them rather pleased.

Then looking back at the actors, she says The choreographer Yash will be coming in next week. A few more instructions and then I will let you off, she continues looking at her watch.

"Please eat healthy and stay healthy. The show is in nine months!

Almost like birthing your dreams", she says as an afterthought.

"If this means anything to you, you will give it your best!

Now mingle and get to know each other. Establish trust and work as a team",

Ask Harish to serve them some tea please, she instructs Sushma in a lower voice.

Then raising her voice again, I will see you all tomorrow at 5p.m she looks wide eyed at Ira as a warning for her grand late entrance. She turns around, with her assistants following her she makes a dramatic exit.

Harish, a young boy enters with a tray of tea and biscuits, earnestly and cheerfully serving with a smile he says, Hello!! with a bow for every glass that is taken.

A buzz fills the stage again. Roshan stretches his hand out Hi!! I am Roshan, Roshan Solagar and you are? he asks awkwardly.

Iravathi, Ira, she corrects herself immediately and greets him with a warm smile. The actors go around and acquaint themselves, tea