The Forgiven

Narrator: This story! The Forgiven! Is the story of the Era of The Company
Rule! Let’s go to the Madras Central Prison to see the story unfold.
(Scene changes to the Warden’s office in Madras Central Prison)
(An Indian Warden enters)
Warden: Bring me Prisoner No 24601!
(Prisoner enters)
Warden: Your time is up and your Parole has begun! You know what that
means!
Prisoner: Yes! It means I am free!
Warden: No! It means you get your ticket of leave! (Gives him a Ticket of
Leave) This will show everyone that you were a Thief!
Prisoner: (Looks at the Ticket) I stole a Bowl of Rice!!
Warden: You robbed a House!
Prisoner: I broke a Window Frame! My Late Sister was dying! We were
starving!
Warden: And You will starve again if break the Law! You will learn the
meaning of the Law!
Prisoner: I know the meaning of those 19 years in Jail! 19 years, working like a
slave.
Warden: You want to know why 19 years? Well let’s see (Checks his book) 5
years for stealing Bread! 14 more for trying to run! That is your Record! 24601!
Prisoner: My name is Vineet!
Warden: And I am Rahim! Do not forget this name 24601! Now Leave!
(Everyone leaves)
Narrator: Even after serving his full term! Vineet suffered! The Ticket of Leave
was a Ticket of Social Rejection! It marked him as a criminal! Wherever he
went, people rejected him, making his life more miserable than Prison! But,
one night, a Bishop spotted Vineet Sleeping on a Bench.
(Narrator leaves and Vineet lays on the ground)
(Bishop Charles enters)
Bishop: Come in Sir! You are Weary and the Night is very cold. While our
lives are very humble, What we have! We have to share! (Vineet and the
Bishop enter a Church) There is coconut Water to quench your thirst! There is
Rice to fill your stomach! A free bed is available for you to rest. Please, let your
suffering be gone.
Narrator: The Bishop fed Vineet. The Utensils were Silver! And that’s where
Vineet’s greed came over. The man had suffered so much! To live a life without
misery, he needed money. When Bishop retreated to his chambers, Vineet took
the silver and flee from the Church. But, unfortunately for Vineet, He was
caught by an Officer. He lied that the Bishop gave him the silver but the officer
didn’t budge. He took Vineet to the Bishop.
Officer: Tell his holiness your story! Let’s see if he is impressed! (Pushes Vineet
on the ground and the silverware fall on the ground.)
Officer: Your holiness! This stain on earth was found with your silver, had the
audacity to say that you gave him your silver!
Bishop: That is right! And My friend (Bishop helps Vineet to get up) You were
in such a hurry that the fact that I gave you this silver cross slipped your mind!
(Gave him a Cross) Now dear Officer, can you release him? I commend you for
your duty! May God’s blessings be you! (Officer leaves)
Bishop: (In a Singing Voice) But remember this, my brother! See in this some
higher plan! You must use this precious silver! To become an honest man! By
the witness of the martyrs! By the Passion and the Blood! God has raised you
out of darkness! I have bought your soul for God!
Narrator: Vineet, in his guilt, ran away with the silver and the Holy cross
(Vineet Runs Away) After running miles and miles, not knowing where to go,
he stopped near a cliff. He looked up, as if begging for forgiveness. Trying to
justify his wrong.
Vineet: (In a Crying Voice) What have I done! Lord Vishnu! What have I
done! I became a thief! How did I allow this to happen! Have I fallen so far
that it is too late for me! If there was another route! Another Way! I missed it
19 years ago! My Life has been nothing but a War! That Jailor gave me a
number and left me to die just for stealing a bowl of rice! Why did this man
put his trust on me! He called me brother! Take an eye for an eye! Turn your
heart into stone! That is all I have known! I feel my shame inside me like a
knife! (Thinks for some time) I will escape from this world now! The World
that knew Vineet! Vineet is nothing now! Another story will begin!!!!! (Tears
the Ticket of Leave)
Narrator: Vineet like a Phoenix, was turned into ashes by the flames of
Brotherhood and from his ashes, rose Navin! After years of struggle! Navin
became a powerful individual amongst the Company Elites! His main
businesses were Ship Building and Cotton Trade. He was also very charitable,
donating large portions of his wealth to religious places and Schools. He
became so popular that he was able to become the Mayor of Madras’ Black
Town. And One day, an Interesting event took place!
(Navin was working)
(Two Officers enter)
Officer 1: Honourable Mayor! We brought before you a criminal!
(Navin looks up to see Rahim, his Jailor, as the Criminal)
(Rahim looks up to see Vineet, now Navin, as the Mayor. For a moment, he
had shock and fear in his eyes, but then, they returned back to their
emotionless form.)
Navin: What has Officer Rahim done?
Officer 1: We were in standoff with some Thugs near the City sir! And Officer
Rahim, during the standoff, shot Colonel Jackson! He is currently in the
Hospital!
Officer 2: Sir! That was an accident! And Colonel is alive! Please show mercy to
Officer Rahim
Officer 1: Shut up rookie!
Navin: Both of you leave! I need some time alone with Officer Rahim. (Both
left)
Navin: Do you recognize me?
Rahim: We meet again, you have probably hungered for this moment all your
life! Well! Take your revenge! Throw me in the hell in which I threw you!
Navin: No Rahim.
Rahim: (Confused) What?
Navin: I can bet my life on the fact that the incident was an Accident! I have
checked your record, you are one of the most honest officers of the Company!
Rahim: I…………………… I am really confused! You should be hungry for
revenge!
Navin: You are wrong, and always have been wrong. I'm a man, no worse than
any man. You are free! There is nothing that I blame you for! You have done
your duty, nothing more. (Hearing this, Rahim almost fell on the ground) Be
Careful.
Rahim: I………………. What have I done to deserve this! Why are you showing
kindness to me! Even thou I have only shown you hatred!
Navin: Forgiveness is a powerful tool Rahim………………. I have forgiven you
long time ago! If you still think you should get punished, then I sentence you
to showing kindness to convicts! Try to reform them instead of asking the
society to reject them, that is all I wish for. (Rahim starts crying)
Rahim: As you order, My Mayor!
Narrator: Forgiveness is a powerful tool! We never know what the other person
is going through! So, it is best if we learn to forgive! Thank you!
Characters (Major)
Narrator
Vineet/Navin
Rahim
Bishop