Does Terrorism lead to Racial Discrimination or Racial Discrimination leads to Terrorism?

Place: Newyork city
Date: 30th September, 2001
Time: 2 pm

Scene 1

(Aabid Khan, 45, is sitting in a rocking chair, a lost look in eyes. Nazim, sixteen, enters from door at left.)

“Maybe I SHOULD be a terrorist… maybe we are SUPPOSED to be that?!” (Nazim throws his bag on the floor with frustration.)

“Don’t join the league of others, son. You can have a better future.” (Aabid replies without looking at Nazim.)

“But, I want friends, belongingness, not alienation!”

“You yourself will begin to feel like an alien, son. You won’t recognize yourself. There are no friends there.”

“I don’t care!! Even Priya and John have turned their backs on me! I didn’t know that being a Muslim meant being a terrorist; or being known as one!”

“It DOES NOT mean that!!!”

Silence

(Aabid throws the newspaper on floor and glares at the young boy. Nazim picks up the newspaper, and reads aloud)

The government has decided to strictly detain and interrogate people of Muslim community from entering the country. ”We don’t want more attacks”, the government says.

“What about Iqbal Chachu, Ammi, and Sani Kaki now?! They were to join us here after a wait of three long years in India!”

“Their visas got cancelled.”

“After being approved once?!”

“Yeah”

“HELL”. (Nazim walks out)

Scene 2

(Nizam is half lying on a bed. Phone rings.)

“So, what have you decided?” (A hoarse voice on the other end asks)

Silence

“Are you going to act timid like your father and stay cocooned? We have had enough, child. It’s time to fight for our rights and recognition. Don’t be so irresponsible.”

Silence (Phone receiver still on ear, Nizam closes his eyes.)

“I heard that some of our dear family members were not allowed to come here. We had waited so long to be together. You think it’s justified?”

“No, its not. IT’S NOT!!!” (Nizam sits up, beads of perspiration on his head)

“Well, so…”

“IT’S NOT JUSTIFIED THAT ABBA GOT FIRED FROM HIS JOB FOR NO REASON! IT’S NOT JUSTIFIED THAT WE ARE GIVEN STARES EVERYWHERE WE GO!! IT’S NOT JUSTIFIED THAT SHOPKEEPERS AND TAXI DRIVERS AVOID US LIKE PLAGUE!!! IT’S NOT NOT NOT JUSTIFIED!! IT’S NOT!”

“My child, then don’t bear with it. Come, we’ll make our voices get heard, no matter how.”

“I need to think.” (Hangs up the phone and dials another number) “Hello. Aadaab aunty. This is Nazim, Sabbir’s friend. Can I talk to Sabbir?”

“Beta, there was some feud in our street today and a guy bet him up badly. He is in hospital.”

(Nizam quietly puts the pone back, gets down from the bed, and comes to the centre stage. Writes something on the paper kept on table. Goes to right stage and takes out a suitcase from the cupboard. Exits right stage)

(Aabid enters from left. Comes centre stage. Picks the paper from table and reads aloud.)

“There is no other option, Abba. I must take to my destiny.”

(Aabid falls on the floor. Curtains)