The Gatekeeper's Wife by Rukhsana Ahmad

The Gatekeeper’s Wife by Rukhsana Ahmad
Characters
1. Annette
2. Hussain
3. Tara
4. Kammu
5. Saleem
6. Maaja
Scene 1
(Lights up. Annette is in her home, adjusting heavy curtains to block the harsh sunlight. She
sighs, frustrated.)
Annette:
It's relentless, this heat. (rubbing her forehead) Those poor animals at the zoo must be suffering.
(She gathers her things and prepares to leave.)
Annette (cont'd):
(Speaking to herself) It has to stop. One hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit is ridiculous. (to
Kammu, who appears with lime juice) Thank you, Hussain. Sahib a gaya?(in urdu)
Kammu:
No, Memsahib.
(Annette checks her appearance in a mirror, straightening her skirt.)
Annette:
Time to go. (to Kammu) Tell the driver five minutes.
Kammu:
Yes, Madam.
(Annette exits. Lights transition to the zoo. Annette and Hussain at the zoo gates.)
Scene 2
Annette:
(Concerned) Hussain, how are the animals today?
Hussain:
Not well, Madam. The heat is taking its toll.
(They proceed to the depot where food supplies are stored.)
Annette:
(Serious) We must ensure they're fed properly. The heat is unbearable.
Hussain:
I'm doing my best, Madam.
(As they inspect the food supplies, Annette notices Heera, the cheetah, appearing listless.)
Annette:
Heera doesn't look well. We might need the vet.
Hussain:
Yes, Madam.
(Annette, feeling drained, decides to sit.)
Annette:
I need a moment. (pauses) I worry about Heera.
(Maaja, the gatekeeper, and Hussain talking with each other alone about how Nawaz was fired)
Scene 3
Hussain:
What happened? (asking in a curious tone)
Maaja:
Poor Nawaz Saab, thrown out with his family of eight in such disgrace, he’s still not found a job,
and he’s a good man really.
(Hussain, feeling bored from the conversation, leaves)
(Hussain continues with the tasks, and Annette observes from a distance a woman stealing
Heera’s food. She says nothing and hides to see the whole scene. Tara discusses this with her
husband at dinner)
Scene 4
Saleem:
Didn’t you ring the police?
Annette:
No. (Saleem gives a smile). What’s so funny?
Saleem:
Your policing: the sort of moral crisis you’ve come to.
Annette:
Moral crisis?
Saleem:
Mrs. Howe was posted there, back in the forties. She loved horses. Her routine was to go out
every afternoon, scouting around the city, such as it was then, in search of any sick and
maltreated horses so she could take them in.
She’d go round in her jodhpurs, whip the guilty owner, and then take the horse away.. The
owners usually got treated worse than the horses, ended up in jail, and lost a working animal
without recompense
Annette:
What are you implying?
Saleem:
You are Mrs. Howe but of modern times.
(Annette leaves in a bad mood.)
(Next Day. At Zoo. Annette tells the whole incident to Hussain)
Scene 5
Annette:
How many families live here in the compound?
Hussain:
Three, Madam. Mine, the gardener, and the gatekeeper.
Annette:
I saw someone stealing food from Hira. She was a tall, thin, dark colored women. Who is she?
Hussain:
That’s Tara, the gatekeeper’s wife.
Annette:
Bring her.
(After sometime Tara, a good looking woman of middle age, comes with her two little children.)
(Tara speaks in words which are not understood by Annette)
Annette:
(To Hussain) What is she saying?
Hussain:
Maam, she is saying that Heera wants her to have some of the food.
Annette:
(Taken aback) What? What makes her say this?
Hussain:
She says, Heera won’t go near his food till she’s taken some of it and, she says madam, you can
stay tonight and see for yourself.
Hussain:
Madam, she says Heera is an animal with the spirit of a saint. He knows that her children often
have to go hungry so he can’t eat. He waits for her to take something and if, if she doesn’t take it,
the meat will lie around and rot.
Annette:
Tell her, Hussain, that she is mistaken. Tell her that she must not do it again, would you please?
Hussain:
(Translates) Madam says you must not do it again.
(Annette concludes the interview with mild warning)
(Lights fade. Annette returns home, and Saleem is there. They go to Lahore Gymkhanna.
Different dishes were served)
Scene 6
Saleem:
(Nonchalant) How was your day?
Annette:
(Bitterly) It's over, isn't it?

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