Page 48 - ENGLISH 9

Now read the one act play “A Disaster” and attempt the questions that
follow.
A Disaster
Characters:

Pratik: 18 year old boy Kumar: Pratik’s father Paru: Pratik’s mother

Gayatri: Pratik’s grandmother Dharmendar: neighbour Rajamati: neighbour

Setting: at 11:55, Saturday morning, Baishak 12, 2072 BS, Pratik, Ku-
mar and Paru are on the top floor of the three storey building enjoying the
Curriculum Development Centre
weekend. Suddenly they are hit by a powerful earthquake.

SCENE I

Pratik : Baba, earthquake! (He screams! He tries to run but can’t.)

Kumar : Yes!

Paru : Oh my god! (She goes to Pratik and Kumar. They hold each
other.) It’s very big. Oh God! What is going to happen? Where is
mother? She must be frightened. Let’s go down.

(All struggle down to second storey and find Gayatri yelling and
trembling.)

Kumar : Let’s go down! Hurry up! (All run down to an open field nearby)

SCENE II

(People trying hard to make calls, running towards the open
fields, children crying, elderly people praying. Again they feel an
aftershock. All scream)

Pratik : (Tries to make a call but network is busy. Meanwhile he
receives a call) Hello! Yes, don’t worry, we all are safe here. I
can’t believe, it’s ... (Line disconnected)

Gayatri : Who’s that?

Pratik : My friend, Norbu from Australia. (Keeps trying to get
updates from F.M. radio. As he gets some he informs people
around him.). It’s 7.8 on the Richter scale and its epicentre is

English class 9 43