Play_of_the_Enemy

Characters Dr. Salim Hafiz Wife of Dr. Salim Hafiz Major Jawar Pratap Singh Scene 1 Place: Army Camp [A group of doctors are taking an oath as they join the INA as army doctors. They are headed by Major Jawar Pratap Singh] Major: You are the chosen best doctors from all over India. Today you have been given the special privilege of serving the nation. Hundreds of jawans, who are fighting to save our motherland will come to you for help. Are you all ready to take the challenge that lies ahead of you. Doctors: Yes, sir. Major: Then, without delay let us proceed to the taking of oath. Put out your right hand and repeat after me. [All the doctors do so] Oath: I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism. I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug. I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery. I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God. I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick. I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, that sound of mind and body as well as the infirm. If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help. Scene 2 Place: Army Camp [ The Kargil War is going on outside. Sounds of firing and bombs fill the air. Major Jawar Pratap Singh is in his camp taking to Col. Srikant Narayanan] Col: We have a crisis situation. These Pakistanis seem to have beforehand information of whatever plan we are implementing. Somebody on the inside must be helping them. Try to find out who they are. Maj: Will I assign a covert operation to check into the army. Col: That will cost a lot of attention. Neither do we have time for those. Find out who have recently joined the army. Maj: There are many who joined new but none of them are in the infantry. They can’t have any of our plans. Someone at a high post is doing this. Col: What about the doctors' They are new and they have contacts with almost everyone from the Pakistanis to the high posted officials of this country. They can easily have access to our plans and sell it cross-border. Maj: Sir, you are right. Among my group of doctors, there is one who is a Pakistani by origin. His name is Dr. Salim Hafiz. Shall I discharge him of his duties to the army. Col: Yes, do that immediately. And that’s an order. [ A few years later] Scene 3 Place: Dr. Salim Hafiz’s courtyard. [A dense jungle separates Dr. Salim’s house and Pakistan border. Dr. Salim has been discharged from the army. As a so-called punishment, his license to practice as a doctor has also been taken. He is a poor man now living with his wife. Not his age but all that he earned in the past years is what determines his life. He is returning from his shop when a familiar face meets him] Doc: Who are you that stagger in the darkness. Show yourself and what are you doing in front of my house' Stranger: Please, help me, I am bleeding…..Ahhh………Help.. Doc: I am not a doctor anymore. Go away. Stranger: You were the best doctor I have ever seen…Help me….You promised to help me. Doc: I don’t know you and I have no idea of any promise. Stranger: H..eee….l.ppp… [Doctor checks his pulse] Doc: He is still alive. Excessive bleeding was made him unconscious. [Doctor observes the man carefully] Doc: He looks like someone from the army..Reminds of the old times. Let me check his uniform- his name must be written somewhere…………..OH! MY GOD. Atul…..Atul. [Servant Atul runs to Dr. Salim] Doc: Atul, carry this body to my chamber…. I need to operate immediately. This is Major. Jawar Pratap Singh- a brave soldier. Treat him well.