It's election time... and to go with it, here's a small skit that i wrote for my sister some three-four years back. hope u enjoy reading it...

MY VOTE

Scene 1:

Actors: Two teachers and three students

Venue: A corridor in the college

It’s afternoon for the day and lunch is about to get over in the college. Three first year students are seen walking on the corridor, discussing about their forthcoming exams. One of the girls having drunk the water in the water packet was about to throw it away, when…

Teacher1: Hey Mala, what are you doing? Don’t you have the basic civic sense? Throw the packet in the dust bin.

Mala: Sorry mam, I won’t commit the mistake hereafter.

Teacher1: It’s not a mistake which is going to get punished in our country. But, you have to realize that it’s your duty to keep yourself and your surroundings clean.

Mala: Ya, understood your point mam.

Teacher2: More than a duty, if you think of it as an obligation kept across responsible citizens like us, things will turn up automatically.

Teacher1: (with the moment of a spark in her mind) Hey girls, is she right in calling you ‘citizens’? Have you all cut your 18^th birthday cake?

Students:(smiling)yes, mam.

Teacher1: Then, you are all eligible to caste your vote in the coming assembly elections, right?

Students: (perplexed) we think so.

Teacher2: Don’t hesitate. Not everyone can exercise this right as soon as they are eligible. You are lucky enough to do so. So, don’t waste your opportunity to be one of the deciding factors of the government, at this early age.

Teacher1: See girls, it’s not that you have to do your duties alone. You have to exercise your rights equally well. The right to vote is a unique one that we get only in democratic nations like ours.

Sandhya: But mam, we haven’t received our voter ID cards. Also, we haven’t even taken the photo for it. Then, how can we…

Teacher2: Don’t worry; it’s more than enough if you produce your family’s ration card and your driving license.

Sandhya: That’s fine, mam. But…what’s the use of voting if every politician is corrupted? Whoever rules, it’s the same old sorry state for the helpless people.

Teacher2: Don’t think that way, Sandhya. There are still straight politicians in the country, though few in number. It’s up to you to identify them and vote for them.

Teacher1: Frankly speaking, you can at least vote for the ‘best’ of the worse contestants so that the worst one doesn’t get elected.

Teacher2: You have almost a week before the elections. So, identify the contestants of your constituency and gather some information about them. Take the help of your parents to analyze that information and make up your mind.

Teacher1: Enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. You should be proud to have that indelible ink mark on your finger.

Students: Thank you, mam.

Teacher1: Ok, let’s meet in the class.

(The students take leave)

Teacher2: (to teacher1 as they are walking) we have to speak on this issue in our class.

Teacher1: Ya, that’s true.

Scene 2:

Actors: Mala and her parents

Venue: Mala’s house

It’s just a day away from the elections. Mala’s father is taking some rest under the moonlight after having his supper. It’s almost time to bed when her mother brings some milk for her father.

Father: Is mala asleep?

Mother: No, she is still hooked on to her computer. For the past four or five days, she is going to bed very late. Don’t know what’s there in that computer!

Father: Call her.

Mother: (raising her voice) mala, please come here ma. Your father wants to talk to you.

Father: (as his daughter arrives) what’s this mala? It’s really strange to see you retire to bed late in the night? What’s the matter? Studying for your exams…?

Mala: Goodness sake, I was just about to speak you on this. Anyway, the thing is… the elections are coming, right…? So, I was just gathering some information about our constituency’s contestants.

Father: Why do you do all these?

Mala: What’s this dad? As responsible citizens of the country, we have to be careful not to vote for the wrong person, right? My teachers asked me to gather information, take your help and decide on my vote.

Father: But, Mala…who’s going to vote this time? Just take your mother…. she has been enjoying this right to vote, right from your childhood days. But…, she has hardly voted once or twice. Even I have not voted every time, the elections have come. I was so excited and enthusiastic as you are now when I was young. But then, the reality is, our vote doesn’t matter at all for these people. So, I have almost stopped exercising my right.

Mala: That may be true, dad. But, things are not always the same as you think. This time we have a good contestant in the name of Someshwaran, the famous social worker. He needs our support.

Father: You don’t understand, mala. Everyone entering the politics is from the same scum. We can’t do anything about it. Take my word. Be a good girl. Don’t do unnecessary things. Do your work. That’s more than enough. Enjoy the holiday that you get because of the election. Now, go to your bed. Good night.

Mala: (in a dejected mood) Good night dad. Good night mom.

Scene 3:

Actors: Mala and her parents

Venue: Mala’s house

It’s the day of the elections. Mala and her parents sit together for dinner. Mala’s mother is seen serving her, when…

Mother: Hey, mala…what’s this over your finger.

Mala: Oh, sorry mom. I forgot to tell you this. This afternoon when I had gone to Meena’s house, I had accidentally cut my finger with a blade. I had the first-aid and had my finger plastered. Don’t worry. It’s only a small cut. It would heal within one or two days.

Mother: Hereafter, please be careful while working with blades. Your exams are approaching, na. Better use a scissor instead of a blade.

Mala: Ok mom, I will take care.

Scene 4:

Actors: Mala and her parents

Venue: Mala’s house

It’s the evening when the election results are being announced. Mala’s father enters the house with a tinge of surprise on his face. The evening newspaper is in his hand.

Father: (going to his wife) Hey, have a look at this…

Mother: What happened to you…? I have never seen you near the kitchen! What’s so special in that paper?

Father: Guess who has won the MLA seat for our constituency…? It’s the famous social worker, Someshwaran.

Mother: There must be a winner for every election, isn’t? Why can’t it be him this time?

Father: The thing is he has won the election by a narrow margin of only one seat.

Mother: Wow, that’s unbelievable!

Father: Hope he does justice to this deciding vote. Let’s wait and see.

(In the background, Mala is seen trying to control her excitement. Removing the plaster, she joyously looks at the small ink mark still on her finger)

P.S: To be frank, the last scene was inspired by a similar one in the movie, Anniyan (the very last scene in the train). I had written this during the time it was released.