THE MOUSE MAID MADE MOUSE

Characters – Mouse
Rishi Sandop
Wife of Rishi - Malini
Sun
Cloud
Wind
Mountain
Prince Mooshika

Narrator: On the foothills of the Himalayan Mountain lived Rishi Sandop with his wife. Rishi Sandop was a great scholar and with years of penance and had acquired mystical powers. The couple though happy and blessed had one sorrow in life. They were not blessed with a child. The Rishi every morning went to the River Ganga to offer prayer.

Scene – I
Rishi Sandop standing in the midst of Ganges River offering morning prayers to Lord Surya.

Rishi Sandop : Om----- O---m ----- Suryay Namah! Om Suryay Namah
A small mouse falls in his hands slipped from a hawks beak)
: (aghast)
(In deep concentration) – {looking at the mouse} Oh! You timid creature, how wicked is the hawk to make you his prey. {Fondles the mouse} Do not be scared little one you’re safe.

Mouse :ooh------------------ (a mild squeak)

Rishi Sandop: This mouse will change our lonely life. If I use my powers I can change it into a beautiful baby girl. Oh! How happy my wife Malini will be.
(Changes the mouse into a child)

Scene - II
(A small hut where the Rishi lived)

Rishi Sandop (with the baby): Dear I found her on the bathing ghat.

Wife Malini : - Oh what a beautiful girl (holds her to her cheek). How happy I am today.
My long awaited wish has been fulfilled today. I’ll name her Pushpika.

Narrator : Years rolled by Pushpika grew up playing and learning from her learned father. She was the apple of her parent’s eye. They lovingly watched her play. Time passed and the girl began to grow. Her mother was worried and asked Rishi to find a suitable groom for her.

Wife Malini :- My lord have you seen our Pushpika has come to age? I think it is the right time to find her a suitable groom, so that she can lead a life fit for her age and youth.

Rishi :`yes’ you’re quite right (watching the girl plucking flowers). It is time indeed we look for a suitable groom for our daughter.

Scene III
Narrator: So saying Rishi Sandop with his mystic powers of addressing the heaven and earth called the lord of the scythe Sun God

Rishi Sandop (Looking to the Sun God and says): `Lord of the three worlds the bright and brilliant Sun, my daughter has come of age and I am looking for a groom for her, will you like to take her in your hand?’

(The Rishi than looks at his daughter)

My dear will you accept this most brilliant excellent groom, the lord of three worlds as your husband?

Pushpika (sullen) : Father I would like to marry someone who can subdue the brilliance of the sun, father please excuse me on this.’

Rishi (to the Sun God): Can you name any one who is superior to you and bring down your brilliance?

Sun God : Oh! Yes of course, the all-pervading cloud can at any time will bring down my brilliance, in that way I think the clouds are more superior.

(Sun God leaves the stage)
Narrator: On hearing this rishi summoned the all-pervading clouds (cloud enters)

Rishi to cloud : Oh! The ever moving clouds sometimes dense and laden, sometimes light and fluffy taking all the hues of the rainbow. Are you ready to accept my daughter as your wife?

Pushpika: Father, these clouds are without any definite form. I cannot fancy (Sun God leaves the stage)

Pushpika: Father, ----these clouds are without any definite form. I cannot fancy them as my husband. Please get me some one who can conquer the clouds.

Rishi (than turns to clouds): Can you tell me any one superior to you.’

Cloud : Yes-learned sage the wind is superior to us. They drive us hither and thither as per there will and move us from one place to another.

Narrator : (Rishi hails the wind)
Wind enters.

Rishi: Oh! Mighty wind, your gait is faster than the fastest moving things in the earth and you can move in any corner of the globe in speed as fast as the mind. Would you like to accept this pretty maiden and my daughter as your wife.

Pushpika : (on hearing) father, no doubt the wind is swift but it is constantly moving and not steady. I would like to marry some one who can stop the wind in his track
and be superior to the wind.

Rishi : O Mighty wind, can you tell me,is there any one more superior to you?

Wind: `Yes learned one, the huge and formidable mountains are superior to us. They Stop us on the track and do not allow us to go beyond their domain.

(Wind leaves the stage)
Narrotor : (Rishi hails the mountain) Enter the mountain.
Rishi : Oh! Mighty mountain so tall you are. You touch the sky. Neither the Sun or the wind or the cloud deters you from your place. Will you marry my daughter for whom I am searching a suitable groom.

(Pushpika comes closer to her father)
Pushpika: Father though he is mighty, he is rough and stiff, and I will like to marry One who can conquer his stiffness?

(Rishi turns to the mountain)

Rishi: Pray can you think of anyone who is stronger than you?

Mountain : Yes Maharishi, the mice though tiny, is mightier than us as it digs and dwells within us .He makes tunnels and passages in our interiors.

(Mountain leaves)
Rishi : O King Mosshika ------ (the mouse enters)
Though small in size, I find you are blessed with ingenuity and quick wit. You conquer mountains and dwellings of people both rich and poor. You can survive in wealth and penury; you dwell in mighty mountains and tiny gutters. Thus you are the true conqueror of different worlds. Will you give your prince to marry my dear daughter pushpika
(enter prince mouse)

Pushpika: (claps in glee at the sight of the mouse). Oh! father dear,I will be most happy to marry this handsome and intelligent prince Mooshika. Please convert me into a mouse so that I will be fit to marry him.

Narrator : Rishi remembered his deed fourteen years ago when he converted the mouse into a girl.

Rishi: Indeed nature is hard to beat (converts the girl into a mouse) and gives her hand in marriage to the prince.