Comment on the importance of will in this play.

How does the Will become the instrument of reshaping and reforming the destiny of the Hasmukh family?

Ans.

The plot of the play Where There is a Will revolves round the will made by Hasmukh and it forms the central point of attention. In fact, in his life time, Hasmukh is fully dissatisfied with the activities of his family-his wife and his son and daughter-in-law only because they do not recognize him and all of them have their own ways of life. The confrontation between the father and son is quite natural-a generation gap. Hasmukh is a man of conventional attitude-the shadow of his father and wishes that his son should also follow his footsteps as he had done. But his son, Ajit, is a young man with new aspirations and his desire for doing something. Hasmukh does not like to implement the schemes of Ajit, fearing that they will completely destroy him and so he always wishes to change him. It is in this background that he has made his will.

Good intentions

One thing important about this will is that there is no bad intention behind. He actually does not want that his family should starve after him but that they should mend their ways and progress in their life. This intention is quite clear when Kiran explains to them that they are the real owners of the whole money and property and will get it after the fixed period of time. She says, “My main duty is to run the Reliable Group of Industries on behalf of Ajit Mehta……My duty also extends to training Ajit Mehta and eventually, delegating most of my responsibilities to him in phases.” Hasmukh has taken every care that Ajit must start working regularly and get himself trained in the office work. In that will, everybody has been provided for. The Hasmukh family is surprisingly reformed and its members get wisdom only under the pressure of the will. The first thing we note is that nobody of them is prepared to accept Kiran in the family and Preeti goes to the extent of paying her a handsome amount and says, “Pay her and tell her to get out.” But the conditions of the will protect the claim of Preeti. She tells them that if they refuse to let her stay in the house. “I have the right to make a statement declaring that since the recipient of the trust, namely you all, are not complying the rules set down by the deceased, the of the trust will be divided between charitable institutions……” It is again under the pressure of the will that Sonal agrees to accept her as her bedroom partner.

Its Power throughout

The will made by Hasmukh remains dominant since the beginning to the end. Ajit is made to attend the office regularly since morning till evening. Since he is not habitual of such hard work, he is extremely tired and feels as if he has been imprisoned there. In great anger he cries. “Yes! I have come home. Until the prison warden comes in and puts my shackles on again.” Sonal also feels that the will and the presence of Kiran in the home is necessary because only she can keep Preeti under control. Kiran explains things to Sonal and she realizes that she has grown wiser. Like Hasmukh, she also did nothing at her free will. She makes a confession before her. She says, “I have lived in my sister’s shadow. It was always Minal who decided what we should wear……Even at my husband’s funeral, she sat beside me and told me when to cry.” Therefore, realizing her mistake, she declares “Everything is going to be different now.”

Source of Reform

But the power of the will is the most effective on Ajit and Preeti. Comparatively Sonal grows wiser earlier. Ajit has started attending the office regularly but Preeti is still arrogant. She curses herself for her marriage in that home and for depriving her from the money and property. She is controlled only after the incident of the pills. It is again the stay of Kiran by the force of will that the mischief of Preeti is disclosed. She has exchanged the blood pressure pills of Hasmukh with her vitamin pills and Kiran caught her throwing them out. She is made to confess her mischief and promises, “I will do anything you say. I-I regret it all.” We see that the aim of the will is now complete. Sonal has freed herself from the clutches of her sister Minal, Ajit has started working, Preeti has mended her ways. Thus the will has certainly become the instrument of reshaping and reforming the destiny of the Hasmukh family.