Rukhsati is a one-act play by Saqib Deshmukh that unfolds in an empty, disused women’s toilet in a wedding hall in Tooting. The narrative centres around two characters, Nighat and Tariq, who are in their mid-forties and reconnect after years apart. As they reminisce about their youth, the conversation reveals their struggles with personal choices, societal expectations, and the passage of time. Nighat expresses her feelings of being trapped in her current life, particularly regarding her inability to have children, while Tariq grapples with his responsibilities as a father and husband. As they navigate their emotions, the tension builds, leading to a moment of vulnerability where Tariq hints at a desire to rekindle their past romance, complicating their already fraught situation.
Rukhsati is about love, life and lotas… A seriously funny two-hander based in Tooting. The play is set at a wedding hall and explores complex relationships in a South Asian/Muslim context and the nature of change in our communities.