Misaligned Stars

Mishap on the floor

Monami reached at the shift start time next day and took a quick round. She saw Karan working at a machine, focused on something. He was wearing the workers uniform but she could see how it fitted around his biceps. The guy seems strong. She wondered how to use him for her benefit. Monami's dad have been reminding her to keep Karan on her side. But she didn't like him at all. He may be well educated, like her dad said, but his demeanour is crass. He clearly doesn't respect her and his attitude wasn't helping her increase the productivity and profitability of the business. And she has to achieve that goal, by any means and she will go to any length to prove it.

Randhawa followed Monami and called out Karan. Karan shouted back "Randhawa sahab, madam ko bol do ki sight-seeing baad mein karenge, abhi zaroori kaam hai". Monami asked Randhawa, "who is Karan's backup?"

Faizi approached Karan and asked him to go to Madam. Karan reluctantly went. "Wahan ka kaam zaroori tha and wo main Faizi se behtar bata sakta tha" Karan told Monami.

"Kaun kya kaam karega ye main decide karoongi. Tum ek baat sun lo. Mind your attitude. If you are thinking that i  will be leaving this place soon, then you are wrong. I am here to stay for long, so Tum mere instructions manne ki aadat daal lo. Mujhe aaj apni first visit ki report apne dad se discuss karni hai so I don't have time to wait. Tell me about the remaining machines"

Karan and Monami continued to tour the remaining factory. Monami was right, Karan was assuming that Monami won't survive here for long. And he realised that intimidating Monami won't help and he will have to think of more long term plans. He started to show around in more detail, answering her questions. Karan made a mental note of how Monami was earnestly trying to see process gaps and he was impressed .

Towards the end, they were discussing a process which seemed very manual and Monami wondered why there was no automation for that work. While they were discussing, Monami went too close to the machine's strong suction fan and her hair flew back dangerously close to the fan, as the fun started to suck them in the machine.

Karan's quick reflexes saved any mishap, but he had to put his hand behind Monami's head and pull her towards himself. Due to the sudden pull, Monami fell on Karan and both of them fell to the factory ground, Monami's lips brushing against Karan's as he held her head tight. To Monami who hadn't noticed the machine behind her, it seemed like Karan pulled her close to kiss and hug her. As soon as they stood up, Monami flung a hard slap across Karan's face.

"How dare you? How dare you touch me?" Monami hollered.

Karan screamed back, "Aapka dimaag kharaab hai? Main aapki jaan bacha raha tha?"

Monami, "Mujhe laga tha ki aap log apne maalik ke beti ki izzat karenge. Par pehle din se badtameezi dekhti aa rahi hoon aur ye to hadd ho gayi. Ye mat samajhna ki main bardaasht kar loongi. Kisi bhi bahane se kisi ne mujhe haath lagane ki koshish ki to haath todna aata hai mujhe."

Karan was about to scream again when some elderly workers intervened. "Nahi malkin , Karan ne sach mein aapko bachane ke liye kheencha tha"

Karan: "Dekhiye madam, yahan maalik ya naukar dekh ke izzat nahi milti, har aurat ko izzat di jaati hai. Aapko haath lagane ke mujhe koi shauk nahi hai. Aapse kal bhi kaha tha , factory mein aane ka tareeka hota hai - uniform hoti hai, safety gear hota hai. Khule baal le ke factory floor pe nahi aate hain. Apne chaaploos staff ko boliye aap ko samjha dein. Aur galat ilzaam main bhi bardaasht nahi karta. Kal tak mera isteefa aap ko mil jayega. Izzat chahiye to izzat deni bhi sikhiye"

Monami stomped out of the factory floor.

Karan was surrounded by workers. Some of them supported Karan that Monami shouldn't have shouted on him. Some tried to explain to him that she was also shocked and didn't realise, it was a misunderstanding and Karan should not take a hasty decision. Some were worried that this daily clash between Karan and the factory owner can cause problems for the factory.

In her cabin, Monami fumed. She remembered being trapped in Karan's strong arms as he pulled her. How their lips brushed. She vowed that if Karan did this intentionally, she won't let him get away. She won't let any worker take advantage of her being a woman. She has to set ground rules if she has to stay here for long. If her father finds out about this incident, he will call her back. She needed to take control. She closed her eyes but all she could see was picture herself on factory floor, on top of Karan, in his arms.

Karan was also marching out in anger when he met Reena.
Reena: "Karan!! Maine suna kya hua. Tu please shaant ho ja. Madam ka gussa to tu jaan gaya hoga ab tak. Tere saath baar baar pata nahi kyun ulajhti hain wo. Tu please kahin mat ja"Reena softly touched Karan's face and chest to calm down his anger.

Monami , in her cabin, played CCTV footage from the floor. Karan was right, it wasn't pre planned and he was just saving her. She cursed herself "Why do you lose it Monami? This anger will only create problems for you? Dad will be so angry if Karan leaves. I need to make him stay." Monami was thinking to herself, staring outside window. That's when she saw Reena with Karan. Was she hugging him? They seemed close.
Monami felt a certain knot in her chest. What did that mean?

———————TO BE CONTINUED—————-