Misaligned Stars

(Don't) Kiss and Tell

The meeting for workers contract discussion started.

Monami, Mr Mahajan, Manager Randhawa and the legal counsel represented the management.

Karan , Faizi and Ram Prasad ji represented workers union.

Monami started. We are here again to discuss the workers contract. We understand all parties have gone through the document in detail and we will go through each clause one by one now, in order to have a structured discussion. Randhawa repeated this opening statement in Hindi so that everyone's agreement could be recorded.

Monami: Clause 1. The workers contract will be renewed every year. This will be an auto renewal with no signatures required in most cases. Any cancellation of contract /termination will require 2 months of wages to be paid to the worker at the end of the contract period.

Karan: "Not accepted. Manzoor nahi hai.
Notice period at least 3 months + severance pay of 3 months . Ye wo log hain jinki mahina tankhwah 7000-8000 ki average hain. Savings nahi hoti to isse kam mein ye manage nahi kar sakte"

Monami: "Hamare terms industry best practices ke according hain and 6 months ka notice kahin bhi nahi hota"

This discussion went on and on for each clause. The meeting of 1 hour last 5 hours as Monami and Karan argued and negotiated on every clause. Monami was really pissed at this point. She had kept room for negotiation but Karan was bargaining hard at every clause.

Ultimately Monami put her foot down too on many clauses as she wanted to meet her targeted savings but she was worried she may not be able to meet bankers requirements

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After some time on the factory floor, workers were around Karan trying to understand what happened. Karan was explaining what he accepted, what is still pending etc. Karan was also conveying that how management may try to influence the workers in some cases but they should stick to terms suggested by Karan.

Monami came there.

Monami spoke loudly: "Main Yahan isliye aayi thi ki kuch baat clear kar sakoon. I know kuch log aapko bhadka rahe hain ki hum matlab factory ki management aapke haq mein faisle nahi kar rahi aur aapko hamari baat nahi maanni hai. (Monami stared at Karan while saying this) but sach ye hai ki Iss waqt main aur dad yahan sirf iss factory ko wapas apne pairo par khada karne ke liye aaye hain. Agar hum fail hue to 1500 workers ki naukari jaayegi. To Hamari Manzil aur aapki Manzil alag nahin hai . Factory ko bachane ka ek hi Tarika Hai ki nayee machines ke liye loan mile. Aur Uske liye aapka support Bohot zaroori hai. Apke union leader ki kuch Baatein hum ne maani hai, lekin kuchh unhe bhi manni hongi . Ye Waqt akad dikhane ka nahin, samajhdaari se decisions lene ka hai."

Karan: "Monami tum...."

Monami snapped: "Aap beech mein mat boliye. Main apne logo say baat kar rahi hoon."

Karan: "Aap unhe emotional blackmail kar rahi hain"

Monami: "Oh shut up! Bina logic ki baat mat karo"

There was suddenly a commotion on the factory floor . Some people were discussing the conversation while some started laughing on Karan, on how he was snubbed by Monami.

Karan grabbed Monami's hand and dragged her upstairs to her office.

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Monami and Karan were in Monami's office .

Monami shouted at Karan, "How dare you behave like this with me on the factory floor?"

Karan shouted back, "How dare you snap at me like that. You know very well that our wedding news has been leaked. Your father has himself confirmed it to Mr Randhawa. Everyone in the factory knows that we are getting married and you are trying to humiliate me on the floor. Least you can to do is to talk to me respectfully. This is not London. And even if this is a fake relationship, I'm not letting you insult me"

Monami: " oh, as if you were very respectful to me in the meeting room"

Karan: " Wasn't that exactly what you wanted? That our  differences come out in front of your father, and he agrees that we are not compatible."

Monami: "But you know that we need to arrive at a consensus on the contract terms. Otherwise we will not be able to secure loans for machines."

Karan: " Then we need to find a middle way. We can't accept all your terms. It's not favourable for workers and that's my job to secure their interests."

Monami: " I'm done discussing the same thing over and over with you. You just don't understand that there are certain numbers to be met to be eligible for the loan. It is a government requirement. It's not something that I have chosen. Anyways, you won't understand. Just leave for now." (Monami was clearly upset and angry)

Karan: "Not like this madam. After what you done on the floor, you need to apologise to me in front of everyone."

Monami: "Ha! In your dreams!"

Karan: " Fine, then give me your lipstick"

Monami: " Excuse me! What?"

Karan: " You heard me. Give me your lipstick. The one that you are wearing right now."

When Monami didn't flinch, Karan went ahead and started searching for the lipstick in Monami's Bag.

This annoyed monami. She snatched her bag from Karan and screamed. Don't you have any manners? You don't touch a woman's bag."

She handed over the lipstick to Karan. She asked him "what in the world are you going to do with it?"

Karan uncapped the lipstick and smudged a bit of it on his own cheek. "Well at least now everyone one will know that I got my apology."

Monami: "Nooo, you can't do that!"

Karan: " I am doing it. Watch me!"

Karan walked out of the room down the stairs to the factory floor. Monami was furious. She went to her laptop and opened the security camera view on the factory floor. She felt embarrassed already. How could Karan even do this? She will have to deal with him later.

In the camera, Monami saw Karan meet a group of workers, including Faizi and some of his other friends. They were laughing together and asking Karan, "Hope it's all sorted with Bhabhi". " Oh of course", someone said, " Look at the lipstick mark". They all laughed.

Karan acted surprised, "Oh, is there a lipstick mark still left?" And with that he took out his handkerchief and wiped his LIPS for a good few seconds. Faizi and everyone else seemed surprised and started hooting for Karan "Ooooooooo". Faizi said, "To baat Yaha Tak, Pahunch Chuki hai? Humne toh sirf aapke gaal par nishaan dekha tha". Another worker added, " Bhai, Maan gaye Karan Bhaiya ko!"

In her office, Monami's mouth was wide open with the shock. She didn't believe Karan could go this far to imply that they smooched. She saw Karan and his friends walk out of the factory floor as a shift ended. At that moment, Karan turned his head towards the security camera, and winked.

———————- TO BE CONTINUED ———————-