Date Published: 27 Jan, 2022

*text in italics Kayla's POV

'I'm anxious, scared and mildly irritated. How do I apologise to these labourers? Will they accept it? What if they hurt me? I hate Padmini for making me bow before these people. She's going to pay for this. I shall exact my revenge once their divorce is complete. We are seated under the makeshift marquee where the sit-in protest had been happening. I could sense the hatred directed towards me and the respect directed to my left.'

∆∆

The last time Kayla was in the factory, she had been victorious in setting fire to the unity and peace among the employer and his workforce. It was the second step towards her goal, a major one in that direction. She had been spilling harsh comments at the Plant Operations Director, Xavier criticising his work, to instigate him.

At the end of the day, when all else failed to trigger the reaction she expected, she faked a misstep while examining some machinery and slipped. Xavier quickly caught her arm to prevent the fall and the sleeve of her blouse ripped. She created a ruckus using that opportunity to claim he behaved inappropriately. Das, due to his sworn allegiance to Chandrakanth stood by Kayla. When the crowd gathered around in support of Xavier, Kayla slapped Xavier to provocate things. When Das supported her, the enraged staff beat him up and he had landed up in ICU.

"I'm not here to support you or protect you. Just making sure you genuinely apologise and do not make fake claims like the other day. Go ahead and say sorry now".

Padmini's voice was stern, as she verbally nudged Kayla to step up and apologise.

"Everybody's patience is running thin Ms Kayla."

Kayla grit her teeth trying hard to ignore the taunts from Padmini and Paarth who sat on either side of her. There were a few bodyguards who stood right behind them.

Kayla stood up from the chair reluctantly, "I'm sorry! It was a misunderstanding." Turning to the man seated beside Paarth,
"I'm sorry Mr Xavier. I apologise to all of you", glancing around the three hundred-odd workforces assembled around. Kayla's voice sounded feeble in the mike. Somebody yelled from among the group that those at the back couldn't hear, forcing her to apologise a bit loudly and kept repeating the act couple of more times, humbling her. Her head hung low in shame, the murmur in the crowd getting louder.

∆∆∆

'I have cried only twice in my life, when Chandrakanth broke up with me and when my mother passed away. My hands tremble as I fist the sides of my Kurti to hide them, lowering my head in shame. Suddenly I feel a hand clasping mine, Padmini stands up beside me and the jeering of those men die down.'

∆∆∆

"I apologise on behalf of Ms Kayla to all of you." Loud gasps and objections are heard, they all sound upset and claim Padmini shouldn't be the one to say sorry. Kayla couldn't help but notice that the staff held respect and adoration in their eyes for her and Paarth. Padmini gestured to one of the guards and spoke to her, "Kayla wait in the car. I need to speak with our staff."

"What.."

"I bought you here for a reason, your task is done. No further questions. Leave!" Padmini's tone curt and clipped, seemed new to Kayla.

The guard almost dragged her away and locked the doors of the car after she got in and stood beside the vehicle.

∆∆∆

'Why is she doing this? Was this a game? Was she instigating the crowd against her?'
Anger and panic filled her, she tried calling her brother for advice, but couldn't reach him.

∆

Paarth raised his hand to silence the crowd and Padmini continued to speak nervous but determined. She had accompanied her husband and father-in-law on certain festive occasions to the factory and the office, in the past but never spoke to any of the staff except for the exchange of formal greetings. She stepped away from where they were seated and walked up to the front row of workers.

"I haven't spoken to you all before personally, but I'm always thankful to you all. Jagannath group is nothing without you. You all are the reason behind the name and fame of this company. I was told that the spare parts division was the first company started by my father-in-law, Jagannath Malhotra around fifty years back. This place exactly where we stand, was where the first small office and workshop was set up. Today due to the faithful, tireless contribution of hundreds of staff members, our company has grown immensely. My father-in-law has worked shoulder to shoulder in this very same workshop. Paarth here was handheld and trained by some of you to operate machinery."

"Is there any complaint regarding the management or the Malhotra family? Except for this incident..." She let her words sink in and asked the Labour Union leader for the answer.

"No Ma'am. Maybe very small complaints which were sorted as soon as possible. We are taken care of quite well by the company."

"Thank you! The staff of Jagannath Group are an extended family for the Malhotras, and family members shouldn't stay upset for long. And I hope you won't let outsiders create a rift in our family."

Padmini's earnest request and appeal had touched a raw nerve not denying the fact that her emotions were authentic, none faked. The crew stood up hurriedly when both Padmini and Paarth stood with their hands folded and apologised in unison. It was truly felt at that juncture that this company meant more to them than just money and status. Paarth couldn't be more proud of his mother.

∆∆∆

Kayla was seated in the car beside Padmini, while Paarth was seated near the driver. Padmini broke the silence.

"I came here today because I care about the company Kayla. You wanted to create a misunderstanding and incur a loss for us and in your blind rage, you endangered their livelihood. Those men earn a meagre salary of a few hundred. They have families and they might be the sole breadwinner in the family.

Despite it, they stood firmly by their colleague. They could have gone back to work, not bothering about Xavier, but they couldn't rest when you falsely accused him. For them, he is one among them, their brother. Unity and brotherhood are the ethics of this workforce. You cannot dominate them with your mere proficiency of corporate law and revenue charts nor by your high handedness. At least not for long." The car came to a halt in the driveway of Kanth Manor.

Padmini got off and Paarth paused to glance at Kayla over his shoulder before stepping out, "Do you see who is the illiterate here?" The car door slammed shut after he instructed the driver to drop Kayla off at her residence.

⚜⚜⚜

The labour strike at Jagannath Group had been called off and production had resumed with immediate effect.

The news was relayed to Chandrakanth while he was at a meeting with one of their clients, a leading European automobile company that had been displeased with the delays. He managed to convince them and an extension of a few weeks more for the deadline was agreed upon.

The media began flashing news about the month-long labour strike coming to an end with the efforts spearheaded by Paarth Malhotra. By evening, journalists and specialists began commenting on his efficiency and later contemplating if the young successor was already making his way to grab the reins of the empire. The next day as the shares of Jagannath group steadied after the month-long drop, people were discussing Chandrakanth's retirement.

A press conference was arranged, to end the constant buzzing of the phone and emails. Paarth was at ease handling the press reporters as always. He briefed them about the 'demands of the labour union being met' and a mutual agreement had been reached. A request was placed before the labourers not to reveal the true reason behind the strike when a two months salary as compensation and they had promised to abide.

Once the briefing was over Paarth was surrounded by a few unruly reporters on the way to his car.

"Mr Paarth are you the next CEO of Jagannath Group?"

"Sir you are the rightful successor, why delay the promotion?"

"Sir there are reports that the Board of Directors are unhappy with the way Mr Chandrakanth handled the labour strike. Do you think he's becoming old and senile, unfit to handle the organisation?"

A wave of chuckles and sneering broke out amongst the crowd.
Paarth was annoyed by the way the reporter insulted his father. He held on to his composure, he knew roughing up a journalist was not the kind of publicity they needed now. As he pulled open his car door open, another journalist jostled through thrusting his mike in Paarth's direction.

"Mr Paarth, there are rumours that your parents are getting divorced." The rest of the crowd broke into gasps and murmurs,
"Is that true? Who will
Mr Chandrakanth marry?"

He slammed the door shut and the vehicle was inching forward, while they swarmed and blocked the path, making it difficult for the driver to wade through. Camera flashes, mikes, endless questions into their private life, relentless knocking on the windshield... It seemed like they forgot the boundaries of basic human privacy. Everything is news, every breath they take, every act, word and sigh...

"Sir," the driver called out to him "we might need to call for police help they are not letting us leave. You should start bringing the guards for press meet in future."

Paarth was exhausted beyond comprehension. He stepped out of the car and the crowd stilled.

"I know you people are curious and have an endless appetite for gossip and news. The agenda for press conference was met. Anything beyond that is uncalled for. You need to clear the path and let me go home now. Just because we people are supposed to be in the spotlight doesn't mean we are not entitled to privacy. My family needs me I would highly appreciate it if I'm allowed to leave now. If you persist then we will just release official statements in future and have to reconsider our advertisements, sponsorship and other tie-ups."

⚜⚜⚜

Padmini was seated on the large bed in the guest room she had occupied. Sneha sat on her left resting her head on one shoulder and Aparna on the other while they intertwined their hand with hers. She was narrating the tales of Lord Krishna's childhood and explaining the nuances and intricacies of the great epic. Paarth walked in to take this sight that tugged at his heart.

It was this all-encompassing mother's love that spoke, bringing the labour strike to an end. It might have seemed like an emotional gimmick or a strategy to woo them, but he knew Padmini was anything but that. She was furious when she heard the staff were on strike for a month and the reason behind it. He was still clueless as to how she convinced Kayla when even his father had failed.

How they all had missed her? Especially Aparna and Sneha. There was so much he wanted to tell her that he realised after her sudden disappearance. His eyes glistened with realisation and ache.

"Hi mumma!" He went and plopped on the bed resting his head on her lap.

"Minu Di not fair!" Parul came running like a kid, and tried to wiggle somewhere in between trying to cuddle with Padmini. They all laughed at her childishness.

We always take someone's presence in our life for granted, until one day there is no time left to voice all our emotions or there is no time for even a goodbye and we are just left with memories!