43

Khushi was restless. She never wanted to go to sleep. She was scared of her haunting dreams. She sat on the recliner, got up, went to the poolside again came back, sat on the edge of the bed, got up with a jerk. She didn't know what to do. She had the weird feeling that something was going to happen. 

She went down and prepared herself a strong coffee to send away her sleep. She was determined not to go to sleep. She tried calling all of them one by one in vain. Their mobiles were switched off. She floundered. Tears rolled down her cheeks without her permission.

"No! this is not done, Khushi! You have to be strong! Papaji is there with them. They will be safe" She said to herself.

"But what if something happens to papaji?" she could not bear the thought. She got up with a jerk and dialed papaji's number inadvertently. Papaji picked up.

"I knew, you would be calling us relentlessly! Tell me what is it, Khushi?" asked papaji
"Papaji... " she couldn't speak anything.

"Khushi, we are all safe and fine! Don't worry! We are well protected! ... wish for our success Khushi!" said papaji reassuring her that they all were safe. Khushi felt better.
"Ye... yes papaji! All the best! And you all are coming to Delhi first!" she said actually smiling.

"that's like a good girl!" said papaji disconnecting the phone.
Khushi sat on the recliner relaxed after talking to papaji. 

"Hey devi mayya, raksha karana! Protect us! Please... please Devi mayya, no dreams... please .. no dreams!" she said joining her hands and praying. She closed her eyes and slowly dozed off.

********** ******** ********

They were in the temple. She was with her mother praying. He saw her from the other end of the temple. He paid no attention to the prayer. His eyes followed her everywhere. She could sense his eyes following her. She shuddered. Her mother caught her hand. "What happened?" she asked. The girl shook her head and turned to leave, praying "Hey devi mayya, raksha karana!" 

Without looking back the girl came out of the mandir. They were on the lane heading towards their home.

"Hai, re Devi mayya!" her mother screamed. She looked startled. "I forgot the pooja thali in the mandir!" exclaimed her mother. "I will get it, the girl said and ran towards the mandir.

He was still at the entrance of the temple. She looked at him and grinned. "Forgot the Thaali!" she said panting and gasping. "Slow down!" he whispered. He looked around and inserted a chocolate in her hand. 

"Chocolate?" she asked with wide eyes. He nodded and descended the stairs. She hurriedly opened the wrapper and stuffed the chocolate in her mouth, cutting it with her teeth; took the Thaali and ran down the stairs. 

She saw him smiling at her. A broad smile appeared on her face. He gestured thumps up! She nodded and ran back to her mother happily. He turned to leave looking at the portion of chocolate she had inserted back in his hand while descending the stairs. The taste of the chocolate still lingered in his mouth.


Arnav opened his eyes and looked around. Smile appeared on his face. "Khushi..!" he blurted getting up and opening his laptop to write about this beautiful dream!

********************* ***

Khushi slept peacefully. Her devi mayya listened to her and did not give her any of those haunting dreams. Khushi smiled broadly praying her devi mayya. She went down to prepare tea and breakfast. 

"umm, Nani ji, actually I have more workload these days. I mean.. if I don't' do ...I mean I will try to finish all my work in the kitchen... but...!" she stuttered.

"Khushi bitiya... you don't have to feel so guilty. We will manage!" said Nani smiling at her.

"Hello, hi bye bye?? Kaam khatam karana hai to jaldi uthai ki padi!" Taunted Mamiji twisting her nose. Khushi ignored her and went into her room.
She had no work but wanted to watch the news throughout the day.

******** ********* ********

Papaji and his three boys had come up with strategies and fall back plans. The first move was made by the Union leaders violently showing the management who was the boss there. Papaji was ready to snub the attack. They had decided to continue with the negotiation meetings. 

Papaji issued a press note reiterating his determination to hold the talks with the workers. He specifically avoided taking the names of the union and their leaders. 

"We still are determined to hold talks with the workers and employees of the Mill!" he had said. 

This time the two rival unions were united to combat the management. They had all plans for more violence and more vandalism. Everything was ready. One signal and they would strike to kill.

To show their strength, they had asked all their member workers to gather in the factory premises. People were gathered apprehensively. The leaders came with their bodyguards showing their muscle power. The two rival leaders shook hands. They saw "Appa Patwardhan" a social activist who worked on grass root level for the welfare of the workers. A harmless, non violence activist he had earned respect among the workers. He was accompanied by his 25 co activists. 

Leaders found no threat. Appa for them was nonexistent! 

Both the leaders entered the premises like kings, surrounded by their body guards! They saw the restoration work was considerably completed. They waited for the management to come to the premises. 

"I wonder, whether they would be able to make it!" said Mr. Mohite smirking. The other nodded. They looked around and were surprised to see the big screens installed everywhere within the premises and outside the premises. "What is this?" he wondered. "Entertainment!" smirked the other contemptuously. 

Exactly at 11 in the morning a person came out of the meeting hall towards the Leaders and bowing before them said, "Waiting for you sirs!" The leaders were shocked. 

"They are waiting for you!" said the person again. There was a murmur in the crowd. There were around two thousand people gathered, ready for the demonstrations at one signal. Appa Patwardhan and his 25 volunteers had scattered among the crowd. The leaders entered the meting room with their body guards!

Mr. Balwindar Singh welcomed them warmly. He signaled his technician. He nodded and went out. 

"Welcome Mr. Mohite and Mr. Aslam Khan!" greeted Mr. Balwindar Singh. They all shook hands with each others. Mr. Mohite threw a demand list on the table and roared "We accept nothing less!"

Aslam Khan nodded and threw another paper saying "This is in addition to the list! And we will accept nothing less!" 

"Thank you!" Balwindar Singh gathered the papers and handed them over to Mr. Raizada! He glanced at those papers and smiled. There was puzzled look on the leaders' faces. 

"Thank you very much for your demand list! We will surely look into it once it is shown to every one concerned" said Shondeep Calmly. 

"What do you mean?" Mr. Mohite flared up!

This means the proceedings of this meetings are aired live to everyone gathered outside. We have scanned your lists and they are displayed to everyone. Said Mr. Raizada.

"Mr. Appa Patwardhan is explaining the clauses of your demands to everyone outside!" Said Mr. Raj.

"Live Telecast is going on about this meeting!" said Mr. Balwindar Singh leaning back on his chair. 

"Here is the data and future projection we would like to bring it to your notice!" the meeting started off with a bang snatching all the air from the Leaders!! Everything was live! Appa and his team was there to explain each and every point to the illiterate, uneducated, simpleton workers oppressed for years together and exploited by the Union Leaders!


The phones were switched off. The arbitrator and independent observers from the Government were present at the meeting. The leadership was puzzled and did not know how to react. The management team started dissecting every demand of the Union on the test of reasonability. Arnav and Raj on one side and Shondeep and Balwindar on the other side perfected the HEAT and COLD treatment.

Raj and Arnav aggressively talked about the irrationality of some of the demands and refusing to even considering those for discussion; on the other hand Shondeep talked on the demands of the leaders and tried to convince them how these demands were not viable.

"Mr. Mohite and Mr. Aslam Khan, decide among yourselves first, who is going to talk. Your demands are self contradictory. Privatization is already complete and there is no question of considering your opinion in the process of privatization. Its done already!" said Arnav striking point number three from the demand list.

"Of course, we will consider the workers' opinion in the process of restricting of the company!" said Shondeep mildly, looking at the furious faces of the leaders pacifying them. 

Balwindar singh sat back and enjoyed this mind game!! All the aggression was taken away from the leaders when Arnav declared "Since privatization is complete and now the Mill is privately owned enterprise, we do not recognize any Union! Only the workers and employees of the company have the right to put forth their demands and not an outsider!"
"So we do not consider this demand list as valid! Restructuring will take place!" Raj declared forcefully.

"Of course, we have no intentions to send any one of you home, jobless! Every existing employee will be accommodated in the new company!" Declared Arnav.

When Appa explained the situation to the crowd outside there were waves of cheers from the crowd. They were assured their jobs.

"Provided, the workers and employees co operate with us in setting up new process and new machinery!" said Shondeep. The workers looked at each other outside.
Raj went on explaining how this new machinery will improve the quality of the yarn !
They talked about the reorientation program and the technical training, detailing every plan.
Mr. Balwindar Singh declared "All the temporary, contract, daily wages workers and employees will be regularized and will be taken on roll!" 

This declaration sealed the success of the meeting.

Per the strategy, the meeting went on for a marathon 22 hours without break not allowing anyone to come out of the meeting hall. Food was served and live telecast continued. The union leaders could not do anything!! Their every move was carefully watched by the mob of two thousand people.

****** ********* *********

Khushi was restless throughout! She was glued to the TV screen since morning for any news about the negotiations meeting. She could get the updates but not to the extent she had expected, or wanted to be. She paced restlessly. No one was picking up the phone as expected. Hours passed by, 8 hours, 13 hours, 15 hours, 20 hours... still there was no phone. Even Vimal had switched off her phone. Khushi was furious, restless, tensed up, panic, frightened to the core!

Anjali, Nani and Payal were worried too for her condition. She refused to tell them anything but refused to eat also.

"Khushi, what is it? Tell me!" payal asked her several times. "No, jiji! Nothing! It is just.. I am not feeling well! Please jiji, I will come later and have food!" she told her Jiji.

"Khushi bitiya! Come down and have some food!" Nani had come to her room. Khushi was sitting on the edge of the recliner with her laptop on her laps.

"Nani ji! Yes I will come down. I will just finish this work and come down!" she assured Nani with no intention to go down or eat anything. She somehow wanted nani to go out of the room. 

Her restlessness and her acidity increased simultaneously. She felt dizzy, but kept her eyes open with determination. 

"Please... Please, Devi mayya! Save us! Protect us! Please!" she prayed. She was up the whole night. In the morning, Nani again came to her room.

"Naniji, sorry, I could not come for dinner but I had late in the night... I finished my work and had a light dinner!" she said guiltily. Nani looked satisfied and went out!
It was eight thirty in the morning and her phone rang!!

"Khushi....!" Screamed Vimal from the other end. "This is unbelievable! This is miracle! Done done!! Done!!! Khushi! Great!!! All our dreams will come true!!" Vimal was super excited. 

"KHUSHI!!!! Are you listening?" she screamed again. 

"Vi...Vimal!" Khushi could only start... Vimal did not give her any chance to speak..
"Khushi.... Your sir has considered our wish list!! This is great! Everyone is happy... except ofcourse the so called union leaders. All the unions are dissolved, Khushi! We are all getting our jobs back and with pay!! Great! This is just Great!" Vimal had no words to express. She just screamed in excitement.

Khushi was speechless too! She just listened to Vimal!

***** ********** ***********

The meeting was concluded at Nine Thirty in the morning and the management took a sigh of relief!! All four of them took out their phones and dialed the same number and then looked at each other "Khushi!" Everyone tried her number but Arnav was quickest!

"Hello Arnav ji!" he heard Khushi's voice and closed his eyes in happiness. Shondeep and Raj smiled. Papaji thumped on Arnav's shoulder and took the phone from him putting it on Speaker mode.

"Khushi" he called out in a deep voice... the marathon meeting was a bit too much for his health and his age.

"Papaji" she screamed! "Puttar! Done!" he said.

"Congratulations, everyone! I knew it! You people were simply scared! I knew, everything would be ok!" she said proudly..
"Shut up!" was everyone's reaction.

"Khushi, I will talk to you later! We are coming home!" said Arnav and disconnected.
Khushi suddenly felt hungry and ran down to kitchen to stuff something in her mouth!! 

******** ****** *********

They were on their way! After the meeting papaji had called up Ramani.

"Dada! Do not travel together. I am sending two cars with my men. These people are dangerous. I know how to take you out. Don't come out of the Mill building. My person Ganesh will come to take you all out! The disturbance is still there. Wait for Ganesh!"

"Ok!" said papaji and waited. Ganesh took them out and drove them to airport under the underworld protection. Raj, Shondeep and Arnav were oblivious to this arrangement. They thought that it was all papaji's arrangement. Ramani was behind the screen all the time, alert and protective!! It was his redemption for his sins!!

******** ********* ********

They all landed on Delhi airport late in the evening. Khushi was waiting for them.
Arnav inserted a chocolate in her hand in that crowded Airport. She looked at it in surprise. Arnav looked away.

"Chocolate?" she blurted. She peeled off the wrapper and ate a piece inserting the other one in his hand whispering "This much sweet will do!" he smiled at her putting the chocolate in his mouth.

"What is it puttar? What are you exchanging?" came a loud call from behind startling them both.

"Nothing!" she said blushing. They all drove back home, victorious!! and another shocking news was waiting for them !!