HALF WAY IN LOVE (CHAPTER 5)

Chapter 5

It was a small, dingy, dimly lit office room.

It looked like an office room only because of the presence of a table and chair.

Walls were not plastered or painted.

It had asbestos sheets as roof. A ceiling fan rotated above, which declined to pick up speed even when put on its top speed mode.

On the table, lay a half open English Daily.

It was the office of the proprietor of a knitting company in Tirupur.

The Sakthi Mills.

Named after its proprietor.

Adjacent to the office, around ten knitting machines ran round the clock with heavy sound, turning cotton yarns into cotton cloth rolls.

Sakthi had walked into office after lunch break, when his manager Ramakrishnan broke this news to him.

He had caught Dev, the new recruit, reading English newspaper which was meant for the boss.

And that too sitting in his office.

A tight slap followed.

A twenty year old Dev, stood before this bull dog, rubbing his cheek.

"That slap is for two things you stupid. One, you were reading newspaper when you were supposed to break your back in that gutter..."

He roared, pointing his left thumb towards the knitting floor, where the machines kept grumbling.

"And you were reading my newspaper sitting in my office. You young filths think yourself smart after few years in school."

Another slap.

Dev lost his balance, and managed not to fall on the floor.

Shocked and humiliated, he was unable to speak anything.

He was just one week into this company. In fact, his father had got him this position. His father worked as a night watchman, in Pin Knitting company, run by Sakthi’s elder brother, Ramalingam. Ramalingam liked Dev's father, Sundaram. So when Sundaram went with an appeal to get his son a job, Ramalingam called his younger brother to take in Dev.

"Remember, take care of Dev. He is Sundaram's son. None of your rash ways with him".

Ramalingam had added, knowing very well what his younger brother was like.

Dropped out of college after being rusticated by college authorities for his misdeeds, Sakthi was always a head ache to the well-known business family of Tirupur. They went back generations in hosiery business.

Unlike his elder brothers, Sakthi was an immense alcoholic. And when on poison, he was a devil.

But Sakthi was particularly careful with Dev. Ramu brother's order. He never dared to touch the boy. Until this afternoon. Until he was brainwashed by Ramakrishnan.

One week had gone peacefully. Dev was learning things quick. But, Ramakrishnan, the floor manager was not happy with the way Dev was meted out preferential treatment.

He had reasons to hate the boy, from the very second day of Dev in the company.

Ramky, as he was called, and Sakthi had a habit of having a drink in the office every afternoon.

On the second day of Dev’s arrival in the company, Ramky took out the unwashed glasses from previous day’s drinks session. He called out to Dev.

"Dev, wash these glasses and bring"

Dev, hurried towards office from the machine floor.

Sakthi, who was glancing over the newspaper, turned to Ramky and admonished him with his eyes.

Ramky was hurt. He got the message.

He turned off Dev, and walked to the sink to wash the glasses himself, every cells in his body burning.

This boy should not be pampered like this forever. He wanted someone under him to do all dirty works. He didn’t want someone who needs to be pampered.

Need to do something. And he waited for a chance.

And today he got one.

Sakthi had probably hopped into Le Pebble bar, and had his quota of drinks, on the way back from his lunch. It was his practice on some days.

And he was devil himself today.

He turned to the boy and shouted.

"Get lost, before I kick you next"

"Enough of this shit". Dev told himself.

Ignoring Sakthi’s order, he walked towards the main door.

"Where are you going bastard? I said go and rot among the machines".

Sakthi shouted, like a man possessed.

Dev, now having taken his decision in mind, stopped and turned to face him.

"Not any more sir. I am going home. You can record my resignation. "

Dev, turned and pulled open the office main door.

There, a young girl was standing. Listening to all that was happening inside. Looking at him now, with concern.

He recognised her, from some photographs he had seen on Sakthi's table.

Sukanya.

Daughter of Sakthi.

He looked at her passively, and walked out, with multiple injuries to his heart. Into the scorching heat. Into the gutter flowing streets.

Cont ... chapter 6 on 12/04/2024.

novel by Vijay Nair .