Return

Kanpur was still sweltering in October.

Aditya came out of the station with his back soaked in sweat. He hailed a rickshaw, tossed his bag onto the seat, and called out:

"To the Diya Textile Factory, in the industrial park in the north of the city."

"I know it. That textile factory with the high wages, right?" the driver replied.

Aditya was inwardly amused. The factory had only been open a month, and even the rickshaw drivers knew about it. His opening move had been the right one. High wages were more direct than handing out flyers. Diya could make a name for itself without any publicity.

When they reached the Diya Factory gates, a hundred or so people were still squatting outside. They were probably looking for work again.

Raju stood beside the gate, his hand resting on a wooden stick. Seeing Aditya get out, he immediately ran over, calling, "Young master, you're back!"

Aditya said, "Yes. How's the factory? No problems, I hope?"

"None. With Master Madan and Miss Dipti here, everything's been going smoothly."

"It's just... Miss Dipti's been working too hard."

"Oh? What's happened to her?"

"While you've been away, young master, Miss Dipti's practically made the office her bed," Raju said, lowering his voice. "She was checking the accounts until well past midnight last night, then went to the workshop first thing this morning to take attendance. Paro and Usha asked her to eat at the canteen just now, but she wouldn't go. I told her to go back to her room and rest, but she wouldn't listen either. Go in and see for yourself, young master. Her desk's covered in accounts. There isn't even room for a cup of water."

"Hm? Who are Paro and Usha?" Aditya asked.

"They seem to be Miss Dipti's classmates. They came to the factory a few days ago and have been helping her in the office."

Aditya tossed his bag to Raju and instructed him, "Go get some food from the canteen. I'll go find her."

"Yes, young master." Raju hurried off.

Aditya strode toward the office. The machines in the workshop were still clattering, the air was hot and dry, and cotton fluff drifted everywhere.

A worker passed with a bundle of yarn on his shoulder. Seeing Aditya, he quickly lowered his head and stepped aside.

Aditya reached the office door, which was ajar. He knocked lightly. When there was no response, he pushed it open and walked in.

It was a little quieter inside. The ceiling fan turned with a steady creak, its breeze setting the account books rustling.

Dipti lay slumped over the desk, her head resting on her arm and her face turned toward the door, half a pencil in her hand.

She breathed evenly, her mouth open as she snored softly.

Aditya approached and noticed that her strap had slipped down, exposing a large patch of fair, soft skin on her rounded left shoulder.

Aditya stood there for two seconds. In the end, he could not resist reaching out. Bending over, he hooked two fingers under the strap and slowly pulled it back onto her shoulder.

His movements were gentle and careful, but at the very last moment, some inexplicable impulse made him suddenly let go.

Snap!

The strap struck her skin, and Dipti's body jolted.

Dipti opened her eyes and looked up at Aditya. She seemed muddled from sleep and simply stared blankly at him.

Aditya silently withdrew his hand.

Dipti's eyes suddenly widened. She shot upright and grabbed her neckline, her face flushing red in an instant.

"Y-you... why didn't you say something when you got back?" Dipti's voice trembled a little.

Aditya stepped back and sat down. "I just arrived. Your strap had slipped." He pointed at her left shoulder.

Flustered and embarrassed, Dipti hurriedly straightened her clothes and tucked her loose hair behind her ears.

Dipti badly wanted to scold Aditya, but could not get the words out. Her breathing came in short bursts, almost like panting.

Seeing her like that, Aditya could not bring himself to tease her further.

"Have you not been sleeping properly for a long time?" Aditya asked with concern.

"Whose fault is that, if not yours, you unreliable boss? It's been a whole month. How many days have you actually spent at the factory? You just dusted off your backside and left, leaving all the work to me," Dipti said indignantly.

"Isn't that because I trust you? I knew you could handle it on your own. Besides, I was away for Diya's sake too," Aditya explained.

Dipti fell silent and lowered her head. Only after a long while did she say, "There are more and more people outside the gates. I was afraid they'd cause trouble, so lately I've had them move some goods and paid them by the day."

Aditya nodded. "Yes, you handled that well. I also heard about you hiring people."

Dipti abruptly looked up. Like a balloon that had been pricked, she deflated. "Paro and Usha... I brought them in on my own authority. We really couldn't keep up with the work then. I had them help record attendance and calculate pay. They're from the University of Lucknow too, our classmates. Paro's quick with numbers, and Usha can manage people. I meant to wait until you came back to make it final, but people came looking for work at the gates every day, little things kept going wrong in the workshop, and there was inventory to work out too. I really couldn't keep track of everything myself."

The more she spoke, the more flustered she became, and her face grew redder. Watching her, Aditya suddenly smiled.

"I'm not blaming you," Aditya said with a smile. "Hiring people is a good thing. The Diya Textile Factory will be expanding soon, and we'll need plenty more people. Since you chose these two, start training them. Don't pay them too little. You can decide Paro and Usha's pay yourself, as long as it doesn't exceed yours. From now on, you and those two will keep the office running for me."

Dipti froze. She had thought she would be scolded, but Aditya did not blame her at all. "Oh," she said. "I'll manage them properly."

Aditya asked, "Enough about that. You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"I'm not hungry," Dipti said.

She had barely finished speaking when footsteps sounded outside.

Paro and Usha came in carrying lunch boxes, chatting and laughing.

Standing in the doorway, Raju pointed out the lunch boxes in their hands to Aditya, then shut the door and left.

Paro and Usha set down the lunch boxes and pressed their palms together toward Aditya. "Hello, boss."

"Haha, no need to be so formal. Which of you is Paro, and which is Usha?"

"Hehe, I'm Paro. You're just like Dipti said, boss. You don't put on any airs." The girl on the left, dressed in a blue sari, smiled.

"I'm Usha. You're very handsome, boss," the girl on the right, wearing a purple scarf, said with a smile as well.

"Boss, where did you go off having fun? How long are you staying at the factory this time? Dipti's been missing you terribly. She even says your name in her dreams."

"That's right, boss. You have to stay a few more days. Dipti's so strict with us. You need to keep her in line."

"Enough. Sit down, both of you. Keep talking and I'll get angry," Dipti said, glaring.

Intimidated by Dipti, Usha meekly sat down.

Paro was not afraid at all. She glanced at Dipti and immediately laughed, saying:

"My dear big sister, haven't you been wondering when the boss would come back? Now he's sitting right here, so why's your face as red as the tomato sauce in the canteen?"

Usha snorted with laughter beside her, then hurriedly covered her mouth.

"Paro! What nonsense are you talking?" Dipti said, angry and flustered.

Paro was not afraid in the slightest. Grinning, she told Aditya, "You have no idea, boss. For these past twenty days, Miss Dipti's been saying, 'When Aditya gets back,' every single day."

Aditya glanced at Dipti's shy, scarlet face and said, "All right, all right. Stop teasing her. Dipti, hurry up and eat."

"Paro, Usha, go take inventory in the warehouse and see how much stock we're short this month. Give the boss a clear report afterward. Go on." Dipti's face was red, but her tone brooked no argument.

"Ah!" "Ah!" Paro and Usha cried in dismay, both looking at Aditya.

"Hmm?" Dipti made the sound through her nose.

Paro and Usha cast Dipti a resentful look, then opened the door and went out as Aditya beamed.

Only once the door had closed did Dipti open her lunch box. Inside were two flatbreads, pigeon pea mash and curry, and a portion of rice.

"Are they that scared of you?" Aditya asked with a smile.

"This is a company. They have to follow the rules too. As for you, the boss, could you behave yourself and be a little more serious?" Dipti muttered as she ate.

"Haha, having you play the villain is enough. As the boss, of course I have to be the good guy."

Aditya picked up a flatbread, rolled it around some curry, and held it out to Dipti.

With her head lowered, Dipti silently accepted the wrap. Her voice was bitter as she said, "All you ever do is bully me."

"How could I? You're my precious worker. I can't cherish you enough," Aditya said.

"Oh! Don't talk nonsense! Cough! Cough!" Startled, Dipti choked as she spoke.

Aditya quickly stood and gently patted her back.

"Eat slowly. Don't rush. Have a sip of soup."

Tears streamed from Dipti's eyes. She coughed hard several times before finally recovering.

She pushed Aditya's hand away and muttered, "Stop saying such frivolous things all the time. You're a Brahmin. You shouldn't behave like this."

"What does being a Brahmin matter? What age are we living in? I've never cared about any of that," Aditya told Dipti seriously.

Dipti lowered her head without speaking. She picked up a flatbread and ate in small bites. She ate very slowly. After going hungry for too long, she found she could not eat quickly.

Dipti looked up, a little pea mash still clinging to the corner of her mouth. Aditya reached out, intending to wipe it away with his thumb.

Dipti slapped his hand away with a smack, then lowered her head and ate furiously, not daring to look at him.

Seeing her bright-red earlobes, Aditya did not insist.

In truth, Aditya badly wanted to tell Dipti, You've lost weight. Even when I'm away, don't push yourself so hard.

But some things were not suited to being spoken aloud on a stifling Kanpur afternoon. Just as Dipti cared about, a Brahmin could not behave frivolously.

"Are you full?" Aditya asked.

"I'm full," Dipti said.

"Then come take a look around the workshop with me." Aditya stood up.

Dipti murmured an assent and followed him. Suddenly, she asked, "Paro and Usha... do you really think they can stay?"

Aditya did not turn around. "I trust you. You brought them in, so manage them properly."

"Oh," Dipti said. The trace of unease in her eyes slowly faded.