Manu – Chairman
Sona – Chief Executive Officer
Rohit – Sona’s son (the to be chairman)
Kapil and Diggaj – Board members
Kalu & Raja – The ex-workers of the factory now in jail (they were found to have duped the factory workers and were responsible for factories recent downfall in market)
Hajji – The union leader
Aru and Kira – Workers in the union, termed by others as Hajji’s hands.
There was no solace for the factory workers in Rohit’s statement, “It was just a minor fire in the finance unit, such minor incidents do happen and we cannot do anything about it. We deeply regret for the loss of the life of the workers though. We will have a board meeting to decide the compensation for the victims; we have our sympathy with the workers.” While there was anger among many factory workers, the families who lost their sole bread earners were not able to check their tears and wails.
Aru found something suspicious in the statement, ‘… such minor incidents do happen and we cannot do anything about it’. Why was it, that a day after Diggaj’s visit, the finance area was on fire? Why did Diggaj even after knowing that Kalu and Raja were culprits termed them as innocent victims? Aru’s mind was racing, Hajji is a month away from the threatened strike against the board’s misruling and a fire in the finance unit diverts the mind of the workers. It can be a plot to derail the strike. The board knows well that the workers are very agitated and they have deep faith in Hajji, any strike that Hajji leads will result in the downfall of the board. The board cannot risk themselves getting behind bars. So was it a plot by the board? Was the fire planned?
Aru disclosed his fears to Kira, “Kira, there is something suspicious about yesterday’s fire breakout. Did you hear how Rohit addressed the whole incident?”
Kira, “Aru, you just read my mind. A day before yesterday when Diggaj visited the factory and expressed his concern for Kalu and Raja, I noticed that wry smile on his face. He is surely fooling the innocent workers and I am sure that Kalu and Raja’s misdeeds were very well known by the board and they too were involved in it. But Aru we cannot let such incidents derail our movement, out strike is for the workers and the factory and our victory alone can bring to the guilty to justice.”
Aru nodded silently, but Kira and Aru both knew that the battle is not easy.
In the board meeting room, Sona is pacing furiously while Manu is sitting at the chairman’s desk visibly dejected when Kapil, Diggaj and Rohit enter the room.
Rohit “They had a stern look, the workers… the workers are quite agitated mother.”
Sona shouts at Rohit, “So does that explain why you announced that they will be given compensation. Those workers, those no class workers, they are born to die and if they die in an accident why should we…”
Kapil intervened, “Sona you don’t worry about the money, we have already managed all that with their own money, not even a penny moves out of our pocket and even if they realize what we did to them, they cannot fight back, poor workers have family to take care of, kids to feed and educate.”
Sona, “But even then does that mean that we are going to give in charity the factory’s fund.”
On this Manu meekly speaks, “The factory runs because of the workers, it is their right to…”
Diggaj, “You keep your mouth shut, don’t you realize that you are the chairman because of Sona madam. You just act as a spectator till Rohit takes over the chair from you. And Sona it is important to announce the compensation because if some day they will find out that the fire was not just an accident but a plot by us, we will have our defenses ready. We need to throw money because there is a lot of blood shed and we need to clear it.”
Sona ”but what will be left for my son Rohit, if you keep splurging money like this.”
Diggaj “Sona don’t forget there is a lot that we have and a lot that we can make, this factory is still running well due to the workers, we just need to keep them at toes.”
Rohit, “What about Hajji? How are we planning to silence him?”
Kapil “Kid you just play your part and leave the bigger game to us, we will take care of him when time comes. We already lured him last time promising him justice at the board. This time we will eliminate this weed.”
All except Manu share a vile smile.
After one month, a day before Hajji’s strike and factory’s annual results, again a fire broke out in the factory this time many workers were caught. Hajji could not carry out the strike and what happened next…
**A conspiracy theory is a fringe theory which explains a historical or current event as the result of a secret plot by exceptionally powerful and cunning conspirators to achieve a malevolent end. **
