one day

 “I have a story to share”.

Robin raised his head to look who said this. It was the guy sitting in front, face him.

“Please. go on”, the organizer permitted him to speak.

“It was three years back. I was working at a construction site in Hyderabad. I was there with my cousins and other guys from our village. I did all the labour works, u know, like an helper. I didn’t have much experience with work and I was the youngest.”

“How old were you?”, Robin interpreted.

“I was fifteen”.

“How the hell they let you inside, you were fucking minor?”.

“language, man. and this is a support group, not an interrogation room”.

Robin opened his arms, made himself comfortable in chair and said, ”I was clarifying my doubt”.

“In my ID I was 18 year old. I need money and this job was giving me that”.

Robin raised his eyebrows, looked at organizer and did a gesture indicating, this is want he want to know.

“One morning, after tool box talk, I was giving or providing the tools for the carpenter. He was asking for wooden piece about 10” long. So, I was looking for the guy who use to cut the wood using cutting machine. He wasn’t there. I told that to him but he yelled at me and said, ”Get me the piece, you cunt”. So, I started the machine”.

He paused for a second, looked down and removed his glasses.

“Fortunately, the blade was very small to cut the wood. So, it broke into pieces and one piece hit my eye”, saying this he raised his head and looked directly into Robin’s eyes.

Robin got terrified. He stood-up, tabbed his feet on ground, yelled at Jeevan, “Why the fuck you would bring me here, man?” and walked away.

Jeevan apologized to everyone and followed him.

He ran toward Robin, walked a few steps with him and said, “That was rude, man”.

“Oh. I was rude? Bitch, you were the one who promised me Rum and brought me here. I hated it from the beginning”.

“Then, why the fuck you stayed? You could have left when it began”.

Robin stopped walking, looked at Jeevan, Took a long breathe before saying, “I thought…I thought that they will give free Rum at the of the section”.

Jeevan’s jaw was down, “What the fuck, man? It was a support group, not you dad’s second marriage, to distribute free alcohol”.

“Then why the fuck you took me there, promising Rum?”.

“Fuck you and your Rum, man. You still don’t understand why I took you there, even after hearing that guy’s story?”.

“Who? That “teen NIck Fury”?”.

Robin paused and waited for Jeevan’s confirmation.

“Dude, He was underaged. He made a fake id to get in the site and got what he deserved, man”.

“So, don’t you think it was companies duty to verify his id?”.

“Dude, you have the idea of how many people come as labor every day. How is it possible to verify everyone’s id?”.

Jeevan looked in Robin’s eyes then turned to his right. He saw a tea shop.

He tabbed on Robin’s shoulder and said, “Let’s have some tea”.

They went to the shop. Robin and Jeevan brought two Cigarettes and lighted it.

Jeevan ordered for tea and stood beside Robin.

“Why do you think “teen Nick” met with an accident?”

“cause the carpenter was being a dick and Nick was stupid.”

“Why do you think carpenter was being dick?”

“I don’t know, superior being. Enlighten me”.

Jeevan laughed and tea spited over his shirt.

Robin smiled and said, “There goes your another one. Just to be clear, I’m not giving my shirt.”

“Screw you, man. Who needs that faded old rag”.

Robin took another puff asking, “So what were you saying?”.

Jeevan made a gesture, seeing he is interested and replied, “He was being a dick because he was work for 24 hours and was in work pressure”.

Robin looked at him.

Jeevan continued, “Do you know how many accidents happen every year in India at construction sites?”

Robin Noded negatively.

“About 13000 per year and death count is around 1000 each year. These are only reported causes and there are many which are not reported.”

Robin looked away and took another puff.

Jeevan came forward and said, “I’m saying this and took you there because I don’t want you to be the reason for any kind of accident like this. So stop pushing labour to do unsafe works.”

Robin lighted another cigarette.

He took few puffs and started, “I have a story to share.”

“Ya. Tell me.”

“You know me for all 10 months. I completed civil 3 years ago and you will be surprised to know that, this is my 7th job. I was never able to be in a same company for more than 4 months. Do you know why?”

“Because you are being a dick?”

Robin made a smug face and replied, “ Not just that, Jeevan. I asked questions.I wanted my labors to be of legal age. I wanted them to have time to rest. I wanted them to, be well paid. I stood for them. They betrayed me and I had to be a dick In front of management. So I left. This didn’t happen once or twice but six times. But now.”

Robin paused and looked in Jeevan’s eyes, “Now I saw fuck them all. Management and labor.”

Robin continued, “And you are the safety fucking officer. It’s your shit. You clean. I’m site engineer, I give them work.”

Jeevan replied, “Bullshit, Safety includes everyone.”

“No…No….No… safety is your responsibility and work is mine. So you take care of all Nick fury shit and I care about, ok?”

“You are a dick, Robin”.

“Whatever, Where is the bloody Rum?”

“ya jack sparrow, What’s it with you and Rum?”

“That’s the story for another time. Arrange for it.”

“Already did. It’s in our room.”

“Then what we are waiting for?”

“Bike, obviously.”

“ohh…okay”.