Navya: That’s true. But till Rachana put things in the proper perspective, I was upset that you didn’t stand up and be counted in Nritya’s case.
Rekha: Thank you for your understanding; well I may even say forgiveness. How I pressurized Rakesh not to hush up the case and how Nayak and his wife begged me to relent I only know. Well, I didn’t have it in me what it takes to be on the just side of the dilemma. If only an outsider was in the commute, even if she couldn’t have saved Nritya’s life at least she would have ensured that Nayak got booked for abetting her suicide. If anything, my failure to protect Nritya’s fair name underscores the need for us to form a NGO.
Navya: I am with you in any movement against womanizing at workplace.
Rachana: MAWAW for short.
Navya: Why, it sounds nice.
Rekha: Let it sound a death knell to the errant. [Rekha raises her hand and opens her palms; Navya and Rachana make it high-fives.] But for that, both of you need to familiarize yourselves with men at workon women at work. Navya, you would join Brims & Dregs, producers of major IMFL brands and you, Rachana, Skins & Hides, leather carpet makers. I would sound the concerned at both the firms.
Navya: [Contemplates for a while.] After the Nritya fiasco, Naveen won’t like my working even for a day.
Rekha: Why not I speak to him.
Navya: It won’t help. Well, I never did anything behind his back but for the larger good let us keep it from him.
Rachana: Who would protect us from men as we train ourselves to protect women from them?
Navya: Why it’s our zeal for a cause.
Rachana: To catch men with their pants down.
Rekha: But if you go overboard, they will get away, citing that women run faster with their skirts up than men with their pants down. [All laugh. Curtains down.]
Scene - 8
[Curtains up: Split setting. Right portion is the office chamber of the General Manager, Marketing, Brims & Dregs Ltd. Left portion is the ante-room of the Personnel Assistant. Navya is seated in the ante-room. Intercom rings and she talks on the phone (mime). After she completes the clock (not in the scene) strikes twelve.]
[Enter: Sanjay holding a brief case.]
Navya: Sir, M.D. is looking for you.
Sanjay: That is as I was missing you. Well, connect me to him.
[He walks into his chamber and picks up the phone and is at conversation (mime). Navya goes into his portion with a bunch of papers and having placed them on the table is about to turn back. He gestures her to stay and she sits in a chair opposite to him as he continues on the phone (mime). He disconnects the phone.]