The Role Reversal: Power, Pride and Revenge)

"Ghutnon ke bal neeche baith jao (Get down on your knees)," Namita ordered. As soon as he bent down, he felt heavy pressure on his back. He looked up to find Namita sitting on top of him. Ashu was a fitness enthusiast, but this was too much even for him, especially because Namita was a bit heavy-set. Seeing Ashu looking up at her, she placed her left hand on his head and pressed it downward. She used his head like an armrest. In between, she would start caressing his head just like one pets a dog. 'Meri halat toh iss waqt kutte se bhi badtar hai (My condition right now is worse than a dog's),' Ashu thought to himself.
"Kya chhota ladka neeche aaram se hai? (Is the little boy comfortable down there?)" Namita asked him.
"Main... main... theek hoon... ma'am. Umeed hai main... aapki... achhe se seva... kar paa raha hoon (I... I... am fine... ma'am. I hope I am... serving you... well)." He was barely able to speak. Hearing this, both women burst into laughter.
"Tumhein iss ladke ko ek star dena chahiye (You should give this boy a star)," Radha said.
"Agar yeh zinda bach gaya, toh main ise do star doongi (If he survives, I will give him two stars)," Namita replied, and both laughed loudly again.
After 15 minutes, Namita got up and left from there without saying a word to Ashu.
After this, another 15 minutes passed. Radha got up from her seat and as she started moving forward, she heard a scream. She looked down and found that Ashu was still bent there on all fours and her left hand was pressed under her slipper. Radha was wearing traditional slippers, and her toenails were painted red.
Without removing her foot, she asked—"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho, Ashu? (What are you doing here, Ashu?)"
"Main Miss Namita ke hukum par charon haath-paon par tha, lekin unhone mujhe apni duty se mukt nahin kiya, isliye main abhi bhi yahin hoon (I was on all fours at Miss Namita's command, but she didn't relieve me of my duty, so I am still here)."
"Arre wah, kitna pyara ladka hai! Main unki taraf se tumhein free kar sakti hoon. Ab tum ja sakte ho (Oh wow, what a cute boy! I can free you on her behalf. Now you can go)."
"Lekin ma'am..."
"Chinta mat karo, woh gussa nahin hongi. Main Namita se baat kar loongi. Ab tum jao (Don't worry, she won't be angry. I'll talk to Namita. Now you go)."
"Nahin ma'am... mera haath abhi bhi aapki chappal ke neeche daba hua hai (No ma'am... my hand is still pressed under your slipper)."
"Oh, I am so sorry," she said, removing her foot from his hand. Ashu's hand had become quite dirty with the dust from her slipper, and it was hurting severely due to being pressed for so long. But he couldn't speak a single word.
"Ma'am, kya aap mujhe ek star dene ki kripa karengi? (Ma'am, would you be kind enough to give me a star?)" he requested Radha.
"Waise tumne meri toh koi seva nahin ki, isliye star toh nahin milega. Lekin main tumhein ek jankari de sakti hoon—Namita aaj jaldi nikal sakti hain, isliye behtar hoga ki tum unhein dhoodo aur apne do star hasil kar lo (Well, you haven't served me at all, so you won't get a star. But I can give you one piece of information—Namita might leave early today, so it would be better if you find her and get your two stars)."
"Aap bahut dayalu hain Radha ma'am (You are very kind Radha ma'am)," he said, bowing his head, and ran off to find Namita (or his two stars).
Varun was busy gathering stars by roaming around the entire office. Sometimes he would carry heavy files for some female employee from one cabin to another, and sometimes he would arrange tea or coffee for someone. The desire to get that special moment with Riya was not letting him get tired.
As he passed by Riya's desk, he saw that Riya was laughing and talking with her colleagues. In a beautiful yellow lehenga, she looked like a princess. Varun took a deep breath and resolved in his mind that no matter what, he would secure the most stars.
On the other hand, a frantic Ashu was searching for Namita in the entire office. His back and hand were still groaning in pain, but the greed for two stars was overpowering his pain. Finally, he saw Namita near the elevator, searching for her car keys.
"Ma'am! Namita ma'am!" Ashu reached her, panting.
Namita turned and looked at him, raising her eyebrows, "Tum phir aa gaye? Ab kya chahiye? (You're back? What do you want now?)"
"Ma'am, aapne kaha tha ki agar main aapke baithne ke baad sahi-salamat bacha raha, toh aap mujhe do stars dengi. Main abhi bhi aapki seva ke liye taiyar hoon ma'am (Ma'am, you said that if I remained safe and sound after you sat, you would give me two stars. I am still ready for your service, ma'am)," Ashu said, bowing a little and in a very polite tone.
Namita smiled looking at him. "Oh, toh chhote ladke mein kafi sahan-shakti hai! Mujhe laga tha ki tum dard ke mare kisi kone mein ro rahe hoge (Oh, so the little boy has quite a lot of endurance! I thought you would be crying in some corner due to pain)." She put her hand in her purse and, taking out two stars, held them out towards Ashu.
"Bahut-bahut dhanyawad ma'am! (Thank you very much, ma'am!)" Ashu said, taking the stars with both hands.
"Zyada khush mat ho (Don't get too happy)," Namita said, pressing the elevator button, "Agli baar jab main heels pehenkar aaoon, toh apni peeth ko thoda aur mazboot rakhna (Next time when I come wearing heels, keep your back a little stronger)." Saying this, she entered the elevator.
As the evening began to set in, the excitement in the entire office grew further. The colorful Diwali lights were turned on. All the male employees were roaming around with the stars they had received pinned to their shirt collars.
Just then, HR Head Garima took the microphone and announced that everyone should gather in the main hall.
"Dhyan dein deviyon aur sajjano! Ab samay aa gaya hai yeh dekhne ka ki aaj ki hamari 'Devi Puja' pratiyogita ka vijeta kaun banta hai (Attention ladies and gentlemen! The time has now come to see who becomes the winner of today's 'Devi Puja' competition)," Garima's voice echoed. "Sabhi purush kripya apne stars ki ginti karwayein (All men please have your stars counted)."
Varun's heartbeat quickened. He counted his stars—he had a total of 8 stars. Ashu had 6, and another senior developer, Amit, had 7 stars.
Garima wrote the results on the board and announced, "Toh hamare top teen vijeta hain—teesre sthan par Ashu, doosre sthan par Amit, aur pehle sthan par... Varun! (So our top three winners are—Ashu in third place, Amit in second place, and in first place... Varun!)"
The entire hall echoed with applause and hooting. A smile of relief appeared on Varun's face. His gaze immediately went to Riya standing in the crowd, who was softly smiling at him.
"Jaisa ki wada kiya gaya tha (As promised)," Garima said with a mysterious smile, "Ab hamare vijeta apni pasand ki mahila ko chun sakte hain. Lekin yaad rakhiye... choomne ki jagah aur aapka 'dare' wahi mahila taiyar karegi. Kya aap teeno iss shart ke liye taiyar hain? (Now our winners can choose the woman of their choice. But remember... that woman will decide the place to kiss and your 'dare'. Are you three ready for this condition?)"
Varun, Amit, and Ashu, all three nodded their heads simultaneously in agreement.
"Behtareen! (Excellent!)" Garima spoke, "Toh sabse pehle, hamare number one vijeta Varun... aap kis mahila ko chunna chahte hain? (So first of all, our number one winner Varun... which woman do you want to choose?)"
Without a moment's delay, Varun pointed his finger towards Riya, "Riya ma'am."
To be continue...