As soon as she reached the premises, she went past the noisy protesters crowding the gates. The crowd and noise somehow seemed bigger than the previous day.
Inside the gates, after her ID was checked and she was let in, she began to walk towards the administrative block.
She reached the briefing area just as the environmental team gathered.
Tina stood near the center, once again dressed in an immaculate ivory pantsuit, her hair pulled into an elegant knot. She was speaking sharply to a junior team member, her tone clipped, her posture rigid with authority.
Yamini stayed near the edge of the group, lifting her camera and beginning her work without drawing attention to herself. She focused on the machinery first, then on emissions controls, then on workers moving through their routines in safety gear, keeping her lens steady and neutral.
The quietness didn’t last.
Barely an hour later, the sharp click of heels approached her.
“Miss Dhar,” Tina addressed sternly.
Yamini lowered her camera and looked up. “Yes?”
Tina’s nose flared because Yamini didn’t look intimidated by her or stand in attention as the rest of the team did.
Tina’s eyes narrowed. “I already told you I am leading the project. Why didn’t you report to me, Miss Dhar?”
Yamini knew the other woman wanted the confrontation to end with Yamini’s submissiveness. “My contract says otherwise, Miss Mehta. It clearly states I’m to work with the environmental team, not report to them. I was hired by the PR team.”
Tina’s eyes hardened. “Just because you are an award-winning photographer, don’t think you get a free hand here.”
“I don’t have a free hand. I have specific tasks allocated to me, which I am working on.”
Yamini could almost see smoke coming out of Tina’s ears.
Thanks to Tina’s obvious anger, the rest of the team grew uncomfortable.
Tina’s eyes narrowed. “You know, Miss Dhar. Based on the recent developments, perhaps you shouldn’t be allowed to continue.”
Yamini frowned slightly. “What developments?”
Yamini half-expected Tina to say she knew about her being Bharat Jogra’s runaway bride.
“There are talks of possible corporate espionage,” Tina said instead. “External interests are desperate to bring this company down. And suddenly, a so-called award-winning photographer appears out of nowhere.”
The implication settled into the space around them.
The team shifted uncomfortably, and several workers paused to listen.
Yamini held her ground. “If you’re accusing me of something, I suggest you be clear, Miss Mehta.”
Tina’s smile sharpened. “I’m suggesting caution.”
“Accusations without proof fall under defamation,” Yamini said. “Especially when they are made publicly.”
The shift in the room was immediate.
Tina blinked once, clearly not used to being challenged so directly. A faint flush crept into her face as she straightened.“You should be careful, Miss Dhar,” she said, her voice tightening. “This industry does not forgive easily.”
Yamini met her gaze without hesitation. “Neither does the law, Miss Mehta.”
Before Tina could respond, a ripple moved through the room.
Yamini felt him before she saw him.
