LOUSY MINDS

The windows of the gymnasium are open to the sea. Blue-colored sea, It's calm. A salty breeze drifted lazily. Flocks of white beaks dive into the sea to hunt prey. The atmosphere was visually sweet, but the gymnasium discussion was not so sweet.

"Mark, do you want to backstab the promotion he's getting just because they didn't ask for your opinion?" Keith asked with a sense of honesty.

"The construction manager and I completed the last project together." : Mark

"Right. Everyone knows.": Keith

"Then why is the promotion only for him?". Mark's nerves were tightening as he said that.

"Jessy's brilliant. It's real. Project management approves of it. Gives him a promotion. What's wrong with that?": Keith

"Keith... I've been working for this company for thirty-two years. Still, I am a shift supervisor. That man's age is not up to even my experience. He was considered for promotion after just three projects. The construction manager wasn't even asked. The project manager decided on his own.": Mark.

"Did the letter come?"

"No," Mark continued. The next task needs to be completed with on-time success. After that, it will be processed. That is the company procedure."

"Lucky, isn't it?":KEITH

Mark remained silent. The wind from the sea started to get stronger. The flock of birds that were catching fish flew away.

Mark came up to Keith after finishing his walk at the Thread Mill and said:

"Listen.... do you want to make this little chick so smart?"

"What's in it, Mark? Isn't it God's gift to him?"

"Keith….Listen…you'll be fine too," Mark whispered.

Keith watched him closely, noting the running speed of the thread mill.

"Instead of a promotion, we can fire him and take his place for you. How?'

They sat near the window, facing each other. 

Keith is young. He is working as Rigger. He never dreamed beyond that. The deck foremen's job is beyond his thoughts. Good paying job.

Mark started injecting the poison into his mind.

"It is a plan prepared knowingly by our people." : Mark

Keith's eyes bulged out from what was happening behind the stage.

We set things up with the NDT contractor and the welding supervisor, who will come tomorrow:" Mark.

"Are they going to stay together?" Keith asked in disbelief.

"They are Indians. If you pay them, they will listen to" Mark

This is the plan they talked about.

The cable tank on which the cable is to be loaded; will be shifted to the ship today, and the next job is to secure the tank to the ship's deck. After that, it should be fixed by welding. The workforce has been hired for welding. The welding supervisor will only weld some of the joints shown in the drawing. That is the intelligence they have prepared. But the NDT company (non-destructive test is a method of quality certification of welding using the X-ray) will report that all the welding joints shown in the drawing are passed .

The cable came by sea from Japan. The cable is loading into the ship by rotating the cable tank. Because of incomplete welding, the foundation of the tank will crack when the cable is loaded at approx. half of the tank. Once broken, the tank won't rotate. If you want to fix this, you have to unload the entire cable; its setup is expensive. The company will have to bear a loss of crores.

If the cable is damaged, the client will not accept it. The total project will be fucked-up. The company will lose millions of dollars.

Jesse is in charge of loading. So then there is no other option but to expel him.

"Super Plan"

"The Construction Manager prepared this plan": Mark.

"How many girls did you see yesterday?" The captain came there unexpectedly.

"Aren't you better off going to meditation class?": Keith

"It will take time. Need long practicing," said the bearded monk.”Captain

"Even if the NDT guys give the certificate, will Jessy start cable loading without inspecting?" Keith

"Good question. Two days have been decided for this activity. If he gets the NDT certificate, the CM will push him, saying he lacks time. That's the plan. For Jesse, if he gets the NDT report, he won't stop for the inspection anymore. That's his method."

"So won't the CM be fired too?":Keith

"No, The Project Manager directly instructs Jessie. CM is not involved.If we stand together, he will be out.":Mark

The mess hall is well-swept and kept clean. We can see faces on the tabletop and the floor. Not even dust. It is full of fragrance.

"His girlfriend ran away..." The deck foreman, Peter, answered my question.

They try to comfort Darren, who is crying on the table. Kevin and Ryan accompany Peter. Kevin and Ryan are riggers working the night shift with Peter.

Darren cries uncontrollably. Darren is a cable technician. Brazil native. The cable manufacturer sent two technicians people. One is him, and the other is Gilbert. Gilbert lives in the next town to Darren. Gilbert went on vacation two weeks ago. Darren can go on vacation when Gilbert comes back. Darren arrived on board four months ago. His girlfriend is now pregnant.

A message came from her today. "You must forgive me. I decided to have an abortion."

No matter how often Darren called her, she did not pick up the phone. Finally, about two hours later, Gilbert's message came.

"Darren, you have to forgive me. I came to your house. We talked. I liked her a lot. I know she's pregnant. It doesn't matter. It's okay. I'm taking her to my house. God bless you.."

"Read this Bible...you will be comforted." Darren continued to cry, clutching the Bible Peter had given him to his chest.

I walked away from there, praying to Krishna to give him a good girl as a wife or girlfriend.

Trucks loaded with Trans-pooling machinery were waiting on the quayside of the dock. Trans-pooling machinery will be set up today. The wind is stronger today. The plan is to load the, cable on the tank tomorrow evening. Most likely tomorrow morning, welding will begin on the main deck of the tank cable tank.

No night shift. Day two is over.