Jo M Thomas
1 supporter
Passage 13 - Cotton Hearted

Passage 13 - Cotton Hearted

Nov 10, 2021

Back to the cotton factory, where Parvathi Das sloughs off her lowly smock and her lonely dreams. But listen! She hears the ringing voice of her beloved, echoing to the changing rooms, sounding through the corridors, calling, unwitting, to Parvathi's heart through steel and concrete, and Layla walks through her factory with all the strength and glory Ms Das dreamed of.

MS DAS : If you should see me, my love.

MS BAHUR : Get to your work, child. Mind the machines.

MS DAS : Oh, who is that, Layla?

LESYA PRAVIK : Yes, ma'am.

MS BAHUR : You're paid to work not gad.

LESYA PRAVIK : No, Ma'am.

MS DAS : Oh, you young hussy.

MS BAHUR : That will be all, now.

MS DAS : What if she should find me here?

MS BAHUR : There is work, work must be done.

MS DAS : Oh, Layla, my Layla!

MS BAHUR : Cotton, woven. Workshops, cleaned.

MS DAS : Layla, don't find me here. Don't see me in this worker's dirt.

MS BAHUR : And there's always someone not thinking of work.

MS DAS : I think only of you, love.

MS BAHUR : You get further if you focus. Got that, child?

MS DAS : Yes, love. Nothing but work forever and ever, you've no life without work.

MS BAHUR : Oh, the child, she's gone!

Halfway dressed in the changing rooms, heart in her mouth, the lovelorn Parvathi sighs and dreams once more of her fantasies. Once more she sees and hears only her Ms. She is her Ms's distraction. Her Ms would surrender all this for one kiss or a single touch. Ms Das wants more than one of each and she trembles.

MS DAS : Love me, my Layla.

And in the hallways, the real Layla strides and weighs and measures and finds wanting as she makes her way to the privacy of her inlaid luxury manager's office, and sighs. No distractions.

MS BAHUR : I want a love beyond that of duty.

Enjoy this post?

Buy Jo M Thomas a tea

More from Jo M Thomas