Dil Beparwah | ✔

one

||CHAPTER 1||
《¤》

┊A R V I K A┊

The edge of the glass table top dug into my thighs as I stood against it. Light from the projector focused on the screen in front of me, presenting another bright image on one half, the other half being occupied by an ongoing video call. The core team of four members remained silent, our attention focused on Bill Richard, the supervisor who had been heading our latest project for the past eight months.

"That's the gangway, the area where the guests can get on and off the ship. In accordance to the design changes that Mr. Deewan had recommended, there are now three muster stations-" he explained, emphasizing on the screen he was sharing with us to show us the images of ship that was under construction. "One located near the gangway, per usual, one near the starboard and one by the aft."

I nodded, flipping through the expense report of the project. More muster stations meant heavier costing. "And I'm supposing each of these muster stations will be having its own store of life rafts?"

"Yes, approximately fifteen per muster station." Bill confirmed, rubbing his bushy eyebrow. "Each raft has a capacity of 35 passengers."

"How many crew members will be responsible for In-Port Manning?"

"Normally, two members per department are assigned the task, but considering that this ship is smaller and not main stream, there are going to be fewer in number. For now, it's undecided. That captain will have the final say."

"A thousand passengers still mean a heavy occupancy," Teerth, one of the team members pointed out. "I feel there should be more IPM crew members."

I straightened up and walked to the end of the long table, waiting for Bill's response. In the past fourteen months that he had been working with us on the Project DEEV, our Luxury Cruise Ship, he had been nothing but impressive, reliable, and trust worthy. Though he was a man of short stature, his presence commanded the room– even through a video conference. His salt-pepper hair were an indication that he had been in the industry longer than any of us, and that meant that his judgement wasn't questionable. I pulled back my chair and sat down in time to watch Bill nod and press his palms together. "True, but there are various factors that come into account when setting up that number. An average mainstream ship has about three times the capacity that DEEV has. Moreover, the route that this ship will be covering is much smaller, and so is the size. "

"And we trust your opinion, Sir," I said, arcing my brow at Teerth. "In case the need arises, I'm sure none of the crew members is going to back off from their duties. And we'll schedule a PAX Drill, as customary?"

"Of course," Teerth pursed his lips, but not in complete agreement.

"Well, that wraps up today's meeting," I said, sweeping my gaze around the room once, confirming with each team member once.

"Mrs. Kunzru will mail you the report by tonight," Bill concluded before disconnecting the call.

I waited for them to file out one by one, checking my mail in the meantime. Ever since Binoy Deewan, my father and Chairman of Deewan Group of Companies, had announced that he would be retiring in the near future, a cunning game for power had commenced. I knew that the senior partners were skeptic about me— being a woman in the world of business promised a world of hardships. They were under the impression that I wasn't ready for stepping up just yet. My name had been proposed for the top position, yes, but my father had made it very clear that I had to work my way up from my current position– Vice President. Sure, I had proved my competence, I had spent my entire life trying to prove it, but I knew my father was right. That's why Project DEEV was very important to me.