Next week

Next week began with a new policy released from the government. The government had been investigating a couple of portals where uploading and downloading of a lot of content and applications had been happening consistently. This investigation had been conducted for over 6 months to identify the website and platforms which are engaged in using the content which did not belong to them. A lot of websites and platforms that had been using released and unreleased films, web series, and entertainment media were identified. The government had imposed a ban on such websites and platforms. The government had promised to take action against all organizations and individuals involved in engaging with such platforms. This ban began with an immediate effect. Now what did this have to do with our story? Let us find out.

It was a Tuesday when Chirag had been receiving a lot of phone calls. Chirag appeared visibly tensed and distresed. My mentor Rohit came to my desk to tell me what was going on, "you had mentioned something to me in the last week. I see the truth of it now. I see what you had been thinking and I understand that now".

I could not understand what Rohit had been referring to. I asked him to clarify. Rohit explain further, "I have heard something about Chirag which I know is true. Chirag's brother had been using one of the platforms to get the films. He would get those films and transfer them to Chirag which he would transfer to us. Now that government has banned those platforms his brother is in trouble. The platform had shown their IP address and potentially his brother would face legal actions because of his regular usage of those banned platforms. What Chirag had been doing was exactly what you had been suspecting all along".
"So it was his brother and he would get," I was to shocked to speak and complete my question. It was scary to think that Chirag's own brother had been engaged in such activities and was now under the scanner from the government authorities.
"That is one of the possibilities. That is why Chirag had been so tensed today and he had been receiving so many phone calls. He is trying to seek legal assistance for his brother. Chirag is not well connected and he is just a middle class person like us. Legal assistance is expensive and he is trying to find out the best possible way. He is also trying to find connections with local political leaders so that he could seek some guidance. Right now everything looks bleak. Chirag would not be in trouble but definitely his brother would face some actions. I have no idea how Chirag is going to deal with it," Rohit had been worried for Chirag who had been his long time friend.

Everything changed that week. Chirag's brother faced a legal action. Chirag had no longer remained the cool dude that he once was. Chirag's demeanor completely changed that week onwards. He would rarely speak with anybody. He would quietly come to the office and leave quietly as well.

This entire episode did not only affect Chirag. The atmosphere in the office also got affected. The friendly and warm atmosphere of the office changed into quiet and secretive. It was strange for me to see that how the films or availability there of changed the mood of all my colleagues. But at least the activities on the floor remained within the framework.

- THE END -