Kabir entered the office to find Malvika and Khalid holding a all-hands meeting.

“Kya chal raha hai yahan?”

“Humne abhi-abhi announce kiya hai, Kabir, ki within two weeks of your joining, hamari TRP has shot up. And we are at number two position among news channels.”

Everyone clapped.

“That’s good,” he agreed.

“It is. Isn’t it? Congratuations, Kabir,” Malvika chirped.

“Congratulations to everyone here. Our reporters – Vinod, Shirin, Ananya, Pravin, Shehnaaz, Sunny. Our presenters – Richa, Manav, Rohan. Our entire operations team – Ronnie, Kunal, Geeta, and you, Malvika. And congratulations to Khalid and KL for allowing us to air difficult stories without caring for political pressure.”

“Celebration to banta hai, Kabir.”

“Nahin Malvika. Number two par pahunchne ke liye celebration nahin banta. Uske liye hamein number one position par pahunchna hoga aur use maintain karna hoga. Celebration abhi nahin.”

“But–”

“No but, Malvika. Abhi hamein low-hanging fruits mile hain. Kuchh sensational stories break kar ke. Abhi audience ki loyalty secure karne ke liye hamein bahut door tak jaana hai.”

“Okay, then. No celebrations. Lekin main chocolates to bantwa rahi hoon office mein.”

“Sure. Aur haan. Kyonki hum apni position behtar karne ki baat kar rahe hain, let me also announce something. Abhi tak humne mera bulletin introduce karne, aur thodee aggressive reporting karne ke alaawa koi major editorial initiative nahin liye hain. I think this is the right time to look at our content strategy from scratch and do it right grounds up. Agle ek week ki editorial meetings main is par focus karna chahunga. Does that sound good?” he scanned the room and got a resouding clap in response.

“Great then!”

—

“Kaun hai ye?” Trisha nudged Ananya when she spotted a gorgeous woman clad in a red saree being escorted into the office by Kabir.

“Nice office, Kabir,” the woman said.

“My cabin is nicer,” he smiled meaningfully.

“You are naughty, Kabir.”

“I am very professional!”

“He can’t stop himself from flirting, can he?” Richa whispered to Ananya and Trisha.

“Ye Shalini Mehta hai. Woh industralist ki wife. Mehta Foundation chalati hai. Kabir Sir ne mujhse iska interview lene ko kaha tha. But respond hi nahin kar rahi thi.”

“Lekin ab to Kabir Sharma ka charm chal gaya, haye!” Trisha sighed dramatically.

“Kaafi peechhe padi hui thi tumhari team mere. Kaun thi woh ladki…” they heard Shalini saying in a flirting tone that quite matched Kabir’s.

“Meet her,” Kabir led her over to Ananya’s desk, “Ananya Kashyap. Hamari firebrand reporter.”

“Persistent to hai.”

“Lekin aapke saath to successful nahin hui, Ma’am,” Ananya blurted.

“Tumhein pahle batana chahiye tha ki tum Kabir ke liye kaam kar rahi ho. Phir koi dikkat hi nahin hoti.”

Richa pressed Ananya’s hand and taking the hint she refrained from replying. But Kabir’s reponse left her fuming.

“Sab log tumhari tarah meri value nahin samajhte, Shalini.”

“Their loss!”

“Ye taunt karna zaroori tha! Unki problem kya hai?” Ananya grumbled after they left.

“Teri problem kya hai? Tujhe kyon Kabir Sir ki har baat se itna farq padta hai. He was just flirting with her. Jaise har kissi ke saath karte hain. Waise tune dekha Malvika ko? Ooopar khadi ho kar glare kar rahi thi.”

“Ye bade logon ke games woh hi jaane. Chhod, mujhe field mein jaana hai.”

—

“Paanch lakh rupye liye hain aapne office se iske liye. Hum promos chala rahe hain drug addiction se related. Aur ab aap kah rai hain ki footage nahin hai.”

“I am really sorry, Sir. Nahin hai footage.”

“Kyon nahin hai?”

“Sir, kuchh problem ho gayi.”

“Aur main kya karoon? Promos jo run ho rahe hain?”

“Kyon promos run kiye aapne footage milne se pahle? Aisa to nahin hota hai na kabhi?”

“Aapne confirm kiya than ki Mahi mil gayi hai, tab humne promos run karne shuru kiye the. To kya ab apne reporters par channel itna bhi bharosa nahin kar sakta hai ki uska subject saamne hone par woh uske saamne ek camera on kar dega. Kya Mahi nahin mili aapko? Agar paise galat haath mein chale gaye hain, Ms. Kashyap, then you need to talk now.”

Ananya stayed silent.

“Look. We understand the risks. Hum aap par koi misappropriation ka ilzaam nahin laga rahe hain. Kya Mahi aapko nahin mili?”

“Nahin mili, Sir. Lekin mil jayegi–”

They were interrupted by Kabir’s phone ringing.

“Batao!” he barked into the phone. His listened silently to the other person, his expressions not giving anything away. His eyes were blazing by the time he disconnected the call and he stared at her for a long time.

“Woh aapke ghar par hai, Ms. Kashyap?” his voice sent a chill down her spine, when he finally spoke.

“Aapko kaise pata? Aap mere oopar… aap mujhe follow karwa rahe the?”

“Main aapke ghar ja raha hoon. Aur aapne prove kar diya hai ki agar main follow karwa raha tha to kuchh galat nahin kiya tha.”

“Sir, please. Mahi ki halat bahut kharaab hai. It is not ethically right to shoot her right now and show the footage. Let her get better, Sir. Let her give consent and then we will do her story.”

“Hum yahan charity chala rahe hain? Deaddiction center chala rahe hain? Who gave you the right to decide ki hum kya air kar sakte hain kya nahin?”

“Sir, maine aapko Nidhi Kapoor ke statement ka bhi footage diya hai na. Woh bhi important hai. Bahut mushkil se layi hoon main. Mujhe jail ke food suppliers ke saath setting kar ke laana pada hai woh. Aap please uski story air kijiye aaj.”

“Woh story aaj air nahin hogi, samjhi aap?”

“Kyon Sir? Hum do dinon se uske arrest ki aur prostitution ki news chala rahe hain, bina uska statement liye. Isn’t it only fair ki hum uska statement bhi run karein?”

“Har chor yahi kahta hai ki usne chori nahin ki hai. Nidhi ne bhi prostituion deny kar diya to kya gajab dha jayega? Anyway, I am not answerable to you, Ms. Kashyap. You are answerable to me. Aap Mahi ke videos mujhe de rahi hain ya nahin?”

“Videos nahin hain, Sir.”

“Main aapke ghar ja kar videos shoot karoonga.”

“Sir. Aap mujhe naukri se nikaal sakte hain, mere oopar misappropriation of funds ka ilzaam laga sakte hain. Aap mujhe police ke hawaale bhi kar sakte hain. Lekin aap mere ghar mere permission ke bina nahin ja sakte, meri family ko pareshaan nahin kar sakte.”

“Don’t try my patience, Ms. Kashyap.”

“I am sorry, Sir. Ye hai Nidhi Kapoor ka statement. Phone ke camere se record kiya hai. Quality achchhi nahin hai. But story achchi hai.” She kept a card on his table.

“Aapko fire karne ka decision mere haath mein nahin hai. But you are suspended until further notice, Ms. Kashyap. Collect you belongings and leave the office immediately.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Ms. Kashyap?” he called when she was at the door.

“Yes Sir?” she turned back.

“Sunny ne Mahi ko shoot kiya tha?”

Her face clouded only for a moment before she said, “Nahin.” But Kabir knew that she was lying.

—

To be continued