Chapter 30

No one noticed that I was late. Everyone was on the move. Sanaya Daruwala was getting released at 11 and everyone was hooked to the television screens to know about the ensuing drama at Byculla jail. I turned my attention to the big screen on the wall and noticed that the news channels were busy spinning news over the starlet 24X7. Mansi was ready with the tentative schedule of her day. However, everyone believed that the confirmation would come from her lawyer. Bini was sent to follow her release with the cameraman. No one was expecting any statements or comments from her immediately after her release.

The lady was released sharp at eleven. We all watched her on the screen, she looked haggard and had lost the shine in her eyes. She avoided the media glare as much as possible. She did not make eye contact with anyone, not even the camera. While I was immersed in Sanaya's appearance, Mansi announced her first visit from the jail would be to the Siddhivinayak Temple. Mihir was assigned the story. He gestured me to move with him asap. We scampered for the equipment and moved out.

Mihir took a handheld device to capture the footage and we hopped into the first taxi available. Siddhivinayak was a fifteen-minute ride from our office minus the traffic so Mihir was inevitably relaxed.

"You will take care of the questions, right?" He asked earnestly.

"Yep! All ready with my guns." I answered chuckling, loading my imaginary gun with my fingers.

He smiled. "What rubbish entertainment! We have to trail her every move." I sighed.

"Do we have an option?" I asked him raising my brow.

"No."

"There, there is nothing to argue then." He nodded.

I was excited about seeing the temple. At least I would get a chance to visit one of the famous sites on the pretext of work. Just about as we were turning left to reach the temple, Mihir was informed by Mansi that Sanaya was heading to the spot where she had buried the remains of Neeraj. She wanted to pay her respects and grieve. I don't know what I felt more at that moment, disgust or hate.

You can cry all the judgmental accusations on me but I don't care. She was a demon and I wouldn't give her any chance to prove she is human. Mihir affirmed my opinion.

"She is creating unnecessary drama. That woman knows the TRP game. She is gaining sympathy to get a spot in one of those hideous reality shows."

It is difficult to place her. Could she be repenting? But my mind was at odds in believing it. Was it my preconceived notion or was I subconsciously a product of the patriarchy which typecasted women as righteous or the witch? The popular opinion was that her fiancé, Darius was repenting for falling for a vamp-like her. All of us were in the favor of the man, he had been ensnared by the love of a vicious woman.

Darius was a naval officer, of sound mind and capable of choosing between right and wrong. His fit of rage as a man seemed justifiable but her act of repentance wasn't. Why weren't we neutral in our evaluation? I had no answer.

Mihir asked the taxi driver to drop us back at the office. Sanaya's predicament made me think of Ms Pandit's case too. It was so important for her to change the popular opinion than presenting the truth. Agam's research clearly showed that she did have a hand in the mishandling of funds. But the bigger culprit was still not Pandit and yet she was on the lines of fire for losing everything she had fought so hard to earn. It is so difficult for a woman to reach the top but toppling her is easier.

"I would like to meet her." I did not know I had spoken it loudly until Mihir replied.

"You should her press conference at the Press Club of India."

"Who is going?"

"I think Rasik and Mansi."

"I will ask her."

It was almost lunchtime and I was tired, hungry and sleepy – a combination that was never perfect. Pooja informed me that Rasik and Manto were tailing Sanaya to Vasai -the place she had hidden his body. I wast odd for Rasik to travel a long distance but we were understaffed and it was a busy day.

Pooja asked me to join her for lunch and I readily agreed. Prashant seemed out of wits and was reading furiously.

"Anything amiss?" I enquired.

"Check this out." He showed me an article in the editorial section of The Telegraph. Reading through the first paragraph I realized it was my piece, the one I had written last night. I scanned the article to look for a byline. I was numb in a matter of seconds. The newspaper had credited Agam for the story. I felt pride, hurt and rage, all at once. I couldn't ask for credit for this piece, the story was never mine, to begin with, it was Agam all the way.

"The cocky bastard has got another feather in his cap." I heard Mohit, Rohit and Rasika talking. Their conversation drew everyone's attention but none of us showed. I read the piece word by word. It was all me but there was nothing I could claim.

The tweet has gone viral shouted Anjali. Bini and Mohit ran to her. Now, what was this fuss about?

"I know what they are talking about," Prashant spoke disinterestedly.

"Humour me," I told him.

"Agam's editorial piece was endorsed by the FM. He tweeted about it. Since then it has broken the internet. People are hailing him for being courageous and calling the spade a spade.

My head was spinning with all this information but I had to check things on my own.

"Can I check the tweet?"

Prashant gave me his cellphone. With the glorious words of the Finance Minister, I was beaming with pride and seething with anger. He stole my thunder. I should have been the one collecting the accolades.

"Are you okay? You look pale." Prashant asked with concern.

I clutched the chair tightly. My head was spinning. And that was a reminder I needed food.

"I need food," I said hoarsely. "I am famished."

"Let's go. Can you walk?" His words were laced with concern. Pooja helped me into the cafeteria which was buzzing with people as usual. Prashant got me a thaali and I ate ravenously, not realizing I had them looking at me in amazement.

"Woman, slow down. You look like a beast." Pooja laughed.

"I still had no energy to talk and concentrated on the food before me." Prashant got up to get a dessert for me.

"Eat," he barked. "This will spike your sugar level which seems to have gone for a toss.

"He likes you," Pooja whispered.

"Who?" I took off my eyes from food for the first time after minutes."

"You know who!" She hinted softly, moving her eyes. I failed to get her innuendo.

"Who?" And she tapped my forehead, pronouncing me to be a fool to not notice Prashant's liking for me.

"Okay. But I have no intentions of dating him or anyone in the future, so let him know." I wasn't a considerate friend to him.

She clucked her tongue in disappointment. "You are such a loser."

"For not liking him," I asked incredulously.

"For not noticing and being immune to all of it."

"I am not immune. I just don't see him that way. He is a friend. Period." Prashant who seemed to have no idea about our small talk passed his caramel pudding to me. I looked at him and tried but couldn't feel a thing.

"Anything amiss?" He asked with sudden curiosity.

"Girly talks." Pooja chimed.

I devoured the caramel pudding while my traitorous eyes searched for the man of the hour. He did not seem to be around for lunch. Maybe he got an off for pulling an all-nighter.

I trained my eyes on the pudding and the two people in front of me. "Any idea who is going for the press conference in the evening? I heard Rasik and Mansi. But Rasik seems to be out of the question since he won't reach here on time."

"I am eager to go," Prashant said.

"Me too." Pooja was as disinterested as before but feigned enthusiasm to be on the same page with the two of us.

"Bini might take the moolah. She is the flavour of the season for Mansi and everyone generally." Pooja innocently added, "I thought Mansi liked you."

"Me too. But since the faithful day when Karan and Nikitaa's interview didn't pan out, she is after my blood."

Prashant sympathized like a loyal follower. We were still hanging in the cafeteria after our lunch was long over. Anjali walked in looking for someone. When she saw us she came to our table.

"Guys, lunch is over." If this was it, she should not have taken the pain to walk. I sneered.

"We were just about to leave," Pooja winked. "Mansi wants all of us to be present, she is making some last-minute changes on the story."

"Okay." We walked out with Anjali taking the lead.

Mansi stood in the centre while the rest of us gheraoed her. She started speaking as soon as she saw everyone in the room.

"Sanaya is making us chase her." Pooja and I looked at each other bewildered. She continued speaking. "Rasik followed her car but she dodged. She is yet to reach the place which she had shown the police as the place where she buried the remains of Neeraj. However, her lawyer has confirmed the press conference at 7:00. The press conference will go live at the 7:00 pm slot and the prime time would be dedicated for the same." She had a clear plan. Though I did not know why she wanted all of us there.

As if to answer my unanswered question, she remarked, "I have called to announce that everyone is now relieved of the case of Sanaya Daruwala, except Rasik, Manpreet, Binodini, Anjali, Prashant and myself. The rest are free to work on their next story in accordance with the plan. Thank you."

I went up to Mansi immediately to ask her to consider me for the press conference. I told her how well-read and updated I was on the case. She did not refuse my request. But asking me to be on standby was a simple rejection. I updated Prashant and Pooja about what happened and they were both sympathetic. The afternoon crawled. Mansi had no intention to take me along and Prashant offered to pull out but I was okay with being home early. This place was a jungle and to survive here you had to meander through it carefully. And so there was nothing I could do to change the situation.

By four I was extremely sleepy and exhausted. I was cranky, irritated and my tired mind refused to work. Pooja nudged me multiple times to keep me from falling asleep.

"Go splash some water. You will invoke Mansi's wrath. Go! Go!" She pushed me out of my self inflicted stupor.

I had no energy to walk but somehow I did. I washed my face repeatedly but nothing seemed to work. I stood for a few seconds staring at myself in the mirror. There were dark circles under my eyes, no shine and no enthusiasm. Was this the life I wanted to live so desperately? This is what I ran away to leave my family behind. For the first time, I felt Jigar was correct, I had no idea what this city and this industry was all about.

I was hoping to leave early. Rasika was in one of her good moods and consented. The prime time story was sorted and I wasn't working on it, so it was okay if I left. I said my goodbyes to Pooja and Prashant and packed my belongings to leave. Prashant felt bad but I assured him I was okay and it was the fatigue and not the lost opportunity that I was down. I dragged my feet as slumber and weariness took over me.

My phone rang. It was Nandi. I knew I had to go to Shash's play tonight but I ignored it. I had no energy and nothing fancy to wear. I had no courage to ask bua to let me go see a play after working 36 hours straight. I wouldn't even dream of bringing it up to her. Nandi was tenacious and did not stop calling until I picked up.

"Hello," I said listlessly.

"Are you trying to avoid me?" She quipped.

"No! No!" I countered.

"Well, good. I wanted to know if I would see you directly at the theatre or would you like to go with me?"

"Umm...Nan...di...," And before I could utter a word, she jutted in.

"I am not buying any of your excuses."

I took a deep breath. "No excuses. The problem is I pulled in an all-nighter at work and if I head home, my bua won't allow me to come and I can't come directly from the office. I need a quick shower and a change of clothes and a little rest."

"No problem. I am staying at Four Seasons Worli, meet me there. You can rest, take a shower and I will give you my clothes. So, what time are you leaving office?"

I had nothing to argue my case and I was not interested. Perhaps this would be a welcome break and Shash would be happy.

"I have left office."

"Great then see you."

I had no clue where Four Seasons was. I was dead tired and I decided to quit. But ditching Nandi made me feel guilty and not meeting Shash, all the more.

"Can I drop you somewhere?" Agam asked me rolling down the window of his car. I was so disgusted that I would have spewed anger but I controlled myself. I opened the door of his car and sat, letting him know Four Seasons was my destination.

I tried to be as indifferent to his presence as possible but he was getting on my nerves. I know he affected me. Everything about him had an effect on me. My emotions ran haywire and my sense of logic and judgment went for a toss.

"Did you say something?" He enquired. I looked at him perplexed and shook my head not knowing what I ought to reply. Thankfully my destination was close by. My jaw dropped in awe and my gut was wrenched in fear when I took in the sight of the splendid five-star hotel before me. Agam waited for me to exit while I continued to contemplate whether I was in the right place.

"Do you need help?" He took a jibe at me.

"Thanks but no thanks," I replied haughtily. He wasn't inquisitive about me. I slowly opened the door, scanning the place.

"Abhilasha," he called out to me.

"Yes," I turned back to answer instinctively. "Take care." My lips curved upwards of their own accord and my eyes crinkled.