AKDHA SS: won't let you go ~ Chap 1 (24 April)

Present time
Delhi Airport

Is it love...that I feel for you?
Is it respect...that I vow to you?
Is it infatuation...that I have for you?
What is it? Why am I even thinking about you...when I know, you are a star whom I can only admire...you are a furlong dream I can only touch with closed eyes. Eyes open...dream over. You're gone.

I know...I shouldn't...I shouldn't think about him. I shouldn't dream about him. But just as all say...love is all about taking the path that should not be taken.

FLASHBACK begins

26 December, 2013
Conference Room
News Today Office
New Delhi

'Those who say, competition is nothing...they are right. Because it's all about winning, not competing. There's no glory in fighting the battle and dying in the end. History only remembers those who took the trophy with them. Never compare yourself with another channel, let yours be the trend to follow. Let's not fight...let's RULE. Let's rewrite history of success with News Today. Because we are worth it.'

The entire conference room roared with claps and rejoice as the editor in chief Jalaluddin Mohammad finished his speech and left the podium. When it comes to giving motivational speeches, even a radical critic of Jalal can't negate his command over words. Some even say, it's the magic of his vocal tonics that reflect on the soaring gruff of company revenues. Though, Jalal himself prefers to call it 'understanding the business of news.'

Jalal was of about 23 when he took over news business from his father, who took untimely retirement due to his severe ailment. Since then News Today Group has only seen success. From a single news channel to 6 of them in different languages. All of them are at the top of TRP charts. Critics say Jalaluddin has changed the dimension of news presentation. It's more views now, than news. But according to Jalal, 'news toh 5 rupai ke paper me bhi mil jata hai...what we cater is views...which is priceless.'

That's Jalaluddin Mohammad, Editor-in-Chief, News Today Group. That's how he has been for the last 15 years. At 38, he is steady, successful and alone. Some say, no girl could match up to his pride till now!!! And according to Jalal, 'to share your life is to share your success'; which he never prefers.

Same day
Canteen
News Today Office

Jodha: What a speech!!! Could this have been any better? No. Never. That's why I like this man. He is just...just...he knows the rules of the game.
Moti: Yes dear...because it's him who has written it.
Jodha: yah...but...u can't ignore his credibility. Right?
Moti: I am no one to ignore his credibility dear! He is my top boss! And for God's sake...keep your voice low...kisi ne sun liya toh...
Jodha: Arre hum galat kuch thorai keh rahe hai...and u know Moti...since I decided to study journalism, I dreamt of working with him. Tabhi toh...final year exam khatm hote hi I applied for internship here...and see...I got it. Now I will work with him...I will work with my idol.
Moti: O hello...dil me koyee confusion mat rakhna. You are not going to work 'with' him... you are going to work 'under' him. He is our top boss. He belongs to 13th floor and we belong to 3rd floor. People like us don't even exist for him. He orders the departmental heads. They act accordingly. If an employee commits a mistake, he instructs the departmental head on what to be done with that employee. But he never talks to them.
Jodha: but still...even working under him is also something not everyone gets.
Moti: Have you fallen in love with him? Pyaar karti hai kya?
Jodha: What the...I mean why?
Moti: Why are you praising him so much? Itna bhi achha nehi hai. He is rude, arrogant and very selfish kind of a person. Keep working here...gradually you will get to know everything.
Jodha: I still have doubts on you dear...but anyways...let's leave it to the future to uncover.

Jodha was not a kind of person who could be influenced so easily, who could be goaded in to believing something so easily. When it comes to judge a person or a situation, she always trusts her own intellect...not anybody's words. May be that trait of her made it possible for her to get a post in News Today at such an early age. After all it's not even a year she has completed her university.

Jodha's parents live in US. She spent her childhood there. Jodha wanted to stay with her parents and study there in US, but her parents wanted her to learn the Indian culture...they wanted her to get acquainted with their origin. Hence they sent her to India for study.

Jodha used to live in a hostel in her student years...but after getting the job she started looking for some other arrangement. Then she came across Moti in office, who offered Jodha to share her apartment. Jodha readily agreed.

13 July, 2014
Newsroom
News Today Office

Moti: Really!!! 2 years internship!!! US!!! Tussi te kamal kar dia. I mean...great yaar... Congratulations. Now you will be able to stay with your parents.
Jodha: Yah. Thanks dear. But you know...there is a problem.
Moti: What?
Jodha: As per my contract with News Today, I can't leave job before completing one year.
Moti: hmm...yeh toh problem hai. Have you talked to Bhushan sir about this?
Jodha: Yes.
Moti: What is he saying?
Jodha: Actually...Bhushan sir ne kaha...once you join News Today, you will have to work here at least for 1 year. You can't leave before that. That's company policy.
Moti: So what. He is your boss. He can exempt you from rules.
Jodha: Not really. According to Bhushan sir, he is only assigned to execute the policy, not change it. That authority doesn't lie with him.
Moti: Then whom does it lie with?
Jodha: Jalaluddin Mohammad.
Moti: Shit.
Jodha: Yes.
Moti: Then what?
Jodha: I don't know...if I want to avail that internship, I will have to talk to big boss. Only he can release me from here.
Moti: Isse toh better hai...you pray to God to change the company policy. I mean...talking to Jalaluddin Mohammad is like...
Jodha: I know it's like...jumping into a black hole...you never know what's inside. But how can I let such an opportunity go yaar...I must do something.
Moti: hmm...see...in such a situation...the only thing I can tell you is...God bless you.

15 July, 2014
Jodha & Moti's Apartment

Jodha shook a sleeping Moti by her shoulder. But her slumber was too sound to be broken so easily. Hence Jodha tried few more times. Finally she succeeded.

Moti: Kamini...have you gone mad!!! Adhi raat ko kyun jagaya?
Jodha: Moti I have made my mind.
Moti: Good...US mat ja.
Jodha: No idiot. Am going to US. I will talk to big boss tomorrow.
Moti: What!!! Idiot!!! Do you even know what you talking!!! 13th floor se kick marenge 3rd floor me ake giregi. Stupid. Jalaluddin Mohammad se baat karegi!!! Go and get a good sleep...everything will be clear in morning.

With this Moti again pulled the duvet over her head. She was confident that running away to US was even a better option than asking permission from Jalaluddin Mohammad. But that's something Jodha wasn't confident about. Rather...in spite of Moti's discouragement, she decided to give her luck a chance.

FLASHBACK ends

Present time
Delhi Airport

Announcement: Flight to New York via Amsterdam is delayed by 2 more hours due to fog snag. Passengers are requested to kindly bear with the inconvenience and cooperate with us. Thank you.

Jodha listened to the announcement carefully and threw her head on the chair once again. That's the third announcement since morning. The flight is already running 6 hours late. She had no idea how many hours it would take to finally take off. She was waiting at the lounge and sipping her fifth round of coffee.

She was finally going to US for her internship. She was finally going to live a dream she always wanted to avail. But for some reasons she was not being able to trace the happiness, which was supposed to be there inside her. May be things would have been different if she had left for US one month earlier...maybe she would have been much happier by then. But last one month changed everything for Jodha. It changed her mind, her dream...to some extent her life too. It all started the day she decided to meet Jalaluddin Mohammad.

FLASHBACK begins

16 July, 2014
News Today Office
13th floor
Reception

Jodha: I am Jodha Singh. I am an employee here, in the news desk. Can I meet Mr. Jalaluddin Mohammad? It's very urgent.

Receptionist: Do you have an appointment?
Jodha: No...but...
Receptionist: In that case am sorry Miss Singh. You can't meet him.
Jodha: Please Maam...it's very urgent. And am his employee...why should I need appointment!
Receptionist: Am sorry but that's the rule here. You please take the appointment and come back.
Jodha: Are you sure there's no other way?
Receptionist: I would have showed you, if there was any.
Jodha: Alright...anyways...thanks for your effort.

With this, Jodha left the reception with a heavy heart. She knew...the person who doesn't even meet his employees without an appointment, will never find her petty reason important enough to give an appointment. Hence she started strolling back to the lift. But all of a sudden something caught her attention. She heard a housekeeping talking to anothers.

First housekeeping: Take this juice to Jalal sir. He is in the conference room.
Second housekeeping: Ok.

The mention of Jalal's name stopped Jodha in her way. Though her mind was telling her to go back, her journalistic heart was forcing her in his direction. After few moments of hesitation, Jodha finally took the way that lead to the conference room.

Few Moments Later
Conference Room

Jodha could see Mr Jalaluddin Mohammad sitting at the head of the table and conversing with others. All of this could be seen through the glass wall of the room...except...what they were saying. Jodha took a deep breath and pushed the door...slightly.

Jodha: May I come in sir?

Jalal, who was busy observing some diagram on the screen, gave an annoyed look at Jodha.

Jalal: Have I asked for you?
Jodha: No actually...I was...
Jalal: Then obviously you can't come.
Jodha: Sir, it's very urgent.
Jalal: Out.
Jodha: Sir...I just...
Jalal: Get out.
Jodha: I just need to...
Jalal: Are you dumb!!! Security...
Jodha: Am...am sorry sir...sorry to disturb you. Am sorry.

Jodha hastily turned around to hide the appearing tear drops in her eyes. She never faced such humiliation in her entire life. She couldn't imagine someone can be this rude! Someone could just throw her out of the room without even listening to what she had to say. Jodha left the floor with a heavy heart...and vowed not to visit this man again, not even if she has to renounce her internship. While descending from the floor, only thing prevailed in her mind was...damn right Moti was.