"Are you sure you want to go ahead, Kabir, Miss Kashyap...?"
Khalid's normally cheerful face was creased with concern. He held his breath looking for some reaction from Kabir and Ananya, but there was only resolve on their faces; by not so much as a flicker did the expressions change.
He suppressed a sigh. Had they even thought it through this risk that they were so readily embracing?
"I'm convinced we'll see you both back in KKN with the expose of the decade. But I'm telling you again: don't underestimate Kirit Singhania. He's just as dangerous as that baaghi, Madhaonath. I'm not exaggerating..."
Still no impact. Khalid gripped Kabir's hand in both of his.
"Kabir, if you so much as suspect that he's on to you, I want you to get the hell out of there. Leave. Forget the proof, the story, just run..."
"Khalid, we'll be fine, please relax..." Kabir's smile, sustained by his iron will even though it didn't quite reach his eyes, dispelled some of the tension in Khalid's office, the door of which was tightly closed - to keep in the sound and keep out the intruders, even Malvika, who was not privy to this discussion.
Kabir extricated his hand from the older man's vice-like grip and patted his shoulder, trying to reassure him.
"I know, I know..."
With a shaky laugh Khalid dragged out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. "It looks like I'm over-reacting. But, really, I just don't have the stomach for any high drama any more - not unless it involves ripping into a studio guest on News at 9. And I can't shake this feeling... Maybe it's because it's both of you going off together to nail another crackpot...but I don't think my nerves could stand a repeat of that kidnap."
"I understand your concern. And I'm the last man to say 'ignore your gut' but we've planned for this. Our cover is in place. We've got a Plan B. And if we can't crack it soon, then we'll drop it. But we have to give it a shot. Just think, if we get the lowdown, we'll have exposed one of India's richest men, and brought down his entire nefarious empire..."
"And if you don't..." Khalid's voice was barely audible.
Kabir's eyes sought and met Ananya's.
What if they didn't succeed...What if they failed...it didn't bear thinking about. The stakes were too high. There was more than his reputation on the table here. And Ananya? Would she be able to take the pressure or was there more of her father in her than even she knew?
He searched her face for some sign, however minute, that she was unsure, but there was only steely determination in the beautiful eyes that stared back at him. He blinked first.
For a moment, Kabir's hand clenched into a fist. And then he deliberately uncurled his fingers, smoothed out his brow and flashed the famous dimple.
"And if we don't..." He turned to Khalid with a shrug, his eyes dark, "we lie low for a while - I'm sure you could use some inexpensive anonymous reporting. But, it won't come to that. We'll bring down that scum and cover KKN in glory! Highest TRPs, Khalid! Think 'News Channel of the Year!'" Kabir made the shape of a plaque with his fingers.
"It will happen..." his jaw clenched and his eyes took on a steely light.
Khalid straightened his shoulders and pressed a smile into service.
"You are right! It will, it must happen!" He was back to the Khalid they knew.
And Kabir knew the time had come...
"In that case, Miss Kashyap..." He held out his hand to Ananya, and waited for the beat it took her to place her palm in his, for their eyes to meet to draw strength from the other, for their spines to straighten and their shoulders to square.
Then hand clasping hers, head held high, he looked Khalid in the eye and breathed: "Wish us luck..."
xxx
At 9 that night, KKN viewers were treated to a surprise. In place of Kabir Sharma, the channel's hottest property and their favourite newscaster, the news was read by Manav. But before they could exclaim at the change, or the Kabir fans could depress the remote button, they were stopped in their tracks by a terse line: "KKN lets go Editor-in-Chief Kabir Sharma and Junior Reporter Ananya Kashyap for unprofessional conduct."
And even though viewers stayed glued to their screens for the rest of the bulletin, even those who could find none of the usual charm or verve in the news read by Manav, there was no further explanation or elaboration.
xxx
From his white-on-white office redeemed only by the green stalks of a few lilies in a frosted Lanvin vase, Kirit Singhania picked up his white iphone and hissed two words into it: "Find out", before rewinding the news.
xxx
From his seat before the TV, Kabir drew in a breath and blanking out Manav as he droned on after the bombshell, texted Ananya: "Ready to roll?"
The musical note of an incoming SMS drew his eyes to screen and to Ananya's prompt reply: "In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."
Ends
A/N: So how was it? Please be generous with your feedback and let me know which bits work for you.
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