It was an extremely important day in the history of KKN. After all in the next 2 hours, it's editor in chief would be going on air, for an exclusive interview with the Prime Minister of the country, for his prime time show "Khabar...dil se dil tak".
The whole KKN had been buzzing with activity the whole day. Everybody ran around arranging the essentials and phones buzzed off the hook. But what could be a breaking news in itself, Kabir Sharma have had himself feeling totally oblivious to all the commotion around him today.
As he slumped lethargically in his chair and stared blankly on his laptop screen, the gruesome memories of the night before splashed on his mind for the umpteenth time now. The blood bathed platform...the ripped off limbs...the hue and cry that filled the air...the mourning and the piles of dead bodies...everything so brutally etched in his memory. The erratic groans would fill his ears and make him shift in his seat.
It was a massive bomb blast that shook the New Delhi Railway Station last night and everything had been blown away. And Kabir being the editor-in-chief of KKN had taken full command of the blast coverage. He along with his whole team at KKN reached the sight of the blasts to cover the happenings. It had been a dreadful scene and many from his team had practically never witnessed such a ghastly scenario in their lives. It was so bad he had to constantly motivate his team to be strong and do the needful.
But what happened next would still make Kabir's heart constrict in his chest and his palms cold with sweat. Ananya, amidst all the chaos and bloodshed, had tried to rescue a victim caught under some heavy debris but before she could safely move away, a piece of burning roof came falling down. For that one second, Kabir had felt his heart stop beating all together, as if his world was about to come to an end. It was not that he hadn't covered such incidents in his decade long career or had not seen people dying in front of his eyes, but what he felt in that one split second would still make his throat dry and make him have gooseflesh. If it was not missed by an inch the burning roof top would have crushed Ananya completely. His heart paced even at the thought of it.
He had never felt something like this in his whole life. Ever! Honestly, not even for Avantika, who was so close to him. His one and only friend since he stepped into mainstream journalism. He and Avantika shared a very balanced bond since always wherein they would care for each other and help each other through thick and thin like true friends. But never had Avantika or for that matter any other girl had been able to push his emotions to such extremes the way this girl does. And in what time? Just a matter of five months. Ananya had been working with him as his assistant since five months now and Kabir could not say there was a single day he had not seen a new facet of her character. He had seen her at the worst of her anger as well as the verge of her vulnerability. He had heard the stupidest of her jokes and also witnessed her boldest stories. He had seen her wearing a dirty pair of jeans for three long days while working her ass off for a breaking news and had also seen himself get blown over by her mesmerizing saree clad look during the office party. To sum up, Kabir Sharma had seen this woman during her best and her worst. But probably there was no moment he had not been affected by her. Not always in good sense but still she affected him a lot. A reality he himself could not deny these days. And being caught in a whirlwind of these maddening emotions made him feel extremely uneasy. He could actually not believe this was happening to a strong headed man like him.
Still sitting in his cabin brooding, Kabir suddenly heard some commotion outside. What the hell was all that yelling about? They had to be on air in another hour.
He stuck his head out into the newsroom and saw the few people remaining there rushing towards the control room. What now? He really didn't need this ...for heaven's sake he was trying to come in sync. with his emotions before the interview and here all these people were running like insane. "Give me a damn break" was all he could say in his mind.
But it was Ronnie yelling Ananya's name over and over again that got his attention. Now he sprinted towards the control room faster. There was a noticeable urgency in his step.
Ronnie looked like he was trying to pull out Ananya from her seat while Richa rubbed her back vigorously. Malvika, Manav, Avantika and rest of the staff too was out of their cabins by now. For a few seconds Kabir could not fathom what was happening until he realized Ananya was gasping for air. Pushing everybody away and ramming twice into the office furniture Kabir ran to Ananya's side shocking almost everybody present there. No one had ever seen him in such a frenzied state before. Not even when Avantika have had an accident and broken a leg while covering a story.
Oblivious to everybody else present there, Kabir took Anany'a head in his lap and sprinkled some water on her face. Ronnie could so easily read the terror spread across his face. He was panting badly. "Whats wrong with her...she was fine just a moment ago." he yelled in a tone filled with extreme worry. "Wake up Ananya...talk to me dammit...just talk to me" he looked terrified by now.
"Kabir Sir I think Ananya had something she is allergic to...I have seen this in my first-aid training...this is definitely an allergic reaction. We need to take her to the hospital...NOW!" Ronnie reached out to his phone and was calling for the ambulance but Kabir stopped his hand midway.
"Just stop it Ronnie" He shouted at the top of his voice almost shaking everyone out of their wits. "where's her purse?"
"What the hell Kabir! Why did you disconnect the call. She needs immediate medical attention" Avantika yelled at Kabir from behind.
"No. I said everyone stop! Just shut the hell up for a second and listen to me! Where is her purse?" Kabir asked.
"I'll check on her desk" Richa said and headed out of the control room.
"Ananya listen to me" Kabir cupped her face while stroking her hair from his other hand. "I sent Richa to fetch your purse. Is it there? Your epi-pen. I have seen that with you. The day you dropped your items out of your bag. I saw you use an epi-pen. Tell me is it there?" he grabbed her hand and was constantly trying to not let her sleep. She responded by grasping his hand forcefully.
Richa returned holding Ananya's purse and before she could give it to Kabir he snatched it from her and turned it upside down. By then Ananya's wheezing and coughing was already getting worse.
"I know Ananya...I am hurrying...everything will be fine, I promise" he said as he rummaged through the items on the floor. Finding what he was looking for he grabbed the epi-pen and removed it's cap.
"Hold her tight Richa" Kabir ordered and being as careful as he can, pushed the needle into her thigh through her jeans, wincing at his own gesture.
"Just two minutes Ananya...and everything will be fine...just try and relax" Richa spoke softly to her while rubbing her hands constantly.
A few minutes passed with almost everyone in the same positions. As the medicine took it's effect, Ananya was made to lie in the nap room' while Kabir still had her hand in his.
"Ronnie listen to me now, make a call to PM's assistant immediately and cancel the interview for tonight, there is no way we can go live in the next thirty minutes." Kabir's declaration left everybody in a state of shock. Malvika and Khalid were furious.
"What the hell is wrong with you Kabir. How can you stake KKN's reputation like that...for god sake she is fine now" Khalid yelled at the top of his voice.
"Kabir Khalid is right...you cannot do this. And how can you forget about your ambitions. Please stop mixing your personal and professional life" Avantika said in a visibly harsh and jealous tone. Kabir was much aware what made her so insensitive for Ananya but at the moment he gave a damn about anything and everything.
"Avantika I don't think I owe you any explanations regarding this...it would be better if we don't discuss this further" Kabir's straight forward reply almost shook Avantika off her usual calmness. He was no longer the Kabir she knew. Her best friend. He was a changed man and the fact would send a wave of envy down her spine.
"Everyone get to work now and Malvika I want you to quickly work on headlines to fill up for the interview slot. And Richa where the hell is that doctor...let me call him" as Kabir stood up from Ananya's side, she gently grabbed his wrist from behind.
"Kabir Sir..." she whispered weakly. Kabir felt a palpable sense of relief dwell upon him, seeing her back. It was like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest. His best reporter was finally back.
"Kabir sir you have to do this interview" she said in a low but firm tone.
"Ms. Kashyap don't try to preach me...I know my job. And technically it's not possible for us to go live now. So don't think about it"
"Nothing is impossible for Kabir Sharma sir, I challenge you, you have to do the best interview possible in the history of any channel. You can't let our hard work ruin so easily" she declared.
Hearing her words, after what seemed ages now, a little smile tucked the corner of Kabir's lips. This girl could never fail to sweep him off his feet. He gave a brief thoughtful pause and then looked back at Ronnie.
"Ronnie I hope you haven't cancelled the interview yet...we are going ahead with it" he winked, finally bringing the smile back on everybody's face, well, except a predictable few.
The interview, as Ananya had expected, went better than any interview ever done by any reporter. Once finished, Kabir returned to the nap room to check on Ananya. She looked much better now and sat on the bed with her back resting against it. There was a satisfied smile spread across her lips.
"Look I told you sir...you did it" she quipped with a peppy smirk on her face.
"You know Ms Kashyap you are seriously too much!...By the way did the doctor see you"
"What, No! No doctors please. I hate them. And there's nothing they can do for me that you haven't already done sir. Thankyou, by the way" she whispered this last part quietly to him, looking into his eyes.
"I'd say my pleasure Ms Kashyap but believe me it wasn't. You've got to be more careful. And you ought to make sure at least your colleagues know you have a serious allergy. What would have happened if no one had known and even I was not there. Or if I was on air and no one came to get me?"
And that's when reality smacked him in the face. If this had happened just an hour later he would have been in the middle of the broadcast. Would anyone have bothered to interrupt a live show to tell him there was something wrong with her? He probably could have lost her...forever!
Suddenly the adrenaline that had kept him upright through all this completely left his body and he felt extremely frail. And Ananya could easily sense his vulnerability.
"Sir, are you alright?" she asked him concerned.
"NO! I am not alright Ananya! I am just not" He shouted leaving her startled for a second. She had never seen him like this. So disturbed and touchy.
"I am sorry Ananya..I didn't mean to shout at you"
"No...it's ok sir." She was trying to read his expressions. "I understand I troubled you a lot. And I am sorry for that. I really am." she blurted and paused for a minute. "By the way It's the first time you are acknowledging me by my name." she whispered to him. "And I really like it". an unintentional blush had formed on her cheeks by now.
Kabir stared intently at her as she said those words. There was something so compelling about her, it would leave him totally breathless. In what seemed like no time, he gently moved his hand to the side of her face and cupped it ever so softly. "You are special Ananya. And we cannot afford to lose you...I CANNOT afford to lose you" was all he could say, before pulling her into a brief embrace. For a second his gesture shook Ananya off her serenity but she did not pull back. She knew what he had been through. Rather she liked it there...liked herself secured in his arms. She moved one of her arms around his shoulder, and hugged him back, letting him squeeze all his pain in that embrace.
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