It was raining cats and dogs. Torrential blinding rain, falling in sheets, its regularity disrupted every now and then by unprompted winds, further interfering with a person's vision. Even the full beam lights wouldn't help, as the accompanying moisture laden air that refracted the light around it reduced the visibility to almost nil...
It was a long journey made longer by the erratic maniacal driving by the person in the driver's seat. Swearing and honking at each obstacle that crossed its path, Kabir had intended to reach out to Ananya as soon as possible. And to hell with anyone who crossed his path.
His mind went back to the events of the last couple of hours. The previous evening, to be precise.
His asking her for a date to which she had graciously accepted. And then coyly hinted about dinner.
He had reached her home to pick her up. She had stumped him further by appearing in a cherry red coloured gown that accentuated her slim figure. Just not prepared for this, he had watched dumbfounded with his mouth open till the full lips had pouted and then widened in a shy smile.
"Kya khoob lagti ho...badi sundar dikhati ho!" Armaan broke into an impromptu song of the yesteryears that earned him a whack by his mother and Kabir came to the ground reality.
He blushed on realizing that he had been drooling at his girlfriend throughout, his face almost transparent to his feelings.
"Ab kya aise hi dekhte rahoge ya phir dinner pe challenge bhi?" His reverie broke further. He had nodded politely to her mother and she had taken his arm with a obvious display of possessiveness.
The date had gone on well. The posh restaurant and the corner table reserved by Kabir was worth the privacy that accompanied it. The chilled champagne was perfect and the food delicious. They had started chatting and munching on the starters when the lights suddenly dimmed.
What the heck? Was all that she could think as she looked around for some sort of explanation.
In a flash, Kabir knelt to her, his palm outstretched.
"May I have the pleasure...of a dance?"
Ohh so it was all planned! She wasted no time in putting her small slim hand into his. He pulled her to him, loosing himself in her eyes as they waltzed to the romantic number in the background.
"I love you!" He had muttered to her. And she had responded the same with glazed eyes.
And then it had happened. A flash of light. And then another.
Kabir had mentally kicked himself. Being a popular media figure had its share of drawbacks as well!
Ananya had tried to look unfazed throughout, but he could tell that something was bothering her. What was it? Was it the realization that someone had intruded in their private world?
Forget her unease. Even he was feeling a bit rattled. Couldnt he have a personal life of his own? He just couldn't put a finger on to it...
----
The day had begun on a wrong note. Khalid had summoned him as soon as he had stepped in the office. There was a feeling in the air that something was not well.
Khalid had greeted him as usual, but the usual warmth in his demeanour was missing.
"So, Kabir...how was the dinner yesterday? All fine?"
How did the wily old fox know? Kabir was stumped beyond comprehension. He had taken care on his part and had assumed that Ananya would take care of hers. Had she gossiped with someone? Her friends? No...didnt seem likely. Ronnie already knew and so did Richa. Or had someone followed him to Ananya's house and then to the restaurant?
Khalid continued relentlessly, unmindful of his companion's inner turmoil.
"Well, this is currently buzzing on the wires of our rival channel: KKN's EIC Kabir Sharma caught with a junior reporter. Another Tarini Pal in the making? Have a look...
Kabir paled at the insinuation and Khalid switched on his TV.
It was all there for everyone to see: the dimmed light, the romantic background number and the couple gently swaying in each other's arms. Ananya's face, turned away from the camera, wasn't much visible, whereas Kabir's visage was very clear. The accompanying trailer flashed the same message time and again in the form of a trailer.
Editor in Chief of KKN Kabir Sharma caught with his pants down romancing his junior reporter. Is she going to be the next casuality in his long list of conquests?
This was followed by a prim lady talking to the camera. "Our reporter had this lucky break today evening. The media celebrity Mr Kabir Sharma chose to have dinner with his junior reporter, Ms Ananya Kashyap in this very restaurant. After a round of booze, he asked her for a dance, which she readily obliged to. Well, who in their right senses would refuse such a hot man? Till now what seemed like a simple dinner, turned into a public display of romance with the two canoodling and smooching each other in full public view...Well, Kabir's reputation preceeds him. He has had a long list of girlfriends, flings and this looks like the latest..." The video clip played again and again in the background.
Khalid switched off the display and tactfully waited for Kabir to react.
Nothing in Kabir's expression gave away the fury he felt from within. He had heard about the media distorting facts and giving a biased opinion about things, but this was the limit. He wondered whether Ananya had seen the footage.
Khalid cleared his throat.
"Well, KL also called up sometime back. It seems a major investor of ours has backed out because of this...so called scandal..."
Something snapped in Kabir.
"Well KL can do what he wants, and I am in no mood to entertain him. For that matter, anyone else! As per this clip and this breaking news, I am sure the channel is one that relies upon a paparazzi style reporting for its daily survival and I am not impressed..."
"Kabir...listen my boy..."
"I am not done yet, Khalid. And as far as I am concerned, this is my personal and private matter. I would have loved to call it my personal affair, but unfortunately the phrase has another meaning to it. I am only getting bothered for Ananya: I don't know how she is going to take this! In fact I and Ananya love each other and her mother knows about it and of course, agrees to the relationship..."
It was then that it hit him square. Where was Ananya? He had not seen her in the morning as he walked in after the perfunctory greeting to the receptionist. Maybe had not come in today? Or maybe Ronnie knew. He would take care of that later. First things first.
He squared his shoulders and faced Khalid.
"Can I address the entire KKN staff in about 10 minutes from now?"
---
The conference room was packed to the hilt. No wonder, as the mail buzzed the wires, everyone had just dropped whatever they had been doing and trooped over to grab a seat.
What was the agenda of the meeting? The last time such a meeting was held was to announce the joining of Kabir as Editor In Chief. And today...?
Even now, as Kabir entered, with Khalid and Malvika in tow, the buzz abruptly ceased.
"Dear Colleagues..." Kabir began on a formal note, "First of all, let me thank all of you for assembling here at such a short notice. But believe me, it is going to be worthwhile..." He paused and the banter picked up again, "This is about the latest news buzzing on the wires of the rival channel, about me and Ms Kashyap I am sure many of you are puzzled and I want to clarify a few things beforehand. Please listen carefully. I am in love with Ms Kashyap and intend to settle down with her in holy matrimony soon. Hope this is clear with all of you? Any questions?"
Manav smirked from his perch.
"Fine, Kabir. Congratulations to both of you. Just one small query. There is a clause in the employment agreement that bars a relationship between a reportee and the boss. Are you aware of that?"
"Of course, Manav. I am very much aware of that. Well, I plan to sit down with my attorney and get that sorted out soon. I am sure KL will agree to a deviation from that rule in this case..."
"And if he doesn't?"
Malvika's voice was like a whiplash.
"Then I resign from the EIC's position!"
Khalid chose to intervene at this point.
"Ohh come on Malvika. We all know that KL just wont let Kabir go. So just relax! Kabir is not going anywhere and so is Ananya. And now, colleagues, in case there are no further questions, can we go back to our desks?"
The staff present didnt need any further encouragement to escape the presence.
Malvika sighed audibly as soon as the last person left and then casually remarked to Kabir.
"But Kabir...just one thing. This sort of publicity on the media: "How has Ananya taken all this? Her name and face being splashed across the national media. She must have been shattered, right? By the way, where is she?"
"I will handle her. And leave that to me, Malvika!"
"Oh come on Kabir. Its not that simple. Ananya comes from a pretty middle class background. For such a family, the reputation matters a lot. By this time Ananya must have been in the receiving end of the family ire...being cursed by one and all, isolated, blamed for whatever has happened? I believe someone may also label her as someone of easy virtue, right?"
"Malvika...I said leave that to me! I will protect her from all that!"
"Hope you could, Kabir. Anyway, you couldn't save Tarini's reputation, right?"
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TBC. PLease hit like and comment! It encourages the writer to write more...
Fan Fictions
Anupamaa
