Alisha was busy, getting for one of her sting operations edited for show… she had to finish the recording by the end of the day… she knew she won’t possibly be able to carry out another sting operation for maybe months.
She seemed tense which was not natural & her colleagues were confused… it was a normal sting operation they had carried out & Alisha had presented more daring operations than this one – ‘Why is she so tense?’
They knew – it was her last working day before she went away on some dangerous project – all by herself…
They were not going to accompany her… and that dangerous project could cost her – her life – yet she had opted for it – rather she had proposed & the Chief Editor had agreed to it – though reluctantly.
She was sitting tense having recorded her report… she seemed to be lost in some far away thought process…
She was sitting thus when she heard familiar ring tune on her mobile… she sprang up suddenly coming out of her thought process… her mobile which rested on her lap fell down & the back cover with battery came apart…
Her colleagues looked at her – first surprised & then with concern as they had never seen her so tense… one of them helped her pick & fix her phone – “Hey! Alisha! What happened?”
“What day is today?” she asked
“It’s Monday” was the reply…
“Oh! My God! Oh! My God! – What should I do how should I face him? Oh! God! Please help me & show me the correct path…” she pleaded desperately as her mobile rang the familiar tune again – she looked at the screen that was blinking ‘Chaits calling…’
“Excuse me” she said to her colleagues & walked down the passage to the main door & out of her office building to the lawn that greeted any visitor to her office…
Her colleagues were concerned they thought it could be something dangerous that Alisha had stumbled upon & is receiving threatening calls from people concerned… They followed her till main door & watched carefully as she stood still to the burning sun looking at her mobile…
Her mobile started to sound the familiar ring tune again – Alisha’s hands trembled as she looked at it again… She took a deep breath & put up a smile on her face & answered the call, “Hi! Chaits!” There was an unnatural boost of excitement to her voice – probably, because, she was trying to fake it, “Where are you? Have you reached Delhi?”
She knew he’d be calling her from Chennai.
“Hi! Alisha! I’m at Chennai. I called you to say that my plans have changed…” said Chaits glad to hear her voice.
“Changed your plans?” Alisha asked a bit nervously – ‘Now what? Is he going directly to meet Priti from Chennai’ – if so, then Alisha needed to stop him from going there directly – she wanted him to come to Delhi first… it was imperative that she meet him before he travels to meet his friends & Priti directly…
“Not a huge change but a little, I was supposed to take a plane that should have at landed at Delhi after 5pm tomorrow… however, I managed to speak to the airline & now I’m confirmed on a flight that arrives at Delhi at 9am tomorrow – the flight is IC 729”
“Oh! My God! He’s arriving tomorrow morning’ thought Alisha more nervous now…
“Hey! That’s great news, Chaits! I’d be able to see you few hours earlier – a shorter wait to see you… ” Alisha cheerfully answered him.
“I hope, I’m not asking for too much – if I ask beautiful & glamorous Alisha to reach airport in time to receive me… I hope you’d not have problems at your office either…” Chaits teased her…
“Chaits, now you’re insulting me… do you think I’ll not manage free time for you… My one and only best friend?” replied Alisha in somewhat an irritated tone.
“Ok! Just kidding! I know you’ll be there, alright then, see ya tomorrow morning” said Chaits & cut the call…
Alisha heaved a sigh of relief – Chaits was blissfully ignorant of the tension that was brewing within her… I hope he remains this ignorant till he meets me… Alisha prayed desperately…
She stood there – still under the burning sun for a moment – exhaled a huge sigh of relief – the Tough Alisha was back in action – she needed to get a lot of things to be taken care of – she turned & started walking briskly toward her office – much to the relief of her concerned colleagues…
As soon as she entered office, she asked her colleagues to take charge of editing the report of their sting operations & walked in to the cabin of her Chief Editor & knocked his cabin door…
His cabin had glass walls & he had seen her walk to his cabin in urgency. He waived her to enter & her colleagues could see them discussing profusely… they couldn’t make heads or tail of it – the entire operation that Alisha was about to work on – was kept – strictly hush-hush…
They could see the Chief Editor frantically dialling numbers & speaking to God knows who all as Alisha kept on taking notes & check-marking details in her pocket pad…
Finally, Alisha stepped out of his cabin after about 5 hours of frantic calling & discussion she looked exhausted and tense – so did the Chief Editor…
She called her colleagues in the conference room & said, “Friends, I’m going tomorrow any time after 2 pm on a mission – I know, it would be very dangerous & have proposed it to the Chief Editor – he at first declined the project out of concern for my safety – but I’ve managed to convince him…”
Her colleagues had a hint that she’d soon be going out on a mission that could be dangerous – but, they’d not imagined – it’d be tomorrow… they sat there in that conference room staring blankly at her…
“Alisha! We want to work with you” They said in meek voices familiar to hard headed Alisha’s ways…
“Even I want to work with you all.” said Alisha
“Tell us when we are supposed to leave – we’ll have our bags packed & ready to go…”
“Now… Now! Hold your guns, guys” said Alisha,” I clearly said I’ am going away on a project – I cannot afford to put your lives at stake for my mission… however, I’m going to use your services.”
They looked at her expectantly, willing to do whatever she said…
“You’ll accompany me to Jaipur & will return from there capturing the details for a show – that’ll start from Jaipur – going to Rajasthan border & returning to Delhi… this would be shot, reported & edited by you… I’ll take your leave at Jaipur & proceed there onward…”
“Please take care of yourself, Alisha” they echoed in concerned voices.
Alisha was dead tired when she reached home & sat on her comfy Indian settee – in few minutes she sprang up with renewed energy as she attacked the pending household chores – her mind kept on reminding her about the urgency…
Finally, she sat down, totally exhausted looking at a packed bag & other half empty that she needed to pack with important items she’d get from her office tomorrow.
Then she opened & checked the third bag which was filled but awaited packing… satisfied… she ate a quick dinner & went to an uncomfortable sleep…
She sprang up at the chimes of her morning alarm wishing time would have stopped for few hours… She reached the airport – sharp at 8 am – looking sweet & glamorous to receive Chaits & had a wait at the passenger entry point using her special escort pass…
Her heart missed a beat as a voice announced IC 729 has landed every passing moment – her tension grew…
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