Calming The Storm🌌 (#wattys2019)√

3. The reporter in me✔

Sampurnaa's pov:

I went down and apologized to my mother for losing my cool and again told her to stop thinking about my marriage. She quietly nodded and wished me luck.
I went on my way and took a train from Chembur so I could reach my office in BKC by 10 am.

The senior reporter who was going to mentor me during training welcomed me and introduced me to the reporter who I was going to replace. She was pregnant and was going on maternity leave. So, I got my first assignment as a reporter on my first day itself.

Apparently, there was a final hearing in the court: a rape case. I was supposed to cover the hearing standing outside the courtroom and try to interview the lawyers.

After the hearing:

I was pushed by swarms of reporters who were equally frustrated in the heat. Finally, the lawyers were exiting the courtroom.

I walked ahead, in an attempt to move closer when I was elbowed hard in my ribs and pushed right in front. I collided with the prosecutor and succeeded in asking him a question.
He answered politely and turned to leave when I let go of the reporter in me and thanked him as a woman.
He looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze and although I felt uncomfortable, I looked him in the eye with all the confidence I had.

"It was my duty to save her. No rapist deserves to walk out in the open when the woman suffers. If I had failed in protecting Ms. Parekh then I would become a bigger criminal."

I smiled a small professional smile and muttered thank you after which he nodded and left.

I returned to the studio with a broad smile on my face. My first assignment as a reporter had been successful!!!

I was literally over the moon.

I couldn't wait to go home and share this with Ma and Baba!

Nevertheless, I controlled all my excitement and concentrated on the reports I had been given to study.
They were mostly files about domestic cases including cheating, harassment, domestic violence, acid attacks, marital rape even female infanticide and foeticide.
It is so unfair to most women who suffer through all this in silence. It spoiled my mood but I soon had a brilliant idea.
I immediately ran towards my senior's cabin muttering 'excuse me's to all those on my way.

"Sir!!! I have an idea! You need to listen to this once! I am sure you are going to like it! It has something to do with the case files you wanted me to study. I know the original plan was to have a debate on these issues with top political leaders so they do something about it but I feel it is a really sensitive issue and instead of discussing it crudely on national television, we can do something better. So, sir are you willing to listen to me once?" I spoke all this in one breath and when I finally stopped, the senior journalist who I have never seen fumbling over words looked at me with a stunned expression.
I smiled sheepishly as I realized I had spoken out of turn and that too much in very little time.

He cleared his throat once before finally responding, "Yes Ms. Roy, please go ahead."

I didn't need to be told twice.
"Sir, instead of presenting such disturbing crimes and discussing them, we can conduct surveys and try and dive into the slum dwellers' lives where these crimes are eminent. What I mean is that a few of us reporters who are not that well known yet can disguise themselves as other people and start living in smaller settlements. Once we get to share the lives that others live, it is going to be easier not just to get criminals caught but also to gather sufficient evidence against them. Moreover, the victims generally refrain from sharing any traumatic incidences they may have gone through with the police or strangers. If we can get them to confide in us, they will be safe and would get to live better. And in case you are worried about our security, then the police can be involved for our protection. Also, sometimes while traveling by train or public transport, we come across commuters daily who appear to be normal but are living a troubled life each day. Instead of discussing rape openly with people who look forward to buying votes banking on their false promises, we can actually start something that might just make a difference." I finished confidently and maintained eye contact.

After all, a fearless reporter must have the guts to look into the eyes of everyone, especially their seniors.

Sir pondered over all that I said and also assured me that he would let me know once he had spoken to the channel heads and the other editors. The project was a bit risky as well so the security part had to be well looked after.

After all, in the poorest and most unkempt parts of the country where we live, rise most crimes ranging from pick-pocketing, prostitution, and even human trafficking.
After a long and successful first day, I took the evening train from Bandra station which took me directly to Chembur.
Ma and Baba were both retired so they tend to be at home in the evenings. Boudi was also at home. She worked at a bank in Vashi as the manager and her office hours had ended. Dada was not home yet.
The first thing I did was go into the kitchen and gulp two glasses full of water. Talking a lot has its own drawbacks!

I knew the questions that were going to follow so before anyone could begin, I started (typical me!!), "I had a wonderful day. My first assignment was to cover a hearing at the high court and try and speak to the prosecutor which I did. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful as I was given a stack of files to read and analyze. All I can say is that the studying of files did help me know a bit more about the kinds of crime that are common in the city. And from having a good day as a trainee, I simply hope to grow more as a journalist soon!"

Ma, Baba, and Boudi smiled at me and Ma got me a slice of black forest cake which is my favorite.

"I trusted my daughter to have a wonderful first day as a reporter. God bless you, love," she said kissing my forehead. Baba smiled and hugged me.

Boudi gave me a watch which she had forgotten to give me in the morning.
At night, when Dada returned, he got me a cute teddy bear.
He's the one who knows me best. I can be shrewd when I feel like it, I am good only to those who deserve it, I am a raging fire when enraging people ignite my temper, and yet after all this, I am still the storm that can be calmed with a hug, a slice of cake, water and most importantly, a teddy bear!

I went to bed reminiscing my first day as a reporter when those red-brown eyes, almost like burning embers, a glance at which had woken up the reporter in me came back on my mind. I shrugged off my thoughts and gradually drifted off to sleep.

Little did I know that those burning embers would ignite every little thing in me shortly.
..............

To be continued...