Dil Beparwah | ✔

six

||CHAPTER 6||
《¤》

┊V A R U N┊

My head was throbbing.

We were in a round-up meeting, confirming the draft of the physical copy of the magazine that would be released next week, and had been at it for six hours straight. These drafts required precision and being the Editor-in-chief, I couldn't delegate someone else to do it.

But god damn it, my migraine was coming back in thrashing waves. I was too busy to go find my medicines, and if I kept droning and discussing pages right now, I would be collapsing soon.

My only other option was right in front of me. I had long finished my complimentary cup of piping hot tea, but the one in front of Girish was tempting me.

"Are the cover shots ready?" I asked the team, walking an arc to grab the cup. "Please pull up the images so that we can select one."

I had almost succeeded, and was just about to place my fingers on the rim of the bone-china, when Girish's fingers rolled along the tiny handle and the cup disappeared from my incoming grasp. The slurping sound intensified my head ache. I ground my teeth.

Noticing the shadow falling on the papers in front of him, he turned abruptly, and paled. "Uh– I... these–uhm."

It was then I noticed the doodles on his note-pad. I think it was my face. My head-ache was clouding my attention.

"I was just–" He fumbled, "uhm– didn't mean to..."

Being a boss rocked. Being a fair boss sucked. Patting his shoulder, and letting him sip on his cup of tea, I went back to my chair. The graphics team had taken over. Half an hour more and I could get some shut-eye to numb the pain.

What I didn't notice was Esha sitting next to me. "So sir..." she started, leaning on the desk as if discussing some private matter. "When do we get started on the What They Say set?"

I leaned back on my chair, scratching my beard. I needed to shave soon. "When do they begin airing?"

"In a fortnight. Sir, can I please work on it?"

Her incessant whispering was only heightening my pain. I needed the lights down low. "Can you dim the lights and pull the blinds on?"

She was more than happy to do it. Mikesh caught my eye, sitting on the opposite side of the table. He tilted his head to the side and flattened his lips disapprovingly. Apparently, Esha deserved more credit and I wasn't guiding her properly. Our investors weren't very happy about that. Three guesses as to why?

Once the drafts were finalized and put together, the meeting ended. I would have dashed out to my office had Mikesh not accompanied me. "What They Say? Are we venturing into Broadcast and Entertainment without my approval?"

I ran my fingers through my hair. My forehead was sweaty. "That wasn't the plan. Esha uh... let me escort her to their cozy get-together the other night. You keep droning about me not extracting the best out of her. I took you seriously, and guess who I met?"

He did not shut the door behind him as we entered my small office. Damn, the mess was not pleasing to my migraine. "Are you seriously going to have a fan-boy moment while we are discussing work?"