Beintehaan (Completed)

16. The missing lady: RITHIKA IYER

An exasperated sigh lifted off Priyanka as she raked her fingers through her messy hair. Pulling away from her paperwork filed desk, she rested her aching back against her office chair.

It had been a week since she had started working on the story but she was already stumped. The story was nothing less than a jigsaw puzzle. At first she thought it would be an easy one where they would just question the victim, play it for a few days, and earn a few TRPs for their channel but until now she hadn't even come up with a proper report.

She rubbed her face tiredly. She was at level zero in her investigation, the visit to the victims house, a few days back had also been a disappointment. She and Arjun were only met with a locked door.

"Yo Priyanka!" a loud voice boomed. She jerked her head up in surprise. Arjun sauntered in with a cocky smirk adorning his face.

"Wassup!!!?" Arjun crowed holding up his fist to her. She narrowed her eyes at his fist, not returning the gesture. He cleared his throat "Umm this is the part where you bump your fist against mine and thank the Lords that you got to touch me."

Priyanka goggled at him "Touch...wha..What?" she stuttered. Arjun laughed, throwing his head back.
She turned back to her desk, leaving him to deal with his humor outbreak.

"How've you been?" he asked, his laughter dying eventually.

Priyanka rolled her eyes. He had bailed on her for an entire week. The last time she saw him was when they had visited the woman's apartment. After that neither had he informed her that he was disappearing for a week, leaving her to deal with the story on her own, nor had she bothered to call him. "Fine" she mumbled.

He leaned on her desk, " What are you working on?" he peered over her shoulder taking a look at the mess.

Priyanka snorted " You would've known if you helped me with it!"
He chuckled nervously " oh about that...I was kinda stuck up in a situation" he said sheepishly.

Priyanka sighed, "It's ok", she said dismissing him off easily. She shuffled through her papers, going back to work.

"Oh I almost forgot" he said
She stayed silent.

" The boss was calling you".

She nodded and walked up to the door, knocking once, she stepped in, her file clutched tightly to her chest. Mr. Ashok, also known as the most cunning, arrogant, heartless man who would do absolutely anything for fame, sat behind the desk pondering over a file.

"Sir...You called for me?" Priyanka asked, her voice barely audible.

He looked up "Yep! I wanted to take a look at your report."

Priyanka fidgeted nervously "Sir...I have...haven't actually gotten far with it."

Ashok's face clouded angrily "What nonsense! What have you been doing for so long?!" he grouched.

Priyanka flinched at his tone and bowed her head, staying silent. She didn't know how to answer him.

"What kind of irresponsible idiots do I hire?!" he fumed. "What do you think I pay you for, when you can't even submit a proper report?"

Priyanka bit her lip. She hated being scolded, and she was almost always on time with her story reports, but this time, this story was really hopeless. Suddenly her file was snatched out of her death grip. She looked up in surprise and saw Arjun standing before her.

"Actually sir, we the ' irresponsible idiots' do have a report" he strode up to his desk and plopped down in one of the empty chairs, without bothering to ask permission.