The last chance
( Poorvika )
I closed my eyes shut as he threw my hours of hardwork at my face. The papers brushed my skin, slowly floating down to the floor. I dropped my head low, anger seeping through my hard gaze.
"How many times have I told you, Poorvika? Don't bring me articles which are useless—!"
"But sir—" I interrupted.
"Don't. Don't talk back to me." He yelled, my arms fell to my sides, balling into fists. "I don't pay you to bring me news people don't care about! I want the news which makes the damn headlines!"
I opened my mouth to argue back, but shut it back close. Of course he only wants that. To get news which would make the headlines. I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to spit curse words at his little face.
I took a deep breath, I need this job to pay my rent. I can't snap at him. "I'm sorry, sir."
He sighed heavily, massaging his temples with his eyes shut. "No Poorvika. I've given you too many chances." He shook his head, folding his arms. Wait. D-Don't say it. "You're fired."
Ah, damn it, he said it.
I swallowed my pride, this was probably not the best time for my ego to be hurt. "Sir, please," I pleaded. "Just one more chance, I promise you won't regret it."
He stared at me for a moment with a frown, and scoffed. "Fine, I'll be nice." He spoke as if he was a saint. Damn, I want to wipe that smirk off his face so bad. "X-rex has a new CEO, interview him. And maybe, I'll let you keep your job."
Oh come on. Here we go again. Back to interviewing big people for no reason instead of giving importance to common people's problems. I nodded half-heartedly. "Yes, sir."
He scouted for a file from his table and opened it. "His name is Varun Kumar." He read. Wait, I have heard this name somewhere before. "I want the interview by the end of the month, Poorvika."
I froze, the name ringing in my head. No, no, it can't be him. I'm overthinking things. Nope. "Poorvika, I still didn't hear a yes from you."
"O-Oh!" I snapped out of my thoughts, chuckling nervously. "Sorry, yes, sir. Thank you for giving me another chance." Like hell I care. My mother would kill me if she knows I got fired. That's the only thing I care about.
"What're you still standing here for? Leave." He gestured out of his office. Yeah, like I want to breathe the same air as him anyway. Such a waste of oxygen.
I strided out of his office after picking up my papers from the ground, letting my nose finally scrunch. The quietness of his office faded to chaotic screams of people trying to meet their deadline, some brushing past me while they bolted.
I steadied myself, clutching the papers to my chest. They were useless, was what he said. I jumped, receiving a brute slap on my shoulder. "Ow!"
"Is that guy always like this?" Kiran draped his arm over my shoulder. I slipped off from him and brutally hit him with the papers in my hand. "Owie-owie, okay-okay, sorry, Poorvi!"
"How were you even allowed entry, Anna?" I glared at him, for which he beamed a stupid smile and slid my lost ID out from his pocket.
"Oh my god, I can't even blame you for this. The security is blind for letting you in with a female ID card."
"What? I look just like you." He put his face next to my card and pointed at both of them.
"No, don't compare me with you." I frowned in disgust.
"Awe, don't worry Poorvi, you aren't that ugly compared to me." He smirked victoriously. Dang it, I walked right into that one.
"Don't," I warned, my tone low. "I'm not in the mood to laugh at your nonsense."
"When are you ever in the mood to put up with me?" He threw my ID around my neck. "Never." He answered his own question. "Ma asked me to return this to you cause you forgot it at home last time you visited."
Oh. No wonder I couldn't find this dang card even after me and my roommate searched our apartment for two days straight (I should probably apologise to Roshini for torturing her for 48 straight hours).
"Did you finally get fired? He sounded like he was so done with you." He smirked, crossing his arms. Wow, the world's totally greatest
Anna
award goes to...Kiran!
"Not yet." I sighed, gripping the papers in my hand tighter. It's probably just another guy with that same name. There are a million Varuns in India. It can't be him. "But I have to get an interview with that X-rex's new CEO, or I'm a goner."
Kiran whistled under his breath, shaking his head like he had already decided I was so done for. "Do you think big people like him would have time for you? You're so screwed."
"Gee, I had no idea!" I exaggerated my voice, sarcasm dripping with every word. "Really, groundbreaking discovery, Einstein."
He chuckled. "Okay, okay, I got it."
I snickered, smacking him on his back and threw my hand over his shoulder. We roasted each other along the way, laughed, and pissed each other off at the same time. He dropped me off at my apartment and drove off.
I stretched my sore limbs, climbing three seats of stairs (Yeah, there's no elevator) before finally reaching my apartment as usual. Good thing I could skip the bus because of Kiran. Anyway, I inserted the key and clicked the door open, pacing inside my apartment.
I yeeted my handbag into the air and plopped on the couch, tired as hell.
Roshini gave me a look, her gaze flickering to my face and the ID hanging around my neck. Oop. She titled her head, her brows shooting up. "Where were they, huh?"
I smiled like a fool, well, I do owe her an apology. "Sorry, Kiran returned it back to me. I left it in my home."
She chewed her inner cheek and gave me an eye roll. "Leave it, I'm too tired to scold you." She grumbled, falling into the couch beside me comfortably. "So, how was work?"
I heavily sighed, picking up my laptop from the coffee table. "Not good."
"I can see that." She nodded dramatically. I opened up g-mail and typed a message to that guy I'm supposed to interview within the end of the month. "What happened? Your boss was being a jerk again?"
"Uhh, I almost got fired." I said casually, rechecking my message's grammar to send it to his business email I found online. Well, if he doesn't answer, I might have to find another way to reach him.
"Poorvika, I'm telling you from the start. You hate this job, then why don't you just quit?"
I gently drummed the laptop's keys without pressure.
"I don't hate this job, Roshini." I sighed. It wasn't supposed to be this way. It was supposed to be our job to give voices to all people so that everyone's voice is heard.
And what are we actually doing?
Interview rich people and politicians which gives the channel more views.
I hate this.
Not the job.
"If you say so," she shrugged.
I pressed 'send'. Now all I had to do, was wait for that rich guy's reply. I didn't have hope that he'll reply, but, I don't have any other legal options to try.
So, I waited.
Three days passed, and to his luck, he actually e-mailed me back. Man's got good luck. I was plotting how to kidnap him if I didn't get his reply back in four days.
'Hi Miss Poorvika,
I would love to have an interview with TodayNews. I hope to see you tomorrow at 9'o clock in the premise of my company. Please do not be late.
Thanks,
Varun.'
*
Anna - big brother
Pronounced as (Uh-nn-ah).
