Under the Covers

Introduction:

Undercover is one of India's most successful investigative magazines, headed by Anamika Naidu. Daughter of the country's most powerful businessmen and multi-billionaire. But Anamika was a self-made woman with a will of steel and heart as cold as ice. She did not take a single penny from her dad but built Undercover - her brainchild - from scratch. Abhimanyu Rai, her arch nemesis enters the battlefield. He was a journalist par excellence with unmatched experience. How will Abhimanyu Rai change the game for Anamika? Will they avenge, destroy or fall in love with each other?

Chapter 1:

The posh office in Mumbai erupted with thunderous applause. Employees stood up to greet their new Chief-of-Bureau - Abhimanyu Rai. He was one of the finest journalists of the time. There was awe, confusion and surprise on their faces. They all wondered why this "rumored" rival joined 'Undercover!' The whole nation was expecting him to set up his own magazine when he returned to India. He took them all by surprise by joining Undercover.

Undercover was India's most successful award-winning investigative magazine. With his impeccable credentials, Abhimanyu fit in here like a piece to a puzzle. He worked as the Chief Investigative Reporter for 'NY Detective,' magazine for 15 years. He was constantly in the limelight for his sensational sting operations.

The thing that surprised everybody was how and why did Anamika approve of him? Somebody so foreign to take over such an important position in the company? She had managed the magazine so efficiently for the past 10 years. Anamika Naidu was no fool! She played her cards way too well. She is the soul and sole reason for Undercover's phenomenal success. To her, Abhimanyu was just a cherry on top of an already delicious cake.

Not long after Abhimanyu set foot in his uber-spacious cabin, did he realize that this was his place to be. He had started writing when he was 18 years old. Newspapers and magazines flocked to hire him right after his Mass Communications degree. He went on to pursue his Master's while working triple-fold. He was a journalist, sub-editor and also a regular student.

An opportunity of a lifetime presented itself in the form a call from New York Times. They offered him a role as the foreign correspondent for their investigative journal. So off he flew away with wings spread so wide that he conquered his patch of the sky. But now, it was time to return home.

Anamika Naidu, the Editor-in-Chief of Undercover was not someone one could impress easily. She was notorious as a stone-hearted and ruthless business-oriented woman. Rumours circulated that her "single-dom" was an escape from human relations. But there was absolutely no denying that she was one of the most successful women in the country.

She wouldn't waste even a second to brag about it herself. Year after year, international tabloids nominated for awards. Her finesse as a business woman shined far and wide. Though Undercover was one of the many businesses she owned, it was her brain and heart child. She built it from scratch, winning several accolades for groundbreaking and fearless reportage. Political connections and niche' relations were a part of her daily grind. "Undercover" grew a thousand fold without compromising on the quality of content.

Abhimanyu was a breath of fresh air inside the cold and silver grey office. A look at this plush multi-storeyed structure could make anyone dizzy. Not Abhimanyu. He could easily be the life of any party - situation no bar. He could break into a jig in the middle of the road with the street children in broad daylight. He could even ask the President of the United States, make or break questions. He was even thrown in jail, during his early days. He was but trying to unearth controversial stories for the tabloid he was working for.

For 15 years, all he did was hustle! He had no time to stop, for his passion burned brighter and blinded all his deeply-embedded pain. Not only did he want to slow down now, he had other motives in returning home. He had told Anamika, with his confident and piercing gaze, that he wanted to learn the trade from her. Anamika knew the rules of the game. He was a hot cake right now! Who wouldn't want a National Award Nominee?

She too had started out small without any favors from her multi-billionaire dad. She had wanted to write so bad but women reporters at that time did not get the work they deserved. They were only either given fashion or gossip or nothing to write. She was trying to make the best what she had got. She was laughed at when she wrote about the casting couch issues of struggling actors.

She had shifted many places of work due to lack of contempt in glam and gossip. Through her perseverance and hard work, she managed to make it to the feature desk. She could at least write human and social interest stories. Although she was appreciated for her writing, she could not grow in her career on par with her male peers. She was but a victim of glass-ceiling, like many others of her time. Outright, she denied promotions offered in the name of her celebrity dad. Only when one of her father's closest friends made a sexual pass at her, did she break!

Her last story was stapled with a resignation letter as she rushed out of the office with a heavy heart. She ran onto the marble floors of the International Airport, passport in hand. This, to do her MBA abroad, like every rich daddy's little daughter! She did not want to ruin her father's friendship and business relations. She kept quiet. That was how things worked in her world. But this would be the first, last and only time she would accept defeat.

After her MBA, she assisted her dad in all his business ventures, proving an efficient heir. Bharathi Estates and Industries made millions more dollars of profits because of her. Two years later, she lay awake in bed with a fire burning in her heart. In her silk robe, she strode barefoot on the granite floor. She reached her peacefully sleeping father and snuggled beside him. With her head on his chest, she asked him for the only favor she would ever ask for. To let her set up her own magazine and fuel her passion as a writer. Her dad kissed her on the forehead as an approval and thus began the foundation for Undercover.

Chapter 2:

For the first few years, she wrote about everything she wanted to write. The daring, the mundane and the revolutionary. As time passed and success betrothed, her duties as the Editor-in-Chief weighed down. She put her heart, soul, tact and business mind into hiring efficient people. She encouraged passionate newcomers. Taking care of every detail. Mounting stress, pressure and responsibility upon herself.

Slowly but inevitably, her writing took a backseat. She screamed at her employees for the slightest of mistakes. And God, was she cold! As her dream manifested into reality, she was more possessive about it than a mother of her child! Every tiny mistake would freak her out and set her on fire! She needed perfection in everything. Year after year, Undercover challenged itself and stood the test of time and politics.

Relationships most definitely took a backseat in Anamika's life. She did try to date a couple of guys during her MBA days and also after, but something in her soul had shattered with time. But mostly, it was the fact that whoever she met, had a hidden agenda - to take advantage of either her money, power or fame. And a relationship, of all the things on earth, was not on her priority list.

The intensity of her passion vested in something else, something bigger. She wanted and needed to challenge the patriarchal society. She wanted to change the way society worked. That gruesome day, haunted her every day and night. She shouldn't have run away and she was most definitely not a coward. Though she couldn't change what happened to her, she could make sure it never happens again.

Like every father, hers too, tried to persuade her to get married, many a times. And one too many rich and eligible businessmen lined up at her beck and call. For she was, but, the only heir to the magnanimous Bharathi Industries. There was no denying that she was an absolute catch - beauty with brains, wealth and fame. But nothing could deter her scorching spirit. Her dad's constant persuasion was futile and he eventually gave up. This was just not the time. She had a bigger purpose - to Create and to Destroy!

Her only aim now was to make the magazine bigger and better. Who better than acclaimed journalist Abhimanyu Rai to streamline her venture? She was testing the waters in the international market. They wanted similar things from each other. He, to set foot in India and she to hoist her flag internationally! They complemented and needed each other as much.

Anamika not as much as twitched her eyes at the mail in her inbox - Abhimanyu's application. She made him undergo gruesome rounds in the interview like any other. He had to go through one extra and exclusive round - a one-on-one with Anamika herself. She called him in not to ask questions, but to make a deal - the deal of give-and-take.

Anamika was at her desk and did not look above the screen of her laptop. Only when he came closer and stood before her did she notice him. She did ping her assistant to let him in but then quickly got engrossed in her work. Unapologetic, she leaned forward to give him a firm handshake. He was immediately suffused by her strong and independent demeanor. She wasted no time and asked him the one question - what do you want from me? He too had a straight answer!

Launching Undercover internationally was not a tough task for Anamika Naidu. But when the opportunity knocked itself in the form of Abhimanyu, she didn't think twice. She needed international connections and he needed a business foundation in India. The agreement was plain simple - they would teach each other everything they knew.

Chapter 3:

Abhimanyu's aura mesmerized everyone on the editorial floor of Bharathi Publications Office. But not Anamika. She would always stay in her cabin. Abhimanyu caught glimpses of her sometimes, reading. He walked into her room one day to ask her if he could write the editorial for the magazine that month, on her behalf. She was silent for a long while before clearing her throat. Only to nod her approval instead of saying something.

It was a piece from Abhimanyu Rai with his natural and impeccable flair. As she was reading his viral piece, she'd hear his heavily accented voice narrating it in her mind. He wrote about "how the US perceives India" in a subtle yet powerful way. One sentence from the lot kept her pondering over it a while longer. That they was no joy but at home. That he'd like to walk the streets and smell the soil of his mother land. Dedicate every word to the people of this great, illustrious and amalgamated nation. That he wanted to be a beginner again, worshiping every raindrop to tear drop as his own wealth and treasure. That if he had a choice, he wanted to be born an Indian again. For the first time, admittedly, she looked impressed!

The next day, Abhimanyu took off with a camera, voice recorder, a pen and a notepad. He ditched his crisp three-piece suit and dressed like a local. He would come back in the evening drenched in sweat and exhaustion. An hour later he would birth a beautifully crafted story. Like pearls graciously dropped onto a thread, a beautiful necklace was ready. The accompanying photos were of smiles and sorrows of people. Fusing a face and character into the story. The phones at Magnum Heights rang continuously, singing praises of his stories everyday. Many of the mails and emails poured in from readers stating how the story touched their hearts and lives. For the first time in years, Anamika smiled.

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu was smitten by the facade of the mesmerizing beauty Anamika. He had never seen such intensity in a woman before. She was the most twisted and tangled mystery. His 15 year experience as an investigative journalist, failed him at figuring her out. He'd try to make small talk with her but in return all he got was a smile or one word answers. She was cold, distant and always meant business. Abhimanyu always loved a good challenge and this one was his favorite!

He has gone to the Morgue* one day to have a look at the older issues of the magazine. He found many articles written by Anamika taking him by absolute surprise. There was an embedded soul in every article - a very beautiful one at that. There was gut wrenching pain, excruciating agony and unfathomable hope in them. He would inquire about her from everyone, nobody knew any more than he did. He dared not miss even the scarcest chance to be around her or observe her.

Her father had invited Abhimanyu to his farm house for drinks one weekend. It was to celebrate his addition to the business family. Abhimanyu had feigned interest in buying shares or investing in their businesses. They had met in New York last year at a business conference. That is how he knew that Anamika was the invisible name behind his imprinted idea of an ideal magazine!

As they caught up, Mr Harishchandra Naidu was all praises for his amazing daughter. In his estatic state, he told him about her childhood. About how notorious she was, how kind and helping and equally adamant and stubborn she still is. Her Journalism degree, MBA in London, her hatred for luxury. Even her unbeatable success as the youngest most successful business woman in India. At every step he wanted to know more and more about her. Not about what she did but who she actually was!

Anamika picked up the phone at the third ring, her tradition every time. The call was from a London-based international awards organisation. They wanted to confer the 'Reflection of India' title to the 10-year old magazine. The felicitation ceremony was in London where the crème de la crème of the media and business worlds would unite. This was the perfect platform for her to make an impression and set a firm foot in the international market. She would have gone alone but she decided to take Abhimanyu along. He knew many a few international names and was acquaintances with just the right people.

Abhimanyu packed his bags for the week long business trip. He also sneaked in a journal that he secretly collected from her father's house. He was eagerly looking forward to this trip. He had her just where he wanted her to be. This is what he came here for! This was the opportunity he was waiting for - the opportunity to avenge!

A/N: Morgue is a place where the old issues, newspapers and other books related to the publishing house are kept.

Chapter 4:

The 10 hour flight journey failed to stir any eventful conversation between them. Abhimanyu cursed their business class partitions. No sooner than they stepped out of the flight they stepped into a limo. Anamika was glued to the laptop as she made small talk. As they reached the hotel, Anamika walked ahead without a flinch. She packed light for a woman with as many business engagements as her, he wondered.

Abhimanyu rushed behind not wanting to lose another opportunity to speak with her. He cleared his throat before asking her out for lunch. Phat! came the reply, " I'm ordering room service." "What about dinner?" he asked. She opened her mouth to make an excuse but nodded to the look on Abhimanyu's face. "No laptops please," he said to her back as she walked away.

So they met for dinner. Anamika wore an elegant maxi dress with simple jewellery yet looked ravishingly beautiful. Abhimanyu wore a casual blazer accenting his muscular frame. "So we meet, finally." Anamika wore a puzzled look on her face. "Yes we traveled together, we work together but we barely talk." She sighed! "Anamika, loosen up for a while, we are a thousand miles away from home. Let me buy you a drink, as a friend," he insisted.

She was waiting for this moment, not because of romantic joy; so she could finally take him down. She dressed to the nines and elegantly strutted through the hotel lobby. She caught Abhimanyu's gaping eyes - a carefully constructed entrance indeed! Both had the same thing on their mind, to find the other person's weak link. To break them into fragments. The time was not right yet.