‘We are watching this because this is our fucking lead story for the week,’ Ed says, clearly excited, ‘Let’s do another special report on the Nithari murders. Make a timeline map of all developments that have happened so far. The design team can create a nice banner for the masthead. Put some of the dead kids’ pictures and mugshots of Pandher and Koli. Can we add anything else to it, Sinha?’ Ed asks.

Ragini still looks confused. I am confused as well but I keep my mouth shut.

‘I still don’t get why we are doing such an old—’ Ragini starts to say.

‘We are not doing an old story, Ragini. A new 700-page report puts Delhi as the second state with the largest number of missing children. The television channels have simply linked the missing children to the Nithari incident—before the truth was discovered, the Nithari victims had also been reported missing. While the channels are simply talking about the last big missing children’s case, Tabloid will take it a step further—we ask the question the channels are hinting at but afraid of asking,’ Sinha explains to Ragini somewhat impatiently.

‘Yet Another Nithari?’ Ed declares.

‘That’s fucking fear mongering,’ Ragini says with open disdain.

‘That’s selling a fucking newspaper,’ Ed retorts.

‘Kindly do not use the f-word, Ragini,’ Comma admonishes.

‘Mind your own fucking business, Leena,’ Ragini bites back.

‘For fuck’s sake, shut up everybody!’ Ed yells.

‘Please let me handle this, Ed,’ Sinha cuts in smoothly before Ed can start another lecture.

‘We all admire your work ethics, Ragini,’ Sinha says, ‘but sometimes you need to see the bigger picture.’

‘Sorry, but what’s the bigger picture?’ Ragini asks pointedly.

Someone in the room groans—I look around and notice that everybody is getting tired of Ragini’s constant interruptions.

‘The bigger picture,’ Sinha says silkily, ‘is that your editor has decided on a course of action and as the senior reporter you must follow it. He’s not asking you to murder any kids. He’s just asking you to do your job.’

‘But I don’t agree with the story and—’

‘In that case you will not be part of the story. Ratan and Mita can work together on this. Ratan is already doing police interviews, Mita can speak to some parents with missing kids,’ Sinha says.

Ragini looks shocked at being excluded from such a big story.

‘But how can Mita … she is a junior reporter …’ Ragini says.

‘I can assure you she is quite capable. You need to remember that no one is irreplaceable, Ragini,’ Sinha says with a sinister smile.

‘I am not interested in the internal workings of the bureau. Is there any other way we can milk this?’ Ed asks as he impatiently flicks through the channels.

‘We can link the Internet … children are vulnerable,’ Ratan says hesitantly.

‘How the hell does the Internet tie in?’ Ed asks.