I have no idea what Ragini intended to do—how do you ‘investigate’ someone who’s anonymous? I also have five pages to do next week—and every week—and my first interview with a Bollywood star. How am I supposed to ‘research’ on the blogger and do a story on her? And now Comma wants a brief by this evening when I need to leave the office early today.

Even though I’ve been dismissed, I wait near Comma’s desk. She pretends not to notice me.

‘Leena … sorry I … Do you have a minute?’ I ask.

‘What now, Polly? Don’t tell me you are already coming up with excuses for not doing the blogger story?’ Comma says without looking at me.

I notice that she has at least five different magazine websites open—she is searching for story ideas for our pages.

Comma often takes ‘inspiration’ from international magazine websites and then tweaks the story to fit into the Indian context. Most of the time I end up writing these inspired articles—always without a byline. Just last week I had to do a story on how yoga is good for sex—inspired by a Sports Illustrated article on surfing and sex.

‘Did you have something to say or did you just want to stand there and stare at my screen?’ Comma asks.

‘No, no … I’m not coming up with any excuses and I can do the story. It’s just that … I can’t … I mean is it okay if I file the brief first thing tomorrow morning instead?’ I ask.

‘No, I want it today,’ Comma says and continues reading.

Why does she make everything so difficult?

‘Oh. It’s just that my mother-in-law is coming today and I have the house keys and need to be home to receive her and—’

‘Your personal problems are not my concern, Polly. You should have made alternative arrangements. Please learn to be a professional,’ Comma says and glares at me the way she’d glare at a cockroach.

On most days I would’ve taken Comma’s refusal and not asked her again. Today, though, is different and if it means I have to beg her, I’ll just have to do it.

‘I am sorry about this,’ I say, ‘but I need to be home. Is it okay if I leave now instead? You will definitely have the brief by end of day today … I’ll also be a couple of hours late tomorrow,’ I say in the sincerest possible voice I can muster.

Comma sighs like she’s making the toughest decision of her life.

‘Get your priorities right, Polly. I don’t care whether you file it from work or home as long as you kindly ensure the brief is in my inbox before nightfall,’ she says and turns towards her laptop screen once again.