A Heartbreaking Confession

I looked at her to make sure she was engrossed in work, and quickly grabbed Armaan's hand.

"What happened?" I asked as soon as I entered my cabin.

"What?" He sounded distant, as though he was in some other world entirely.

"You tell me, why are you so upset?"

"Nothing."

I knew he was lying.

"Hey, please tell me."

I spoke looking right in his eyes; they were beautiful and mesmerizing, grey with hints of blue. Such an unusual but beautiful combination.

Again, I got a sense of Deja-vu, but why?

"You use people's sentiments to get interviews?" He asked somberly.

It was an accusation, only it felt like a heartbreaking confession.

"What? No! I have my ethics."

"You just said you used his son, who is in coma, to get an interview." He sounded really angry with me.

"Oh that, that's just an exception. He is billionaire and will you believe if I tell you that no journo has ever gotten an exclusive with him? I had to use it as it is the biggest break of my career."

"You know I am in a coma?" I gasped.

"What? I-I thought you are just a ghost and ghosts are usually…"

"Dead?" He completed my statement.

Embarrassed, I kept quiet.

"You know who he is?" He sharply asked again.

My voice sounded timid to my own ears.

"Who?"

"He is -" he was cut off by the entrance of Miranda; like always, she had terrible timing. Her smile was as big as it was fake.

"It's so good to see you alive," She hugged me tightly, enveloping me in the aroma of expensive perfume that made me gag.

"Thanks," I smiled back.

"So how are you feeling?"

"I am fine, Miranda, I hope you didn't miss me too much around here."

The only thing I had learnt from her was to know your audience and act accordingly.

"Not really, except for that Oberoi guy, he wouldn't listen. Such a pain in the ass."

Again, I felt Armaan jerk and stiffen, as though his best friend had just been insulted. Something was fishy here.

"Honey, what is the matter?" Miranda prodded.

"What?" I tried to focus.

"It looked like you were in a trance." Her fake accent always managed to raise my hackles.

"Oh no, nothing, was just thinking something. I am sorry."

Like anything that didn't directly pertain to her, she dismissed it. "Want to take a walk?"

"What, right now?"

"There is a book launch across the road and I am obviously invited. I would have taken someone junior but you are free so why don't you come and cover it?"

She started walking, expecting me to follow.

I clenched my teeth and did.