Morning came. "Wake up guddu", said mom. "Its your first day and you don't have to be late". Her voice gave a thump to my heart. Lazily I woke up but mentally everything was running fast. I stood in front of my almirah. Red, green or black. I look slim in black I thought. No, but red makes me confident. Finally I wore a kurti and jeans. It gave me a journalist look. I normally don't carry my specs but I remember reading in a newspaper that wearing specs in office gives you a serious look.. So, here I was aiming to be the next editor of Ht. Big dreams!
The building was magnificent. Again the feeling of nervousness took over me. People moving here and there with suits and ties. Shit, I looked so casual. The aspiring editor feeling punctured back to a mere intern.
I took the stairs and reached the editor's office. The guard told me to wait. I sat on the red couch setting my hair and wiping the signs of nervousness from my face. Finally, this is it. I'm interning in this big,palatial office. In coming years I'll be the editor and all these people will salute me. I'll make my office colorful and lively.
I'll...
"Come in Sanchi", said Mr. Mahapatra, bursting my dream bubble. "Hello sir", I sounded too confident. "I mean good morning".
10 mins later I was shown my desk. It had a Dell computer and a phone. Hindustan times site was opened and I had to view it letter by letter. I read for the 1st 15mins trying to focus as hard as I could. After another 20 mins I gave up. I wanted a coffee.
The coffee machine was 10 steps away. It has cardamom tea,hot coffee, normal tea,hot water. I pressed for hot coffee and came to my desk sipping it. I again started going through the site reading blogs of eminent people. I could never write that well.
Drinking the last sip, I threw the glass and stretched my back. I was tired. I gazed here and there. People meditating on their computers, discussing and talking. Tension lines on their foreheads. I'll be the same in upcoming years. They say media line is fast but it was becoming difficult for me to pass my time, the clock refused to move.
During this time I was introduced to other 3 interns who would be working with me on the same project. We were expected to become eyes and ears of Noida.
Mr.Mahapatra informed about a meeting with the media head Mr. Vijay Thapa and him.
We had time and I was hungry. I decided to head to the canteen.
It was a nice,cosy place with every food item you name. I ordered for a bhelpuri and took a table. What would I say in the meeting I thought. What if I fumbled in front of everybody.
A thin looking man came to the table with tempting bhelpuri. My hunger grew a hundred times.
I gobbled it up and ran to the desk. Ready for the meeting.
The conference room was a very professionally setup place with a big brown table and chairs around it. It was a well lit room and 2 chairs were preoccupied already- Mahapatra and Thapa. We took our chairs and the meeting started.
After half n hour, it was decided that I would cater to the children of Noida, their schools,activities,education and special education.My friend Sahana decided to opt for social life of the people of Noida. Radhika wanted to write on civic amenities in Noida and less privileged people there.
The other interns too picked their interests and the meeting came to an end. The bosses were very open to ideas and offered healthy tips and suggestions.
Finally the day came to an end at 3 pm. We all strode out of the conference room to the exit gates talking and discussing about how to begin. Numbers were exchanged and they were no more the other students from some other college.
I walked towards the Barakhamba metro station, lost in thoughts. I wanted to become a singer till I was 13. Then a teacher till 21. And since morning, I had a new goal - an editor at H.t. I mean THE H.T..
