or consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise
circulated in any form of binding or cover, other
than that on which it is already published, and
without a similar condition being imposed on the
subsequent purchaser.

All characters, or places, except those
specifically mentioned to by their actual names
and are known personalities or places, are
fictional,and any resemblance to real persons,
living or dead, is purely coincidental.






PROLOGUE

Vikas was smart, fair complexioned, had wavy
black hair, looked more like a model, and was of
athletic build.

A well-established lawyer with a fairly
intelligent mind, and lean looks. Except that
‘intelligence’ today is measured by
the amount of zeroes your bank balance supports,
and not by the ‘intellectual property or
prowess’ you might have built up over the
years.

So apart from being a fairly good lawyer with a
fairly good bank balance, Vikas was plagued by the
vagaries of his profession which called for the
utmost care and commitment. One slip and the whole
case could go for a six.

There was however one major drawback which Vikas

faced, which was taking a huge toll on his
professional as well as personal life.

Having been thrust with the responsibility of
managing a career in the legal profession without
any major help or any godfathers, Vikas had his
task meticulously cut out for him. He had to
maintain his clients as well as to keep the
‘flag flying high’ which had been
handed over to him by his father who was in the
judiciary.

The one ‘vice or virtue‘ which this
dapper lawyer had, was to express his views or
keep ‘writing’ regularly, which he
did religiously, either in a newspaper column, or
through his own blog. For that he could don the
mantle of a journo or an author or a blogger. Or
all combined in one.

He had always wanted to be a journalist right
from the beginning of his working career. In fact

even while pursuing his law course he had joined a
highly reputed English daily as a
‘stringer’ and during his short
stint, would provide numerous stories for them on
a regular basis.

In his brief brush with journalism, Vikas had
done innumerable scoops on topics as diverse as
caste conversions, to an interview with a top
Bollywood film personality, who had managed an
election ticket for himself on the ‘ruling
party’ ticket.

Vikas’s big break as a journo came when he
was asked to take over as Chief of Bureau staff
from an already established journo. This invite
was based solely on the strength of his writing
and the writing on the wall for the established
journo was clear for all to see. He however
declined the offer, Good Samaritan that he was.
Reason being, as he didn’t want to
destabilize the family of the ‘established

journo’.

The established journo was almost in tears for
losing face but was assured by Vikas that he would
not ‘take over’ his job at any cost
and he would remain boss always. Good sense
prevailed all around and the established journo
called Hyder was neither removed from his job nor
was ‘demoted’ and continued as
before, while Vikas stuck on as a
‘stringer’. So much for
‘human’ sacrifice, good deeds and
impeccable conduct.

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