Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Interview
As the Editor-In-Chief of the Most distributed most prestigious Mumbai daily news, Ritesh Singh believed this topic was worth exploring for the people.
"Public opinion is surging due to that Viral video online.
And this can be a great opportunity to do an interview and ride the wave of popularity, we need to grasp it well," he said to himself.
He immediately picked up the phone and called, Rishikesh a award winning reporter and his most trusted reporter that work under him.
"Editor-in-chief, you called me so urgently. Is there something important to cover in today’s news headlines?" Rishikesh asked curiously.
Ritesh nodded on the phone, though Rishikesh can’t see it he can imagine it in his mind.
"Yes. There’s a program I need you to handle from today’s headlines .
The theme is very simple about to expose how tough it is to be a security guard.
The harder the life of the Security Guards you can show, the better. We want to shatter the illusion netizens have about this profession in their minds!"
As he explained the requirements, Ritesh emphasized every detail to the point.
Rishikesh listened carefully, nodding from time to time. "I get it.
Editor-in-chief, you must have seen today’s trending topics.
A security guard suddenly collapsed and died on duty. The entire profession is at the center of online attention now. If we follow this trend and do interviews of the people about their views on Security Guards, our program will definitely explode in popularity!"
Ritesh lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Exactly. Remember—the core of this interview is hardship and exhaustion of the guards. That’s what we want the audience to see the most."
"Okay, okay, leave it to me Editor-In-Chief!"
"The more we highlight the suffering of security guards," Ritesh repeated, "the more we can strip away netizens’ illusions on them. That’s how we will try to attract their attention."
Rishikesh face lit up with excitement at the prospect of this coverage.
I feel like a hit show is about to be born in my hands! Ha haa!
Although neither of them noticed the faint trace of contempt in their conversation about the profession of guards.
In their eyes, security guards had gradually become the lowest rung of society which are pitiful to be sympathized with but never respected.
———
Award Winning Reporter Rishikesh had prepared thoroughly before setting off for this coverage.
With two cameraman following closely behind, he began his day’s work about interviewing security guards.
For nearly an hour, they spoke with two guards. The more he listened, the happier his heart became.
Rishikesh realized that being a security guard was far more difficult than most outsiders imagined.
At the gates, when security guards want to enforce rules, they risked conflict with residents or visitors if the building.
Yes, Although their uniforms gave them authority, but in society’s eyes, their status was still painfully low.
They were often treated with disdain and contempt as though their work had no dignity.
And in terms of career growth? Don’t you dare to think about it!
Promotion was almost nonexistent in this profession.
At best, a man could rise to "security captain," and that was the end of this line of the profession.
"Other jobs have ladders to climb," Rishikesh murmured over a supposed to be break, but intentionally or unintentionally it got captured in the camera, "but for them, the ceiling is right above their heads."
He noticed that adding the line may alleviate his image in the public view and will also help bring out the bitterness in people towards each guards’ story.
Poverty, humiliation, and the feeling of being ignored these were woven into every answer of the guards by his expert hands.
As the camera rolled, the two security guards he interviewed spoke with surprising openness.
One mentioned his parents’ terminal illness, another admitted his wife had left him due to his work, and one man is even worried constantly about his child at home who needed money for his higher studies.
Rishikesh brows furrowed as he listened to them although he intentionally was trying to bring out their miseries but still he felt some sympathetic towards them.
But still they have their jobs to do, and he had his too.
"This will be the real material," Rishikesh thought with a sudden pulse of excitement, "for my program that is going to be my career milestone that can shake people awake. Once this goes online, society won’t be able to ignore it."
He quickly decided to push the theme further. Turning to his team, he said, "Let’s add some street interviews. Let’s ask them: Would you marry a security guard?"
The question seemed simple, but the answers revealed a cruel reality.
One woman scoffed at that, "How could I possibly marry a security guard? Are you cursing me?"
Another one said with a tone that leave no room for negotiation, "Even if I stayed single forever, I will not marry a Security Guard. I would definitely find someone with better conditions than them."
A third respondent gave only a single word on it: "No."
Though the faces changed, the meaning remained the same. Nobody wanted to marry a security guard as his husband.
Standing before the camera, Rishikesh drew a deep breath, his tone turning heavy as he gave his closing words to the camera:
"I think everyone has seen the truth. The social status of security guards is indeed very low.
Even marriage is becoming difficult for them. This is not an individual issue, but a social one and it deserves more of our attention."
"Cut! Did we get it?" he asked.
"OK, all good," one of the cameramen replied.
"Great. Take all this footage back and start editing. We’ve got something powerful here."
With a satisfied smile, Rishikesh made an "OK" gesture to his team.
But even as the cameras shut off, he couldn’t shake a strange feeling of being unsatisfied from this interview, like it lacked some flavour.