A to Z Challenge: Jaded

Links to previous parts:
Hanged

Insomnia

Aaron aka Aryan sat at his desk, staring intently into his screen. He couldn't focus on the article he was writing. It was three years since he had joined at the Journal and he was still writing about which fire escape had failed city codes with more than the allowed number of potted plants, which new loft restaurants were the best and which speakeasy was the one to be seen at. This was not the dream of journalistic ideals that had burned in his heart when he left NYU. " Dreaming of overseas war postings again?" Jim swatted his head from the neighboring desk. " That's asking for a bit much. I at least want to get off the lifestyle pages, " sighed Aryan. " Man, I don't understand you. If I got anything like the fan mail you get from those women, I would expire from joy." "I wish it had more to do with my writing than my byline picture." "Narcissistic much?" " Nothing but plainspeaking truth. I have had enough for the week. Leaving now."

As Aryan swept his belongings into his leather bag and swung it across his shoulder, he heard someone call out from behind him. It was Sean, his boss, mentor and now permanent bearer of bad news. He was the one who had informed him that thanks to his great skills on the lifestyle page, he would get a permanent byline and fixture. This week had been a long one as it was. He wondered what new news he would get and how it would affect him. Would this weekend give him reason to rejoice or mourn?

Aryan headed out of the office with a confused expression. "Hello, are you there, Aaron" Jim's cheerful tone went unnoticed. He did not know if one should be happy or sad with what he had heard just now.