The same old grind every day

I hate what I do. Monday mornings call for more than just the bell of my alarm clock, more than the froth of my coffee and way more than the feeling of guilt eating its way through my sense of responsibility. Almost like a parasite.

Passing through the office gallery, punching my card and watching the screen say ‘IN’. I know it’s going to be a long day and no matter how many people on the desk to make it all happen quicker; I will still leave eight hours later. E-mails are in, work needs to begin and already my neck becomes my biggest enemy. It’s as if my body has already begun giving me warning signs: fight or flight — but I must fight.

Scrimmaging through over 50 websites, finding the most exciting of news to fit Tuesday’s page best might not seem as easy as it sounds. “No, that’s old … that trend is so last season!” I hear opinions over the ideas I have, making me go through another 50 websites till the line-up for the next day’s page is finalised for editing.

I know I look miserable. Nothing less than Facebook’s favorite meme: The Grumpy Cat. I am asked by neighbours and small-talk visitors, “why do you look so angry?” It makes me want to yell but I keep my composure. Three o’clock brings the biggest wave of adrenaline rush, five more hours to go and I’m not even close to having completed my work. Trends still need to be spotted and the red carpet fashion round-up is still pending while I scurry to wrap up Sonakshi Sinha’s latest interview in which she lashes out at weight critics. No one has it easy, do they?

At seven o’clock, the heart beats at its normal rate. Heavy breathing had slightly reduced but the head has woes of its own. The good news is, the pages are complete but the bad news is that they wait approval. I wait. I wait. I wait. Approved! I climb my way back up on and get on my pathway to home. I am as complete as is my work. Passing through the office gallery, punching my card and watching the screen say ‘OUT’. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday — I love my job!

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2014.