Earlier this week, Mrigank Dubey was busy solving a murder. An unidentified woman's body had been found at the home of a certain Gargi Sharma, who had disappeared. Dubey, an executive assistant, was a member of a team led by Detective Anamika of the Secret Society of Sleuths, a private detective firm, tasked with getting information from Sr Inspector Gaitonde, an officer of the Crime Branch of India, while pretending to be a member of Gaitonde's team. Despite the high tension of being a double agent and getting caught, this year's Diwali, Dubey says, rocked.

Mrigank Dubey

Across Mumbai, and India, where festivities extend for days and office holidays are limited to just one, it's become a ritual of sorts to have an office party during Navratri, Diwali and Christmas. Each organisation has its own tradition—a potluck, tambola, a lucky draw or a harmless taash evening. However, with COVID-19 having put to paid any physical celebrations with the work family this year, the human resources departments across offices and industries are working on the double to make online engagements more interesting, with some even organising "decorate your WFH desk" contests to replicate an offline theme.