Chereads / Together In Shadows / Chapter 11 - Preparation for the Fest

Chapter 11 - Preparation for the Fest

After completing the critical tasks, I quickly pulled up my email. I summarized everything I had done—the accounts I had frozen, the IP address we had tracked, and the current status of the case. My fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard as I typed out the details with precision.

Once the report was ready, I reviewed it thoroughly, making sure nothing was missed. It was essential that Dhruv and his team had all the information they needed to act swiftly

I prepared a mail, I attached the detailed report and hit send.

Leaning back in my chair, I exhaled deeply. The tension in my shoulders eased as I realized that my part in this mission was over—for now, at least. The ball was in Dhruv's court.

If they needed more help, I'd be ready. But for now, I could focus on my other responsibilities.

As I sat back, trying to relax for a moment, my phone buzzed. It was Dhruv. I picked up the call, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"Heyyyy, you were spot on," Dhruv said, his voice steady but with a hint of excitement. "We raided the location based on the IP address you tracked. Although the fraudster wasn't there, we found all the computers and phones used to carry out the scams."

I felt a surge of relief. "That's a big win. Those devices are going to be a goldmine of information."

"Exactly," he replied. "Our tech team is already working on extracting data from them. This could lead us to the mastermind behind the operation."

"Good," I said, nodding even though he couldn't see me. "Let me know if you need anything further from my end."

"I will," Dhruv assured. "But for now, thanks, Eagle. You really came through on this one."

After a few more words of acknowledgment, I hung up the call. The satisfaction of knowing that my efforts had led to a significant breakthrough washed over me. It feels good when hard work pays off.

Now it's time for college sports fest.I pulled out her notebook and began making a list of everything that needed to be arranged for the upcoming college fest. As the head of the sports committee and a final-year student, I knew I had to be on top of every detail. The fest was going to be grand, especially with it being the 50th anniversary of the university, so the pressure was on.

Once the list was ready, I took a deep breath. It was a lot. I decided to arrange a meeting with the team members who were assisting in this massive task.

I quickly sent a message to the sports fest team: 

Hey team, let's have a quick meeting tomorrow at 4 PM in the common room. We need to finalize all the arrangements for the fest and distribute tasks. Please come prepared with your respective updates. See you there!

The following days were a whirlwind of activity for me and team.The moment I stepped out of dorm room each morning,I met with the chaos of preparations for the upcoming college fest. The campus buzzed with energy, and everywhere I looked, students were engaged in various tasks, all working toward the same goal: making this event a grand success.

The first task on my list was organizing the sports events. As the student council member responsible for sports. I started my day with back-to-back meetings, gathering my core team to discuss the schedule, logistics, and any potential issues that might arise.

"Alright, team," I said, addressing the group gathered in one of the lecture halls they had commandeered for planning. "We have a lot to cover, so let's dive in. First, we need to finalize the list of volunteers. We've received a good number of sign-ups, but we need to make sure we have enough people for every event."

One of the teammates, Arjun, a third-year student who had a knack for organizing, nodded as he scrolled through the list on his tablet. "I've already divided the volunteers into groups based on their preferences and strengths. We have enough for athletics, but we're short on volunteers for the indoor games."

I quickly made a note. "Okay, let's push for more sign-ups today. We can send out another email blast and put up more posters around campus. Also, make sure we have a backup plan in case we don't get enough volunteers. Maybe some of the council members can step in if needed."

Next, they moved on to the player registrations. The response had been overwhelming, with students from all departments eager to participate. It was my job to ensure that everyone was properly registered, assigned to teams, and aware of the rules and schedules.

"The football teams are almost sorted," Neha said, flipping through her notes. "But there's been some confusion about the cricket tournament. Some teams are missing players, and we've had a few last-minute entries."

I sighed. "Alright, let's fix that. Make sure the captains know they need to finalize their squads by tomorrow. We can't have any more changes after that. We'll also need to arrange practice slots for them—check with the sports coordinator and see when the grounds are available."

The conversation moved swiftly from one topic to the next. We discussed the logistics of arranging equipment, securing sponsorships, and even minor details like ordering water bottles and first-aid kits. My mind raced as I juggled multiple tasks, ensuring that nothing slipped through the cracks.

During one of the breaks, We took a moment to breathe and grab a quick coffee from the campus café.

"I don't think I've ever seen the campus this busy," Arjun remarked, taking a sip of his coffee. "It's like everyone's either practicing, planning, or running around trying to get things done."

"It's all worth it, though," I replied, My eyes were scanning the bustling café. "This is our final year—we have to make this fest unforgettable. And with it being the 50th anniversary of the university, the stakes are even higher."

Neha chuckled. "No pressure, right? But honestly, Devika, you're handling everything like a pro. I don't know how you manage it all."

I smiled, though my mind was already racing with the next steps. "Thanks, but we're all in this together. It's a team effort. Speaking of which, we need to finalize the practice schedules for tomorrow. Let's head back."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. My phone buzzed constantly with messages and updates. There were last-minute changes, unexpected challenges, and endless questions from volunteers and participants. But through it all, I remained focused, delegating tasks where needed and solving problems as they arose.

By evening, the to-do list had grown shorter, but there was still so much to do. As the team wrapped up another long day of planning, I felt a sense of accomplishment mixed with exhaustion.

"Good job, everyone," I said as we packed up their things. "Get some rest tonight—we're going to need all our energy for tomorrow. We're almost there, but the hard work's just beginning."

My phone buzzed on the desk, the screen lighting up with an unknown number. I hesitated for a second before picking it up—unfamiliar numbers were part of my life, but I wasn't expecting anything unusual today.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice steady and calm, as always.

"Hi, is this Devika?" a voice on the other end asked, polite but with a hint of familiarity.

"Yes, speaking. Who's this?" I responded, my mind already running through possibilities.

"This is Dhruv Gupta. I'm an alumnus of the college—graduated a few years ago. Ria gave me your number to discuss the upcoming sports fest," he said, his tone friendly but professional.

Dhruv Gupta. I recognized the name immediately. "Ah, yes. Ria mentioned someone from the alumni group might reach out," I said, keeping my tone polite and neutral, as if we were strangers.

"I wanted to see if there's anything you need assistance with. I've spoken to a few of my batchmates and some from the previous two batches as well. We're all willing to help coordinate for both the sports and cultural fests," Dhruv continued, sounding eager to contribute.

"That's great to hear," I replied, mentally adjusting my plans. "We're still in the process of organizing everything, but we could definitely use some help with logistics and maybe even some mentorship for the participants. Alumni involvement would be a big boost."

"Consider it done. I'll coordinate with my batchmates and make sure we're available to assist wherever you need us," Dhruv said, his voice carrying a reassuring confidence that almost made me smile.

"Thank you, Dhruv. I'll keep you updated on what's needed as we finalize the plans," I said, maintaining the formal tone of the conversation, even though a part of me felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

"Sounds good. I'll be on campus next week for a few meetings, so maybe we can catch up in person then," Dhruv suggested.

"That works. I'll see you then," I replied, already thinking about the next steps.

"Great. Looking forward to it. Take care, Devika," he said, his tone warm but still professional.

"Thanks, Dhruv. Bye," I said, and the call ended.

As I put the phone down, I took a deep breath. It felt strange to talk to him like this, like we were strangers. Yes, we are strangers basically.