The days were flying by in a blur of meetings, preparations, and endless to-do lists. Our usual late-night chats had turned into planning sessions, and the stress was starting to show on everyone's faces. But amidst the chaos, we found moments to breathe and laugh.
I was sprawled on my bed, my laptop balanced on my knees, going through the list of volunteers one more time. Neha was pacing around the room, clutching a stack of papers while Ria sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through her phone. Namratha was the only one who seemed somewhat calm, sipping her coffee and pretending to read a book.
"Devika, did you finalize the list for the cricket tournament?" Neha asked, her voice tinged with urgency.
"Yeah, I sent it to you this morning. Check your email," I replied, not looking up from my screen.
Ria let out a sigh. "Can you believe the cultural fest is right after this? I feel like I haven't slept in days."
"You haven't," Namratha said with a smirk, glancing up from her book. "But neither have we. Welcome to final year chaos."
"Chaos is an understatement," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "If I hear one more person ask me about the sports schedule, I might lose it."
Ria chuckled. "Just think, though. In a week, it'll all be over. And we can finally relax. Maybe even sleep."
Neha shook her head. "Relax? We still have to help with the cultural fest, remember? And don't forget the alumni event."
I groaned. "Why did we sign up for all of this again?"
"Because we're seniors, and it's our responsibility to make sure everything runs smoothly," Namratha said in a mock-serious tone.
Ria rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Responsibility. But seriously, we need to plan something fun after all this is done. Like a weekend getaway. Somewhere far, far away from campus."
"I'm in," Neha said immediately. "As long as there's no planning involved. I just want to show up and relax."
"Deal," I said with a smile. "But first, let's survive this week."
Ria looked at me, her expression turning serious for a moment. "How are you holding up, Devika? You've been juggling so much lately."
I paused, thinking about the countless tasks I had on my plate—both for the fest and my other responsibilities. But I pushed those thoughts aside, forcing a smile. "I'm fine. It's just a lot, but I can handle it."
"Of course you can," Namratha said, giving me a reassuring nod. "You're the best coordinator we've got."
"Did you manage to finalize the list for the volleyball teams?" Ria asked, glancing at me as she hurriedly scribbled some notes.
"Almost," I replied, "Just a few more confirmations left. I swear, it's like herding cats with some of these guys."
Namratha chuckled, "Tell me about it. I've been trying to sort out the logistics for the cultural fest, and it's chaos."
Just then, Neha's phone buzzed. She grinned as she checked the screen. "Alright, everyone, take a break! Pizza's on me tonight!" she announced, standing up.
"Pizza? You're a lifesaver, Neha!" Ria cheered, the exhaustion momentarily lifting from her face.
"Considering how hard we've all been working, it's the least I could do," Neha said with a smile. "Plus, I think we deserve a treat."
Neha jumped up with a grin. "That must be the pizza!" she said, heading to the door. The rest of the group perked up, the scent of melted cheese and garlic wafting through the room as she opened the door.
"Thank you!" Neha said to the delivery boy, handing over the money. She turned around with the pizza boxes stacked in her arms, balancing them carefully as she made her way back to the table.
"Finally!" Ria exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. "I've been dreaming about this moment all day."
Namratha helped Neha set the boxes on the table, and they all crowded around, eager to dig in. The sound of boxes opening filled the room, and soon enough, they were all reaching for slices of their favorite toppings.
"Mmm, this is so good," Devika said between bites, sinking back into her chair. "Neha, you seriously have the best ideas."
Neha smiled, "I knew we needed a little pick-me-up. Plus, it's nice to take a break from all the craziness."
Ria took a big bite of her slice and nodded in agreement. "This is exactly what we needed. A little comfort food goes a long way."
As they ate, the conversation flowed freely, a mix of lighthearted jokes and chatter about the fest preparations.
"I can't believe how much we've gotten done this week," Namratha said, grabbing another slice. "But it feels good, right? Like, we're really making this happen."
"Definitely," Devika agreed. "And with pizza as fuel, we can tackle anything."
They all laughed, the mood in the room light and easy. For a moment, they forgot about the stress of the sports fest and just enjoyed each other's company, the pizza making everything a little bit better.
As the last slices disappeared, they leaned back in their chairs, content and full. "Thanks, Neha," Devika said with a smile. "This was exactly what we needed."
"Anytime," Neha replied, beaming. "Now, who's ready to get back to work tomorrow?"
Ria groaned playfully, "Let's just enjoy the rest of tonight before we think about tomorrow."
The event was only a week away, and the final preparations needed to be perfect. I walked across the field, checking the arrangement of the tents, the setup for the track events, and ensuring that everything was on schedule.
As I moved towards the main area, I spotted a group of students gathering around one of the team members. Something about the scene made me pause. One of the men standing there looked oddly familiar. His posture, the way he held himself with quiet confidence—it triggered a memory in her mind.
It was Dhruv.
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him. I had been talking to him on the phone, but seeing him in person, here at the field, felt different. I hadn't expected to run into him so soon, especially not in the middle of all the chaos of the sports fest.
He was dressed casually, blending in with the students, yet there was something about him that stood out. His presence was commanding, even without trying. As he approached, talking with one of the team members, their eyes met briefly.
Dhruv gave her a small nod, acknowledging her presence without giving away anything. It was almost as if they were strangers—yet both knew there was more beneath the surface.
"Good morning," Dhruv greeted, his voice calm and collected. "I'm here to see how things are going. I've been coordinating with the alumni for this event."
I managed a polite smile, keeping my composure. "Morning. Everything's coming along well. We're just making sure all the final touches are in place."
"Great to hear," Dhruv said, glancing around the field. "If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to let me know."
"Will do," I replied, her voice steady, though my mind was racing.
"Looks like everything's in good hands," Dhruv said after a moment, giving me a slight smile.
"So, let's start with the fest arrangements," he began, leaning back in his chair. "What's the plan, and how can I help?"
I nodded, pulling out a small notebook I had brought with me. "Alright, here's the rundown. The sports fest is divided into two main segments: the preliminary rounds and the final events. We've scheduled the preliminaries for the first three days. After that, we'll have a rest day, and then the finals over the weekend."
I flipped through a few pages, showing him the schedule I had meticulously planned out. "We've got teams from all departments competing. I've assigned different volunteers to manage each sport—football, basketball, cricket, athletics, and so on. The main challenge is coordinating everything so that the matches don't overlap and the facilities are ready."
Dhruv glanced at the schedule, impressed. "Looks like you've got everything under control. How do the alumni fit in?"
"That's where you and the others come in," I explained. "We need you guys to help with mentoring and managing the teams. Since you've all been through this before, your experience can guide the current students. Plus, having alumni around adds to the spirit of the event."
Dhruv nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. I've already spoken to a few of the others, and they're on board. We'll coordinate with the team captains and make sure everything runs smoothly. Anything else?"
I hesitated for a moment before continuing. "There's one more thing. We need some extra hands for logistics—setting up the fields, managing equipment, making sure everything is in place before the events start."
"I'll arrange that," Dhruv said. "We can pull in some juniors to help out. You just let me know what you need, and we'll make it happen."
"Thanks, Dhruv," I said, grateful for his willingness to assist. "I really appreciate it."
He smiled. "No problem. We'll make sure this fest is a success."