Three days had passed since Rohan and his friends overheard Zara and Amir plotting against Varun, and the thrill of the mystery hung in the air like the smell of popcorn at a movie theater. Each day, they strategized, determined to uncover the details of Zara and Amir's plan.
"Okay, team," Rohan said, gathering everyone in their usual spot, a colorful lounge adorned with mismatched furniture and a snack bar that could rival any convenience store. "Tonight's the night. We need to find out what Zara and Amir are up to."
Elena rolled her eyes playfully. "You mean what we're up to—making a fool of ourselves?"
"Hey, we're just being proactive!" Rohan shot back, a grin on his face. "Think of it as a fun adventure."
Alejandro leaned back on the couch, arms crossed. "Fun? The last time we tried to eavesdrop, we ended up hiding in a janitor's closet for an hour."
"Alright, but this time, we'll be super sneaky," Ayumi chimed in. "I can make it happen."
With a plan in mind, they set off towards the meeting room where Zara and Amir were rumored to convene. They approached a door labeled "Executive Meetings" and pressed their ears against it.
"...so our plan is—"
Before they could hear the details, a loud crash echoed down the hallway. Rohan jumped back, and Elena stifled a laugh, her hand over her mouth.
"Seriously?!" Rohan groaned, peeking through the door again. "Can we not have one moment of silence?"
Ayumi glanced around, eyes wide. "What if they heard us?"
"Let's just stay calm and try again," Rohan whispered, his heart racing with the thrill of the chase.
They positioned themselves behind a decorative potted plant—far too small to conceal all of them, but they were determined to make it work.
"Remember, we're spies," Alejandro whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "We have to act cool."
As Zara's voice drifted through the door again, Rohan held his breath. "...to gather support from the other executives."
"Support? For what?" Ayumi whispered, eyes darting.
"Shh!" Rohan hissed, leaning in closer. "I need to hear—"
Suddenly, a group of executives strolled by, chatting loudly. Rohan's heart sank as their voices drowned out the conversation.
"Did you catch anything?" Elena asked, craning her neck to listen.
"Just something about support. That's it!" Rohan replied, frustration creeping in. "I need to know more."
"Let's move to the café," Alejandro suggested. "Pierre might have intel."
They quickly slipped away and made their way to the café, where Pierre was waiting with a smirk on his face. "You guys look like you just came from a heist."
"Close enough," Rohan said, plopping down next to him. "Did you hear anything?"
Pierre leaned in, a conspiratorial grin on his face. "I saw Zara and Amir earlier. They were being super secretive, but I couldn't catch their plan either."
"Ugh, this is driving me crazy!" Elena groaned, tossing a piece of popcorn in the air and catching it in her mouth. "Every time we're close, something interrupts us!"
"What if we create a distraction?" Rohan suggested, eyes lighting up with excitement. "Something to draw their attention away from their meeting?"
"Like a dance-off?" Ayumi offered, her laughter bubbling over.
"Or a giant cake!" Elena chimed in. "Everyone loves cake."
"Let's keep it simple," Alejandro said, holding up his hands. "How about we just create a ruckus? We can draw them outside."
As they tossed around ideas, the gang erupted in laughter, their camaraderie brightening the otherwise serious atmosphere. They plotted ridiculous scenarios, from a foam party in the lounge to a spontaneous talent show.
"We'll catch them off guard!" Rohan declared, confidence building. "With our combined powers of distraction, we'll finally find out what they're planning!"
"Alright, Operation Eavesdrop is a go!" Pierre said, raising an imaginary toast.
The gang laughed, high-fiving each other as they prepared for the next round of their espionage. Rohan felt a surge of energy—no matter how many times they had failed, he knew they'd figure it out together.
And as they left the café, their excitement buzzed in the air. They might not have uncovered Zara and Amir's secrets yet, but with a little creativity and a lot of teamwork, they were ready for whatever came next.