A taxi came to the gate of the Oakbrook College. A girl named Emma came out from the taxi.
As Emma stepped out of the taxi, the crisp morning air enveloped her, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and the distant hint of coffee wafting from the campus café. The sun cast a golden glow over the sprawling Oakbrook College grounds, but Emma's gaze remained fixed on the imposing main building. Her eyes narrowed, a mix of emotions swirling within. Anger, grief, and determination churned like a stormy sea. This was the place where her sister, Eva, had spent her final days.
Emma's slender fingers tightened around the worn leather strap of her backpack. She had come prepared, her mind honed and her skills sharpened. The hacking tools and devices hidden within her backpack seemed to hum with anticipation.
"Welcome to Oakbrook College," a soft voice said, breaking the silence.
Emma turned to face the taxi driver, his eyes watching her in the rearview mirror.
"You okay, miss? You look like you're here on business."
Emma's gaze lingered on the driver before she replied, her voice low and even, "Just here to settle some unfinished business."
The driver nodded, his expression sympathetic. "Okay, Best of luck!!"
With a curt nod, Emma shouldered her backpack and stepped onto the campus, the taxi driving away as she disappeared into the sea of students.
As Emma blended into the bustling campus, her eyes scanning the surroundings, SRN's instincts kicked in. Sitting in the college library, surrounded by stacks of dusty books, SRN felt an inexplicable unease. He glanced up from his notes, his mind racing.
"Something's off."
SRN's unique ability, Property Guessing, allowed him to sense discrepancies in people and environments. Emma's arrival had triggered a faint alarm in his mind. He focused on Emma, observing her from afar. Her confident stride and determined expression seemed at odds with the faint vulnerability in her eyes.
"Who is she?"
SRN's curiosity piqued, he began to analyze Emma's behavior, searching for clues.
1. On her backpack there was a name, "Emma". Her backpack seemed slightly heavier than usual, hinting at hidden contents.
2. Her gaze lingered on the administration building, suggesting a specific target.
3.Her body language conveyed a mix of caution and resolve.
As Emma looked similar to her sister Eva, SRN guessed that she had some relation to Eva. SRN remembered: Eva was a student of 4th Year in the college, who did suicide because some personal problem.
SRN's Great Vision allowed him to notice minute details. Emma's eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness, and her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched her backpack.
"A connection to Eva's case?", SRN's analytical mind whirred. He needed more information.
SRN went to the library finding MON to tell her abou Emma...
SRN walked into the college library, spotting MON studying at her favorite table.
"MON, I need to talk to you," SRN said, sitting down.
MON looked up, concerned. "What's wrong?"
SRN leaned in. "A new student arrived today. Emma. Something about her feels off."
MON's expression shifted, a hint of jealousy flickering in her eyes. She concealed it quickly, but SRN, attuned to her emotions, sensed the change.
"SRN, why are you so interested in her?" MON asked, her voice tinged with irritation.
SRN raised an eyebrow. "Just concerned. Eva's case still bothers me."
MON's gaze dropped, her voice softening. "Maybe you're too close to it. Let it go."
SRN sensed MON's unease, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
MON's eyes flashed, a rare display of emotion. "You're always noticing other girls. First, Eva, who died in a mysterious way now this Emma!!!... You're so absorbed in solving mysteries, you forget about those around you."
SRN's eyes widened, realization dawning. MON's outburst stemmed from more than friendship.
"MON..." he began, gentle.
" Ignore Emma," MON interrupted, her voice firm. "Focus on us, on our studies. Let the authorities handle Eva's case."
SRN hesitated, torn between his duty to uncover truth and his growing feelings for MON.
A few weeks later, the Oakbrook College faced a huge porblem. The college computer was not working...
Principal Thompson's face turned beet red as he slammed his fist on the desk. "Find me someone who can fix this!"
The IT department head, Mr. Dube, trembled. "Sir, our system's been compromised. Someone's hacked into our server."
Thompson's eyes widened in desperation. "Who can help us now?"
Suddenly, he recalled SRN's exceptional skills, showcased during the "Project Eclipse" case.
"Get me SRN!" Thompson ordered.
A student messenger found SRN with MON in the canteen.
"SRN, Principal Thompson needs you urgently," the messenger said.
SRN exchanged a concerned glance with MON.
"What's happening?" SRN asked, arriving at Thompson's office.
Thompson briefed SRN on the hacking incident. "Can you help us? We've lost all our data."
SRN nodded. "I'll do my best."
MON's voice echoed in SRN's mind: "Be careful... Emma."
SRN furrowed his brow, staring at the lines of code on the screen. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't trace the hacker.
"I wish ANI were here," SRN muttered.
Principal Thompson's expectant gaze weighed on him.
"SRN, can you recover our data?" Thompson asked.
SRN hesitated. "I'm trying, sir. But this hacker's skills surpass mine."
Thompson's face fell.
Just then, MON walked in.
"Any progress?" she asked.
SRN shook his head.
MON's eyes locked onto SRN's. "Maybe Emma's involved?"
SRN's eyes narrowed.
Days turned into weeks, and the college's situation worsened. Despite SRN's tireless efforts, the data remained lost. The college's reputation crumbled.
Principal Thompson's office was filled with anxious faculty members.
"What will happen to us?" a professor asked.
Thompson's face was grim. "The head office has ordered us to close temporarily."
Gasps echoed through the room.
Suddenly, Thompson's phone rang.
"Principal Thompson," he answered.
His expression darkened.
"What?... When?... Okay, I'll inform everyone."
He hung up.
"Head office has decided to shut down the college permanently," Thompson announced.
Cries and murmurs filled the room.
SRN and MON were sitting together on the roof of the college.
Breaking the silence SRN said in a sorrowful voice, "I lost!! I cannot save our college. MON! I am giving up!!!"
Suddenly he felt a head on his shoulder. MON grabbed his arms and placed her head on his shoulder. She said, "Don't lose hope. It's not the end.... I trust you, you can save our college."
SRN's resolve strengthened. "Thank you MON" said SRN.
SRN's call finally reached ANI, who cut his vacation short.
Two days later, ANI burst into the college, determination etched on his face.
"SRN, fill me in," ANI ordered.
SRN briefed ANI on the events.
ANI's eyes narrowed. "Let's get to work."
Hours passed in a blur as ANI worked tirelessly.
Finally, ANI's eyes lit up. "I've got something!"
SRN leaned in.
"The hacker used a custom software – 'DLLZ'," ANI revealed.
SRN's eyes widened. "Can you track the hacker?"
ANI nodded. "Working on it."
MON joined them, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Any lead on Emma?" SRN asked.
MON hesitated. "I saw her lurking around the computer lab."
ANI's face fell. "I've hit a wall. 'DLLZ' is all I can find. No digital footprint, no IP address, nothing."
SRN's frustration grew. "We're back to square one."
MON's voice softened. "ANI, you tried."
ANI's eyes narrowed. "This hacker's good, but I won't give up."
SRN stood. "Let's review what we know: 'DLLZ', Emma's suspicious behavior, and the college's data wipe."
After so many failed attempts, they went to their homes.
That night SRN didn't slept. The whole night he was cracking the code word "DLLZ" and finally he cracked the meaning of "DLLZ".
The next day he told it to MON and ANI.....
SRN's eyes gleamed with triumph as he gathered MON and ANI.
"I cracked it," SRN announced. "DLLZ isn't just software – it's Emma's codename."
MON's eyes widened. "How?"
SRN explained, "She took the previous letter of each letter : D (before E), L (before M), L (before M), Z (before A). DLLZ – EMMA."
ANI whistled. "Clever."
MON's face hardened. "We have proof now."
ANI nodded. "Time to confront Emma."
"But why Emma did this?!!" asked MON.
SRN said, "We have enough evidence. Let's take her here, then she will tell us by her own. "
The trio devised a plan-
MON became a good friend of Emma and take her to the library where SRN and ANI were waiting for them.
As MON entered with Emma, SRN started, "A great brain huh?!! But not better than mime. 'DLLZ' stands for 'EMMA' I figure it out, so don't give me any unnecessary excuse. Just tell me why you did this?!!"
Emma's composure crumbled. "How...how did you?"
ANI stepped forward. "That's not important. Why did you hack into our college's system?"
Emma's gaze darted between the trio, searching for an escape.
SRN's voice hardened. "Tell us, Emma. What drove you to destroy our college's reputation?"
Emma's shoulders slumped, defiance replaced by desperation.
"I didn't mean to...hurt anyone," Emma stammered. "I needed to erase my past."
MON's curiosity sparked. "What past?"
Emma's voice barely above a whisper. "I was expelled from my previous college...for hacking. I wanted to start fresh, but your college's background checks would've exposed me."
SRN's expression softened slightly. "Why not seek help instead of harming others?"
Emma's tears flowed. "I was desperate...and alone."
The trio exchanged weighted glances.
Emma started, "My elder sister Eva was a brilliant student of this college. Many times she brought pride to the college. But when she was in 4th year she mistakenly did a blunder in a programme of the college. The principal got angry and suspended her from the college. After that she was depressed and did suicide." Emma stopped. Tears filled her cheeks. She started again, "I just take the revenge of my sister."
Knowing that she did the wrong thing, the trio felt sorry for her.
SRN said, "Sorry to hear that. But what you did, is wrong. Eva was a great student and the whole college still remember her."..... "Let's take a fresh start. Can you brought all the data again?!!"
Emma replied, "Yes I can! I am doing it, after that you can tell the principal and call the police."
The trio said, "Don't worry. It's between among us. No one will know about it."
"Thank you!!", Emma said with a tear of joy in her eyes.
The trio smiled.
With SRN, MON and ANI's guidance, Emma worked tirelessly to restore the college's data. Days passed and the college began to recover. The head office also ordered to re open the college.
Principal Thompson praised the trio for their outstanding technical skills.
The trio shared knowing glances, keep Emma's secret safe.
Emma approached SRN, her eyes were shining. "Thank you for all of these" she said.
As Emma thanked SRN, MON's expression shifted from warmth to unease.
"Thanks, SRN," Emma said, her eyes shining. "I owe you one."
SRN smiled. "No need to thank me, Emma. Just stay on the right path."
MON's face fell, her eyes narrowing.
"Hey, SRN, can I talk to you for a sec?" MON asked, her tone laced with irritation.
SRN obliged, following MON to the side.
"What's up, MON?" SRN asked.
MON crossed her arms, pouting. "You're being too nice to her."
SRN chuckled. "She's trying to make amends."
MON's voice dropped to a whisper. "I thought we were close, SRN. But now you're all about Emma."
SRN's expression softened. "MON, you're misunderstanding."
MON's eyes flashed. "No, I'm not! You're always helping others, but what about me?"
SRN's hands enveloped MON's. "You're my best friend, MON. Nothing changes that."
MON's pout gradually faded, replaced by a hint of a smile.
Suddenly she kissed on SRN's cheek and left the place quickly leaving him behind.
SRN's eyes widened in surprise as MON's lips brushed against his. The sudden kiss left him breathless. Before he could process, MON swiftly turned and walked away, leaving SRN stunned. For a moment, SRN stood frozen, his mind reeling.
A gentle smile spread across his face as he watched MON disappear into the distance.
THE END