Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 88

As the day progressed, the entire team gradually became aware of what had happened. Yet, like the close-knit family they were, no one brought it up directly. There was a silent, unspoken support for Meera—a comforting presence rather than probing questions.

After the morning’s conversations, everyone had left for the stadium. The players were immersed in practice, Meera stayed busy coordinating with Maithili, and Sanjana was engrossed in her responsibilities with the ICC team. It was a day full of activity, yet an underlying sense of unity prevailed.

As the evening descended, Meera walked briskly toward the boys on the field, her tone commanding. “Alright, boys. Security team meeting when we get back to the hotel.”

A collective groan rose from the group, the players exchanging exaggerated looks of mock despair. Meera didn’t miss a beat. “Bohot Twitter aur Instagram chal raha hai na tum logon ka. Meet me later in the conference room.” Her pointed remark made a few of them chuckle, but they knew better than to defy her.

Jasprit, couldn’t resist laughing outright. Meera turned to him sharply, her expression stern but laced with humor. “Aur aap bhi, Mr. Vice-Captain. None of you miss the meeting. Samjhe? See you later.”

With that, she spun on her heels and walked off, leaving the players shaking their heads but smirking at her no-nonsense attitude.

As she disappeared into the distance, Virat leaned closer to Rahul, his voice low and thoughtful. “I can’t tell if she’s okay or not. She’s built her walls so high.”

Rahul nodded, his eyes following Meera. “I don’t know either, Virat. But what I do know is that she’ll be okay. Not just because she’s strong, but because she’s got us around.”

He clapped Virat on the back. “Let’s go before she decides to kill us for being late.”

The two of them jogged back to join the others laughing about it.

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The conference room was quiet, a low hum of the projector filling the air as Meera, Maithili, and the local security detail prepared for the meeting. Laptops were open, files stacked neatly, and a map of the premises displayed on the screen. The atmosphere was professional, with an edge of anticipation.

As the players and coaches entered, Meera stood, her gaze sweeping over the group. “Alright, everyone. We’ll keep this brief. Maithili will lead the briefing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

Maithili stepped forward, her tone crisp and professional. “We’ve organized the team’s security into three tiers,” she began, clicking a remote to zoom in on the map. “Tier one focuses on immediate proximity during travel, practice sessions, and matches. These personnel will shadow the players at all times.” The screen shifted to highlight key areas.

“Tier two ensures the perimeter security of the hotel and practice grounds. We’ve coordinated with local law enforcement to prevent unauthorized access to these zones. Tier three involves background surveillance—monitoring entrances, exits, and public gathering areas for any suspicious activity.”

She continued, her confidence growing with each detail. “All schedules are encrypted and shared only with the core security team. Players and staff will be informed of travel plans just hours before departure. Additionally, hotel staff and drivers assigned to the team are undergoing strict background checks.”

The projector displayed a contingency plan. “In the event of a threat, evacuation to a designated safe zone will occur within fifteen minutes. Medical assistance and police reinforcements are already on standby. Mock drills have been conducted to ensure everyone understands their roles in emergencies.”