AvNeil: Chase Against Time

Chapter Twenty Nine

In the conference hall with a bunch of interns, crew members and her best friends - Ali and Zeenat, Ananya was planning for the charity event. A fund raiser event that could in turn help to shape a better life for many. She had catered to each department individually, considering the requirements and ways to meet the same. The only department they were left with was security. A department she wouldn't dare to mess with. The security setup was to be handled by the four of them - Ali, Zeenat, Aman and Ananya.

As everyone dispersed, she spoke, "The security needs to be overlooked by the four of us. Aman would be monitoring the security cameras and all other high-tech security concerns along with the technical department."

She noted the areas of concern as she roughly sketched out the functioning of the event. "Volunteers can be put around for basic security. Maybe at the entrance gate, the parking and few scattered around the venue for obvious reasons," she rambled, while mentally calculating the head count she would need in the said team.

"The invitations need to be thoroughly checked and matched with the database before letting anyone in. Also, the reporters need not be entertained," she added firmly. "Keep them out," both Ali and Zeenat nodded their head in agreement.

"And what about the cops?" Ali pointed out. "Do we also throw them out?"

"You can try as much as you want to," their heads whipped into the direction of the voice. There stood ACP Neil Khanna leaning onto the door frame with his hands stuffed into his pant pockets while adorning a toothy smile. "But you will fail," he marched towards them and glared at Ali only to add, "miserably."

It had been almost half an hour since he stood behind the door, contemplating whether to enter the conference room when she is surrounded by crew members and volunteers. Once the said crowd left the conference room, he waited for the three of them to wrap up but they didn't. Instead, they were indulged in a discussion. Without having intended to, he heard her crisp voice laced with immense authority being shot at the other two. It was Ali's question that caught his attention. Determined to let them know that he wasn't easy to tackle, he declared the same.

"Excuse me," Zeenat narrowed her eyes at him. There wasn't a chance she would let her team be pulled down for being incapable. She didn't need anyone else to prove him how capable they were. "You have no right to barge in like this and interfere in the matters that is of no concern to you," she tried reminding him the rules in his own language. He didn't seem to take the message though.

Ali butted in, "you heard her, now leave," he bobbed his head towards the door but Neil chose to ignore him. Zeenat had pinned his fist onto the table, under her hold, restraining him from flying it across the cop's face. Ali's blazing eyes caught Ananya's attention.

"What brings you here, Officer?" Ananya stepped between the two and hopped into the conversation, ignoring the tiff that was about to take place. She was least interested to rectify either of the men.

"You," Neil replied in a beat. His eyes gazed into her puzzled ones. He gritted in annoyance, "What are you doing here?"

Her nose scrunched up in confusion but she chose to reply, "Work?" It reflected to be a question instead of an answer.