Lights Out

"Oye, Priya! Don't forget the firecrackers!" Mom's voice rang out just as Priya was about to step out. "I got it, Mom!" Priya hollered back, the weight of her bag heavy against her shoulder. As she shut the door behind her, the scent of marigolds filled the air, mixing with the familiar aroma of fried sweets. The entire city seemed lit by those tiny twinkling lights that hung over every shop and house, like stars descended just for Diwali. She loved it, most of the time: the lanterns, the laughter, the sense of wonder. But today, there was a jittery sensation settling under her skin, and it wasn't merely excitement. Priya shuffled through the market, the narrow alleyways filled with sellers proclaiming their wares. Her mind flickered back to her tiny apartment, cluttered with screens and servers; it was her safe place, away from the din of the real world, away from probing eyes and expectations. Being a tech prodigy meant she was always orbiting people’s attention zones. As she adjusted her backpack, her phone buzzed. "New Job," said the message. It was from Ashok, an old friend and, occasionally, a lowkey informant. Her fingers flew over the keys. "Details?" Within seconds, a notification popped on her screen: a zip file. She jabbed at it, her eyes darting around to make sure no one was looking at her. Inside were bizarre and intricate maps; nothing about them seemed innocent. A mysterious corporation she didn’t recognize was amassing extensive data streams from seemingly disconnected districts. Heart pounding, she ducked into a small tea stall. She ordered a masala chai, her hands trembling ever so slightly as she revisited the details. Something about these maps shouted "conspiracy." At the corner of her eye, a flicker of movement drew her attention to a hooded figure, watching from across the street. She knew when someone was following her. Pretending she hadn't noticed, Priya left her change on the counter and sauntered towards the busiest section of the market. Her stride was purposeful, ears sharp for sounds. Echoing footsteps signaled her follower wasn't deterred. The clock was ticking, and she disliked the uncertainty. She weaved through the crowd, edging towards a side alley she knew was a shortcut to the bridge. With a silent prayer to unknown gods, she broke into a sprint. "Hey!" her pursuer's voice was muffled in the din. An unexpected sharp twist and another swerve, and Priya found herself in the safety of daylight, her heart still racing. She stopped to catch her breath just as her phone buzzed again — Ashok's number. "Call me," the message read. Taking another deep breath, Priya reached a safe distance and dialed the number. "What is this about, Ash?" she whispered, a tad out of breath. "Priya, I'm glad you called. This isn't just some hack job. It concerns the power grids. Someone plans to take them down during Diwali." "What the—? Who does that?!" Her mind raced through every motive but landed on none. "Some people thrive in chaos. I know it sounds like a movie plot, but you gotta trust me. We need you to intervene." Priya looked up at the bright sky, her backpack suddenly feeling ten times heavier. But deep down, the puzzle intrigued her. "Fine," she replied. "Give me access. I'll need three hours." With her heart pounding against her ribs, Priya snagged a cab back home. Hooking her laptop to the network, she settled in. Her fingers danced over the keyboard, navigating the web of data, deciphering lines of code faster than the light streaming outside. Two hours in, and she saw it — an algorithm. It was a kind of web done so messily it screamed for attention. It didn't belong. By the third hour, Priya had engineered a countermeasure, a virtual guardian that sealed the breach, rendering the flawed, chaotic setup useless. As she shut her laptop, watching the Diwali lights flicker through her window, Priya allowed nature's calm to renew her energy. Tomorrow, she'd celebrate as if nothing happened. But deep inside, she'd lit a path, one that shone brighter than the darkest mysteries.