The following morning, Vijayawada woke to another major headline.
Every television channel carried the same announcement.
The newly appointed Chief Minister would inaugurate a new beverage manufacturing plant the next day.
The event was being promoted as a landmark investment that would create thousands of jobs and boost the state's economy.
Senior ministers, industrialists, government officials, and the media were all expected to attend.
Inside the lodge, Sathyamoorthy switched off the television.
He looked toward Lakshmi Rajyam.
Neither of them needed to say anything.
They both understood the significance.
Lakshmi picked up one of the documents recovered from the doctor's hidden phone.
The company name on the inauguration invitation matched the name in the confidential files.
She closed the file slowly.
This is the project he warned me about.
Sathyamoorthy nodded.
They're moving immediately after your reported death.
Lakshmi's expression hardened.
They've been waiting for this moment.
The signature they couldn't get from me...
they're expecting to complete under the new administration.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Sathyamoorthy unfolded a map of the industrial area.
The factory was located on the outskirts of Vijayawada.
Security would be extremely tight because of the Chief Minister's visit.
Lakshmi walked closer.
If the inauguration takes place...
the project gains public legitimacy.
Stopping it afterward becomes much more difficult.
He agreed.
Which means our window is today.
Not tomorrow.
They began planning carefully.
Their objective was not to create chaos.
It was to gather enough evidence to halt the approval through lawful authorities and expose the conspiracy behind it.
Lakshmi spoke calmly.
We need to prove two things.
First, the doctor's warnings were ignored.
Second, people manipulated the approval process.
Sathyamoorthy added,
And if we can connect that to the attack on you...
the entire conspiracy begins to collapse.
He opened the doctor's phone again.
Among the files was a scanned internal memo listing meeting dates, approval requests, and several names involved in the decision-making process.
One name appeared repeatedly.
The same official who had pushed for accelerated clearance.
Lakshmi looked at it silently.
I questioned every file he brought.
Now I know why he became impatient.
The television resumed with another report.
Workers were decorating the factory.
Stages were being assembled.
Security personnel were arriving.
The new Chief Minister was expected to cut the ceremonial ribbon at ten o'clock the following morning.
Sathyamoorthy looked at the screen.
Tomorrow isn't just an inauguration.
It's the final step of their plan.
Lakshmi folded the documents and placed them carefully inside her bag.
Then we don't let tomorrow happen the way they expect.
He smiled slightly.
For weeks we've been running.
Tomorrow...
we make them answer questions instead.
As night approached, the two reviewed every piece of evidence one final time.
Outside, the factory lights glowed in preparation for its grand opening.
Inside the lodge, the supposedly dead Chief Minister and the anonymous author prepared for the most important day since they had met on the Vijayawada highway.
If they failed, the conspiracy would move forward untouched.
If they succeeded... the truth hidden behind Lakshmi Rajyam's false death could finally begin to surface.