Monday – Vaayu GP Headquarters (Mobile Ops Unit, Italy)
The whir of packing cases echoed through the team's makeshift garage. Engineers moved quickly but carefully, tucking away monitors, spare body panels, and disassembled sensor rigs into black foam-lined crates. Every tool had a place. Every item was logged, sealed, and tagged.
But even amidst the mechanical clatter, the air was oddly quiet.
Sukhman sat on an equipment case, helmet beside him, still in partial uniform. His face was contemplative — eyelids half-lowered as if stuck between thought and memory. Harinder approached, two cups of espresso in hand.
"Your soul leave your body or just your timing today?" Harinder asked, offering a cup.
Sukhman smirked faintly. "A bit of both."
"You can't keep doing this, yaar. Sitting around looking like someone stole your thunder."
Sukhman took the cup, eyes fixed on the loading truck. "Feels like I left it on the track. Again."
Harinder leaned against the tire rack beside him, sipping. "Look, you're allowed one bad weekend. Maybe two. Just don't start a trend, alright?"
Sukhman gave a tired chuckle.
Then his phone buzzed.
Charlotte Reid [09:41]
Onward to Barcelona. Hope the weather's hot enough to melt away regret.
He smiled, despite himself.
Harinder peered over. "Reid, huh? Texting you twice in two days? Should I get you both matching helmets now or…?"
Sukhman shot him a look. "Grow up."
Harinder grinned, "Can't. That's your job."
---
Meanwhile: Across the Motorsport Media Sphere…
The world outside wasn't silent.
Far from it.
Screens flickered across the globe with headlines, analysis, memes, and speculation.
From "RACE DAILY"
> "Barcelona Beckons: Can Vaayu GP Reignite After Monza Misfire?"
With Raghav Satyanarayan's squad under scrutiny and fan-favorite Sukhman Singh missing the grid in Monza, eyes turn to Spain. Will the phoenix rise or flicker out?
From "Motorsport Logic" (Podcast)
> "Jia Tan's top-5 in qualifying wasn't luck — he had something under the hood. The big question: is Contra Motorsports making a play for dominance… quietly?"
From "WorldTrackBuzz" (Fan Blog)
> "Charlotte Reid is back and sharper than ever. Don't sleep on her — she nearly took a podium at Monza. Spain might be her redemption arc."
Trending on DriveNet Social
#BarcelonaBurnup 🔥
#SukhmanDeservesBetter
#PhaseThreeTheories 🧩 (A viral fan conspiracy hashtag)
"Harinder For PM" (based on his trackside banter)
---
Inside the Quiet Meeting Room – Vaayu GP Strategy Call
Raghav, Maya, and Rina were on a video call with their European logistics coordinator. Behind them, race telemetry was minimized in one corner, and next to it — media analytics.
Maya pointed to a red graph. "We're still down in mentions, but Sukhman's absence has strangely spiked engagement. People love an underdog setback."
Rina added, "And with Reid's momentum and Charlotte/Sukhman rivalry chatter on social media by fans — it's building a storm we can surf on."
Raghav leaned back in his chair. "We're not capitalizing on gossip."
"No," Maya replied. "But we can shape the narrative. If Barcelona is Sukhman's redemption arc… we milk the return. Build a teaser, emotional music, slow-mo of his return to the track."
Raghav's phone buzzed. He checked it.
An unknown anonymous number.
> "Phase Three initiated. Target coverage expanding. Surveillance... stable."
He frowned. Said nothing.
Rina glanced at him. "Everything alright?"
Raghav clicked his screen off. "Just more noise."
---
Tuesday – Barcelona, Spain: Circuit de Catalunya
The trucks rolled into the paddock under the golden Spanish sun. The track shimmered with heat mirages, fans lining the fences early — flags in hand, posters waving.
From atop the grandstand, a man in a wide-brimmed hat lowered his camera and scribbled in a notebook. Around his wrist — a sleek black band with a shimmering emblem.
He turned to the person beside him.
"Keep eyes on Reid and Holtz," he said calmly. "And make sure Singh gets what he needs this time. Even a hero needs help."
He tapped a button on his wristband. Somewhere beneath the grandstand, a server pinged alive.
The race isn't until Sunday.
But the games has already begun.