Chapter Sixty six

The student strength in Saint Augustine was less. Obviously the result of preferring quality over quantity. Still, there were so many departments and so many subjects that invariably the student count turned out to be in tens of thousands. Apart from few who give up in the middle or graduate early, the regular batch of graduating students would be few thousands.

Now due to the most hyped game launching after the exams but before the results, the graduating class turned out to be watershed or demarcating line. Were they still students? No, they had already given exams and there is no resit or supplementary for the graduating exams. So, they are not students of the esteemed institute. Of course they are. The results are not published, certificates are not given. Ah the confusion!

Barring the famous alumni, this batch had most power, technically, over all the students in the campus. So, of course, when such students put out the word of recruiting students for their team/workshop/guild and play together, the response was immensive. Seeing this as golden opportunity, the news department and current affairs department worked tirelessly and made lots of lists. It was not fixed to graduating class but they formed the bulk. Others, with superb wealth or charisma also made into the list. Being in such a list would become a thing of pride, something bragworthy. That's in future though. Right now, the power of the list is not evident.

Coming to the point, what did this list contain? Anything. Everything. Gossip. Rumor. Fact. Number of people recruited temporarily or permanently. Famous personalities recruited. The progress within the game. Rare skill or weapon purchased. A milestone reached. Amount of coins spent. Parties attended. If it was related to the game and the newsmaker was from the college, it made it into the news. The top most would be gracing the top ten list, top twenty list, top hundred list, top two hundred list and on and on.

The result day was busiest day for news room. On top of it, this time there was a puzzle, an enigma, a thriller suspense of whodonit. The news department was forerunner in the chase to find the person who had created a new history. But the lists had to be updated still. Who said students can't multitask? Who said rich don't use their brains? Come over, see the news department of Saint Augustine.

Clara Mehula had joined the news department solely because of her penchant for gossip. She went by her pen name Sazzy Sally. It was a open secret though. Clara wasn't taking journalism as her major. Beleive it or not, it was astrophysics. She had passion for stars. Her parents had money. She chose practically unemployable job course in the most elite learning institute. Clara like to mingle, like to chat and gossip mindlessly. Unlike other rich ladies, she never thought of the value of gossips and worth of word to mouth. What to do to hide this horrible behaviour? Find a good reason to hide behind it. Behold! A job in news department.

As Clara didn't have any background in journalism, video, graphics, music etc, her main job was to give the gossip, oops, sorry, the stories to reputed bona fide journalist student to flesh it out and publish it or talk about it their news channel. As such, she would get bogged down with other small and petty things to be done in the department.

As she watched the things to done on the result day pile up in the department, she hightailed and messaged that she would send regular updates and candid interviews of select few.

Clara was lucky. But her luck vaporised as the whole campus went on the hunt of the most mysterious student. So, she was called back to department and had to suffer from work. Oh, the misery!!!

She just had to check and update the lists. As most of the students were busy with the results, they hadn't sent any updates to news department.(Quid pro quo. You give truthful details. You become news. You give story. You get advertising and branding.)

Thankfully this job was okay. She was friends with many who were on the list.

"Hi, Mason! Congrats man! Saw your results. It was better than what you told."

"Yeah, yeah. Everyone is talking about him. He's like a circus monkey now. So, you know anything about it?"

"True! Well, forget about that! Tell me, when are you arranging the party?"

"Sure! This friday?"

"What? Party is in the morning?"

" Yeah, the ambience in Vistaa Vie won't change no matter the time of the day. But why?"

"Ah! You and your buddies are playing that game. Obviously you won't have time in nights. It would be so much better if the game could be played round the clock."

"Hmm, hmm! Hey listen! About the game, care to tell me what happened to you and your team yesterday? Any big or small things? "

"Oh, you mailed us already? Hmm, hmm, yeah. I see it now. Thanks bud! See you on Friday! Toodles."

A chat message to another girl. You don't talk to girls when you don't have time to spare. Basic rules made by Clara Mehula, the great.

A reminder to another. A call to a team leader congratulating and just a small note on updates. She got invitations to all the parties.

It might look there would be many parties but many of them would be hosted together. Binge partying! It was so last week.

This week would be more and more get togethers and spontaneous parties.

Though these college brats had formed their own groups and teams and guilds or workshops, they had enough people doing grunt work and background work that it merely needed a reminder to get the details from them.

Most of them had virtual offices currently. For meetings and as such it could be done virtually or in private rooms in restobars, surrounding the campus.

As Clara updated details slowly while collecting party invites, few hardcore businessmen playing the game were having tough meetings.

The talk - coins.