18. First stage Performance
1645 Words
"Nandhini" I heart that devil saying my name. I automatically saw him with confusion and he mirrored my expression but soon replace his confusion with his famous smirk once he knew that I am seeing him. No way, I have not given my name then how come he selected my name.
I turned to my next seat to confirm, but Navya is not there. It confirm Navya have given my name. She will get more reward once we return to our flat. Show organizer called out my and asked me to come to back stage.
"So you are singing with me today. What a nice day" Manik said once I reached back stage.
"If you don't want to sing with me, you have said some other names instead mine"?
"I won't lie"
"Don't give those innocent looks, I won't buy all these"
"It is up to you, and I don't have to prove myself to you"
"You guys never stop. We are here to select a song that you need to sing" Cabir interfered.
"Look, who is speaking? If Navya is here, I would have said the same to you. And I don't want to sing with this Eiffel tower". I said to Cabir as if I am complaining about my classmate to my teacher.
"Instead whining like a baby here, you would have went out the building"
"I prefer facing problem instead of running away from it"
"You just mentioned Manik as problem here?"
"You know very well that mentioned, no need to act Cabir" Manik glared at Cabir before turning to my side.
"Even you both like or not, you both have to. Manik, this is our show and you can not spoil this because of your ego and this will affect our reputation. Nandhini, you mentioned you don't run away problem so just prove it today by singing with him."
"Hamdard"
"Manwa laage from Happy new year" We both said at the same time.
Cabir gave us you-both-are-impossible look.
"These are not duet song, only male or female can sing. Use your brain and choose a nice song"
"Sanam re" Cabir suggested.
"I don't like the song" Manik and I said at the same time and we look at each other.
"I know he won't like some nice songs due to some stupid reason, you too Nandhini"?
"Agar tum saath ho from Tamasha"
"No, that song may look simple one but need more practice" Manik rejected my suggestion.
"Sapna Jaan"
"My voice won't suit that song" I rejected Manik's suggestion this time.
"Samjhavan, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania"
"No i***t, I have sung this song more than 100 times in most of performances"
"How do I know what song you sang in all performance?"
That one is truth, I saw him here and I have not seen any of his stage performance apart from hearing is album songs.
Manik intrude me with his calculative eyes and felt little disappointed.
Does he really dispoinnted or its just my imagination.
If he was disappointed, but why? No Nandhini, why he had to be disappointed, its just your imagination.
"Soch Na sake" Cabir suggested again.
We immediately see each other, nice song, I totally love that song and Manik also accepted it.
Manik went to the stage first and Cabir ask me to follow him. I was so nervous, I have stage fear. More than the stage fear, the crowd of audience and the noise makes me more uncomfortable.
I don't know how I am going to handle. Navya appeared knowing my situation and gave a hug, though I am angry on her, she appeared on correct timing which I need very much, so reciprocate the hug. Cabir too understand my fear may be from my shaking hands and sweeting faces.
"Don't worry Nandhini, they are not going eat you, for first 5 minutes you will feel weird, concentrate on the song and music, if possible see Manik, it helps sometimes seeing a person standing near us in stage may help us to calm and you will be relaxed."
He too gave brotherly hug.
When I am coming to front stage the people start to shout.
Attention, one more added to my fear list. Attention always suffocates me, I can't handle this crowd and noise, and I don't have to. But inner conscious order me to face and not to run. I was fighting and suddenly someone holds my hands and lifted my face see the owner.
I saw different Manik there holding my hand assuring nothing will happen with genuine smile. This Manik is totally opposite the person I saw for the first time, the person who is standing in front of me understands me and comforts me though I didn't ask for it and I was totally under the spell of his smile.
"It's only for 5 minutes and then the song starts; I leave your hand when the song starts, if you want you can hold even after that".
In some moments as he mentioned, the song starts...
tainu itna main pyaar karaan
ik pal vich sau baar karaan
tu jaave je mainu chhaD ke
maut da intezaar karaan
Manik sing the song by seeing my side with smile, I hold his hand don't want release. And he faced audience and continues to sing
ke tere liye duniya chhoD di hai
tujhpe hi saans aake ruke
main tujhko kitna chaahata hoon
ye tu kabhi soch na sake
Slowly I felt relaxed and started to enjoy the song and the flow of it. Manik see my side here and there while singing.
kuchh bhi nahi hai ye jahaan
tu hai to hai is mein zindagi
ab mujhko jaana hai kahaan
ke tu hi safar hai aakhiri
He suddenly holds my hand tight and I realized that it's my turn to sing. I thanked him through my smile and he smiled back like he accepted it.
ke tere bina jeena mumkin nahin
na dena kabhi mujhko tu faasley
main tujhko kitna chaahati hoon
ye tu kabhi soch na sake
And he continued and this time he didn't either turn my side and release my hand
tere liye duniya chhoD di hai
tujhpe hi saans aake ruke
main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
ye tu kabhi soch na sake
I just wanted him to turn my side but he didn't and once I turn come he meet my eyes and continue...
aankhon ki hain ye khwahishein ke
chehre se tere naa haTein
neendon mein meri bas tere
khwaabon ne leen hain karwaTein
ke teri ore mujhko le ke chalein
ye duniya bhar ke sab raaste
main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
ye tu kabhi soch na sake
tere liye duniya chhoD di hai
tujhpe hi saans aake ruke
main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
ye tu kabhi soch na sake
After the song, I felt a calmness like a strong storm have crossed us.
There was huge applause from audience and we moved to back stage. We didn't realize that we are holding our hand till Cabir teases.
"Wow, holding hands while singing, nice" he pointed at our intertwined hands to which we left our hands immediately with a jerk.
All Fab5 and Navya laughed at us for our reaction.
"But seriously the performance was outstanding" Mukti complimented followed by others and Navya.
"Thanks" Thanks to Mukti specially to divert the topic.
'Don't be so happy Nandhini' Cabir have a look.
"Yeah, the performance is magical and chemistry for both of you are also amazing" he winks at me and Manik.
Should I blush for this comment? Or glare at him which will be rude so I decided to act like I heard nothing from Cabir but Manik have some other plan that he is glaring at him like he is going to pounce on him anytime which is distracted by Alya.
"By the way, you sang well, do you learned how sing?"
"Her grandmother is her teacher is Pandit in classical music, but Nandhini didn't took singing serious" Navya replied on my behalf.
"But you have nice voice, Nandhini, you should give a try" Cabir praised and nod my head.
Okay, where we are going to party today?" Alya asked.
"Obviously to our hotel" for the first time Dhruv opened his mouth.
Party?? But why??
"We will party after every performance of us." Manik answered the questions in my mind.
"You are also in today's performance, so you need to join us." Cabir told.
"So you have invited, the girl who sang with you also?" Navya question only to earn a frown from Cabir.
"No, I have not invited the girl sang with me and also you" Cabir just with irritated reaction.
"But I am inviting Navya" Manik said immediately.
What these guys are doing? Playing with us?
"No one is coming. We need to catch a train tomorrow 10 and we need pack for that." I disapprove both invite.
Wait, does Navya want to go to the party? I asked her and she said yes. Seriously she wants to go to party with stranger who she has met only twice, Mukti is not stranger but still. But I know Navya, she always wanted to go to parties with friends which I don't. I would prefer to sleep than parting till late night. Strange but I don't like those party especially with strangers.
"Come on Nandhini, why you are denying. It's just a party"
"Mukti, I won't do anything other than sit and watch what you guys doing and I don't drink also. Navya, if you want to go, go and come tomorrow early, I will pack your things also" I informed them.
I am socially awkward person, I need time to be comfortable with anyone and more than I am not party type. Navya understands me and nods her head.
I said bye and left the place.
- Writer
