The event started! A separate section was allotted to the jury and Fab4 were settled behind them !! Maddy and the other guy had completed their performance and now the third finalist was going to step the stage!!

Nandini once again tuned up her guitar and brushed up Her vocals!! She was confident but the thick air surrounding her was suffocating!! She was nervous!! As the time was passing by she was getting conscious!!!

Manik on the other hand was busy glancing his watch!! It was as if he was desperately waiting for something to happen!!!

Suddenly Nandini's phone rang !
It was Shraddha!!
Nandini- hel....
Shraddha- BLOODY HELL WITH YOUR HELLO!!!!!!
Dude ! Are you mad !!!???? What the hell are you planning to do ???
Do you even know what shit are you stepping into,??????

Nandini - Shru.. listen.....

Shraddha- NO!! I will not listen!!
Till now she was just shouting but she calmed herself down and spoke in a comparatively smaller voice....

Shru- Have you even realised that you have kept your every thing on stake! ?
Today, I don't care about Manik, I don't care about Fab5 or Harshad or anyone else to be precise but YOU....
Manik ke saath face off karne k liye you wanted to participate I didn't stop you ..! Infact I am with you even now but tu joh competition ke bahar kar rahi hai woh galat hai !!

Nandini knew what Shru is talking about but she was stern !

Nandini - Its just the matter of tonight!

Shraddha- No! Its the matter of your lifetime !! Tu aaj agar jeet gai toh there is no issue but unfortunately agar aaj tu har gai toh socha hai wo log tumhara kya hal karenge !!
And I don't understand how come Neyonika auntie agreed to this ?? Mujhe toh laga....
she stopped abruptly as she realised something and that realisation was enough to wide her eyes in horror!!

Shraddha- ekk minute !! Does she even know about this stuff???

She waited for a reply but Nandini remained silent!! After few seconds, shru heard a faint voice..

Voice (crew)- Nandini Murty on stage in 5 !!

And later came just a sound- beep !

Nandini cut the call and took her guitar!
When she was walking towards the stage she thought about what Shraddha said! She was right! This time her everything was on stake!

Last few days of her life were extremely difficult and there came circumstances due to which Nandini was forced to do a deal with a shrewd moneylender and according to it if Nandini wins today she will get the winning amount which will compensate the money she have to give him but if she lose , she will be in a BIG trouble - it would be much bigger than it sounds!

Thus , apart from competing Manik, this was the reason why Nandini was desperate to win !! All she wanted was Money!!
She never dreamt for the lavishing album!!

And as Shraddha said, this fact was oblivious to Neyonika!!

She stepped on the stage and Manik straightened! He was just waiting for this performance to happen!!

Nandini took a deep breath and stood on her position! The spotlight was focused on her !
Her right finger had the plectrum and left was on the fretboard! She pressed her fingers on different frets in order to get a perfect chord and inhaled a deep breath to begin but just before that she glanced at the human form of Monster sitting in front of her - Manik!

THE SONG:

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

There, Shraddha tried calling Neyonika but due to high amplifiers she didn't heard the ring!
After trying all possibilities, when Shraddha failed, she decided to come to India !
She booked the next flight to Mumbai from San Francisco International Airport!!

Here,
As hoped by Nandini the performance was outstanding!! The jury were eased by now as the winner was confirmed !! Audience gave a wave of applause and standing ovation!!

Neyonika was on the backstage and had tears in her eyes ! The song was perfect! Nandini tried experimenting with her voice and it was successful!
There were no flaws! This song was exactly depicting Nandini's situation !!
Nandini just bowed down to audience as a gesture of respect and gave a look of pride to Neyonika , conveying that she did it!! In response, Neyonika gave her a wide smile!

After half an hour, the participants , jury and Fab5 were called upon stage to announce the winner! The media were telecasting the whole event live and even famous news reporters were spotted as for the first time Fab5 were going to sign an album with a newcomer!!

The music critic without any delays handed over the envelope to Manik !
Manik with all his attitude , personality and sternness walked upto the mike and adjusted it according to his height!
Next to him , at a distance and in a horizontal line , stood the Fab4 and the participants next to them continuing the line ! Nandini was the last !
All of them had their eyes fixed on Manik except Nandini! She had her hands folded on her back and was looking down!
Manik looked at Nandini turning his face to his left! He was practically staring her , wanted her to look at him ..!!
And it happened, Nandini in the same time frame looked at him turning her face at right!
Both Manik and Nandini had a momentary eyelock which was broken by Manik!
He again faced the audience and Nandini again looked down!

Manik - So the winner of THE MUSICANA 2016 is ...

Saying this he opened the envelope and unfolded the white paper from it !
The paper was blank with only two words printed at the mid centre with black fonts:

NANDINI MURTY

He read it and folded the paper back !

.
.
.

Manik- MADHYAM SINGHANIA

Shocked!

That was the only expression every one had - including Madhyam too!
The audience were also confused but they gave him applause!

Maddy was not at all responding! Alya patted his back as she was standing next to him!

Alya- Go ahead!

Madhyam walked - totally confused- towards the middle of the stage where Manik was holding the trophy!

Till now there was no involvement of Nandini!
When she heard Madhyam's name , she stood straight, "trying " hard to remain unaffected whereas the truth was she was shattered!
Her eyes at once began pouring her heart out! She didn't even dared to look up!!

Madhyam accepted the trophy and Manik hugged him! Loud hooting were heard there after and ribbons were dropped !!
The jury too were dubious about this change but remained quiet as they didn't wanted to oppose The Manik Malhotra!!

It is said that The Best Revenge Is Massive Success But This Time It Turned Out To Be A Worst Nightmare!

----------------------------------------------
My pace of updates will be depending on your votes and comments .. So please share your views ..

~
I N F Y S T A R _ 3 0