It was Monday, also the first practice for me with the Music Club. I had been a tad bit excited for this ever since Saturday, but it looked like the same was the case with the other two selected. The other two were both more into classical music. Sagar, who played the tabla and Navya, who was trained in classical singing. And from what it looked like, I think they were the only two here who were into classical, the existing members didn't seem much into it. 

The practice was scheduled after class, though I am sure Nandini was here beforehand as she did bunk her last class, not that I was looking for her. Just looking at her this morning, I knew that it wasn't the day to mess with her. She was looking equally blank and scary as the day when I first talked to her. Mukti's theory again seemed to be right as I later noticed that it was another all Black day for her.

Everyone else walked in right on time, it didn't seem like they had anything planned out for the day as most of us settled down getting comfortable on the bean bags and relaxed for a bit. Nandini was inside the recording room, with headphones on, ignoring everyone as she did whatever she was doing earlier.

The others fooled around, Cabir being the center of attraction as he played some video of a prank that he pulled that morning on one of the teachers. 

Nandini: You know they would laugh much harder when you get expelled for pulling this stunt.
Nandini said walking in 10 minutes later. Taking Cabir's camera as she turned it off.

Cabir: They can't expel me...

Nandini: And who said that!

Cabir: You did... 10th November, last year. Exactly at 7:12 pm, you told me that they can't expel me.
Cabir said smirking at her, looking all too proud at himself for remember the random date and time.

Nandini: I said and I quote, "They can't expel you for throwing a party on Campus"... For what you did today, start counting your last days in here Cabira.

Cabir gasped in hurt, which nandini ignored as she turned towards everyone.

Nandini: Okay everyone! As mentioned during the Auditions, you guys are in the Band on a trail for a Month. 

She started, her eyes moving between me, Navya and Sagar.

Nandini: If you actually manage to endure the band for this Month, we will all be performing at the College Cultural Event that's in the first week of next month. This event will decide what your future is gonna be in the Band. And this is not just the new ones, this is for all of you, even the old Band members are up for this elimination.

Ridhima: What? Why the older ones and who would be the judge for who stays?

Nandini: I will...

Ridhima: Right, and who will judge you? 
She snapped making Nandini sigh.

Nandini: No one... Coz I am not going anywhere. You got any problem with that?

I looked down sealing my lips to hide my chuckle, even if anyone had a problem today, her expression at that moment won't let them speak up about it. No one said anything at this as she nodded.

Nandini: Thought so! Now, as I was saying we have to prepare for an event, so without wasting any more time lets start. 

Her gaze moved between all of us, as if thinking something before she pointed at Navya and Sagar.

Nandini: You two! Come with me, let's start with your instruments. Others, why don't you all sit and decide on what should be the theme for our group performances. 

Harshad: Great, I wasn't in a mood today anyways!

I saw Nandini ignore him as she walked towards the stage with Navya and Sagar with her. It was now that I noticed the new addition in the Music Room. Right next to the stage, the area was cleared up with a white duvet ready on the ground with a few classical instruments, like the tabla, harmonium, veena and sitar placed on it. 

Nandini: Okay, now is there any song that both of you would be comfortable to start with. You two are the only members in the band with a classical background and I am still thinking on how will we be incorporating you inside. Bollywood is one thing, but I am really looking forward in making classical a little better in our college. We can-

I was surprised by her sudden change of tone, while talking to them. But then, she did tell me that she tries to be civil while practicing. Mukti and Cabir started the conversation between the rest, as we got into a discussion of what the theme should be. They told me about a few themes that they have had in the past as I too started suggesting some. It was 6 of us, Cabir, Mukti, Harshad and me, along with Ridhima and Raghav, both of who played the Casio for the band. Somewhere in between our discussion we turned at the sound of Sagar starting up on his Tabla while I saw Navya sitting next to him with a Harmonium in front of her, not yet playing.

I think the band was well versed with being divided into smaller groups while practicing as the sound from the other end bothered no one as we continued discussion. I could hear Navya singing something softly in the background, but it seemed more of getting into the lyric mood than actually singing.

It was almost half an hour later, that we heard the sound amplify with the mikes being turned on. We all stopped talking at this, as we turned towards the three of them just as Navya started playing with Sagar joining soon enough. Nandini gave in some other beats with her rhythmic clapping along with their Music, until Navya started singing a famous hindi movie song.

Mohe rang do laal
Mohe rang do laal
Nand ke laal laal
Chhedo nahi bas rang do laal
Mohe rang do laal

Dekhu dekhu tujhko main hoke nihaal
Dekhu dekhu tujhko main hoke nihaal
Chhu lo kora mora kaanch sa tann
Nain bhar kya rahe nihaar

Mohe rang do laal
Nand ke laal laal
Chhedo naahi bas rang do laal
Mohe rang do laaaal...

Cabir: She is pretty good...
Cabir spoke up softly, as we saw Nandini slide up the veena closer as she joined in to the Music definitely surprising all of us, as I saw even Cabir's eyes broaden at the sight. And God, was she good.

Sagar took that as a que as he started with a bit of the classical notes as three of them playing to the notes that he sang. As he finished Navya continued,

Marodi kalaai mori
Marodi kalaai mori
Haan kalaai mori
Haan kalaai marodi.. kalaai mori
Churri chatkai ittrai
Toh chori se garwa lagai

Nandini and Navya:
Hari ye chunariya
Jo jhatke se chheeni
Hari ye chunariya
Jo jhatke se chheeni

Main toh rangi hari hari ke rang
Laaj se gulaabi gaal

Mohe rang do laal
Nand ke laal laal
Chhedo nahi bas rang do laal
Mohe rang do laal

Navya played for a little after this, and ended the song followed by Sagar, only for Nandini to shake her head at the two of them as she played her veena for a little longer, continuing the music before softly giving it a proper end as she sang softly,
Mohe rang do laaaal

Turning off the mike after a couple second Nandini turned towards the two. 
Nandini: While performing live, we don't have much liberty to soften the music or the sound to end the song. In the recordings, this is done later on while editing, so we have to give a proper end manually on the stage, dropping the instruments and Music one by one.

Sagar: Right!

Nandini: It will take a bit of practice, but you two are good.

Navya: You were amazing with the Veena!
Navya exclaimed loudly receiving a nod from Nandini.

Nandini: Umn, what were your names again?

Cabir chuckled at this shaking his head as Sagar and Navya told her their names before she got up and turned towards us.

Nandini: Okay everyone, so for this event will be having 4 to 5 solos, 1 duet and 3 group performances. 

My eyes broadened at the number of performances, not sure if we could pull up so many in such a small duration.
Mukti: Nandini... Isn't that a little too much?

Cabir: Yes... How are we gonna prepare for this?

Nandini looked at the two of them, before taking in the expressions from the others too, before she nodded softly and pulled up the whiteboard closer before writing down the details.

Nandini: Forget about the number okay. Lets take it one by one. For the group performances, we need one English, modern/rock anything. All of us will prepare for this except for Navya and Sagar. Next we have one purely classical performance, you two will take this up. We will look into the song and then see how many more instruments or people more do we need for this one. And last will be some Bollywood number, I'll try to include everyone in this.

Cabir: Sounds good.. Two performances for each then, we have done that before.

Nandini: Yes... So what did you guys think for the theme?

Harshad: Before that, what about the solos. You mentioned 4-5?

Nandini: You focus on your Solo Harshad, I haven't yet finalized the rest as of now. I will be supervising all the other solos, but I sure am hoping that you can handle yours.

Harshad: Of course, you know I am the best!

Nandini: I wouldn't go that far, if I were you...
Nandini said rolling her eyes at him. The guy was seriously a pain in the ass, no wonder she wanted to get rid of him so desperately.

Nandini: Okay... Your turn now!
She spoke up, pointing at me.

Manik: Turn for?

Nandini: Well, no one else was their during the audition. It's only fair you show them why you got selected in the first place.

I turned to look at everyone else before shrugging as I got up from my seat and moved forward. I picked up my guitar and walked towards the stage when Nandini whispered up to me.

Nandini: Your performance should be good enough for him to realize that he is not the only one running for lead vocalist for the group performance...

Manik: Is that an order?
I asked back making her glare at me.

Nandini: A request or an order, take it whatever makes you feel better. We have a deal!
She muttered to me before walking towards the rest as she sat in place of me.

I tuned my guitar, mentally selecting a song, before finally nodding to myself at one as I turned on the mike and started strumming the guitar. I saw Mukti showing me thumbs up, making me smile before I started singing.

Shayad kabhi na kehe sakoon main tumko
Kahe bina samajh lo tum shayad
Shayad mere khayal mein tum ik din
Milo mujhe kahin pe ghum shayad

Jo tum na ho... rahenge hum nahin
Jo tum na ho... rahenge hum nahin
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin

Suddenly I heard the drums come up to life and turned around to see Cabir winking at me, as he joined into the Music.

Jo tum na ho... toh hum bhi hum nahi
Jo tum na ho... toh hum bhi hum nahi
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin

Aankhon ko khaab dena
Khud hi sawaal karke
Khud hi jawaab dena teri taraf se
Bin kaam kaam karna
Jaana kahin ho chaahe
Har baar hi guzarna teri taraf se

Ye koshishein toh hongi kam nahin
Ye koshishein toh hongi kam nahin
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin

Jo tum na ho... rahenge hum nahin
Jo tum na ho... toh hum bhi hum nahin
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin

Jo tum na ho...
Jo tum na ho...
Jo tum na ho...

Mukti: Why the hell didn't you tell me that you could sing before?
Mukti exclaimed just as I ended the song, making me laugh into the mike, before I switched it off.

Ridhima: You really are good...
Ridhima spoke up as I joined them all, thanking her, while cabir simply patted by back.

Harshad: It was fine...

Nandini: No... It was good! I was right last time, you will be a nice addition to our band.
Nandini spoke up cutting him off as she got up.

Nandini: I think this is enough for today, let's start with the event practice from tomorrow.
She told us before walking back into the Recording room again. 

Mukti was the first one to run off, saying she had to meet up Abhi somewhere, as the others followed soon. It was just me and Cabir left at the end, as I helped him cover up the drum set. Just as I packed up my guitar, I heard him speak up,
Cabir: I take it that you agreed to help her. Quite unexpected though, giving the way you two were after each others neck the past week.

Manik: She told you about her plan?
I asked in surprise.

Cabir: I knew it the minute she selected you as a vocalist. Mukti's face clearly showed that the entire late audition thing was crap!
He said shrugging at it making me laugh as I glanced behind me to make sure that the recording room door was closed.

Manik: She is quite good at lying though, have to give that to her.

Cabir laughed out at this, nodding in approval just as we heard her move out.

Nandini: Your voice flattened up after the chorus. The "Aankhon ko khaab dena" part... you need to practice in order to have the flow going on. Also, Take up practice for some English songs will you? For us to be able to throw him out, you need to be good at that too...

Manik: You kept that to yourself in front of them... Why?

Nandini shrugged at it before picking up her bag as she walked towards the door.

Nandini: See you tomorrow Cabira!

Manik: Why can't she ever answer a normal question? Always walking out.
I spoke up looking at the closed door while Cabir laughed softly.

Cabir: Chill, you'll get used to it soon enough. Now lets go somewhere to eat or I'll die with hunger today.

Manik: No can do Buddy... I have to go check out a couple of apartments. I still haven't found a decent place to live.
I told him as I checked my watch to ensure that I wasn't already late.

Cabir: Hey I didn't know you were looking? You looking for separate flat only or shared?

Manik: Well I am fine with both. I just need it somewhere between college and work to make it easier for me.

Cabir: Well, I do have a spare room at home. Was looking for someone to lease it out, if you are interested?

Manik: You do?

Cabir: Yes, I even posted an add for this on my channel sometime back, but didn't get any good response.
Cabir said shrugging before he picked up his bag as we walked out.

Manik: Do you think I can come and take a look sometime today?
I asked him as we reached the parking lot, receiving a nod.

Cabir: Sure Man... Why not! Just give me call later okay?

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