"What the hell are you doing in here?"

Recognizing that voice all too well, I sighed and turned to her, only to find her glancing all around the Music Room, as if wanting to find any sort of harm that I had done to it.

Manik: Chill, I didn't do anything to your room!
I spoke up making her eyes narrow at me before she glanced back at the instruments.

Manik: And neither to your instruments...

She looked to be contemplating my reply for a second before nodding ever so slightly.
Nandini: Didn't you see the board outside stating that no one outside the Music Club is allowed in here...

I was surprised at her casual tone, having expected the worst from her. I guess it would take a little time for me to think positively for her.

Manik: I came coz Mukti wanted to-

Mukti: Ohh good, we found you!
Mukti said as she walked into the room, walking straight towards Nandini.

Nandini: Mukti? You got him here?

Mukti: Yeah, your phone was switched off, I wanted to talk to you...
Mukti said with a casual shrug before nodding gratefully at me.

Nandini: What happened?
Nandini asked her, taking a seat on the table next to the recording room.

Mukti: You need to be there for the Auditions tomorrow!
Mukti spoke up directly coming to the point, making Nandini look up at her.

Nandini: How many did you guys finalize today?

Mukti: Not one!
Mukti replied making Nandini groan.

Nandini: Fucking idiots... Can't even take care of one thing!

Mukti: Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow! Could you kick Cabir's ass for not answering my calls...
Mukti asked her, making a smirk come up on Nandini's face.

Mukti: Oh and yes... I took the liberty of calling a couple people for the audition again, and I haven't told anyone from the band about it.

Mukti told her as the two of us walked towards the door.
Nandini: Okay! And Mukti... Thank you!

Mukti gave her a usual cheerful smile back as I opened up the door for her. Just as I was about to move out with her, I heard Nandini's voice again.

Nandini: Hey you New Boy! I heard you made the team, Congratulations.

I could hear the teasing tone in her voice, but somehow it didn't annoy me as much as yesterday. I guess it had something to do with her good mood,
Manik: You do know that I have a name right?

Nandini: Which I am too lazy to ask or remember! New Boy sounds good to me... Don't dare walk in this room alone ever again.

Mukti laughed at this as the two of us left the room. We walked out of the building as I spoke up,
Manik: She was in a good mood and your mood too seems to have lifted up...

Mukti: Nandini has her own way of being... Comforting? Just the fact that she'll be there makes me sure that the auditions would go fine tomorrow.

Manik: What happened today?

Mukti: Oh just usual arrogant dickheads not willing to select anyone in the band, just so that everyone sees them as ultimate stars... The Lead Male Vocalist, Harshad, is a jerk. Everyone knows Nandini wouldn't wait for a second before throwing him out, the only thing stopping her is that he is the only male vocalist we have. 

Manik: And he is making sure that it remains that way...
I said nodding as I understood the situation.

Manik: Cabir doesn't do vocals?

Mukti: No... He sticks to his Drums, which he is very good at. But he does take up tiny vocal parts sometimes, not much though!

Manik: Why?

Mukti: Coz Nandini hates his voice! She says Singing is just not made for him...
Mukti said with a laugh, making me join in.

Mukti: On a serious note, his voice is really not that good... Making us stuck with Harshad.

Manik: Harshad...

Mukti: Don't mention this to Abhi though! I don't really talk to him much about the band. He isn't too fond of Harshad.
Mukti said in a warning tone, making me raise my eyes at her.

Manik: Abhi not fond of anyone... Wow! Another Nandini?

Mukti shook her head at me before speaking softly,
Mukti: Harshad is my ex-boyfriend. We dated for about 6-7 months after the college started.

Manik: Really? 
I asked in surprise as I couldn't really imagine Mukti and Abhi to be with anyone else.

Mukti: Yeah, Abhi and I have been together for only over a year now! He says he loved me from the first day of college, but sadly it wasn't the same for me. I wish I found him earlier. 

Manik: Well you have him now, forget about the rest! Come on let's go find your lover boy...

------------------------------

The next day being Saturday was mostly for labs and projects, we didn't have any lectures that day, and not even any football practice, so Mukti convinced Abhi and me to go to the Auditorium where the Music Club was having their auditions. There were a few students seated there ready to audition. Mukti walked upfront, joining the rest of the band. Cabir started goofing around with her. Soon a girl, who I remembered to be on the Casio yesterday, got up on the stage.

"Hello Everyone! I am Ridhima... So, before we start I hope you all know the rules. Each one of you is going to get 3 minutes for your performance after which the band will decide if you are in or not. For those who get selected today, you will be a part of the Band for one month on a trail basis. If you manage to stick around through the Month, then you'll be in Permanently. Any questions?"

After getting a couple general questions they start with the Auditions. The first couple students were fine, but none got selected as such. I looked over at Mukti to find her staring at the stage with a grumpy look, clearly finding this a repeat of yesterday. On the 5th position came up a guy who played Tabla, and he was really quite good. I saw Mukti and Cabir nodding along with smiles at his performance, but as soon as the guy ended his performance, before either of them could say anything, Harshad spoke up "Next!".

Cabir: I think we should consider him!
Spoke up loudly, making his voice echo in the mostly empty Auditorium.

Harshad: He plays Tabla... What good could he do to our band?

Mukti: We do perform Indian too Harshad...
Mukti spoke up this time.

Cabir: Exactly...

Harshad: You guys can't be serious! We are not selecting him, that's it.

Cabir: You are no one to decide that.

Harshab: I am the lead singer! 

Mukti: The auditions are judged by the entire band. Not one singer!!!
Mukti snapped at him. I saw Abhi looking at them in concern while the other students waiting for their turn started getting anxious. 

"I think it was made very clear that every form of Music and instruments were welcomed at the Auditions..."
Came out a bored voice from somewhere behind us. Everyone turned around to see Nandini sitting alone towards the end of the auditorium, almost invisible in the darkness. I glanced at the doors, to find them locked from inside, making a slight smile come onto my face. She had been sitting their since the very beginning. God, the girl is weird.

Nandini: He is in! Cabir note down his details please... Next!
I noticed Harshad's jaw tick at this, but he didn't say anything as they moved onto the next one. There weren't many people who were good, and from their performance the last day, I knew the band had high standards. I wasn't surprised when most of the students didn't make it through. It was only until we reached the last three when Ridhima spoke up in confusion.

Ridhima: Weren't you guys rejected yesterday?

Cabir: I heard about their performance. Thought we should give them another chance.
Cabir spoke up almost immediately, making me smile at his obvious cover up for Mukti.

The two guys performed first, and both of them were vocalists and no surprise Harshab didn't like them. The last though was a girl, who performed a Hindi song, focusing more on the classical part. Just as she finished, Cabir spoke up, "She is in!"

"Seriously? Her?", Harshab asked again though a bit slower this time, his eyes moving down to her outfit. The girl was dressed in a simple salwar suit, clearly from a fairly conservative background, but all that she had a beautiful voice, and knew her Music well.

Before anyone else could say further, Nandini got up from her place at the back, her heels clearly heard in the room as she walked ahead. 

Nandini: Okay everyone... Thank you for your time today! The names of the selected students will be up on the notice board Monday morning.

She moved towards Harshad and picked up the sheet kept in front of him, and got to some work. The rest of the room cleared up while Mukti got up and started packing her stuff up as Abhi and I joined her. Nandini picked up a empty sheet and signed at the bottom before passing it over to Cabir.

Nandini: Cabir... The rest of the work is yours now! This is for the notice on Monday, I have already signed it, type the details of three selected.

Harshab: Two right?

Nandini: Oh no... It's three! Two from today and last one will be New Boy over here...
She spoke up surprising everyone as she nodded her head towards me.

Cabir: What?
Cabir asked her in surprise as he looked between the two of us. Nandini's face as passive as always while I am sure, I had my mouth hanging open.

Harshad: He didn't even audition...
Harshad spoke up now joining the group as he passed a glare at me.

Nandini: He did yesterday, after you left. He auditioned for Me and Mukti. Right Mukti?
Nandini said nodding at Mukti, who shook her head making sure not to have her broadened eyes get noticed by anyone, before she nodded.

Mukti: Yes, yes of course!

Manik: But-
I started to speak up only for Nandini to stop me as she asked,
Nandini: What happened New Boy... You don't wanna join the band anymore? You seemed to enjoy the Music Room yesterday...

I frowned wondering how she found out about yesterday, as I heard Harshad asked,
Harshad: What does he do then?

Nandini: Well, he is going to be a vocalist and guitarist with us. 

Harshad: No way!
Harshad spoke up as he turned towards Nandini.
Harshad: We both know what you are doing in here Nandini...

Nandini: Oh Really? You know it, good. Well I don't, could you please enlighten me Harshad.
I could hear the mockery clear in her eyes as she leaned back on the table, crossing her arms in front of her.

Harshad: You know you can't replace me Nandini... Even if you get him in, there is a massive difference between a Vocalist and a Lead Vocalist!

Nandini smirked at him before shaking her head and replying,
Nandini: I never said anything about replacing you Harshad, all I said was that the three names written on the sheet would be joining us. If you are so threatened by someone else's talent, then that's seriously not my concern. 

Harshad growled at this, as he took a step towards her.
Nandini: And as far as the band is concerned, I am the Lead Vocalist, not you. So think a 100 times, before doing or saying whatever it is that you are about to. It will only take me a second to throw you out of here!

Harshad glared at her for a couple more seconds but didn't say anything, making Nandini shrug as she ignored him and moved her gaze over to me.

Nandini: Now you, New Boy... You in?

I thought about it and realized that I really could do this. I mean I have always been interested in Music and some after class activity won't do me any harm. And before I knew it I found myself nodding at her.

Manik: When do you guys usually have practice? 

Nandini: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday! I hope the days for Football practice are still like last year, Wednesday and Friday right?
She said pointing the last line towards Abhi and Cabir. As all of us started moving out of the Auditorium. Harshad leaving the group as soon as we stepped out.

Cabir: Yup! Still same...

Nandini: Great... It's Saturday today. Cabir get the names on the notice board first thing on Monday and provide the details to the others. We start practice on the same day.

Mukti: Cool!

I looked at the time and noticed that I had to be at the office soon and turned towards Mukti and Abhi.
Manik: Hey, I gotta go! See you guys later.

Abhi: Sure!

I gave a wave to the others, and was about to walk away when Nandini spoke up directly towards me.
Nandini: Hang on! I have to talk to you...

Manik: Now?
I asked surprised, just as the others were. She nodded at me and glanced at Mukti, Abhi and cabir.

Nandini: Bye guys...

And just like that she walked away. 
Cabir: What is it with the two of you?
Cabir muttered looking from me towards her walking figure, just as she stepped outside the building.

Cabir: You do know that she meant for you to follow her right?
He asked me, making me snap away from my thoughts as I nodded at them and moved in the direction that she went towards.

I reached out to the parking lot to find her leaning against her car, a BMW Z4 convertible, she had a nice choice to say the least. Just as I reached closer, I heard her speak up.

Nandini: Took you long enough!

Manik: I think I told you already. I am not the one to follow your commands.
I told her with a shrug, making her sigh below she looked up at me.

Nandini: Okay, let's get on to work. Now, that you are a part of the band, I want us to at least be civil towards one another. I am not looking forward to anymore arguments coming in between music.

I raised my eyes at this before asking her,
Manik: Civil and you? Ordering people around is not called being Civil Ms. Nandini Moorthy. 

Nandini: I think we already established the fact that you won't be following those orders so what I do with others will be none of your concern. Listen here New Boy, we got a bad start. But what's done is done, neither of us can change it. From now, let's just make sure that you would not be interfering in any of my work. If you do just that, I would not create any more troubles for you. You fine with that?

Manik: Fine!

Nandini: Great now... What I actually wanted to talk to you about is the Music Club! First of all, don't touch my guitar ever again. I am very possessive about my instruments, and I don't trust anyone with those. 

I rolled my eyes at this, as I spoke up.
Manik: Of course you don't! I am sure it's not just instruments too. This car, you possessive about this too. Daddy dear bought the best for his Princess, how can she not be possessive.

Nandini: Every musician is possessive about their instruments. Don't bring my Dad into this. It's not like you bought your car on your own, wasn't it your Dad who gifted it to you.
I was actually surprised by her casual tone, before shrugging it.

Manik: That's right Princess... He did give it to me.

Nandini: Don't call me that!
She snapped at me, making me chuckle.

Manik: Why? I quite like it. I am sure you know that the others call you the Ice Queen, and as much as that name fits, I find it rude of them. I think Princess is cute though, after all you are Daddy's little princess.

Nandini: Listen here you Egghead. I don't care what anyone here thinks of me, let alone You. I am not the one to deny someone's talent. And as much as I hate to admit this, you are good enough to be in our band, which is the only reason as to why I am standing here listening to your crap. Now as I said, you are going to stay as far away from me as you can, and make your place in the band firm, so that I can use it to throw that Harshad out. I may not like you much, but I still don't hate you as I do him.

Manik: Okay Princess as you say! I will help you kick him out, all the while staying away from you. Perfect! We have a deal...
I replied to her, smirking at the contradiction in my own statement, which made her glare at it, as she looked down at my forwarded hand. 

Ignoring it just as I thought she would, she turned around and jumped into her car.
Manik: Good Bye Princess... Have a safe drive!

She glared at me once more, obviously for the name, but simply started up her car as she zoomed out of the college. My eyes followed her car, as I saw her turn a right and disappear from my vision. 

Manik: This is gonna be interesting! But how did she know I used her guitar in the first place...

-----------------------