CHAPTER 1

Annie Besant University (ABU), Mumbai

Practice session has been going on among the students of the college for the Fresher's day. The seniors are practicing for various performance events to keep the whole function cheerful.

Dev has asked the students to assemble near the dance hall. Along with his friend Laura who is least interested, he is just waiting for everyone to come.

Dev, being one of the best dancers of the college, is also the everyone's favourite. He is athletic and handsome but his cheerful personality is the one that makes him everyone's including his professor's favourite. He is very talented and never fails to win but he is humble, friendly and down to earth which makes him instantly likeable.

While Laura is polar opposite of him. She is a tomboy who is very adamant and demanding. She is good in heart but never trusts people that easily. Many of her relatives were hostile when she took up Mechanical Engineering saying that it is Men's world and asked her to choose Computer Science. But she never heeded and chose the Mechanical Branch as she is passionate in Design. Dev and Laura are childhood friends who studied in the same school.

As the required number of students gathered, Dev decided to speak up.

Dev - "Hello guys, you might be wondering why I called you at this hour where you are busily practicing. It is to share something very important and close to Laura and me."

Laura - "It is actually a big breakthrough for us. Dev and me have started a Dance Academy in Amber Street which is 2 km from our college."

Everyone shouts in happiness.

Dev - "And it's name is 'Hustlers Dance Academy' and we have its inauguration by next month 15th. It will provide dance training for people ranging from kids to adults. I'd request you to promote it among your peers and especially attend the inaugural function on 15th. Thanks for coming."

Everyone congratulated Dev. Laura moves away and started reading a story book.

After all this, Dev comes to Laura.

Laura asked with irritation - "Everything over?"

Dev - "Yeah. Why are you getting irritated?"

Laura - "I never thought it'd take this time. We could have practiced a little more for fresher's performance."

Dev - "Oh come on, Laura. Try to socialise. Staying mum in the corner would make others think bad about you."

Laura - "I don't care. Shall we start our practice or I should listen to your lectures?"

Dev - "Okay okay. Don't get upset."

Laura - "Fine."

Dev - "Say it with a smile."

Laura smiled. Dev caressed her head gently.

Dev and Laura started practicing for their performance. Dev played Badtameez Dil song from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani

Dev and Laura danced for the song.

Dev - "I guess the performance is good. What do you say?"

Laura - "I feel it could be better. I didn't feel the satisfaction."

Dev - "Shall we do it again now?"

Laura - "Now?"

Dev - "Yeah, why not? Are you tired?"

Laura - "No. But you're tired, Dev. Since morning you're restlessly roaming around the city for inviting Bollywood celebrities for our Freshers and now..."

Dev - "It's okay, Laura. Dance makes me forget everything. Shall we dance?"

Laura - "Okay, first let us dance on our favourite song. It'd be a kind of warmup for both. Then we can dance."

Laura played Main Tera Boyfriend from Raabta

They danced for that song.

Again they resumed the practice.

St. Teresa University, Pune

It is one of the most renowned University of the whole state. Cultural at this college is so famous that college students from the whole Maharashtra participates here and come as a spectator. Various celebrities lighten up the stage along with the students. The classical dance competition is very famous here and even participants come from South and North East. Annie Besant University has been winning the competition for a long period of time consecutively but they couldn't maintain the streak as it was broken five years back. Since five years, they lose to some other team in a narrow margin.

This year, Sonakshi and Akshara from ABU have been determined to win the trophy that wasn't won for the last five years. Sonakshi and Akshara are trained classical dancers. Sonakshi was trained by her mother since her childhood. Akshara is also no less than that.

Both got ready for the competition. Sonakshi comes to Akshara's dressing room and looks at her being nervous. Upon seeing Sonakshi, Akshara stood up and warmly hugged her.

Akshara - "Sona, are you ready?"

Sonakshi - "Yeah, Akshu. I'm ready. Are you?"

Akshara - "Yeah, me too. Hope we lift the trophy. Kind of feeling nervous."

Sonakshi - "Don't worry. The cup will be ours. We have been training for long. We won't return with empty hands."

Akshara nods. Sonakshi gets a call. She excused herself and come aside.

Sonakshi - "Yes, Saloni. How is the preparations going on?"

Saloni - "Sona, everything is fine. But..."

Sonakshi - "What? Tell me Saloni."

Saloni - "Ritesh is not co-operating. He is the one who should do mike compering but he is not showing up. Most of the times, I have to go myself to his chilling spot and invite him... This guy is just irritating."

Sonakshi - "Oh! This guy... I'll come to college by today's evening. I'd look at him."

Saloni - Okay. By the way, all the best for your performance. I actually forgot it."

Sonakshi - "Thanks Saloni."

Sonakshi cuts the call.

Few girls come to her and tell Akshara and her that it is time for their performance. Sonakshi, Akshara and other dance partners moved.

Sonakshi and Akshara performed for Dola Re Dola song from Devdas.

After 2 hours,

Everyone completed their performance. There are some serious discussions going among the judges. All the participants are waiting for the results anxiously. Finally the judges get to the stage and hold the mike.

Judges announced the third prize and the second prize. It wasn't ABU. Sonakshi and Akshara are hoping that they'd get the first prize.

Judge reveal the first prize winner of the competition. It was none other than the team from ABU.

Out of happiness, Sonakshi hugged Akshara and other girls joined the hug.

Akshara - "Sona... Finally we won it. Our training didn't go in vain. Our college retained the trophy after 5 years. It's very special for us."

Sonakshi - "Yeah, we achieved it girls. Without you people, it won't be possible."

Sonakshi, Akshara and other girls moved to the stage for getting the trophy and certificates.

***

Sonakshi comes to the college in her scooter. A crowd comes to her and congratulated her for the victory.

One of the members asked, "Sonakshi di, why are you alone? Where are your team mates?"

Sonakshi - "Yeah, they'll come a little later. Actually I have an important work. That's the reason why I'm earlier."

Sonakshi excused herself and moved. She dials Saloni.

Saloni - "Hello Sonakshi... Congrats for your victory. When will you give us the treat?"

Sonakshi - "Treat? I'll give you for sure. Before that, where is Ritesh?"

Saloni - "I don't know. It's better you call him."

Sonakshi - "Saloni..."

Saloni - "I mean why not. He only listens to you."

Sonakshi - "Okay."

Sonakshi cuts the call and goes to the college cafeteria. Sonakshi hears the sound of the mouth instrument. She looked at the direction and got that it belongs to Ritesh.

Ritesh is seen sitting on the bench with one leg on the seat surrounded by a group of girls. He is wearing white undershirt covered by a denim shirt and jeans with white sneakers and showcasing his neatly styled hair. The girls are vibing with the tune of the instrument along with him.

Sonakshi felt irritated though it is not new to her. Sonakshi waited for him to settle down.

Ritesh stopped playing the instrument and he slowly caressed the face of the girls whose hands is over his shoulders.

Ritesh - "You didn't wear the baby pink lipstick, Akshata. Why?"

Akshata - "Actually it was missing since yesterday. I don't know where the hell I left!"

Ritesh looks over the other girls and called one of them.

Ritesh - "Hey you are Vani, right?"

Vani - "Yeah yes..."

Ritesh - "Yesterday I gave you a baby pink lipstick and said it was one of your friends... Where is it?"

Vani - "I guess..."

Ritesh - "It's in your lips."

Vani bit her lips to hide it. Akshata go near her and smelled it. It's a baby pink lipstick.

Akshata - "Vani... It's my lipstick. Why didn't you return my lipstick to me? To get my Ritesh? Seriously?"

Vani - "Hey stop it! I actually forgot to give you. Also I too have the same lipstick. You're not the only one in the world to have baby pink lipstick."

Ritesh - "But you always prefer peach, right?"

Vani - "Oh come on! I thought of using it after my peach gets over. You guys are making a big issue out of it."

Akshata - Just get lost, Vani. You're not anymore my friend."

Vani - "Even I don't want to continue my friendship with a doubting friend like you."

Vani and Akshata divided in two directions. Other girls followed them. Ritesh smirked, "Foolish girls..."

Sonakshi - "Have you had enough, Ritesh?"

Ritesh - "Hey sweetheart? I thought you'd be dancing in some other college."

Sonakshi - "Sweetheart my foot. I told you clearly to practice for the Fresher's day, right? You have two solo events, Ritesh and you are here with these people."

Ritesh - "Just because it is solo event, I'm cool and spending time with my girls..."

Sonakshi - "What about MC? You have to do it with Aryan. He is complaining me that you're not at all attending his calls."

Ritesh - "Cool buddy."

Sonakshi - "Whatever gone is gone. Now come with me and practice. You're so overconfident, Ritesh."

Ritesh - "And you know my demand... both on stage and off stage..."

Sonakshi - "Uff! Come with me."

Ritesh goes with Sonakshi.

Ritesh - "I know that you saw whatever was going on between Akshata and Vani. Any comments on that."

Sonakshi - "It's better for me not to engage with you and your cartoon girlfriends. I warned them that you're commitment phobic. But they never listen. They don't have the 'S' in Sense. Even now, Akshata didn't even think how the hell you know that Vani prefer peach."

Ritesh laughs louder. Sonakshi just sighed.

Sonakshi - "Come back to the matter. How prepared are you? In dance as well as Mono acting..."

Ritesh - "Dance is done. I'm perfectly ready. Just the audience is yet to come. Regarding mono-acting, script is over. Just brushing up is necessary."

Sonakshi - "I need the same perfection and confidence in you at mono-acting as well. Practice for the next two hours and you have to enact before me."

By talking, Sonakshi and Ritesh reached the practice area. As Ritesh entered inside, girls look over. Ritesh gives a wink to them.

Sonakshi - "Okay, I'm going. I need to go as there are some works in Hospitality domain. So you carry on. Strictly no distractions."

Ritesh - "As you say, madam."

Sonakshi goes.

Ritesh played a song in his Bluetooth speakers in high volumes and started practising the moves by himself. Girls attention are over him. But still he managed not to lose the focus.

Laura comes over there and got irritated over the high volume. She searches for the bluetooth and reduced the volume to almost low. Ritesh stopped dancing and looked at Laura.

Laura - "I have reduced the volume so that others won't get disturbed."

Ritesh - "Sorry, but I need the volume to be high. Only then I won't get distracted."

Laura - "See, it's not only you who is practising. Everyone is practising for their own performance. So please co-operate."

Ritesh - "But it's only you having problem with it. The song was going on for the last 20 minutes and no one felt disturbed. So it's better if you go with majority's opinion."

Laura - "Wait a minute. When did majority or even anyone give opinion except me? You're fabricating tales really well. The volume should be less and that's final."

Ritesh suddenly maximised the volume and the sound was too much. Laura grabbed the bluetooth and switched it off.

Ritesh grabbed it from her.

Laura - "How dare you to behave this insolent? I won't leave you."

Laura is about to hit him and Ritesh held her hands tightly and get her near his body and placed his head over her shoulder.

Ritesh - "You're envying the wrong person. So back off."

Laura hit Ritesh's stomach with her ankle that made him shout.

Laura - "You're also messing with the wrong person. Just ask your Mechanical friends about me."

Laura leaves making Ritesh frustrated.

***

Sonakshi comes to the the University playground where the stage setup is being done. Sonakshi is surrounded again by students congratulating her for the victory.

Sonakshi - "Thank you guys for your wishes. I'm happy."

One of the students said, "Dhanraj sir is waiting for you, Sonakshi."

Sonakshi - "Yeah, I'm leaving. Bye."

Sonakshi go and meet Dhanraj Sir. Dhanraj is the supervisor and Staff Coordinator of this event.

Sonakshi - "Good evening sir."

Dhanraj - "Sonakshi, you never fail to make the college proud. I'm happy for Akshara and yours victory. I have talked to the Dean mam. She is very happy."

Sonakshi smiled and thanked him.

Dhanraj - "How is everything going on? Any problems? Will the Freshers event go smooth? "

Sonakshi - "No issues, sir. Practice is going really well. First years would surely enjoy the day tomorrow."

Dhanraj - "Well done, beta. Carry on the work."

Sonakshi takes a checklist and marks tick if the works are completed. Suddenly she bumped into a guy as she was looking into her checklist.

He is Dev who is holding ice cream and a portion fell on her.

Dev - "Hey, I'm extremely sorry. I was actually looking somewhere else."

Sonakshi wiped the cream from her.

Sonakshi - "It's okay. Even I was paying attention to this book. Sorry that your ice-cream got wasted."

Dev smiled, "It's okay."

Dev is about to go. Sonakshi stopped him.

Sonakshi - "Is it you performing a dance on the song 'Badtameez Dil' along with your partner Laura?"

Dev - "Yeah yes..."

Sonakshi - "I'm actually the event coordinator. So I know that. How is your practice going on? All okay?"

Dev - "Yes. Everything is going good. Our performance is at tomorrow evening. By the way, it is you about whom everyone speaks. They appreciate on how you organise and manages to run an event both outside and inside. You are amazing."

Sonakshi - "Thanks Dev. It's my pleasure."

Dev and Sonakshi leaves with smile.

To be continued...