It's been a week since the college commenced and slowly the boisterous of the first week is calming down. With the college registration and enrolment had come to a smooth end it is now time for celebration.

The fresher's welcome party. Or a welcome concert to be précised.

Anuradha had been staying back with her friend Hamshika in the college hostel for the Fresher's party. Being elected as the president of Dance & Drama Club, Anuradha had to make sure every performance given by her club holds up their standard.

"Mark, I will be staying back with Shika tonight. You can go home right away, you don't have to wait for me" she informed her driver who also acts like a brother, guardian as the car came to a halt.

"Anuradha, it's my job to take care of you not go back home and rest. I will stay here till you are done," the loyal Mark said keeping an arm on the passenger seat next to him.

"Mark! I will be late today. You head back home and you don't have to report to anyone about my whereabouts. Bye. Go home" she shut the car door before he could say a word.

Half running, half walking Anuradha entered the college so she could reach the dance studio that's on the other end of the compound in ten minutes.

"Hey, butterfly!" a voice called her, snaping her eyes shut, clenching her hands into a fist, Anuradha tried to calm herself down.

"You are not the first few people I want to meet at the beginning of my day! What do you want, CHRISTOPHER?" she spoke through gritted teeth turning around to face the owner of the voice.

"I want what I have been asking since the first day we met. A day out." Christopher gave a cocky wink and confident smile.

Christopher, one the most good-looking guy in the college that has a lot of female following, chose to go after Anuradha since day one she entered the college. He had been constantly asking her out for the past two semester which she had been declining every single time.

No matter how rude she replies him, Christopher is hell bent to bring her out on a date with him one day.

"Not now Christopher. I'm busy" she said turning to leave.

"Fine, but I will make sure you come on a date with me before we graduate, butterfly"

"We'll see that, Romeo"  Anuradha made her way to the studio.

The concert is set to start in about two hours and every senior - junior are doing the stir running to the auditorium to get the nearest seat to the stage.

Anuradha had been in the dance studio getting her group ready for the performance as this concert would get to attract the new students to join their club.

"Anu! Here you go" Shika handed her a cup of freshly made orange juice.

"Thank you, Shika" sipping the cold sweet and sour juice, Anuradha checked her watch.

"Did you see that?" Shika asked standing at the wide window of the dance studio.

"See what?"

"These girls are not even here for a week and has started flirting with our seniors" Shika grumbled, shoving a small piece of watermelon slice in the mouth.

"Jealous?"

"Not really. Oh yeah, remember our senior who was the famous keyboard player? I heard he had join back to resume his third semester. Which means he isn't senior anymore" Shika clapped her hands in elation. "And he is going to perform tonight" beaming in excitement she shoved the last piece of watermelon in her mouth.

"Oh really, no wonder these girls are running to the auditorium" Anuradha commented looking out at the window before turning back to the paper work she was doing.

"Yeah, it's not even a week since his back and been missing for one whole semester, I wonder how he does the magic of attracting the girls. I'm sure all the girls are going to end up joining the music club and we will be left with the boys to run our show." Shika sat on the floor crossing her legs.

"Shika, why aren't going after him? Isn't he attractive to you?" Anuradha asked curiously since she have been talking a lot about the musician.

"He is but I'm brainy, I don't go behind boys even if he is as hot as the keyboard player. What was his name again?" Shika tried to recall his name but failed. 

"Alright, Shika get up. We need to get these things to the backstage." Anuradha pointed to the racks of clothing and props.

-*-*-*-*-*-

"Wow, that's a lot of girls in the front row" Shika commented, peeping through the curtains from the back of the stage before clapping for the dance performance that just ended.

"Up next is the performance you all have been waiting for. From the music department, we have Louis on the drums, Karthik Manohar the keyboard wizard and Lisa to strum the guitar. Let's welcome them with a round of applause" the host announced.

The crew have been setting the stage for the performance while two of the performers were looking for their main musician. Lisa who was running around, bumped onto Anuradha, "Hey, slow down. Are you searching for something?" she asked sensing Lisa tensed.

"Yeah, I'm looking for KM. We are next to perform." She said worriedly while scanning the backstage.

"Alright, he must be here somewhere. You check on the other side while I'll go this side, okay"

Almost five minutes of searching around to find the famous face, Anuradha spotted a group of girls gathered at a corner of the backstage hallway.

"A lot of bees. There is where the honey must be." She spoke to herself and headed to the small crowd.

Standing on the tip of her toes, there he was entertaining the girls.

"Excuse me" she called, and paused for a moment Anuradha tried to remember his name 'what did Shika called him just now?' failing to remember his name, Anuradha called him again this time louder.

"Excuse me, girls! This man here has a performance to do. So, if you please go back to your seats you can enjoy his performance better" The girls finally let him go, Karthik mouthed 'thank you' before running to the stage.

Anuradha stood behind the curtain, she was mesmerised the way his fingers did magic on the keyboard. Who doesn't like a good music? There was no doubt why the girls are after him. After all he is good looking and a talented musician.

A couple of minutes of enjoying his music, Anuradha resume back in getting her club's final performance ready.

"Gorgeous!" came a voice she was familiar with; a smile grew on her face as she faced to the ever-charming,  Cameron.

"Hi, handsome! Not performing?" Anuradha asked as she bend down to tie the shoe lace for one of her performer.

"I am. Looks like you aren't"

"Yeah, I'm not performing this time. Too many responsibilities since Mrs. Gracie isn't here" she stood up pointing to her committee.

"Right, that's how president of any club had to work. Totally understood. I initially didn't want to perform either but after learning that KM is back, I really wanted to perform with him."

Anuradha smiled in return as she listens to him.

"I had a tough time convincing him to perform twice and you know why I insisted him to perform twice?"

"Because you are the president of the Music Club?"

"Ah, partially. With him, my club will get more new entries and I'm planning lots of exciting activity this semester." Cameron smirked wiggling his eyebrows.

"'Good luck on that, I wish that for my club too. I want to bring my play group to the London's  Theater Play Competition."

"That sounds cool, buddy"

Theater play had been special for Anuradha as it has given her a lot of freedom to express herself and it has become a part of her life. Anuradha had always been praised for her excellent performance in stage plays and for her dance.

Anuradha intend to focus on excelling in her studies while giving equal attention to her passion. In that way, it could help her stay away from her house longer to avoid quarreling with her mother.

As Cameron and Karthik's performance come to an end, the Fresher's welcome concert came to an end but the auditorium was cheering and chanting one name.

"Anu!" "Anu!" "Anu!"

Cameron came running to Anuradha who was heading back to the dance studio.

"Hey, Anu! Wait up!"

"What is it, Cam?"

"You are wanted" Cameron replied catching his breath.

"Who and where?"

"Up the stage, the crowd"

"Why?"

"They missed you. Come on" Cameron pulled her back to the stage.

She was shocked to know that almost everyone in the crowd was waiting for her performance and it saddened her that she did not perform tonight.

The host for the night passed the microphone to her.

"Anu! You should have been in the play!" someone yelled from the crowd.

"Anu! Can you sing for us?" another one yelled from the other side while another yelled "We missed you!"

Anuradha was touched by the love her college mates were showering on her. Today she felt the love from a humongous crowd that she never got from her family of three. She felt blessed and lucky to be loved by her fellow friends.

Anuradha had promised the crowd that she will definitely perform in coming college events in future. Signing off for the night, Anuradha silently thank the God for the night it had turned to be the best of her life till date and she prayed to have many more as such.

A magical night.

**************

How many of you are from arts college? Have you ever experienced or witnessed such fame during your time of college?  

Please do comment your views on this chapter. ;) If you like this chapter then feel free to hit that star icon :)

Lots of love,

DEVA <3