The first three weeks at Maurya had passed in a whirlwind of figuring out where our classes were held, gathering material for said classes and signing up for society auditions. The amount of time we had spent standing in queues to get photocopies of the class text seemed unreal. 

I had also started sort of campaigning for the post of Cultural Secretary as my next big step in the 'New Meera' plan. Also because Smriti really wanted to see me contest and offered to make posters even which I thought seemed excessive but whatever made her happy, I guess.

To our pleasure and surprise, Vahni and I had two out of four classes together. The first one was our Generic Elective i.e. Philosophy and the other was an additional mandatory course in Environmental sciences. 

Vahni had taken Smriti under her wing immediately. One conversation is all it took. Consequently, the three of us spent most of our time together because Vahni felt, and I quote, her class was full of 'Snorlaxes', like the pokemon. She was currently carefully lining Smriti's eyes with gold eyeliner much to Smriti's distress and her delight. 

"But Vahni I don't want to walk into class with a gold eyeliner wing," Smriti complained but made no move to actually physically move away from her.

"Nobody is even going to notice, baba." she coaxed her. 

Once she was proud of her masterpiece she turned to me with the bottle of the gold liner and looked at me expectantly. 

"I mean I'm not opposed to the gold eyeliner but I'm already wearing black eyeliner and it won't go with my outfit," I shrugged.

"Maybe we could try it for your fresher's party look?" Smriti suggested. The date for it had been announced and everybody was looking forward to it. 

"Yeah babe, you need a dramatic look for your performance," Vahni said capping her bottle.

I had auditioned to perform in the fresher's singing competition a week ago and had made it in. Another step for the 'New Meera'. Thinking of the upcoming solo performance made excitement ripple through my stomach.

"Have you guys decided what you're wearing?" I asked. 

"I will probably wear my black top with these jeans," Smriti said gesturing to the rather washed out pair of jeans she was currently wearing.

"Noo... You can't do that to me." Vahni wailed. 

"You know how my parents are guys. They won't approve of me in a dress. Besides, I will have to take the metro back home and it's not exactly the ideal way to travel via when I'm in a dress." Smriti said sadly.

"Then you're coming to my PG and changing into a dress before we come here," Vahni said in a no-nonsense way. 

"But--" Smriti began but Vahni quickly cut her off.

"No buts or ifs. You are wearing a dress. Your parents won't find out and you won't have to travel in the dress because you're gonna change back into your boring jeans and top. Problem solved."

She then turned to me before Smriti could protest further and asked,

"Are you wearing two dresses? One for the performance and one for the party."

"Definitely not. I already have a dress picked out." I said and showed them a picture of it. 

They leaned over to look at my phone.

"Hey, that's really gorgeous," Vahni said and Smriti nodded enthusiastically. 

This was one of my first purchases when I had started shopping for my new look with Sarah. She had literally whistled when I tried it on. 

Oh, I missed that woman so much. I had asked to come to the event but she had long hours of lab practicals that day. 

"Anyway, I have to go and change too. My fashion show outfit won't work for the party obviously." Vahni said. 

Vahni was competing in a fashion show that had some kind of a meaningful theme. She had been preparing a Sari-Denim jacket ensemble. It made some social statement because Delhi University fashion shows took themselves way too seriously. They all had to have a social message that needed to be driven home with over the top Halloween make-up and costumes.

"Are we going out afterwards?" Vahni asked as we were walking to our next class.

"Not to be the party pooper again but I have a curfew. Also, you're in the rape capital. I don't think it's a good idea to go out late in the evening."  Smriti said.

"Fine!" Vahni cried sulkily, "But I'm sneaking in some vodka and you all have to try it out." she said and speed-walked away before we could protest.

Not that I was opposed to the idea of sneaking in some amount of alcohol. In all honesty that was going to be my next big suggestion. After all, 'New Meera' was supposed to be 'Fun Meera'. 

***

My heart pounded in my chest and my throat was completely dry. I took a sip of water before taking a few measured, claiming breaths. 

I was currently backstage in the auditorium and the hubbub of the place was causing my senses to go in overdrive. People raced back and forth in the narrow backstage area and the crowd sitting on the opposite side of the screen cheered and clapped as the performer before me wrapped up her performance. 

"You're up next. Come and stand here," A boy with the KGV union badge said motioning to the edge of the stage. I wiped my sweaty hands on my dress and stood at his indicated spot. The fresher's party was in full swing. The fashion show had just wrapped up and Vahni had nailed her walk and outfit. Smriti and I had cheered the loudest when she walked down the ramp. They were probably out there waiting for my name to be called out. 

Performing filled with a healthy dose of stage fright that worsened just before I went on the stage. There was a new sort of nervousness I was feeling because this seemed really high stakes. I had only really performed within the confines of my school and the environment there was comforting and familiar. This here was not only unfamiliar but formidable too with the semi-famous emcee, a celebrity judge and a room full of strangers. 

"Our next performer is Meera with a timeless ballad of love. She will be taking our breath away with the song 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You' by Elvis Presley. Let's welcome her on stage with a round of applause." 

People clapped politely and I walked onto the stage and mentally psyched myself up. I stood in front of the mic and a guy adjusted it to my height. I asked him to take it out of the stand and held it in my hand. I looked towards the audience and saw Vahni and Smriti cheering my name, well mostly Vahni, and something caught my eye. 

Sarah was standing next to both of them. I was so surprised that I forgot I was standing on a stage for a second. I waved at them and looked back at the panel of judges that consisted of the music professor and the recent finalist of Indian Idol and another person I didn't recognize and recalled that I was yet to introduce myself.

"Hello everybody, I am Meera Sehgal and I am here to present my humble attempt at Elvis Presley's 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You'," I said and took a deep breath and began singing. 

"Wise men say, only fools rush in..." 

And the knot in my stomach loosened. It came really easy to me once I started singing and I grew lost in my song. 

"But I can't help falling in love with you...

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin?

For I can't help falling in love with you...

Like a river flows, surely to the sea,

Darling, so it goes...

Some things...

Are meant to be..."

As the song progressed I grew more and more confident and adventurous with the notes. 

"For I can't help falling in love with you.."

I held the note for a second before ending and realized the auditorium was oddly silent. Then a beat later it erupted with cheers and applause. Vahni stood up on her chair and started chanting my name. I giggled and placed the mic back on the stand. 

"Now that was a soulful performance. Thank you, Meera. Another round of applause for her, " The emcee said walking back onto the stage. The audience cheered again and I walked backstage feeling giddy and victorious as he announced the next participant's name. 

Vahni launched herself at me once I reached their seats and went on a rail of compliments.

"Why didn't you tell us you could sing so well?" she demanded indignantly pulling back from the vice grip she had me in.

"You heard me sing for the audition," I said.

"Yes but that wasn't nearly as mind-blowing as this," 

I shrugged modestly and turned to Sarah and Smriti. 

"What are you doing here? I thought you said you couldn't make it?" I said hugging Sarah tightly.

"I missed my lab practical because Smriti here was very persuasive." she laughed hugging me back. 

I turned to Smriti and hugged her next,

"Smriti that was so thoughtful! Thank you so much." 

"Oh, you're welcome. You were disappointed she couldn't come so I had to see what Vahni and I could do."

"Thank you, guys. Seriously, thank you not just for this but for everything. Your support really means a lot. I got lucky when I found you as friends." I said sincerely.

"Aw, I think we are all great together too. Now come on let's get to my PG. I need to change out of this ridiculous costume and Smriti needs to change into her bombshell dress," Vahni said urgently pointing to her elaborate Sari-Denim jacket ensemble. 

"But I kind of thought I would show Sarah around our college a bit," I said.

"Then you should stay. You don't need to change. We'll be back before they announce the results of the competition." Smriti offered.

"Okay, Smriti and I will be back in half an hour max. We'll meet right here." Vahni said and then left dragging Smriti in her tow. 

I hugged Sarah again as they disappeared from view.

"It feels like forever since we've met. I missed you so much!" 

"I know right?" Sarah hugged me back tighter. 

We walked out of the auditorium and I showed her around a bit. We clicked a few selfies with the iconic red-bricked backdrop. We realized we were both hungry at this point and approached the food stalls and bought a pizza to share along with iced teas. The area was pretty crowded and we finally managed to find a table to place our pizza atop. There was only one chair to sit on though so I volunteered to go look for another one.

I spied a chair at a little distance and rushed to get it before anyone else could. Just as I laid a hand on it I saw someone else grab it too. I looked up to find none other than Bassist asshole extraordinaire. I withdrew my hand instantly and backed up.

"I'm sorry to encroach again," I said icily and turned around. I had no wish to spar with him. 

"Meera, wait," he said and walked with quick steps to stand in front of me.

"How do you know my name?" I asked puzzled.

"They announced it before your performance. Listen, I'm Siddharth, I wanted to speak with you for a moment," he said. All of his previous hostility had vanished and that took me by surprise. What puzzled me, even more, was why would he want to talk to me after dismissing me so rudely the last time. 

Didn't matter, I did not want to associate with him. 

"You do? I must have been blessed," I said sarcastically trying to walk around him but he blocked my path again. 

"I'd like to apologize for the other day," he said.

"Apology not necessary," I said dismissively and managed to walk past him. He kept following continuing his stream of chatter. 

"How I behaved the other day was very rude and I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I was having a bad day and I had just fought with a friend of mine and this is not an excuse for what I said but I have been wanting to apologize to you.." he kept talking till stopped abruptly; he bumped into me and I stumbled a little. I realized he would not stop till I talked to him and I did not want this to take place near Sarah. 

"I'm sorry but you stopped so suddenly," he trailed off clearly embarrassed. 

"It's okay. No hard feelings. Is that all?" I asked curtly but then forced a smile. 

"Yes, I also wanted to say you were amazing there on the stage. You sing really well. I think you should audition for Rhapsody, that is our music society." he said.

I had not considered that the music society would obviously constitute the college band, I face-palmed mentally. Of course, he was part of it, in fact, I'm pretty sure the Red Wagon douches ran the society. 

"Meera, is everything okay? The pizza's getting cold." Sarah's voice interrupted.

I turned around to find her standing behind Siddharth. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask whether everything was okay. After spending years together we had perfected the art of non-verbal communication. It was also probably a girl thing. She had probably seen me look annoyed with a man and had come to intervene. 

"Yes, everything is okay." I assured her then quickly turning to him said, "I'll be sure to audition," and started walking away. 

"Hey wait," he said and I stifled a groan. 

"Why don't you and your friend come to the after-party we're having?" he said when I turned back to face him yet again.

"Afterparty?" I echoed.

"Yeah, after everything wraps up here we are throwing a sort of get-together for some people in the auditorium. There will be drinks, music, It's fun." 

"'We' meaning your band?" I asked.

"Yes. It'll happen after 7. Come, maybe I can make it up to you." he said and finally walked away.

A/N

Meera's dress is on top. Let me know your thoughts about it, about the song, about Siddharth and anything else.