Angad's phone rang for the sixth time as he raced to reach college in time. 

They didn't have classes that day because it was the day of the Fresher's Party. The seniors didn't really need to come for it but some did. It was for the events or the food or the exclusive after-party they threw in the auditorium. 

Angad wasn't one of those people. And yet here he was parking inside the college at his parking spot and running towards the common room on this day despite having no interest.

The after-party could have been fun but he had several reasons to skip that as well. 

The reason he had come was that Red Wagon, his band, was actively involved in organizing the talent show with the union and of course, they would be performing at the end. They weren't technically obligated to but Yug, his best friend, insisted every year. As heads of Rhapsody, the college music society, they would have a say in who won the singing category but after last year's crop of freshers, Angad did not have high hopes. 

Just a couple of decent singers would do so their juniors could keep the society going after they graduated this year. 

He rounded the corner and saw Yug standing at the door with his phone in his hand and a pointed look on his face. 

"There was so much traffic man," Angad began to say. 

Yug had no patience for his lies so he turned his back and walked back inside. Angad followed him in and found everyone from his band and the KGV reps leaning over some papers on the table and trying to sort through them.

"So you finally get the time to join us?" Heena asked looking up. 

"Sorry I was late, got stuck in traffic." 

Angad explained and tried to jump in.

"I guess we take different roads because I didn't find any traffic," Siddharth mused as he picked up a few sheets and stapled them with derision. 

Angad was about to answer his quip when Radhika walked in. Radhika was the president of the college and right now her face showed it. She looked incredibly stressed. Her gait was jerky as she ran her eyes across the room. KGV really needed to pull this party off if they wanted votes to win next year.

"Guys you still haven't finished all of this? I needed this done an hour ago!" she yelled. 

The pace seemed to pick up after that and very soon Heena was gathering the final call sheets and proceeding to the stage. 

"You guys are staying for the talent show. No goofing off please," Heena said.

Yug sighed,

"But Heena, we held up our end of the bargain. I don't want to hear the freshers drone on for an hour."

"Besides we have to do that on Monday for the Rhapsody auditions anyway," Angad added. 

The prospect of staying for the competition was not enticing. The KGV was not selective about who they let participate. 

"You guys didn't even help us with the auditions. This is the least you can do. Okay, here it is: If you guys don't help then we will cancel the after-party." Heena said with a tone of finality that left no room for arguments. 

Angad sighed and mentally prepared himself for the circus. 

***

It was, as expected, a mix of mediocre, good and bad singers. 

Angad sat in the second row next to Yug trying not to yawn and nod off. It would look rude.

A group of giggly second-years across the room caught his eye. They waved at him coyly and he waved back. Apparently, that was all the encouragement they needed since they began making their way over to him. 

This was a welcome distraction. 

"Hi, Angad," the one with a shocking head of dyed red hair said. 

Angad was pretty sure they had talked before this moment but he couldn't recall her name. He gave her a winning smile and said,

"Hi, guys. Enjoying the show?" 

"Sure," the redhead said, "But we're just waiting for it to wrap up so we can start the dance competition. That's where the real fun is."

"We have worked really hard to make it fun. Picked the best ones out of the freshers," the tall brunette added. 

That was when it struck him that he was talking to the dance society. He was pretty sure the taller one was in his batch and her name was Aditi or something.

"Can't wait for it," he said politely. 

"So you'll stay?" the giggly third one asked ecstatically. 

"Uh.. sure," Angad said cringing internally. 

Damn! He would have to sit for another event. 

"We will look forward to your thoughts and opinions. You can't expect them to be as good as us though. They're just beginners. It was pathetic really how desperate these freshers are. You're lucky you didn't have to sit for these auditions." the tall brunette said rolling her eyes. 

Angad just chuckled politely. 

That was when the emcee announced the next participation. What caught his attention was the song selection. It was 'Can't Help Falling In Love' by Elvis Presley. It was one of his absolute favourites. Something he would listen to with his mother. 

He hoped the participant would do a decent job. 

He glanced at the stage to see who it was and found a girl walk in. She was wearing a pink dress that shone as it caught the spotlight. Her long brown hair swayed slightly as she took her position. Angad took a few steps towards the stage to get a better look at her. 

There was something about her that drew him in at the first glance. He was transfixed. 

Once the mic was adjusted she looked at the audience. She turned in his direction and her face suddenly lit up with a beautiful smile. Angad blinked, surprised at her smile but quickly caught on that she wasn't smiling at him. He glanced behind him where he heard a couple of girls cheering her on. She waved at them from the stage and turned to the judging panel. 

"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'," she said.

Meera. Her voice was soft and even the way she spoke had a musical quality to it. 

Then she started singing. The first notes out of her lips had everybody transfixed the way Angad had been. 

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

"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..."

The chattering in the audience died down and everybody listened with rapt attention to this melodious performance. 

Angad was floored. He was expecting a good singer but she was simply excellent. She took some liberties with the original song which was very brave of her but she delivered. 

All too soon it was the last line and she held the note as it echoed in the silent air. Angad wanted her to keep singing but that was an unreasonable expectation. All good things come to an end after all. 

Unsurprisingly the audience gave her a well-deserved round of applause. Angad smiled to himself when one of her friends started cheering her name rather loudly. 

She giggled and the mic caught the tinkling sound. 

The emcee came back on and said, 

"Now that was a soulful performance. Thank you, Meera. Another round of applause for her."

The audience clapped longer and louder this time and Angad was compelled to join. He looked back at his bandmates. They seemed equally impressed by the girl. 

He caught Yug's eye and he gave him two thumbs up. 

They had found their star singer. 

Meera. Meera Sehgal. 

***

Angad's original plan had been to catch her attention as she walked back into the seating area but he didn't get a chance to do that. The union needed their inputs right away so they could begin the next segment. 

Meera Sehgal was the clear winner. There was no second opinion regarding that. They totalled the marks for the others accordingly from the judges' sheets and finished up quickly after. 

Aditi and the others were like vigilant dogs. As soon as he wrapped up with the judges they were there to escort him to the next competition. 

Yug, Siddharth and Shreyas were invited too but they declined and left him all alone much to his chagrin. 

He sat through half the dances rather miserably and escaped the first chance he could get. 

He finally joined his friends at their usual spot in the garden. They were making final arrangements for the party they were throwing in collaboration with a couple of societies. 

"Somebody still needs to get the booze," Yug said.

"I'll go get it." Angad volunteered.

"No, you won't be drinking today. I don't want you complaining later that you had to drive for the booze and didn't even get to drink. Sid, you go." 

"Fine," Angad huffed. 

This was a big reason he wasn't looking forward to the after-party. He was hoping Yug had forgotten about his promise of being the designated driver. He didn't particularly like the idea of it but he had lost a bet to him a week ago. So he was going to be the only sober person at this party. 

"So I was thinking," he said steering Yug away, "We should make an exception for the no freshers rule and invite the winner from the singing competition. Meera?"

"Oh, there's no need. Sid already invited her." Yug said distractedly.

"He did? When did he meet her?" Angad asked. 

"I don't know. Why do you care?" Yug asked suspiciously, "Angad, you stay away from her! She's a child." 

"Child!? She's barely two years younger than us." Angad said affronted. 

"All I am saying is you keep your distance. I don't want you two scaring her off. We need her in our society." 

"You just keep your drinking under control. I don't want you throwing up in my car again."

"Oh my god! That was once! It was years ago." Yug yelled in protest. 

Angad just laughed and walked away. 

***

They were backstage getting ready to perform after they announced the results. 

Angad would have liked to introduce himself to the Meera right then and congratulate her for her win but they needed to help Yug lug his drum set to the stage. It was a good thing Siddharth had invited her after all. 

Not that he particularly liked him or trusted his intentions. 

Soon the announcements wrapped up and Angad couldn't help but chuckle at Meera's friend's antics. She yelled 

"We're fucking amazing!" into the microphone making everybody turn their way. 

Meera was blushing adorably. She looked like she wanted the earth to open up and swallow her right then. 

Soon they were walking on stage and the audience cheered for them. It was always such a rush for him to perform this way. The lights, the applause, the energy, the love, the music. 

It was an experience he would never trade for anything. 

All too soon they were wrapping up with the last song. They thanked their audience and walked off stage to the chorus of their band's name being chanted. 

***

The party seemed to be going well. So far no one had come in to break it up or caused any drama. Angad had spent the first half-hour setting up the food station because that was part of his duties as the loser of the bet. 

He, on the other hand, was almost grumpy by this point. Everybody was either dancing, drinking or both. 

and here he was, trying to get away from a drunk Aditi who seemed hell-bent on hooking up with him tonight. 

To make matters worse he still hadn't caught a glimpse of Meera. Maybe she had decided to skip a party where she did not know anyone. That would be disappointing, he really wanted to talk to her and get to know her. 

"Angad there you are!" Aditi said chirpily. 

Angad cursed internally and turned to her with a huge smile.

"Hey, I would love to stay and chat but I need to get some uh," he glanced at the snack table, "cups. Yes, we're out of cups."

"Aw I'll come with you." she offered, stepping closer. 

"That's fine. I think I can carry some cups no?" he laughed and walked away before she could reply. 

He did actually walk out to his car to get cups and came back in with an armful. He walked in the direction of the snack table and paused mid-step because the girl he'd been looking for all night was standing at the table. 

He smiled when he noticed her struggling to open a bottle of Vodka. She clearly was a newbie. 

He took a deep breath and approached her. She didn't notice his presence because she was still occupied with the bottle. 

"That's not how you do that," he said finally placing the cups on the table. 

She looked up and their eyes met. He registered dimly that she had really pretty eyes. They were wide, caramel and luminescent. 

"Huh, what?" she asked. She didn't seem fazed or affected. 

"You need to pull the tab off before you unscrew the cap, here, let me do it for you," he offered. Then he pulled the tab, twisted the cap and poured her a small shot. 

"Thank you," she said gratefully and accepted the cup. 

He waited for her to say something but she seemed very occupied with her own drink. He leaned against the table and said,

"So, you seemed to have caused quite a stir with your performance today."

"Have I?" she asked. Not in surprise though. 

She met his gaze coolly and leaned back beside him. 

Angad was baffled and intrigued. Freshers were generally either terrified, flirty, quiet or starstruck around him. She seemed to be at perfect ease. 

"Yeah we have been talking about you, I was looking forward to meeting you, actually," he said.

"Here I am," she said and gestured to herself. 

"Lucky me, you are very popular tonight," I smirked at her. 

A little harmless flirting did nobody harm.

"I think you're being too generous," was all she said and turned away to get another shot.

Angad stared at the girl in amusement. His charm wasn't working on her. This was strange. 

"No, trust me, I am being a hundred per cent honest right now. I'm Angad Mehra from the college band if you didn't know that already," he said. 

Maybe that was it. She didn't recognize him. That was why she seemed to be brushing him off.

"I do know that. I had the pleasure of meeting two of your bandmates already. Siddharth and Yug?" she said and he nodded, "That reminds me I need to find Siddharth, It's getting late and I'd like to say goodbye before leaving."

Angad absorbed this nugget of information. She wanted to say goodbye to Siddharth.

"Oh, they're right there over at the dance floor. Let me escort you," he said finally and started to lead the way but stopped when she spoke up.

"Thank you but I don't think that's necessary just point me in their direction," she said and put her cup down. 

Angad had no reason to stop her. He felt a little surprised at the sort of callous way this girl seemed to be brushing him, Angad Mehra, off. He wasn't used to this. 

Yug had asked him to stay away so he wouldn't scare her off but she didn't seem like the person who could be scared off. In fact, it seemed like she would rather be doing anything but spending any more time talking to him. 

He pointed at his group mutely and she walked away. 

Angad just stared after her in surprise, awe and some pique. 

Had she brushed him off and wounded his ego?

Yes.

Was she the prettiest, most intriguing girl Angad had come across?

Also yes.

Was he planning on giving up?

Nope. 

A/N

I did it! 

Finally wrote Angad's POV.

Let me know what you all think. 

Do you want more of these? 

PS. I am also going to be writing Siddharth's story. It will be a spin-off and the name is 'The Great Indian Wedding Romance'. 

Keep an eye out for that!

Keep reading and stay safe.