The Tale of Sur Kshetra

Pilot

Je Tu Akhiyan De Samne Nay Rehna, 

Teh Biba Saada Dil Mor De,

Saada dil mor de, 

Saada dil mor de,

 Saada dil mor de, 

Ne akhiyan te samne nay rehna,

teh Biba Saada-

"Ma'am?"

I take off my earbuds. 

"Yes?"

"I was asking would you like something to drink? There's  only two more hours on the flight left."

"Hand me a pepsi."

***

Getting off the plane, I look around in the Dubai airport. Great, time to find my luggage. 

I brought about 3 different suitcases, and two hand bags. It won't be so hard to find them, considering how my mum wrapped each of them in bright colored dupattas, so they could be easy to find. I remember her crying, telling me how she'd miss me and to make sure I eat healthy when I reach Dubai. 

She also gave me a bunch of home-grown vegetables to pass over to Atif and Abida Parveen, as if they were her rishtedaars. 

Unfortunate for her, but fortunate for me and later Atif and Abida Parveen, the vegetables didn't pass security clearance. 

Something about the cucumbers being too sour  and bitter? Or maybe that's just something I told them. Hehe.

I rush to find a taxi.

"Take me near the Dubai Mall, where the Sur Kshetra competition is taking place."

"Are you a contestant?" the large mustachioed-man asked.

"No. How about Junior Judge?" I smirked.

"Vah, Vah! Junior Judge! But you are so young, ma'am, how?" 

"I'm only 23 years old! I study music trends, and see music patterns. I'm also a youtuber and popular vlogger in England!"

"You're not Asma Qureshi are you?"

"Yes!"

"Oh ma'am, my daughter loves you! She watches your videos every time, and what you call, beauty tut o rials."

"Here, I'll write a message for her, What's her name?" I asked while taking out a notepad and pen from my purse.

"Isha! Thank you ma'am!"

We arrive at the Sur Kshetra studio. I give him his taxi fare and I step out of the car.

Immediately I saw what a rush it is inside, there's people running back and forth. I ask the woman where my room is, and she tells me that my room is  4-8-15 inside the 16-23-45 sector of the hotel  suite within the building. I thank her and go upstairs to find my room.

I was told that I was to be working close with two other young girls. We are Sur Kshetra 'Junior Judges', and we help design the physical aspects of the contests. We help them on their attire, makeup, hair. We also rate their performance styles, and their singing, just like the judges. 

I will be sharing the same room as them, which I'm nervous about, I haven't really shared my room with anyone ever. Not my little brothers, not anyone. 

I will be working with Armina Sethi  and Rumina Noorzai. I met with Rumina briefly, at a booksigning. She's a well-known and accomplished  author, who writes about Music Structure and Lyrical Composition.  As an avid reader, I of course had a couple of books by her at home, and I went to her book signing. She wrote