Raghav entered the audition hall followed by a very nervous Shravan. He still wasn't sure how he was going to manage his college, his job and his dancing every day. But Raghav's confidence was contagious and if his friend was ready to do anything, so was he. Inside the hall, Ms. Annalisa was sitting in her chair, looking through her papers. Raghav decided to take the lead.
"Ms. Annalisa, can I talk to you a bit?"
She looked up from her papers to find Raghav and another boy she didn't know.
"Raghav, of course you can"
"Ma'am, this is my friend Shravan. He's extremely good at dancing and I was hoping you would-"
"You know that the auditions are over?"
"Yes ma'am but he was very nervous to come here. Please, give him one chance"
"Shravan, is it?"
Shravan nervously nodded his head. He knew she wouldn't let him participate. He wasn't one of the royalty after all. He was just another middle class student with no connections.
"If Raghav can vouch that this won't be a waste of time, then I'm ready to give you a chance"
"Of course ma'am, I guarantee you won't be disappointed"
"Just so you know, if I'm not impressed, I'll cancel your participation too"
Shravan stared at her in shock. There was no way he would ever sabotage Raghav's chances at this. But before he could speak, his friend did.
"I accept"
Shravan turned sharply towards him but Raghav had a confident look on his face, no fear of losing his chance at this was evident on his face.
"Well, Shravan, go on then. His fate lies on your shoulders too"
Shravan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm ready"
--------------after an amazing dance performance---------------
Shravan stopped dancing and dared to look at the judge who held no expressions on her face. Expecting the worse, he closed his eyes. And then she clapped. He opened his eyes to see her standing up and applauding for him.
"And I thought no one can impress me as much as Raghav here. You're certainly an exceptional dancer! You remind me of Swayam Shekhawat. He was an outstanding dancer from a humble background too. He made his mark here and I'm sure so would you"
Shravan couldn't control his happiness and tears fell from his eyes. Raghav came on the stage and hugged his friend.
"Well done buddy!"
"I'll see you both tomorrow, at the announcement of the results"
They both nodded and left the hall.
Maybe, just maybe, his dreams weren't entirely impossible to achieve.
--------------------------------------------
It had been an hour or so since Aditya had left but Niyati still felt uneasy.
What is he doing? Who is he with? Are they having fun?
All these thoughts were swarming her mind. She couldn't understand why she cared so much. She didn't want to but she couldn't stop thinking about him.
"Come on Niyati! You just befriended him! Stop being weird!"
"Why are you talking to yourself?"
She turned to see her sister poking her head through the barely open door.
"Di please, not today!"
Navya entered her room and sat beside her on the bed.
"Niya, what's this huh? You're usually so organized but why are these notes spread around so hap- hazardously?"
"Nothing. I was studying and then I was tired so didn't put them back"
"Nonsense. Papa told me that some classmate of yours was here. Who was it?"
"Aditya. He's in our class and needed some help with the literature assignment"
"A boy! Is he cute?"
"Didi! Why are you always onto these things?"
"What?! I just want you to find someone like Karthik"
"I don't want 'someone like Karthik' in my life!"
"Someone like Aditya then?"
Niyati hit her on the elbow.
"Go away! I need some 'me' time"
"Alright fine! Bye!"
She left her room and Niyati sighed.
Did she really need 'someone like Aditya'? Nope. Wrong thoughts!
--------------------------------------
Karthik sat at his study table, trying to concentrate on his assignment but all he could think about was his father being a very bad father to them. He hated himself for thinking of his dad as a bad guy but it wasn't too far from the truth. Sure, he bought them everything but material needs weren't everything, they had emotional needs too. He heard a knock at the door.
"Go away Krish! I don't have time for your lectures!"
"Do you have time for mine?"
He stilled hearing his father's voice. Why was he there? He shook his head and went to open the door. Abhinav entered his son's room and realization hit him that he rarely came to see him there. He couldn't recognize the paintings that hung on the walls, the color of the walls or even the family photo he had on his study table. He sighed.
"Karthik, come here and sit with me"
Karthik followed his orders and sat beside him on the bed.
"I know you're disappointed in me and coming here now, I realized how absent I have been for you and your siblings"
"About time"
"I know. I'm not a perfect father and I have technically no right to expect you to be a perfect son when I myself have been an average dad"
"Cool. Why did you come here though? I know it wasn't to have a heart-to-heart with me"
"What if that's exactly why I came here?"
"Is it?"
"No"
"I knew it. Well, why'd you come here then?"
"I have one question, just one. Answer me honestly and I won't bother you again"
"Fine"
"Have I ever been a good father to you?"
Karthik was shocked. He couldn't speak a word. He looked at his father who was sitting beside him with a hopeful look on his face. Should he lie?
"No. You're not"
Silence hung heavy in the air. For a moment, Karthik wondered if he should've just lied but he shrugged it off. It was better if his father knew that he wasn't a good parent to him and his siblings. Silence hung in the air for a moment too long and Karthik just sat there looking at his father's face which changed emotions so quick that he thought he was imagining it. Abhinav's face went from hopeful to shock to blank and now it was turning sad.
"Is-Is there anything I can do to make it better?"
"Maybe respect our choices and stop forcing your ideology onto us. Oh and please stop comparing us to each other and relative's children, please"
Abhinav sat there, pinching the bridge of his nose. Karthik was getting more and more nervous by each passing second.
"Alright then, I'll try my best"
And with that, he stood up and started walking towards the door.
"I almost forgot, go downstairs and have something to eat before your mother starts flowing the Ganga-Yamuna again"
Karthik rolled his eyes at that. It was going to take time but it had begun. The change was happening and he hoped it would be for the better.