Sona's POV
"Elena I'm telling you, back off, you sing worse than a crow, apni beizzati kyu karana chahti hai?"
I told Elena the umpteenth time. She had dragged me to ISS's auditions. She will be auditioning for this show & believe me she is worse than a crow infact a crow would sound like Lata Mangeshkar in front of her but this girl is adamant on auditioning. I mean seriously, national TV pe apna popat kaun karata hai???
"Sona, tu na phattu hai" Elena said
"Mai phattu hu!"
"Yes you are a coward ... You've got such a beautiful voice but you are not performing here so I thought that as a punishment the world should know that the youngest daughter of the Bose Clan has such a pathetic voice ... Oppurtunity has come knocking on your doorstep..." Elena knocked my head saying these lines "... & you are showing your back to it ... Say hi to it"
"Hi" We heard someone say that to us.
We looked up to find two beautiful girls standing near us.
"Hi" I replied
"You are here for the auditions too?" The shorter one of the two asked us
"I am ... My sister is a phattu .. Coward" Ele sticked her tongue out to tease me
"Oh!" The taller of the two said "I am Jeevika & this is my sister Manvi ... We are both going to audition for this show..."
"That's great" Ms. Elena over friendly Bose had already started geling with the girls "You know what? I wanted Sona to audition with me too ... It would be so cool but nahi madam hai ki maanti nahi"
As Elena chatted with her newly formed friends. My mind started rushing in reverse gear & got hooked on the days spent with Nachiket
"Sona... Wait ... Why did you leave the party like that?"
"Because I am not comfortable in mixing with strangers...."
"This was important for my career ... I could have got a big break"
"To kyu aaye ho mere peeche? Who told you to come after me?"
"Because I love you ... "
Where is this button in my head with which I can delete these memories & trash him out of my memory?
We were sitting in a room with JeeMan & a few more contestants. There was a small screen showing performances of various contestants in that room & I could see the aspirants go nervous listening to other contestants. There was this girl Rubina who had just got selected, she sang Girls like to swing with so much of energy that all the participants were becoming under confident & Elena was busy chewing a bubble gum ... Can this girl be serious for once in her lifetime?
Jeevika was summoned first. We wished her best of luck & she moved inside the hall where her audition was going to take place. We could see her enter the hall anxiously. The hall was pitch black, the spot light was on the judges & a red light was shining right on top of Jeevika's head.
"Aise hi di dari hui hain aur upar se ye BGM bhi aisa hai... Aur dara de bande ko... I mean dekho na nervous situation me aisa gaana bajayenge ki bande ki fat ke haath me aa jaaye rone wali situation me banda control karna chahe to jaan boojh ke aisa gaana chala denge ki ro ro kar haalat kharab ho jaani hai saamne wale ki" Manvi said
"Where are you from Manvi?" I asked her
"Delhi" She replied & I chuckled mentally for guessing it right. Such impulse flows in the veins of Delhites only.
As the music played I saw Jeevika's anxiety go down in the drain & she performed Yara Sili Sili with such perfection that I was gawking at her throught the screen. The judges were so impressed. ISS has got a format according to which after each selection the judges decide amongst themselves that whose team would the contestants go to & here all the 4 judges were fighting for her. After a heated arguement Jeevika went to Jennifer Winget's team. That was when I noticed Dev Dixit in the screen. Was he actually the helmet hero or am I thinking too much?
My thoughts broke down to see Manvi doing a happy dance for Jeevika as she came out.
"Do well" Elena wished Manvi before she went for her audition
"She will" Jeevika said proudly " I know she will manage well aakhir behen hai ye meri khoon ka rishta hai humara"
(How I miss EHMMBH!!!)
Manvi went inside the hall & she did something unexpected she said
"Lighting & Sound wale bhaiya please don't stress me out with your special effects ... Lighten the atmosphere a bit".
She managed to crack the judges.
"God is she mad?" Jeevika exclaimed
"Don't worry meri wali bhi aisi hi hai" I said & Elena slapped my arm
As the lights were adjusted according to Manvi's wishes. She began singing Phir le aaya dil & Jeevika was right she was so gooooood! She landed in Mouni's team.
Manvi came out & hugged Jeevika so tightly that I feared that she may choke her to death. They bid us goodbye & wished us all the best.
"Aisi hoti hai behenein & look at you, motivation to door ki baat you are giving me so discouraging looks" Elena said. Next was her chance & she wasn't even 1% tensed.
Elena was called in & then she was seen talking to the light wale Dada & then our screen turned black. I was freaking out because I don't know how my crow Elena was performing, did the judges kill her for deafening them with her pathetic voice? No no no that can't happen.
" Sonakshi kaun hai?" A spot boy came looking for me
I raised my hands. I was sure Elena had been arrested for singing in her phate baas type voice
"Your sister is performing inside so she has asked us to make you sit in that room"
"Are you going to keep me hostage till Ele swears that she will never sing again?"
I got a gobsmacked look from the spot boy. He led me to a dark hall.It was fairly large for a waiting room. I could barely see anything.There was a guitar in the middle of the hall. I looked at it intently. Seeing everyone perform I was dying to sing too & here I am in an isolated room with a guitar. I was sure that Ele was being punished for her horrible singing. She deserves it by the way.
If I have to wait let's entertain myself with my own singing.
I thought & sat on a chair on which the guitar was kept.
Is this Nachiket's guitar?
No no how can it be? Stop thinking about him Sonakshi or I'll hit you
My inner voice shouted.
I focussed on the guitar. It was already tuned. So I began playing it & sang:
Aaaa...
Mai jaan ye waar du
Har jeet bhi haar du
Kimat ho koi tujhe
beintehaa pyar du
Mai jaan ye waar du
Har jeet bhi haar du
Kimat ho koi tujhe
Beintehaa pyar du
Saari hadein meri
Ab maine tod di
Dekar mujhe pata
Aawargi ban gaye
Ha hasi ban gaye
Ha nami ban gaye
Tum mere aasman
Meri zameen ban gaye
Aaaaa...
....
Kya khoob rab ne kiya
Bin maange itna diya
Warna hai milta kaha
Hum kaafiro ko khuda
Kya khoob rab ne kiya
Bin maange itna diya
Warna hai milta kaha
Hum kaafiro ko khuda
Hasrate ab meri
Tumse hai jaa mili
Tum dua ab meri
Aakhri ban gaye
Ha hasi ban gaye
Ha nami ban gaye
Tum mere aasman
Meri zameen ban gaye
Aaa....
As I sang the last part I heard claps & the noise of ONCE MORE. I opened my eyes to find myself sitting in the audition hall with the audience clapping for me. Right in front of me were the judges Mohit,Mouni, Jennifer & Helmet Hero.
In between Mouni & Jennifer was standing Elena. She winked at me.
"You have such a beautiful voice" Jennifer spoke up "Why weren't you auditioning... You are so natural"
"She is a born talent" Mouni interrupted her " Sweety, I think that you can rock the show I see you in the finals."
Mouni & Jennifer were already beginning to fight for me. Wow! That feels great after being rejected by the man you loved with all your heart seeing people fight for your acceptance feels .... Great
" I guess you are still shocked about the turn of events" Mohit said "I'll tell you what happened ... Your sister came inside & told us that you have an amazing voice but because your father isn't too much into reality shows you are not auditioning. She told us to put up this set up so that we can trick you into singing & let me tell you I'm more than glad we agreed to her"
"Ab bol?" Ele cocked an eyebrow at me.
"I think you should be in my team" Mouni said
"I feel there is a lot of raw touch to your voice we can experiment a lot with it" Mohit said
"Our energies match Sonakshi... We'll be a great team" Jennifer said.
I wanted to hear what my helmet hero had to say but he kept staring at me without a word. Is he avoiding me?
"Pick your coach" He said finally. There was so much confidence in his eyes as if he knew I would choose him. I admire all the 4 singers in front of me but honestly just by looking at their faces how do I say who is right for me?
I looked at Dev who was smiling with a victorious expression on his face. I remember our meeting at the marine drive. His kindness, care, gentle manly behavior told me to choose him as my coach. If helmet hero is Dev Dixit I know I am surrendering myself to the right person.
"Ready with your answer?" He asked me
"I choose you"
How informal was that Sona he is not your neighbour be formal. I shouted at myself mentally.
"I mean it would be an honour if you become my coach"
"The pleasure is all mine"
I could see his eyes glistening with happiness.
Elena jumped towards me & took me in a bone crushing hug.
We came out of the hall & someone stopped us.
"Hey I am Karan Wahi one of the hosts of this show"
(Ha bhai ha Karan Wahi koi hai jo bahut khush hoga, Right Tanvi?)
"Hello" Elena was grinning looking at him & then I remembered that she had a crush on him since the time he was doing his first daily soap
"I have to do a small interview with you guys ... Make it short, crisp & don't stammer"
I nodded obediently.
"So how does it feel to be selected for ISS?"
"I feel worthy"
That's all I could say.
We hopped in my car to go back home. I was still in my la la land thinking how some of the best things unfold in life unexpectedly.
"Sun Sona"
"Yes"
"Baba ko kya bolenge?" Elena was biting her nails.
It then striked me that we are doomed yet again. Baba is gonna kill us. Why did I say yes to the show. Oh God!!!!
What will we do now?
Precap - what will they do now?
Was that guitar Nachiket's?
How is Dev feeling now?
Excited?
Super excited?
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Dadi: Huh! Mera to koi scene hi nahi tha
Neha: Mera to intro bhi nahi hua
Daya Ben: Hey Maa Mataji! Mai to iss ff me bhi nahi hu
Ishwari: Did anyone just say Maa?
Riti: Mad people on loose again ... Let the writer run away!!!!!!!