Shika followed Cameron and Manoj closely as they were nearing the building entrance. Checking for the clearance both sneaked Shika in to the boy's hostel making sure not to be caught by the warden or anyone else.

The warden was known for his strictness so, they had to be sure to sneak Shika in before the warden comes back from his short trip to the toilet.

A few couple of attempts to pass, getting tripped by one another and almost getting caught by the warden, they finally made their way to the sixth floor.

"phew... how did they manage to sneak her in" Shika whispered following them.

"Hey guys!" Cameron entered into Christopher's bigger than anyone's room in the hostel with Manoj and Shika following suit.

"Look who we have here, it's Gorgeous!" Cameron beamed as soon as he spotted Anuradha seated at the corner of the room with her face half cover by a book.

An unusual welcome Cameron received from Anuradha, a stare that might burn him down. "Woah... someone is steaming hot in here" Cameron laughed, dropping himself on the bed next to Christopher.

"If you don't want to get boiled then shut up, Cameron." Christopher warned.

Puzzled Cameron looked at Karthik who was at the other corner of the room for an explanation.

"Zip that mouth Cameron, you don't want to get in trouble, do you" Karthik's words was like Greek all of a sudden to Cameron along with Manoj and Shika equally puzzled.

"What's wrong with both of you warning me about my gorgeous? Anuradha how was your day?" Cameron asked unaware of what's going to come next.

"Terrible" asserted Anuradha slamming the book shut.

"What happen?"

"What happen?! These two idiots dumped themselves to the girls and expected me to save them. If it was Manohar alone I wouldn't have mind now this guy is also in their list. Not one but two. I had to save them both by saying these two are my boyfriends" she yelled, pulling her hair out in frustration.

"What?!" the three who wasn't aware of what happened yelped.

"Did you really say that?" Cameron was in utter shock. Manohar nodded.

"Do I look like I'm cracking some joke?" She countered, continued to stare at Cameron which for some reason was making him a little uncomfortable.

"Stop staring at me Anuradha. What did I do?" he stood up and walked a few feet away from her.

"Aren't you the one who said I should help for 'once' and that you know this won't bring any problem?" she slowly minced towards Cameron's direction. "Now, what is your explanation. Cameron?" Anuradha asked grabbing the room spray Christopher happily handed to her.

"Tell me, Cam before I break your head"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't know this matter would go this far" Cameron fretted and started running away from her.

Dropping the spray bottle on the floor, she picked up the pillow from the bed and started throwing at him. "THAN. YOU. SHOULDN'T. HAVE. SAID. IT."

"Woah, woah, Anu" Manoj stood before Cameron while Manohar and Christopher remain silent. "easy there, I know this isn't something to take light about but chasing Cam won't change the situation, right?" said Manoj.

"Actually, you are right but what to do... no matter how many times I try to divert my mind it just doesn't listen to me!" She said after sometime.

"Anu, you need to go back home now." Shika came and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"That's what we have been telling her since we came here, she doesn't want to listen." said Manohar.

"Go back home, Anu. You probably need Shark's help, I will call Mark to pick you up," Shika said softly.

"Yeah, I think need Shark" agreeing to Shika, Anuradha headed to the door. "I almost forgot, why I called you'll here"

Anuradha sat back at the same corner where she was earlier and started explaining to the three about the fundraiser and discussed on what they will have to do.

Anuradha had promised to get them paid for their time and effort that they put together just because she had asked. Though they won't be getting any payment from the welfare organisation for performing on that day.

*-*-*-*-*-*-

As soon as the lecturer dismissed the class, Anuradha quickly grabbed something light for lunch for her and Shika before heading to the dance studio to join the boys' practice.

On their way to the studio, the boys' classmate who happen to pass by them stopped to tell that Cameron was being chase by them. Seems the boy was in a hurry to somewhere, he told Anuraadha where they saw Cameron last running away from them.

"Who are the 'them' he was referring to?" Shika asked, curiously as they walked to the place he told.

"What's going on?" Anuradha mumbled as she sped up her pace as soon as she spotted Cameron screaming and running. Anuradha came and stood between them and Cameron. "Why are you chasing him, Manoj?"

Manoj who have always been quiet and calm looked now irked all of a sudden while Christopher and Manohar were calm.

"From the time we started to discuss a name for our band, he is giving us all kind of stupid names" Manoj growled.

"Ohhhkay.... Manoj, relax... remember you are the one who said chasing isn't going to help. The context here might be a little different but it still works I think" she raised her brows.

"I know but it's just ... never mind" Manoj sighed and started walking back to the studio.

"Alright, now tell me about the stupid names Cameron, gave?" Anuradha asked as they followed the four back to the studio.

"You really want to know?" Manoj asked and she nodded. "Hmm... Crushed in the Damned UK, Garbage Band, Playboy Band..." Anuradha was astonished with the set of names Cameron came up with.

"The Wasted Lonely Group! The Rotting Band! You forgot that Manoj!" Cameron shouted from the front, he who could not keep his mouth shut irked Manoj more.

"That's why we said don't include him" yelled Christopher and Manohar as they joined Manoj to get a hold of Cameron.

Shortly after reaching the studio, Anuradha picked up the necessary stuffs for the audition happening today to finalise the casting for the play.

"I'm leaving now be sure to be there on time otherwise, guys you won't be getting the characters you want."

*-*-*-*-*

To their surprise, the competition had been postponed for another month. Which gives them more time to prepare for the fundraiser and also rehearse their play.

Anuradha was told to contact the competition organisers for details as soon as she finished giving her audition. Meanwhile, Anuradha's acquaintance was inside the auditorium giving their auditions for the play.

"How did Mrs. Gracie even let you in all five plays?" Anuradha asked Manohar out of surprise the moment she got the finalised casting list.

"Because she knows I'm good at it" he gave subtle wink.

She couldn't take it anymore as he gave another wink for God knows how many times now since they entered the studio back again after the audition. "Stop winking, will you?" she said without looking at him.
There was something in the wink.

"Looks like someone is falling for the wink? Well, I'm just getting the chemistry started as we will be playing opposite each other" Manohar gave the confident smile receiving deadly stare in return.

"Shut up. You don't need to do it or I will..." her eyes swiftly darted to the door. Two girls of the Graphic Girls entered the studio walked towards them. "You actually look cute when you wink" she said as they get closer, getting a puzzled and confused look from the other end.

"Hello there!" the girls greeted and sat opposite Anuradha gaining attention from Shika, Christopher and team who was rehearsing their part from The Glass Castle script while Cameron and Manoj were helping them in their dialogue.

The girls introduced themselves as Venus and Hallie and requested Anuradha if they could be a part of the play. Anuradha then puts forward a condition that if they really wanted to join the Drama Club, they will have to get the pictures of Manohar and the girls.

To her disappointment, the person who has the pictures did not reveal where she kept it and "Even if we help you get rid of the pictures, she can always do it again. It's that easy" said Venus.

"Can I ask you something? Why are you'll even doing this? Going after boys when you can use the time for your studies or something better" Manohar asked.

They agreed that it was a waste of time and it was something that they are ashamed that they were doing this all the while. Hallie had also said that those girls have chased them away from their group because these girls started speaking against them.

Anuradha and Manohar understood that there isn't any other option but to go ahead with their initial plan. The news of Anuradha and Manohar as a couple has already been doing the stir in campus.

Luckily, Christopher's name isn't going around along with Anuradha and Manohar. That relieved them as it wasn't going to give problem to Anuradha and her reputation she holds in the campus.

Upon speaking to Mrs. Gracie about the two new girls, she agrees to recruit them in the club but they won't be having any part to play in the drama for the competition.

Mrs. Gracie has also decided to make Manohar play the lead male character in two plays where Anuradha is to play the female lead which wasn't mentioned in the casting list. Despite many attempts in convincing Mrs. Gracie, she refused to change the role of either one as according to her they both have the perfect rapport to lead the play.

"I very well know who to cast as who Anuradha. I have been doing this for the past twenty years and my casting chemistry never goes wrong in this twenty years. I believe you both have the magic that will spellbound the audience when you are on stage, the magic that I saw during the trial" she said leaving Anuradha dumbstruck.

"Magic...?" she muttered

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A SMALL VIDEO JUST TO MAKE THIS CHAPTER BETTER  😜

https://youtu.be/wP_aluxl25Q