{There is video today:D Happy reading my scribbles :P}

They were sure by now that there is some kind of foul play happening on the other side, when Anuradha called another friend of hers whom she met at one of the past competition.

They learnt that their college was not the only college that was not in the list but several other colleges too.

Three of them decided to get to the root of the issue as soon as their name gets on the list and not to take any decision in hasty that would end up to not making into the competition.

It was half past three by the time they made their mind to re-submit their entry form and not to wait till the next morning. They took another hour cracking heads to get a new set of scripts just in case if any of their five selected scripts were taken.

Settling for the new five scripts, the entry form was submitted to the organisers and prayed that they would receive a confirmation letter in a day or two.

"First thing tomorrow, I'm going to meet Mrs. Gracie and keep her informed about this issue so if anything goes wrong she can help" Anuradha decided, shutting her laptop down.

"Yup, first thing first. I hope she doesn't exploded once she hears this" Chris said laying back on the bed.

"I think we should leave" Manohar got up and walked to the balcony, shaking his head side to side he turned back in. "Not this way"

"Yes, that way" said Anuradha with a simper and pointed to the balcony.

"There is no other way, mate" Christopher said in a serious tone placing both his hand at the side of Karthik's shoulder. Both exchange nods and head shakes silently protesting on a way to get out.

Anuradha couldn't hold her sleep anymore, these two guys had climbed up her room with a news that ruined her sleep for the night and now they are prolonging their stay in her room even longer.

"Okay! Enough of contemplating, I'm just gonna push you both down and you can find your own way from there." Anuradha interrupted the two men.

"Wait! No!" Manohar walked to the door. "I will just go this way" he showed the door.

"Really, Karthik?"

Anuradha made her way out first to check the hallway for clearance before signalling them both out of the room and then out of the building without getting caught. 

*--*--*--*

"What you mean our name isn't there?" Mrs. Gracie asserted slamming the stacks of papers on her desk.

"It's true, not just us but the West Bridge College's name isn't there as well along with another institute" Anuradha handed her the letter Manohar gave Anuradha last night.

Taking her thick vision glasses off, "I can't believe this" she mumbled. "I remember sending an email from my side as an advisor to the organisers on our entry. How can they ignore our emails?"

"That is what putting us in a muddle but we have to be patience in handling as we fear its a foul play from the organisers side. Just let us get into the list, then we can take the necessary steps" calming the stressed lady, Anuradha headed to the water dispenser to fetch some water for the lady.

"We don't have enough time, Anuradha"

"Don't worry. We have sent another email to the organiser last night along with another five scripts just in case. Let's hope we get the confirmation by tomorrow evening, Mrs. Gracie" assured Anuradha with a smile.

"If we don't get any email then we shouldn't hesitate to call the committee to give heads up about this issue. This isn't the problem from the Theater Play Competition Committee but the college that is organising this year's event" said Mrs. Gracie with confident.

"These are the five scripts we included in our list, ma'am" Anuradha passed  her the set of new scripts that they selected last night.

*--*--*--*

"Nervous?" Shika walked into the sound proof room with food packs followed by Anuradha caring bags of snacks for night supper and beverages.

"Starving" Manoj and Cameron chorused leaving their respective station to the small table in the studio.

"Received any email?" Manohar inquired, devouring his dinner.

"Not yet" Anuradha gave a short reply shaking her head side to side. "Chris, did you get any news from your friend who is from that college?" she asked.

"He has not replied my message nor picked up my call, butterfly. I will call him again after dinner"

The only thing that they are thankful now are for the friends that they acquired during many other such competition and events. They now realise how important contacts are in one's life when comes to seeking help.

Without any of these out-of-college friends they wouldn't have known about their name not being in the list and that would have put their college name to shame.

Being the future competition organiser for the next term they were determined to show their best skills on stage to improve their college image beforehand. At this point of time, failing to submit entry application for the competition despite knowing about the dateline will not give a good impression.

"This is good" Christopher spoke with mouthful as he picked another piece of macron that Anuradha bought for herself.

"That's mine" Anuradha jumped trying to snatch the macron Christopher held high.

"Let me help you" Manohar stood up the couch and grabbed his arm as Christopher tried to pull his arms from Manohar's grip.

Struggling to reach the macron, finally Manohar snatched it from Christopher. Anuradha jumped like a small kid who was about to get her cookies, her excitement fell short when Manohar dumped that macron into his mouth in a go.

Munching in their dinner, the quiet three enjoyed the short fight for macron with the fake lovers' scene. It was quite fun to watch the three fighting over a macron in the midst of the competition chaos.

"Do they even know they supposed to act like lovers? And here they are behaving like five-year-olds" Cameron whispered to the two seating on either side of him.

"Why do they have to act when they look like one without much effort" Shika commented.

"Who and who?" Manoj and Cameron both stopped munching and focused on Shika.

"Figure out yourself, boys" she answered taking a macron for herself and the other two too took one for each which Anuradha failed to notice as she was involved in a childish argument with Christopher and Manohar.

The three finally settled down and continued their dinner. Anuradha's eye immediately went to the only piece of macron left, she gave a deadly stare at the three that was quietly eating.

She sighed as the only piece left went crushing into Christopher's mouth in no time, "I did not get even one, butterfly" he spoke with mouthful.

"All of you are thieves!" she avowed, pouting.

Going for the last round of practice and they are ready to hit and set the stage on fire.

"Alright, get enough sleep, macron thieves." Anuradha and Shika walked out of the studio first as soon as they finished their practice.

"And don't climb up to my room!" Anuradha warned peeping her head in before slamming the sound proof door shut.

"I need that macron" Cameron cried as he started loosening the wing nut of his cymbal.

"I will buy for you Cam" said Christopher.

"Tomorrow be ready at seven, City Map shows that it takes about an hour to reach the location" Manoj reminded them, zipping his guitar in its case.

*--*--*--*

The most waited first public event has come to an end, today is the day, each thought as they woke up and stretched. Kicking off the anxiousness, they got ready for the most anticipated day.

Helping Cameron load his drum set in the back seat of Christopher's car, they were finally ready to leave for the event.

Halting the car for a parking lot, Anuradha spotted the stage had been set up at a distance from where they were. The area looked very gloomy and quiet compared to the city centre where people can be seen jogging, walking, opening up their stalls for business.

How are people even going to come for the event? They thought as they unloaded their music instruments from Christopher's car that was parked near the stage.

The organiser of the welfare greeted them and assured there will be more people attending the event since they have advertised in many places. The place started to fill up and slowly increasing the nervousness in the boys.

The host begin the event with a welcome speech followed by their welfare history and purpose of the event, few performances from the welfare. Finally, they called the WINGS BAND for the next and last performance.

Excited and anxious, Manohar, Christopher, Cameron and Manoj set their instrument in the middle of the stage for the audience to have a clearer view. Down the stage Anuradha setup her basic DSLR camera on the tripod ready to capture their first live performance. 

First came the strum from the guitar and then a few hit of the cymbal from Manoj and Cameron gained a huge applause from the crowd, elating them to give their best for the awaiting audience to devour in the ocean of music.

  In three, two, one.... and The Magic Begin.....  

*******************

Thank you for reading :D here's your reward for reading this scrawl :D :D

It's almost 2 minute video.... Not as peppy as you think it might be....

So, suggest me a song that would go well for the event and I will add the video in the next update.

https://youtu.be/fNCwpz_kSmo