Cause I'm not just a pretty girl.

30]The Pairing Dilemma

Hey guys here is the update for this week ....hope you guys like it do read the note at the end of chapter, happy reading....

The air in the  auditorium buzzed with excitement and anticipation as students gathered for the annual Musicians' Gala. Posters decorated the walls, announcing this year's theme: "Harmony in Diversity." It promised to be an electrifying showcase of talent, but there was a twist that had everyone on edge.Preparation for Musicana meant new group and challenging group performances as projects.

As the trustee ,Nyonika  took the stage, her presence commanding attention. "Welcome, everyone! This year, we're doing something a little different. To foster collaboration and creativity, every student will be paired with another student for the performances. Your partners will be assigned randomly, and you'll have a week to prepare!Take this very seri"

Manik sat with his friends, the Fab 5, all buzzing with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Mukti leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Okay, who's betting on who gets paired with who? I can already sense a love triangle brewing!"

"Or a disaster," Cabir chimed in, his eyes wide with mock horror. "Remember last year's pairing fiasco? That was chaos."

Dhruv snorted. "I just hope I don't end up with someone who thinks they can turn a simple guitar solo into a symphony."

Alia rolled her eyes dramatically. "And I hope I don't end up with someone who thinks it's okay to eat a whole pizza before performing. Ugh, I can't deal with that kind of energy."

Cabir, ever the foodie, grinned widely. "But Alia, what's wrong with pizza? It's the ultimate fuel for creativity! Besides, if I get stuck with you, at least I know I'll have someone to share my snacks with."

Alia crossed her arms, unimpressed. "You can snack all you want, but I'm sticking to my healthy choices. I can't have my performance derailed by your junk food obsession!"

"Healthy choices? Really?" Dhruv interjected, feigning disbelief. "We all know that one slice of cake turns into a full-on dessert buffet with you."

"Shush, you!" Alia shot back, though a smile crept onto her face. "You're just jealous you can't keep up with my health standards."

Navya, sitting next to Alia, chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Alia. I'll keep you in check, even if Cabir tries to drag you into the food abyss."

Cabir threw his hands up in mock defeat. "Why must I be punished for loving food? It's a crime to be a foodie these days!"

They all laughed, the camaraderie easing the tension. Manik, however, found himself distracted. His thoughts drifted to Nandini, who was sitting a few rows back, her brows furrowed in concentration. He wanted to be paired with her; he wanted to share this experience together.

"Earth to Manik!" Mukti teased, snapping her fingers in front of him. "What's going on in that head of yours? Planning a love song for Nandini already?"

Manik shot her a playful glare. "Shut up. I was just thinking about the pairings."

"Oh, really?" Mukti leaned in closer. "Thinking about who you'd like to be paired with? I know you're hoping for Nandini."

"Maybe," Manik admitted, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. "But I mean, it's not like I can just—"

"Why not?" Cabir interrupted, a grin stretching across his face. "You could always convince your mom to—"

"No!" Manik interrupted, shaking his head. "I won't misuse my mom's position for this. If it's meant to be, it will happen. I trust destiny."

"Aw, look at you, all noble!" Mukti laughed, but there was a softness in her voice. "Just don't be too upset if someone else snatches her up."