Melody of his heart

AUDITION DAY

Naira stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress nervously. Her hands trembled slightly, and her heart was racing as she thought about the audition. 

Singing in front of so many people was new to her. That too this time, it was the university's cultural fest, and she knew how big of a deal it was. She would have to singing in infront of so many people.

Despite her anxiety, she had shared the news of her audition with her mother and grandmother earlier that morning.

"We trust you, Naira," her mother had said with a warm smile. "I know our daughter is a very good singer. You’ll do great."

Her grandmother had echoed the sentiment, but even with their reassurances, Naira couldn’t shake her nervousness. 

After getting dressed and having a light breakfast, she took their 

blessings and bid them goodbye, heading off to the university with a mixture of excitement and dread swirling in her chest.

Kartik arrived at the university earlier than usual, feeling a blend of excitement and responsibility. Today was the day—the auditions were about to begin, and as the cultural secretary, he was determined to make everything run smoothly. 

He knew that his efforts would set the stage for the participants and judges, so he approached each task with focus and care with the help of Aryan, Rishav and other friends.

With his checklist in hand, Kartik began by checking all the equipment. He tested each microphone, making sure they worked without a hitch, and adjusted the sound systems, ensuring the audio would be crystal clear.

 Every detail mattered. He wanted each singer and dancer to feel confident that the setup wouldn’t let them down. Satisfied with his initial checks, he began moving on to the next tasks, but a small thought interrupted his concentration: what if something went wrong? Just to be safe, he circled back and went over the setup one more time, rechecking every last piece of equipment.

Despite his meticulous focus on the setup, Kartik’s mind kept drifting to someone else—the girl he’d often seen on the terrace singing. She was graceful, lost in her own world whenever she was singing. 

He’d catch a glimpse of her from afar. He hadn’t seen her for long, and also didn't get the chance again to listen her voice, her songs.

 He went to terrace several times other days just to got a glimpse of her but he didn't. 

He couldn’t help but hope she’d participate in the auditions. 

He imagined her walking in, surprising everyone with her melodious voice , her talent, and maybe, just maybe, he’d have a chance to talk to her.

Smiling at the thought, Kartik shook his head and pulled himself back to the task at hand. 

But in the back of his mind, he kept hoping that today might hold more than just the excitement of auditions.

Once naira arrived at the university, she rushed to meet her friends, Reem and Samar, the two people she knew could ease her nerves. However, when she reached their usual spot, only Reem was there.

"How are your preparations?" Naira asked, her voice a little shaky.

Reem grinned with excitement. "It’s the best! I’m so ready today! I can’t wait to show everyone how great I am!"

Naira couldn’t help but smile at Reem’s energy. She always admired how confident and full of life her friend was. 

Reem’s bubbly nature had a way of putting people at ease, and for a brief moment, Naira forgot about her anxiety.