chapter 69.

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Finally, the Day of the Final Performance
The bus hummed softly as it moved toward the venue, but inside, the atmosphere was anything but calm. Everyone sat stiffly in their seats, lost in their own thoughts.

Ahana glanced beside her and noticed Advika’s palms, damp with sweat.

Ahana softly: “Don’t look at everyone out there. Just pick one person. Focus only on them. Everything else will disappear.”

Advika nodded, trying to steady her breathing.

Ahana pulled a chocolate from her bag and placed it in Advika’s hand.

Ahana: “Eat this.”

Advika was about to smile when she noticed Ahana’s own hands trembling.

Advika: “Your hands are shaking too.”

Ahana blinked, then laughed nervously.

Ahana: “Oh my goodness…”

Advika: “Shravani…” Her voice wavered. “What if I make a mistake?”

The bus went quiet.

Everyone instinctively turned toward Shravani, because the same fear sat heavy in all their hearts.

Shravani leaned back casually, a faint smile on her lips.

Shravani: “If you make a mistake…”
She paused deliberately. “…then I will kill you all.”

There was a second of stunned silence.
Then Reyansh burst out laughing. Divya smiled, glancing at Abhimaan.

Abhimaan stood up slightly from his seat.

Abhimaan: “Give your best. That’s all that matters. If someone slips—”

He looked around at every face.

“—we cover for them.”

Reyansh: “Just trust me.”

Divya: “We’ve practiced too hard to doubt ourselves now.”

Rihaan looking out of the window: “We arrived at the venue.”

Everyone went quiet.

The bus stopped.

As they stepped down, Abhimaan, Shravani, Reyansh, and Divya instinctively started walking toward the entrance, assuming the others were behind them.

But the rest of the squad stood frozen, staring at the massive venue — banners everywhere, posters, flashing lights, the crowd’s noise already leaking through the walls.

Abhimaan turning back “Guys. Let’s go.”

They snapped out of it and hurried after him.

Inside the Practice Room

The room buzzed with nervous energy.
Some were stretching, some pacing, some silently mouthing counts.

Shravani knelt beside Rihaan, pushing his leg gently.

Shravani: “Hold it.”

Rihaan: “Ah—wait—one second!”

He jumped up and ran away.

Shravani: “Hey! Come back here!”

Rihaan: “Not until I survive today!”

Across the room, Reyansh demonstrated steps to Rudra and Advika.

Reyansh: “No hesitation here. Commit to the move.”

Rudra: “Got it.”

Advika tried again — this time smoother.

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