First Impressions

Chapter Nineteen

I was ready when Kanak came to pick me up. When the doorbell rang, Neha said she would go and see.
So when I came to the doorway, dressed in the blue printed long top, Neha and Kanak were conversing, . I raised an eyebrow as an indication of what were they so intently talking about and she just shrugged it off.

"I was just asking her if you had any nickname, you know" kanak said.

"Who? Me?" I asked.

"Yeah. And then I realized that you should have a nickname."

"But my name's short though- what could be possibly shorter than Rhea?" I asked.

Neha nodded in agreement.

"That's what I was telling him." she said.

I am sure this was not the discussion they were having.

We left the house soon.

Upon reaching Brigade Junior High- where the music fest was scheduled to be held, we saw a huge crowd gathered outside. Since one participant was allowed to get only two guests from his side, I wondered how many participants there would be since the crowd was so huge.

"These many people?" I wondered out loud.

"Yeah there's going to be duets and group performances too. So imagine the amount of participants that would be coming from all colleges "

"Riiiight"

We stood in the queue that would get us inside to watch the Live fest. Luckily we weren't that late and hence, got our seats not much far from the stage.
Whether Raghav could spot us, was beyond questionable because from the huge illuminated stage, we would appear as insects, only making better noises than them.

The atmosphere was so lively, so energetic, it was as if they had come here to shower their full support and to make the most of this event. Surely, now I understood why Neha had suddenly got to high spirits when I told her I got the pass to go to this fest. And now that I understood, I felt lucky.
Anyone would long to go to such an event. This was the much needed change I needed. The excitement that I felt right now was coming after long days....or weeks or probably months.

A band was performing on the stage. The track they played was such a great song, and their performance too. My eyes were focused on the way they played the instruments, especially the guitar. It was obvious they were enjoying all the support that they received.

One by one, people came and exhibited their talent on stage and went by. There were competitions on different instruments- tabla, mridung, guitar, keyboard, sitar, bass, violin- There was everything!
There were classical performances, rock as well as fusions.

"Can you play any instrument? " I asked Kanak.

"Nope. Music and me have not always been on very good terms. Don't think this the other way round. I like listening to music but when it comes to playing the music - it's not something I am a huge fan of so. Forget me, do you play any of these instruments?"

"Oh. I wish..!" I said.

"So when did all this happen?" he asked.

I knitted my eyebrows.
"All this? Me coming to this music fest? You saw right- I mean Raghav invited me right in front of you.."

"Oh God Rhea. Don't be so dumb. I am talking about this- this bonding between you and Raghav. There was a time when he had said he was irritated even by your name, I am sure you couldn't stand him either but now? Now it's like some invisible entity poured a kind of pixie dust over you guys and since then you have been talking to each other as if you have been 'Friends forever'" he completed with hand quotes specifying the 'Friends forever' part.