Chapter 38: Genelia Veronica Antoinette Patrick Sterling
"Acapella went great. But now, we need you too do great in the second round also. " Coach Robin said.
"No worries coach! We've got our four Indian friends to lead us through the entire performance on culture." Ronnie said.
"On three. One...two...three.." Parker initiated.
"TIGERS!"
"All the best kids." Mr Reynolds said.
"You look beautiful." Parker said.
"Thanks. And concentrate. You have to perform first."
"
"Let's welcome, RHS!" The emcee said.
"Festivals are the main essence of any culture. Today, RHS, brings to you, INDIA!" The background video played along with the music.
This was a just dance, so we had the music.
Parker and Claire walked on stage dressed completely in white.
"1....2...3...." I gave a queue.
"HOLI HAI!" Tara, Kabir, Zee and I yelled from backstage.
The music began. We had chosen Balam Pichkari and Madhubala, the most appropriate Holi songs, presently.
"I was so worried, they wouldn't be able to do the lifts right." Tara breathed.
"Ready?" I asked Veronica, who was dressed like a Marathi along with Jesse.
She nodded.
"GANAPATI BAPPA MORYA!" Four of us yelled again as the Ganesh Chaturthi presentation began. Kabir and I had finally narrowed the sons down to Zingaat and Deva Shree Ganesha.
We were trying to cover 5 festivals among the eight of us. The ones celebrated all throughout India. Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Navratri and lastly, Diwali.
For the next part, since, Durga Puja and Navratri are celebrated at the same time in India, we wanted to show how we had Unity In Diversity as well as Diversity In Unity.
Zee and Tara were dressed up as Gujaratis while Kabir and I were Bengalis.
Well, the first part of this was supposed to be funny with a love sick song called Tune Maari Entriyaan with Zee and Kabir as the main attractions.
"We wanted to do this on stage since we were five." Tara said.
"Let's do this." I said and ran on stage.
The song began. Our favourite song to dance on, Dola re Dola and with a little mix of Kathak and Bharatnattyam, Tara and I ticked another item of our Bucket List.
"BOLO DURGA MAI KI JOY!" We screamed as we ended the dance with a little Dhunochi Naach, savouring the essence of Durga Puja.
"One, two, three...RE HALO! " Kabir and Zee ran on stage as the mash up of Nagade Sang and Chogada Tara began.
This was gonna be difficult. Tara and I started the dance with our solos. We switched in every two lines as the other one stood still. After that Tara and I paired up with Zee and Kabir respectively to go ahead with Dandiya, the dance form.
The last segment was with all of us on stage showcasing Diwali. We danced together as Do Dhaari Talwar played. We ended our performance with Indiawale.
"Let's give it up to the extremely DESI performance by RHS!" The emcee said.
"TIGERS! TIGERS! TIGERS!" We started cheering.
____________
"Hold on a second. Your grandparents, think, that I am your girlfriend? And now they want to meet me?" Veronica asked.
"That's about it." Jesse shrugged.
"Okay." Veronica said calm.
"That's it? You're not mad or anything?"
"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY, JESSE? YOU FUCKING TOLD YOUR GRANDPARENTS THAT I AM YOUR FUCKING GIRLFRIEND, AND YOU EXPECTED ME TO BE CALM ABOUT IT?" Veronica yelled, loud enough for the entire street to hear.
"Technically, Charlotte did." Jesse replied.
"And what's the problem. It's just for a day. You need to be my fake girlfriend for a day."
"Ronnie, it's no big deal. Plus, Jesse and you know everything about each other." Parker said.
"Well, you're wrong then. You guys know nothing about me. I repeat, nothing." Veronica walked away.
"Seriously?" I said following Ronnie.
"Vee?" I said knocking on the door.
"I have chocolate."
"I don't want chocolate." She said.
"You sure?"
"No!" She sat arms folded across her chest as Vh1 played on the TV.
"These Adams guys are so annoying!" She said.
"I know right." I replied.
"You're bloody dating one!" She said.
"He's annoying. I am annoying. It was a perfect match. But, you've been grabbing Jesse's attention since you came. So, why do you distance yourself from him?"
"Riya, you need to listen to this carefully. There is a reason why I say no to any guy who asks me out."
"Yeah, cause you like Jesse, right?"
"No I don't." She said.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Stop. Be Serious. This is important. I trust you and you're the first person to even know this. But first, you need to promise me that you will keep this a secret."
"You can trust me."
"So,this is not exactly how I wanted you to find out. Actually, I didn't want you guys to find out, ever. But, it seems inevitable."
"What are you talking about?"
"I am not who you think I am. I am not some London girl whose father transferred to the States for a job. Hell! Even my name is not Veronica Patrick."
I thought she was joking in the first part. But the last line gave me a shock.
"Wait, what?"
"Yes, it's true. I made a deal with my parents. I have to go back on the day if graduation."
She took out a box from her suitcase and handed it to me. Inside were magazine articles.
"The to-be Duchess of Rosewood leaves the country. " I stared at the title of the magazine articles.
"Without Genelia, who will be the next ruler of Rosewood?" Another said.
"My real name is Genelia Veronica Antoinette Patrick Sterling. And I am the next Duchess of Rosewood."
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YOU ARE READING
The Desi Girl (Discontinued)
Teen Fiction"Hey you! Who do you think you are?How Dare you? I don't think you are blind?Are you? I tell you you are gonna pay for this" She shouted He stood there his eyes gazed at her. She looked familiar. But he couldn't remember who she was. The girl ran up...
