The Girl With the Dimpled Chin

CHAPTER ONE: The not-so first meeting

CHAPTER ONE: Not the first meeting

(It is 15th of October, two months before the annual function of my school. This is the time when auditions for the plays and other programs are conducted for the students, and are generally open for all.

Note that me and my classmates have been studying together since pre-school, so we know each other like the back of our hands J )

“Hey, Aaron! Aren’t you gonna audition for the only play on the roster of this annual day?” shrieks Ash with excitement for me.

“Of course I will man. How would it look if the school’s head boy didn’t participate in the school play! I will give it a try for sure.” I say.

“Do you know who else is going to participate in the auditions?” I ask.

“Am not sure about much but your ‘best friend’ Parv (pronounced similar to serve) is going to give audition for the male lead. HAHAHA” he chuckles.

“Oh that guy is as useless to human kind as are rubber lips to a woodpecker!” I redden at the mention of my arch nemesis in the school, the house captain of the Red House.

“Okay, just cool down. He doesn’t have anything better than you. At least now you know which role you will be auditioning for.” He reply with a smile.

“Well said,” I smile, “What about you though? Is there a dance or something? You are so damn good at it!”

“Yeah there are a couple of dances in the play only, and they have a small role as the protagonist’s friend as well. So I hope you bag the role, cause I don’t wanna act next to that douche.”

“Don’t worry mate, I’ll give it my best.” I assure him with a smile.

(The scene shifts to the auditioning hall where our drama teacher is telling us about the play which we are supposed to be auditioning for. Surprisingly, they had kept the theme a secret till the day of auditions but only revealed that there was supposed to be a male and a female lead and three supporting characters and a few extras. Therefore, only 8 students show up for the auditions.)

As soon as I enter the hall, my eyes fall upon a girl sitting on the opposite end reading a book and I completely forget breathing automatically at the sight of her. She flicks her hair from her eye to behind her ear and I lose my step and say my graces to the marble floor. Luckily, she doesn’t see that and no one else but Ash does so I pick myself up as he was too busy laughing at me! The perils of best friends!

“Is that girl Emma from the 8th grade?” I ask fairly pink and perplexed.

“Yep! But why are you asking suddenly? And why are you so breathless?” says Ash.

“Ummmm. Nothing. It’s just that I have seen her hundreds of times before but right now, she just blew my freaking mind away!” I say.

“That’s weird. Just hope that Parv hasn’t seen your love affair with the floor or you’ll be hearing about it for at least a month.” He laughs it off.

“Okay kids, please pay attention! No whispering amongst yourselves.” Shouts Miss. Rose, “The play is a modern adaptation to the Disney classic Cinderella. The male lead in the story is the son of a wealthy businessman and the female lead is of course the Cinderella whose name would be Angela. Instead of the two evil twin sisters, we will have twin brother and sister. And also an evil step mom. Now the male lead will be named after the one who plays it and mind you, the male lead has very less acting time and more dancing sequences. He will be having a slow dance with the female lead and a tango dance with a group but his partner will be the female lead only. Since there are only 8 people auditioning for the play, we will first start with the main characters of the story -The protagonists and the evil family. Aaron and Lisa, Parv and Emma I want you to try the roles of the roles of Cinderella and her evil step brother. Take 10 minutes to prepare yourselves. Good luck.”

Parv comes up to me and says,”Dude, I saw you looking at Emma when you entered the room, and I am so going to get the role of the male lead. Just see my acting on this one. I’ll set the stage on fire.”

“Okay, whatever.” I reply non-chalantly, still caught up on Emma.

“Did he forget that if he does well on this one he’ll be playing her brother rather than his love interest? How dumb is he?” remarks Ash.

“I never took him for a smart one anyway! So I will have to act badly to be rejected for the role of brother?” I tell Ash.

“I guess. But won’t that be a risk? I mean what if they don’t take you at all? Then you’ll be out of the play. Risk worth the girl?” Ash says.

“I guess it should be worth that. Plus I don’t think Miss. Rose would leave me out of the play. She has a soft corner for me. So yeah, let’s aim for the lead or nothing. Here comes bad acting!” I encourage myself more than Ash.

“That won’t be too difficult for you! Hahahaha. ” Ash teases which gets rewarded by a punch to the arm.

As expected and so warmly warned by parv, Emma and Parv did excellent. It would have been difficult to beat the performance if I wanted to in the first place.

I call up my partner for the audition, Lisa and tell her, “look I know, you might want this part in the play, but I don’t want to be the evil step brother, so sorry, but I will not act properly. I hope that is fine with you.”

“That’s okay. I understand. I kind of saw how and why you fell to the floor when you entered. In fact, I will help you and act loudly and in a shrill voice. That will help you.” She says.

“Gee. I was hoping no one saw that. And thanks.” I smile.

As we go on to the stage for the audition, I manage to look towards Emma and she SMILES!

As planned Lisa and I try our best not to impress the teacher, fumbling all around.

“That’s it for the auditioning. I quite judged enough to know what roles to be assigned to whom. And Aaron, it was quite odd that you performed so averagely. Anyways, Emma you’ll be the female lead, Angela. Lisa, since you were so loud and shrill, you’ll be the evil step mom, and Kat will be the step sister. I just have a doubt whether to put Parv or Aaron for the role of step brother. Parv acted better but I think Aaron just had an off day with acting. Want to give another try guys?” says Miss. Rose.

“ Ummm, actually Ma’am if Parv acted better, then he deserves the role. I don’t mind taking a step back.” I say.

Obviously Parv looks shocked about me taking the high road and giving him way. He hasn’t figured it out yet! Ash gave throws a wry and cunning smile towards me.

“Well, in that case, Parv, you will be the step brother.” Says Miss. Rose, I give a smirk, “ and Aaron, the role of the male lead doesn’t require much acting and you dance well enough and I saw your salsa last year so I think you will be perfect for the role.”

Just then there is an expression of revelation on Parv’s face. I smile at that look and say, “Thank you Ma’am. I will be glad to play the role and will try my best to not let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” says Miss. Rose, with a smile “The audition is dismissed for now. The other roles will be declared as and when require, Dismissed.”

Ash comes up to me and says “well executed my friend!”

“Did you just do what I thought you did? That isn’t fair man!” says Parv.

“Making use of the brain isn’t bad thing. Try doing that for a change.” I reply bluntly

I walk up to Emma who was picking her bags up from the chair, I say, “Look forward to doing the play with you.”

“Me too. Also you dance good. I know the dance will be wonderful. I look forward to it even more.” She replies with a cute smile.

Just then I notice the cutest of dimples form on her chin when she smiles.

“Oh my God! Don’t make me fall for her.