It was Day Four of rehearsals. The mood had shifted.
There was laughter echoing between the walls, bits of music playing from someone's phone, and colorful fabric bags piled in the corners — most of them hiding sarees, dupattas, lehengas, or accessories meant for the grand Fresher's Day show.
Bani sat cross-legged on the floor, her palazzos crumpled beneath her, as a group of seniors and juniors gathered in an informal circle. They had just wrapped a walking practice, and now it was time for the real preparation: the glam squad talk.
> "Okay, who here can do eyeliner without blinking like a terrified rabbit?"
Ananya raised an eyebrow, holding up a tiny black tube.
Everyone giggled. One junior immediately said,
> "Not me! I'll poke my eye out. I need help."
> "I can do kajal, not liner," Bani offered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
> "Good enough," said a senior named Shreya. "We'll build a little team — you do kajal, I'll do base makeup. Lipstick swatches are tomorrow!"
Someone passed around a mirror. Another girl showed off her nude pink nail paint.
> "Fusion theme or not, nails matter," she said. "No chipping, no neon!"
Bani watched and listened, soaking it all in.
Then came the hair debates.
> "I'm wearing a saree with a crop top," one girl said. "So I want a fishtail braid. But my mom says it'll mess up the saree vibe.
> "You?" Shreya turned to Bani. "You've got amazing hair. What's your plan?"
> "Maybe loose waves... parted on the side?" Bani replied hesitantly.
> "Yes! That'll go with your shirt-saree fusion. Add jhumkas and maybe a tiny bindi."
Bani smiled. It was the first time she felt like she belonged in the conversation.
They talked about bangles, nose pins, tiny clutch bags, and even how to tape down saree pleats to avoid tripping on stage. A few girls showed each other Pinterest boards they'd made for hair inspiration. One junior had even brought a color palette sheet for nail polish tones.
In that moment, it didn't matter who was junior or senior — they were just girls preparing together, weaving excitement and nervous energy into friendships.
As rehearsal ended, Ananya shouted over to everyone:
>Girls "we're going to kill it. Just wait till the lights hit it."
Next day
The rehearsal room was gone. Today, it was the actual college auditorium.
Bright white lights bathed the empty stage. Folding chairs lined the front rows, and the tech crew shouted directions near the control booth. Music crackled in test runs. The floor still smelled faintly of varnish and dust.
It was stage trial day — no costumes yet, but the energy had shifted.
Each team took turns going up. The senior in charge of choreography, Rishi, clapped his hands to get attention:
"Walk to center. Pause. Pose. Exit. Don't look at your feet. Don't fidget with your hands."
Bani's group went up third.
Her heels clicked softly on the stage floor. The space felt different — bigger than the classroom, and the lights made it hard to see the audience. Her heart thumped. But her back stayed straight.
She paused. Counted two seconds. Walked. Pivoted.
There were stumbles. Nervous laughter. One boy forgot his position and walked the wrong way. But the seniors clapped, encouraged, and shouted corrections from the front.
> "Fix that pose! Chin up, Bani!"
"Better, better! Confidence is everything!"
By the end of the day, everyone had a sense of how it would feel — the lights, the movement, the eyes watching. The countdown had truly begun.
---
Fest Day – Getting Ready at College
On the morning of the college fest, the campus buzzed.
Corridors became makeshift dressing rooms. Girls unzipped makeup pouches, borrowed mirrors, plugged in straighteners wherever they found sockets. Boys were gelling their hair, ironing shirts in stairwells, practicing steps in corners.
Bani arrived early with her bag — inside it, neatly folded, was her fusion costume: a deep green Mysore silk saree, tailored white shirt, and crisp black pants.
Bani unpacked her outfit:
A vivid green Mysore silk saree, shimmering with traditional border
A crisp white tailored shirt, perfectly pressed
Slim-fit black pants, ironed flat
Her copied stiletto heels, still pristine
She dressed efficiently, neatly pinning the saree pleats. Her Kundan choker, a single kada, and her watch completed the look. Her wavy black hair was brushed loose and pinned on one side. Light foundation, kajal, and a rose-pink lipstick gave her a fresh, confident appearance.
Other girls paused to watch her. Someone whispered:
> "She's really looking like a model, no joke."
"Fusion queen," another added with a grin.
Ananya, her senior and group lead, popped in to check on everyone.
> "Looking perfect, Bani. Ready in five?"
Bani smiled slightly, nodding.
The sound of mic checks and music warmups drifted in from the corridor. The energy outside was building—but inside Room, the girls stood ready.
The Fusion theme was about to come alive on stage.
The classroom smelled faintly of Mysore sandal soap, setting spray, and borrowed perfumes. The girls stood in a loose circle, half in nervous excitement, half trying not to crease their outfits.
A senior peeked in:
> "Five minutes to stage. Final touch-ups, let's go."
Ananya clapped her hands once, smiling.
> "Ladies, deep breath. Walk tall, stay in sync. Let the audience see confidence, not nerves."
Bani adjusted the drape of her saree once more. She glanced at her heels—still perfect, still copied with magic—and quietly slid them on. They clicked gently against the floor as she tested her balance. It was smoother now, after the week of practice and her home rehearsals with her cousin Harsha and brother balancing books and doing silly poses in the mirror.
Someone handed her a tissue to blot her lips.
Another girl helped fix a stubborn strand of hair.
They weren't just a group anymore—they were a team.
---
On Stage – Fusion Theme Walk
The lights were brighter than expected. The stage stretched endlessly ahead. But Bani had done this in her mind a hundred times already.
One by one, the group walked out to the cue of light instrumental fusion music—tabla meeting acoustic guitar.
Each girl held a different blend of Indian and Western style:
Saree with denim jacket
Lehenga with combat boots
Kurta with a trench coat
Bani was the center of the sequence. The spotlight turned just a little warmer when she stepped forward—her green Mysore silk saree shimmering against the crisp white shirt and black pants, paired with her stiletto heels.
Her walk was fluid now. Her hands moved gracefully. A soft smile stayed on her lips. Every posture, every pause, every turn—polished.
In the front row, some of the juniors clapped. Even the seniors from other groups whispered compliments.
Backstage, Ananya beamed.
> "That's what I call stealing the show."