Chapter 2

2 Months later

Nandini

"Ma, please convince Pa so that I can go to Gurukul without any guilt. Its so difficult to get in there and I got through with that with my own efforts. I dont want to hurt any of you, I love you all so so much." I literally begged my Ma with the most innocent expression on my face.

Ma thought for a while and assured me she will convince Pa, yayyyy!!

After lots of arguments, promises and discussions finally everyone at home agreed for my plans.

Finally, the day arrived when I was travelling to Gurukul. After taking blessings from everyone at home I happily travelled through plane towards my destination to a beautiful place, a hill station where Gurukul was located basically in woods. Greenary everywhere, felt like I was in paradise.

I hurriedly reached the main office. I waited for my chance to talk to the receptionist. When I walked there with my heavy baggage, I was literally panting and cursing when I would get my room and some rest.

"Hi there, I am Nandini and I am here for the drama course." I told the receptionist with a big smile on my face.

The receptionist started checking on the system.

After sometime she almost gave me heartattack when she opened her big mouth.

"Sorry Ms. Nandini, I cant find your name on our system. I cant help it if there isn't your name registered here."

"What? But I have my acceptance letter see this." I handed over my letter to her.

"Sorry but with this I cant do anything and moreover you are fifteen days late the course has already begun and there are no rooms available for your accommodation, now please leave so that I can continue with my work." She replied me with a scowl on her face trying to get rid of me soon.

"I thought you were doing your work." I replied sarcasm dripping from my words, that irked her even more and she almost called security guards. I just left from that place helplessly after pleading her hundred more times.

But then she got a phone call.

"Yes Sir, all seats are filled except for one guy who has still not turned up. His name is Nandan Murthy, he is supposed to come from Mumbai." That got all my attention. I walked back to her again and asked her who is Nandan Murthy she straight away called guards and they threw my stuff and asked me to get lost!

I was fuming and my blood was boiling and on top of that I bumped into something resembling hard wall and when I saw what it was or rather who it was I was shocked to see a six ft tall guy who was fuming too "Oops, Sorry." I said holding my now aching forehead.

"Are you blind ? Cant you watch where you are going? " He yelled at me and he started cursing while I stood there with my mouth wide open. One of his friends held his arm "Manik, leave it we are getting late come lets go." And then I came back to my senses.

"Jerk " I muttered rather loudly so that he could hear .

"What did you just say?" He started walking towards me but was being pulled back by his friend again.

"Uff how rude of him." I was feeling like to cry with the worst experience I was having until now so much for my dreams! I slowly started walking towards taxi stand with my luggages and with help of some hotel apps I could find a decent hotel and headed towards my hotel to clear my mind.

As soon as I reached there I took a long soothing shower had had some food and slept for few hours getting rid of my tiredness. When I woke up it was already dark. After having some coffee I called my home and told them I was all well settled down here, which was, utter lie. I had no idea what I was going to do next. Going back was not an option that would ruin my little chances of getting back to Gurukul. After racking my brains for some more time I had a brilliant idea and with that thought I fell into peaceful slumber.

Next day, morning, I went for shopping and got all the required stuff and got back to my hotel room and changed my attire completely. Yea! Now I was a guy and I was going to pretend to be Nandan Murthy and try to get in the academy.

I went to the Gurukul arts academy where I again faced the rude receptionist. I had big rimmed glasses which covered half of my face and I wore a cap which covered my thick long hair which were settled in a bun. I was wearing baggy clothes which covered my curves so basically I was a pretend boy who was actually a girl.

"God, please help me get through this. I hope I wont get caught." With firm determination I went near the receptionist and told her that I was Nandan Murthy in the most hoarse voice possible.

"Hello Mam, I am Nandan Murthy, I am from Mumbai and sorry for the delay I had some family emergency." I told her in a calm voice where in reality I was trembling and my palms were all sweaty but I wanted to be in this academy so this was my first real challenge. So I tried to calm down my nerves.

She checked in her system and gave me a fake smile "Oh yes we were expecting you." I was actually scared she would ask me the acceptance letter which would end my little hopes. But luck was on my side she gave me the form which included all my exact details except for the gender as "Male".

So I assumed that may be it was their blunder but, I was scared to rectify it now and I was at fault that I had not come on time because of my family drama as they were so reluctant to send me here. I would rather pretend to be a guy and achieve my dreams of becoming an actor may be this will be my sacrifice.

"God please help me." I sighed and prayed for the millionth time and finished the formalities, then she handed over the key to my room.

"Here is your room key. Its room number 10 and you would be sharing your room with some guy I forgot his name." She said and I almost fainted I had never thought about these consequences.

"What? Can I not have a separate single room ?" I asked her in a hoarse voice again.

"Are you some celebrity ?Everybody shares room here and make sure you don't sneak in girls rooms or else you will be punished now leave, I have things to do." She yelled. Again.