Beginning

Derek started a membership at the library next day the school closed for summer holidays. He enrolled and registered for screening for the music program they were holding for talented and young unrecognized artists. It appeared that once he finishes with his screening, he has to wait for a week to get his membership card to swipe and enter the music room. He was very eager and almost lost his patience. He took out his phone and checked whether Taaliyah is online. He has not texted nor called her after what happened the day school closed.

Engaging himself in a fist fight. He recalled.

"You bastard," he shouted. "How dare you pull her," he lost his sense.

"Derek, no, stop," Taaliyah shouted. He hated the way Danny pulled her from the back and held her in his arm while she almost fell down. "You just removed your cast, you will get hurt," that's what she worried. But Danny was simple boy, he really believed that Derek attacked him because he thought Danny misbehaved with Taaliyah pulling her closer.

"I was doing what you imagine, believe me," he said while Derek punched his face. His inside of the cheek was scratched and wounded.

"Arghh, it hurts," Danny said. "What is this Derek? I did not expect you to hurt me," he complained.

"Oh gosh, Derek," Taaliyah said. "Danny why don't you go home?"

"I wanted to tell you something, and now it's all ruined, thanks to someone,"

"We will do later, go,"

"Derek," someone else came running, shouting at the same time.

"Am fine," Derek said to Taaliyah quickly who rolled her eyes. He felt the irritation in her the moment she saw Min Ah.

"Why did you come back?" he asked him. By then Min Ah reached his side.

"We should hurry, our driver has an urgent business to take care with my father," she said and took him with her.

"We will talk later then," he said and left.

But they did not talk after that. Taaliyah was busy and so was he.

Derek smiled wide thinking about the moment, recalling her reaction when he punched Danny. "I came to give you the gift," he said. "I failed again," he smiled and looked at his backpack he had kept next to him in the chair in the waiting room.

Derek did not tell Min Ah about library music membership thing and also hid about coming to library. He lied to his mother that he will spend time in library for reading and research because of his interest in rocket science. Seeing his unique interest Amy let him spend time in library and gave him permission to travel but with a curfew to reach back home before 6 pm.

"Master Derek, walk in," a man in his 40s called him for screening. Derek chose the song, silent night of a pop singer's Christmas album version, a Carol song to put forward his pitch strength.

"We will let you know in a day, you can come once you get selected," the man said got up. He was stiff. He did not say anything else.

He walked around the library searching for a book on rocket science. He took a selfie with an encyclopedia about it and sent his mother. Amy was satisfied. He read through few pages and found it interesting. He kept the book back. He decided to return back home earlier. He wanted to prepare for the guitar class going to begin the next day.

"Hey boy," some one called him.

"Yes sir," he turned around and looked up from the voice was coming immediately with a smile. It was the man who auditioned him.

"Come here," Derek was called to upstairs.

Derek ran back upstairs and walked into the room panting. The man handed him a bottle of water. "Drink," he said.

"What's your dream?" the old man asked.

"My passion is my dream," he answered. "My passion is music, singing well, to become an artists, a singer with healing powers, it is my dream, I want to make soulful heart touching music close to magic with my voice," his eye gleamed as he spoke, his words buring, his voice deep and melodious enough to stir the heart of many. The old man smiled.

"You almost convinced me," he said.

"What's your name sir?" Derek asked.

"Sitar," he said.

"You are named after a musical instrument used while producing classical music, wow," he admired the old man's name.

"So you know," Sitar smiled. "Come and use the music room any time you wish, we often hold competitions here with judges from the industry, participate in all of them," Sitar informed Derek.

"Thank you sir," Derek thanked Sitar.

"I will show you around if you are free," Sitar offered.

"Yes sir, please," Derek was delighted and on cloud nine.

Sitar unlocked the door and took him inside the recording room. That was the first time Derek saw the room directly, for real other than seeing them in the videos and movies. He had goosebumps and his raised. He felt like he is only an inch away from his dream coming true even it was just his illusion.

That day he walked back home peacefully after a really long time. He talked to his father on his way.

"Is my son happy?" John asked him through the phone.

"Very happy pa, Sitar sir, he sounds like a nice guy, am sure I will get his advise if I need them,"

"Don't slack okay, I believe the guitar classes commence tomorrow,"

"Yes, I will do well, don't worry,"

"Don't leave a clue to your mother, I don't want to have another fight, take care, it's upto you okay?" John reminded him. "Make sure your study well along,"

"Okay pa, I will. Don't worry, you take care, I have reached home, bye," Derek said and hung up.

But when he reached home some else waited for him there. Something he did not like, infact hated.

"Ma," he shouted. Amy looked at her son.