Shivaatmika sat in the corner of the bustling club, mesmerized by the melody and bhava of the Siva kirtan playing through her headphones.

"Chandrachuda Sivashankara Parvati

Chandrachuda Sivashankara Parvati

Ramana ninage namo namo

Beautiful Pinakadhara Hara

Beautiful Pinakadhara Hara

Gangadhara Gaja Kacharambaradhara

Gangadhara Gaja Katharambaradhara"

The composition by Purandara Dasa, the father of Carnatic music, filled her ears and soul. Her entire attention was on the song, captivated by its divine beauty.

Suddenly, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her musical reverie. She turned around with a slight shock.

"What's up... scared all of a sudden?" Celine asked, laughing at the panic on Shivaatmika's face.

"Huh... that was sudden...." Shivaatmika replied, trying to steady her breath.

Celine leaned in, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "No, what are you listening to? Let's see...." She reached over and gently took one of Shivaatmika's earbuds, placing it in her ear.

As the strains of the kirtan filled her ears, Celine's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, is this what you're listening to? I thought it was something for the program."

"What's wrong with this song?" Shivaatmika asked, a hint of defensiveness in her voice.

Celine shook her head, smiling. "No, there's nothing wrong. But there seems to be something incongruous between your appearance and this song."

Shivatmika laughed heartily, her modern attire and confident demeanor starkly contrasting with the more traditional garb of the common folks of Durgapuri, including Celine, who had never ventured beyond churidars and jeans.

"Can I at least do justice to my old name..." Shivatmika teased.

"Ha, you're sitting here listening to songs when the festival is only two weeks away. Don't forget..." Celine's voice trailed off as she mentioned Gajotsavam, a grand event in Durgapuri that attracted hundreds of people from various regions.

Gajotsavam was a week-long celebration, beginning with the hoisting of the flag at the Sivaparvati temple in the heart of the town. On the first day, the focus was on musical instruments. Performers from different regions gathered on the festival grounds with chenda, komp, and kuzhal. The next three days were the main days of Gajotsavam, where the majestic elephants, the stars of the festival, were paraded with great pomp and grandeur. The ceremony of feeding the elephants on the fifth day was renowned far and wide. The main event on the sixth day featured spectacular fireworks, and the final day was reserved for various art performances by the villagers.

The last day of the festival was reserved for a series of art competitions for children and adults, staged on a platform erected in the center of the festival grounds. In recent years, the festival committee had begun inviting bands and dance troupes from outside Durgapuri to enhance the program. This year, however, they decided that the local band, Blue Dragons, which included Shivatmika, would suffice.

Blue Dragons had performed in many nearby areas, but this was their first time showcasing their talent in their own hometown. Determined to make it a grand success and the highlight of the closing day, the band members were working tirelessly. Amidst the flurry of preparations, Celine noticed Shivatmika sitting a little apart, engrossed in a song on her headset.

"Sorry... I suddenly..." Shivatmika began.

"Hey, why are you saying sorry now?" Celine interrupted with a smile. "Come on, let's resume rehearsal. I know you don't need it, but come along for us."

Shivatmika followed Celine through the dimly lit corridors of the club where the Blue Dragons were rehearsing. The club, a favorite spot for local musicians, buzzed with the energy of the band's preparations.

The Blue Dragons, Durgapuri's own music band, had been active for just two years. Led by Ajmal, a twenty-three-year-old drummer and the oldest member, the band was a vibrant mix of teenagers. Ajmal was joined by Deepak on piano, Robin and Sanju on guitar, Abid, Naveen, and Sachin on violin, and vocalists Manish, Atul, Celine, Shivatmika, and Neeraja. Shivatmika and Neeraja, both seventeen, were the youngest and had joined only a year ago.

Despite their relatively short time together, the band had already performed in neighboring regions. Now, their focus was on delivering a spectacular debut performance in their hometown.

As Celine and Shivatmika entered the rehearsal space, Neeraja spotted them. Without a word, she grabbed Shivatmika's hand and led her towards the stage with an enthusiastic pull. The club was alive with the sounds of instruments and voices blending into a dynamic rhythm, the band's dedication evident in every note they played.

"What's up? What's the matter?" Shivatmika asked, her brow furrowing as she watched Neeraja's sudden, anxious behavior.

Neeraja glanced nervously at Shivatmika. "Hey... that's something I have to say."

Celine, having followed closely behind, joined them. She took Neeraja's hand, concern evident on her face. "What's going on, Neeraja? What's wrong?"

"Hey... never mind, Celine," Neeraja replied quickly. "You focus on your practice. I need to talk to Shivatmika about something."

Celine's eyes narrowed. "Is it something just for her? What secret could be so important that we shouldn't know?"

By this time, the rest of the band members had paused their rehearsals and gathered around, sensing the tension.

Ajmal, looking between the three of them, raised an eyebrow. "What's this secret you're all keeping from the rest of us?"

"She has something to say only to Shivatmika," Neeraja said, her voice trembling slightly.

Ajmal, sensing the tension, looked at her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What's this about, Neeraja? Don't you know there are no secrets between us?"

Neeraja hesitated. "Not without knowing, Dada. But—"

"Look," Ajmal interrupted, his tone firm but calm, "we're more than just a music band. We're a group that helps each other through problems. We've always discussed everything openly. So, what's this about now? What's going on?"

Neeraja shifted uncomfortably, then tried to explain, "Dada, it's... if you promise me you won't cause any trouble, I'll tell you."

Manish, trying to ease the situation, added, "If you promise us you won't create a fuss, we can handle it."

Robin, still skeptical, chimed in, "Let's hear the issue first, and then we'll decide how to handle it."

Neeraja shook her head. "If it's like this, I won't tell you..."

At that moment, Ajmal raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop. "Enough," he said, his voice brooking no argument. He motioned for silence, indicating that no more should be said until Neeraja was ready to share.

In the dimly lit room of the club, the air buzzed with the low murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses. The group had gathered around a central table, their attention focused on Neeraja, who seemed visibly distressed.

"Didn't I mention that Vaishnava has been following me around?" Neeraja's voice wavered slightly, trying to cut through the ambient noise.

Abid, seated nearby, spread his hands in a gesture of exasperation. "What, did he cause any trouble?"

Atul, sitting at the head of the table, cut him off sharply. "Quiet, Abid. Let her speak."

The interruption made Neeraja's face flush with a deep red, her embarrassment evident as she took a deep breath.

"To be honest," she began, her voice trembling, "I found Vaishnava a bit of a nuisance at first. But he's not a troublemaker, so I didn't really pay much attention."

Deepak, leaning forward with curiosity, asked, "And now?"

"It's been a while since he's been walking behind me," Neeraja continued, her tone softening. "Over time, I started to like him. I told him that I liked him today."

Sachin, who had been leaning back in his chair, interrupted with a wry smile. "Ah, so the plot thickens. But there's a price for all this, you know."

Neeraja shot him a frustrated glance. "Yes, yes, but—"

"But what?" Sachin pressed, not picking up on her frustration. "If one of us admits to falling in love, shouldn't we be more concerned with where we go tomorrow—a parlor or a hotel?"

"Sanju, that's enough," Ajmal said, his voice firm. He could see Neeraja's discomfort and the seriousness of her demeanor. "She has something important to say."

Neeraja's gaze dropped to the floor as she gathered her thoughts. "Dada, didn't you check on him before? I left him alone because you said he wasn't a troublemaker."

"And what's the issue now?" Ajmal asked, his concern evident.

Neeraja took a deep breath before continuing, "Today, after college closed early, Vaishnava came to talk to me while I was waiting for Shiva's class to end. During that time, Surya and his gang showed up. They started harassing him and ended up beating him badly."

Her voice broke as she looked up, tears welling in her eyes. "They hit him because he was talking to me. They asked him why he was speaking with me, and they really hurt him. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth. His friends took him to the hospital."

The room fell silent, the weight of Neeraja's words settling over the group. Concern and disbelief flickered across their faces as they processed the gravity of the situation.

Celine held Neeraja tightly, her own eyes reflecting concern as Neeraja's sobs gradually subsided. "Don't cry, Neeraja. What's troubling Surya about Vaishnav speaking to you?"

Neeraja wiped her tears, her voice trembling. "Suryan has been giving me these dirty looks for a few days. I thought it was just a phase, but today..."

Ajmal listened carefully, his expression shifting from concern to determination. "Got it. Do you want to see Vaishnav? Which hospital is he in?"

Neeraja sniffed and answered, "He's at the City Hospital, Dada."

Ajmal nodded decisively. "Naveen, take Neeraja to the hospital. Use my car. We need to act quickly."

Naveen acknowledged the command with a quick nod, his eyes meeting Ajmal's as he prepared to leave.

Ajmal turned to Shivatmika, who was waiting nearby. "Shiva, where will Surya be now?"

"He'll be at the gym, Dada," Shivatmika responded.

"Alright. You check on Vaishnav and come back. Meanwhile, we'll handle Surya," Ajmal instructed.

Manish, his hands clasped in resolve, added, "It's going to be intense, Dada."

Abid adjusted his shirt sleeve, preparing for action. "Should we gather some tools, Dada?"

Sachin quickly interjected, "We don't have many tools. If we need something specific, we will find it at the gym."

Robin stepped in, his tone firm. "Enough talking. Time to get moving."

Ajmal's face broke into a smile, his confidence spreading to the others. "Let's go, everyone."

The group shared a brief, encouraging laugh, which managed to bring a faint smile to Neeraja's face.

Within moments, Neeraja, Celine, and Naveen were on their way to City Hospital in Ajmal's Scorpio. Meanwhile, Ajmal, Atul, Manish, Robin, Abid, Deepak, Sachin, and Sanju mounted their bikes, heading towards the gym with focused determination.

Will continue...