A rehearsal to remember

She stood there under the glare of flood lights that almost blinded her. It was a large stage and an even larger auditorium. Lovely red capes donned its side walls hiding the back stage from the audience.
A huge set of 'Ashoka vana' donned the background. The artists had done an amazing job with the colors. A huge tree hogged the center surrounded by plants and shrubs with flowers of all hues. Sunlight streamed from the top lighting up the entire Ashoka vana as far as eye can see. Further behind beautiful trees and grass meadows lit up the entire landscape with lush green richness.
She stood poised for the music to start. It was perhaps the worst decision of her life to participate in the competition she thought.
Two months before, she had seen a note in the bulletin board announcing the inter college drama contest for students. Initially she had given it a passing glance and moved on. She was not the type that liked contests.
"What skill do I have that I go on a stage and put myself in front of others.." she would ask of herself.
Rubina, her friend was excited, "Hey Sons, lets join the competition, it would be fun" she told her..
Sonalika had told her then " hey, no, you go ahead, you are anyway an excellent artist. " and moved off from the place.
That night, for some reason, a small voice inside her said, why not give it a shot, its going to be only in front of strangers.
A real shock awaited her the next morning when she bumped into her junior ,Salima.
"Good luck " she told her to Sonalika's bemused reaction.

Salima paused at her looks and said.. ".. the drama competition, I just saw that you have given your name. so, good luck.. " she added with a smile and moved on.

"What.. " she said loudly and ran to the notice board and there it was her name "Sonalika Raghav-II B.E.," listed against other participants..
"Shit!" she said loudly enough and soon heard a voice behind her
"mmmmm... careful there lady.." it was Shivani madam. The civil department lecturer.

"Sorry ma'am" she said hurriedly. That night she fought with Rubina.. The next day she made up with her and agreed that she would give it a shot.

Over the next two months she practiced on her script. She would do "Sita Contemplates her choices.. "
The contest was to be held at her college auditorium and it would be housing a thousand guests! Every time she thought of that, her stomach churned and she felt her heart race.
"I'm not going to do this. " she kept telling Rubina,
"hey, stop it, you have nothing to lose," she replied. But it was no consolation.

Then she admitted.. "I'm afraid Ruby. I cannot go on stage . What will all those people think of me. " she cribbed
"Idiot, its only 10 minutes and its not like its going to be a lifetime on stage..so, just do it for fun and move on.. " she said

In the final days running up to the event, Sonalika never left her room. Then one day, Rubina said, hey they have postponed the contest by a day!
"What.. " she had asked in disbelief. A part of her was relieved that an impeding disaster would be delayed by a day.
"yep, instead they have let us rehearse on the actual date, that's the 15th and the 16th would instead be the new performance date.." she said

"Oh.. " Sonalika replied again crawling back into her shell...

when the 15th came, she readied herself for the dress rehearsal, full costume, make up and all. She was to perform Ma sita, her broody looks from stage gave her natural forlorn look on her face.
"hey, we are not on stage yet.." Rubina teased her.
Rubina had dragged her into the backstage and she was lost in thoughts till Rubina came up to her and said. They have announced your name. Next is your rehearsal.

She stood there waiting for the voice of Ravana to complete... the lights were dazzling and almost blinded her. She tried hard to not squint her eyes in the glare.

" H a ha ha ha.. here is your Rama's head. I have killed him and his wretched brother.. you have no choice now but to marry me... ha ha ha ha.. " yelled Ravana's voice. The voice reverberated in the auditorium sounding surreal!

" No... " she screamed in shock and her eyes tore open and her lips quivered as she clasped her head as though it would split apart otherwise...

"How can my beloved be dead. How can the great prince of Ayodhya be killed so easily.." she bemoaned..

For the next few minutes she cried and shivered inconsolably and tears flowed down her eyes! What will I tell 'Ma Kousalya.. if she asks me for her son.." she lamented

"What will I tell the people of Ayodhya.. "
"Bharata would be heart broken.. "

She then turned her ire on Ravana..
"you call yourself a mighty king and yet to chose to deceive my lord instead of fighting him in a battle. you coward" she spat at Ravana..

Grief stricken she collapsed to the ground clasping maya Rama's head and hugging it to her bosom, "Oh lord, what will I do without you.. I waited so long hoping you'd rescue me.." she cried..

".. what purpose do I have left for me in this earth anymore" she declared tears running down her eyes, her voice quivering..

" mother nature.. take my life away " she pleaded skywards,

At that precise moment a ring falls down from the tree and she falls silent and watches stunned in silence at the ring.

She bends down and picks up the ring and tears flow down her eyes..

"Maaa..." calls out a soft voice of Hanuman as she looks up skywards... and freezes

Announcer declares.. " lord gives you hope even in your darkest of moments, look for that tiny sign.." says the announcer...

Her act had come to an end.. She quickly recomposes herself and starts to walk back...

"shh.... " it was Padmini madam who was vigorously signaling her. That's when she heard it..

The auditorium was reverberating with applause..

She looked into the darkness confused.. and back at Padmini madam.. "How many are attending a rehearsal" she thought and squinted her eyes to look beyond the glare of the lights..
To her shock the auditorium was brimming with people. They were clapping vigorously! a bunch of guys in a corner were whistling with their fingers in their mouth!
As the realization dawned on her, she felt a mix of rage at Rubina for lying to her , a confused sense of accomplishment and a big jar of confidence filling in her.
She slowly turned around and took a bow. It did not matter to her anymore if she won or not. She ran in and hugged Rubina.