THE AUDITIONS

ALEX's POV

I still had an hour before I would have to get ready for college. So I settled for a short nap but before I could drift off to sleep someone knocked at the door.

I let out a groan. Who was at the door so early in the morning? I threw away the covers in irritation and went to open the door. My irritation vanished on seeing Aaron at the door.

“ Hello Alex!! I hope I woke you up.” He said with a chuckle.

“ No I was already awake. You didn’t disturb me.” I replied nonchalantly. It was technically true just that I had not slept a wink.

“ Oh! No! I missed the opportunity.” He said with a disgruntled look.

“Come on, get dressed quickly. I want to take you somewhere.” He commanded without any explanation. I got dressed up and locked the door. I knew there was no use asking him anything. He liked being cryptic.

He took me to the third floor of the recreation wing. I hadn’t got the opportunity to explore the recreation wing yet. There were only two entrances on this floor. One led to the auditorium and the other led to the gym.  My eyes widened and my jaw hit the ground when we stepped in through the entrance. Our college gym was so well-equipped. It had about a dozen treadmills, aerobic steppers, cable pulley machines, weight machines, and many more.

“ Our gym is outrageous, isn’t it?” He said looking at my star-struck expression.

“ I have never seen anything like this. Anyone who saw this would think that it is a sports college.”

“ We do have many sports events throughout the year. It is the only thing in this college that I am excited about.”

“ Are you planning to take part in any of the events?”

“ I have to.” He said with a gloating expression.

“ What do you mean by ‘ have to’”

“ I won the gold cup last year. It is awarded to the student who wins the maximum number of events. I had won the first prize in 5 events. So basically the finals would be held between this year’s finalist and me.”

“ Wow!! So you won the first prize in 5 events. In which events did you win?”

“ Ummm! Let me recall. I won in boxing, relay, table-tennis and I was a part of the winning football and basketball team which makes it 5 events.”

“ You are amazing Aaron,” I said patting him on his back.

“ Your mother must be so proud of you.”

“ Don’t tell that in front of my mom. She will be proud of me only when I score good marks.” He said with a sigh.

I knew that was not true. Her love and pride for Aaron shone through her eyes.

Aaron pulled me to another room adjacent to the gym. It had a boxing ring and some punching bags for practice.

“ It’s time to let out some steam, Alex,” Aaron said throwing a pair of boxing gloves towards me.

“ Just imagine the punching bag to be your greatest enemy and go for it.”

I tried to imagine Eva but couldn’t. Even after yesterday’s incident my brain was not ready to register her as my enemy.

After 30 minutes of extreme workout we parted ways to get dressed for college. The workout drained all the exhaustion from my body. I felt energized. I decided to exercise every day in the morning from now on.

When I reached the college ground after dressing up I saw Aaron talking animatedly with a girl. What surprised me was the fact that he was talking to her and not flirting. Sensing my stare he looked up, “ Come here, Alex. I will introduce you to my childhood friend, Elsa.”

“ He is the one I was talking about Elsa. He is my friend and brother.” Aaron said putting an arm around my shoulders.

“ Hi, Alex.” She said stretching out her hands.

I gave her a quick handshake. She had ordinary looks but her smile was infectious. It was evident that she smiled from her heart and not like most people who often plastered fake smiles on their faces. Aaron went off for his boxing practice after introducing us.

We instantly hit off. We had so much in common. She loved books, research and she was not fashion-crazy like the other girls.

“ I am glad that we have most of our classes together. We can assist each other.” Elsa said genuinely.

“ How can we have most of the classes together? Aren’t you with Aaron?”

“ No, I am in the first year. We are childhood friends but he is a year older to me.’

“ Alex, can you do me a favor?” She said out of the blue.

“ I will surely help you if it is in my capacity.”

“ Can you help me with the notes. I am a week late as I was away on an internship with my uncle. He is a scientist working in Rhodes Research Center.”

“ Only if you agree to share the knowledge you gained from your internship.”

“ Deal!” She said instantly.

I was glad that I had someone to accompany me other than Aaron. Elsa was a sweet girl. She sat with me through all the periods.

During recess Aaron joined us in the canteen. We settled down after grabbing our favorites.

“ Alex, Why don’t you join the Drama Club?” Aaron said suddenly.

“ I don’t know Aaron. I am not comfortable with acting.”

“ So what. I am also a part of the club. We will have fun. This year we are doing Romeo and Juliet.” Elsa quipped.

“Elsa would be chosen as Juliet. So you can be Romeo. She will feel comfortable acting with you.”

“ Stop flattering, Aaron. The auditions are yet to be held.’

“ Don’t listen to her Alex. She is an amazing actor.”

I agreed to become a part of the club upon their insistence. Elsa took me to the auditorium where many students had gathered. Three students were seated in the front row on chairs labeled as directors. They had a pad and pen in their hand. I assumed that they were the judges. There was a fourth chair with a label President but it was empty.

I had to enact a monologue for one minute to be selected into the club. I chose the role of Santa Claus. Jenny, my friend in the orphanage had made me act as Santa Claus in one of her plays. My heartbeat as fast as a horse as I climbed onto the stage. Alex and Elsa were rooting for me.

“ Alex! Alex! Alex!......”

I closed my eyes, recalling the techniques Jenny had taught me. I imagined that I was in front of Mother Lily and started the performance.

Scratching my head I said, “ My! Oh My! I have so many gifts to deliver. There are only two hours for sunrise. Let me recall all the gifts I need to deliver. A pretty frock for Sam, the shepherd’s five-year-old son, A brand new toy car for Mrs. Erickson who lives all alone. A school uniform for Mr. Dawson, the banker living in Baker’s street. Stilettos for Anne, the girl who recently fractured her leg. A monkey cap for Tiger, Ron’s puppy. I started tapping my head with my index finger. How can a puppy wear a monkey cap? Oh my God!!!! I have mixed up the gifts again. I have to wrap them again properly.

I tore open the packages frantically. In the end all that remained was a heap of gifts. All the wrappers blew away in the wind. I tried catching them, running here and there. I gave up after a while and sat down with a thump, fully drained.

“ Santa’s job is the most difficult in the world. I should be the one getting the maximum number of gifts but nobody gives me gifts.” I said pouting. Then my eyes lit up with mischief. Since nobody gives me any gifts I will give all these gifts to myself. Since the wrappers have all flown away I can’t give it to the right people. So all these gifts are mine.

Saying so I wore the monkey cap on my head. Then I picked up the frock. “ It is really pretty but too small for me. it would be such a waste to not wear such a beautiful dress.” Saying so I pulled it over my left hand. I tried my best to get up after stuffing my feet into the stilettos but I couldn’t. I fell each time I got up. After five times I got a wonderful idea and sat on the toy car using it to move across the stage. Eventually I lost my balance and ended up in a heap of gifts with only my leg sticking out.

By the time the act got over everyone was rolling on the floor with laughter. Even the judges were roaring with laughter. It took them quite a bit of time to realize that I was actually stuck on the stage. When Aaron realized this he came on the stage with Elsa and helped me in disentangling myself.

I was selected into the club unanimously. I felt as if I am was on cloud nine.

Alex and Elsa kept bursting into laughter now and then throughout the day. It was the best day of my life.