Melody's Hub

It’s a few days after Aman’s elimination. Prithvi, Sobhit and I are heading down for lunch after practice. But something hits me inside, and I don’t want it to show in front of them, so I excuse myself and head back to the dance room. I open the door, close it again, lock it, and collapse into a ball.   The tears come quick. Tears for Aman. Tears for the rest of the dancers who got eliminated, and more tears for the ones who are in danger of getting eliminated. No tears for me, whether I’d get eliminated or not. It’s just for everyone else.  My sobs are soft, so that no one listens. It’s probably muffled from outside. I bury my face in my knees and cry and cry and cry.  It’s just because Aman is out. I wonder whether it would’ve been better if he was eliminated, but he could stay in Mumbai until the show ends. However, he packed up his bags and went back to Delhi. Him not being here is like he’s dead. That’s how hard-hit I am. That’s how hard-hit maybe Prithvi is, too. T...

My first practice takes place today. I have to rehearse for hours on end, until we go for break. Fortunately, Varangi Didi knows it is harder than what I’m used to at home, so she eases it. The first hour is spent in knowing each other. Varangi Didi asks me about my life in Jalandhar, and I, in turn, ask her about what she’s doing. Then we ask each other about our families. I actually have Papa’s phone with me so that I can call his laptop if I need to, but this time, I pull it out of my pocket to show Varangi Didi a family photo. It’s the one which we clicked on Diwali last year. Didi coos at Sayra’s face. “What a cute little sister you have, Sankalp!” she says. I nod. “She’s gone on Mama mostly, but she’s got Papa’s features too.” “And you have gone on your father, but you’ve got your mother’s features as well.” She makes the analogy quick. I grin.  “Do you miss her?” she asks me, smiling sadly.  I swallow a lump in my throat to prevent tears. “Her and Mama.” She ruffles my ...

It’s night. I’m not sure if everyone’s asleep yet, but I’m not. I knock on Varangi Didi’s door. “Come in,” she says. I open the door—I’m surprised to find it unlocked—and walk in. Didi’s sitting on the bed, and she’s awake too. “ Neend nahin aa rahin, ” I say. “Well, you can come and sit here.” She touches the spot next to her. I climb onto the bed and sit there. “I’m unable to sleep either,” she says. I stare at her hand for a while, thinking it’s Mama’s, or Sayra’s, or my cousin sister Simran’s. For me, Simran is someone between Mama and Sayra. She’s in her teens. “If Mama were here, she’d let me cuddle Sayra and let me ask her questions until I became drowsy and sleepy.” I look up at Didi. She smiles thinly. “Well, you know someone else who can do that.” “Can I be cuddled and can I ask questions?” I ask meekly. She puts an arm around me and pulls me close. “Sure.” I snuggle into her. It feels so warm and fuzzy. I lean my head against her shoulder. It’s like Mama all over again, and ...

Hi everyone! Well, I guess you all know what this post is about after noticing the title. And yes, this is no joke, that just two months ago,  this blog had 2000+ views,  and now, it's hit the mark of 3000+! Thank you all so much for the love for the stories, and I do hope you got lost in the 53 posts of heaven for middle schoolers. It was great to know that you enjoyed them! So, like always, what's new? 3K's big, so we gotta have changes! 1. New Colour Scheme Seeing that y'all loved the new format, I'm keeping it for now, but don't you think there should be a change of hues? Well, now, we go to the new scheme of lilac and subtle white, to add to the aesthetic look and feel. I suppose I have a main palette in mind now! 2. Scratching It Up I discovered I had a love for two other things than writing: music and coding! If you guys don't know, I've been practicing piano for more than 6 years now, starting from second grade. I still play! And I now have a new...

The fourth book of 'The Jr. Pop Diaries: Year 2' is here! And we're getting close to the end, but don't give up just yet! Read below: 1. The Good and The Bad Why do things have to be so bad? Or good? We don’t know. People say God works it in his ways. But God doesn’t always take matters in His hands. I learnt it last year, the difference between going and gone. 2. Daydreams Every time I wasn’t doing something, the vision of Tana leaning in and the feeling of her nose gently touching mine would occupy my thoughts. But the bad news that immediately followed were also troubling. The Bowers would move sooner than we thought.  “Why?” Tom asked the next day. “Why did those rabid relatives of hers escape?” It was him, Elijah, Cooper and me on a walk. Guys only. We share our secrets with each other. And that day was no exception. “I don’t know,” Elijah murmured. He wanted to be at the crime scene to see evidence, but Mr. B had vehemently refused.  “This can’t happen,” said Coop...