With love, MUSIC #2

"Guys, there's this alumni meet I have at the school where I studied. People from all across the world would be landing here. I was wondering if you guys could put up a performance in the auditorium that day. You see we're short on events, so..you know, you guys can fill in the gap." Sam and Ralf looked at each other in shock at Bob's words. Sam said in a hyper excited tone, "Dude, we just started! We are barely tight musically! I don't really think you should take a chance with us and neither are we ready for it." "No no, I think you guys will do just fine, trust me. I've been hearing you guys jamming since then, you guys are coming along pretty good!" smiles Bob. "Let's do it", and Ralf saw a lot of conviction when Sam said that. "Alright!" said Ralf and the rest joined in too.

D-day: Ralf, Sam, Nick and Adrian now call themselves "Celestial Empire", and they're ready to rock! The guys are all sweat but high on confidence. They start with "Hotel California", and then move on to a stunning improvisation of "The Trooper". They then play a brilliant cover of Nirvana's "Smells like teen spirit" and finally end the set with Deep Purple's "Burn". And there was applause! It was a job well done! "Dude, everyone liked it!", Sam knocks Ralf's arm. "I sure see that!", Ralf was awestruck! This was the day he was waiting for!

"Great job guys! We owe ourselves a celebration! The meet is over, so I guess we guys should keep movin'!" Nick announces. "Not yet guys!", that was Bob from behind, " The real celebration is yet to begin, this gentleman here wants to have a word with the Celestial Empire.", winks Bob. A tall, well-built, and corporate-looking figure appears, "So! Celestial Empire eh! I like that name and I simply was blown away by what you did on stage. And more importantly, Bob tells me this was your debut! I mean, seriously, you guys are a bunch of talent!" "Guys, this is Jude, my ex-benchmate and a very good buddy, we meet after a long time today! Err..have you guys heard of the record label Dreamscape?", Bob looks at Ralf. "Ofcourse Bob who hasn't! It's the States' biggest record label, hehe. What's with that? Are they releasing a new album of Mary Jane?", laughs Ralf. "Nothing of that sort, but to cut things short, Jude is the Vice-President of Dreamscape and he's come straight from the US and now he's putting a serious thought if you guys would want to be signed up with Dreamscape and record an album." Sam's jaw dropped and Nick and Adrian sat down straightaway. Ralf was already in dream-mode, "Yeah, of course I'm dreaming. God, I'd really wish such a thing would turn into reality someday!chuckle!""Ralf? You listening?""What, you said something?" Ralf looks back at Bob. "Ya, are you guys in?" 

"I am going to....be..... A ROCKSTAR!!! My dream..oh my dream..it's coming true? Really? Surreal, it surely is!" Ralf, Sam, Nick and Adrian are now walking towards Dreamscape's India office. Jude welcomes them, "Hello people! A very warm welcome to Dreamscape and I hope you guys are all set!", Jade says in a jolly tone. Although the VP of one of the world's biggest record labels, Jude has always been happy-hearted and cheerful. "Yes sir, we are ready!", Adrian smiles at Jude. "OK, then we better hurry up as I've got to catch a flight back to the States in th evening!" Sam, Ralf, Nick and Adrian look at each other, as if everyone together wanted to say, "This it madmen!"

Ralf and the group are riding back home on their bikes. This has been the day of the unexpected, this was not even in the dreams of the group, leaving Ralf aside. For them it was just a shot at doing something constructive. Ralf could now see his roadmap clear in front of his eyes, "I'll make it big, I am well on the way! I AM MAKING IT BIG! God, its DREAM-FUCKIN_SCAPE!" "Hey Ralf," calls out Nick, " what you dreamin' of mate!" and laughs. Ralf looks at Nick and laughs "You mind your own business dude!" And just as he took his eyes off from Nick the only thing Ralf saw was not the road, it was an old lady crossing the road with a little baby in her arms. His eyes get shut instantly.

Eyes open, Ralf sees chaos all around, "God, my back hurts, and my hand..." Ralf thinks to himself. He tries to get up but can't, he sits right there. "Wait a minute, did I just hit that old lady!", shocked, Ralf looks all around. He sees his friends helping out the lady, badly hurt and wailing like hell. "The baby..there was a baby..", Ralf remembers, "...where is....sh..e..she...no....no."

Continued..to be..