The Hidden Auditions

College became Pankhudi’s escape. There, nobody knew she belonged to a strict family. Nobody knew she recorded songs under blankets at midnight. She secretly created an account online and uploaded covers using the name “Noor.” One day, a local café announced a singing competition. Winner gets a chance to perform at a city event. Pankhudi wanted to participate badly. But permission? Impossible. So she lied for the first time in her life. “Extra classes,” she told her mother. Her hands trembled the entire way. When her name was announced on stage, her heartbeat became louder than the speakers. Then the music started. And suddenly… Everything disappeared. Fear. Pressure. Family. Only her voice remained. The crowd went silent while she sang. For the first time in her life… People clapped for her dream. She returned home smiling. Until her father found the competition badge in her bag. That slap didn’t hurt as much as the sentence after it. “You’re bringing shame to this house.” That night Pankhudi deleted all her uploaded songs. But somewhere inside her… Music still refused to die.