Amit Paul, a 24 year old boy from the city who many hoped and prayed would become the winner of Sony Entertainment Television's Indian Idol lost to his rival Prashant Tamang of Darjeeling.

"I am very sad," says Alva Moreen Shadap, a teenager from Mawlai who has been voting for Amit since day one. "I don't know whether I can sleep and forget what has happened," she adds.

"The campaigners should have started the campaign not only in the city but also in prominent towns of the state since the beginning," he said.

The scene was emotional at Khyndai Lad in downtown Shillong. Amit's fans, who gathered there to watch the results, were seen weeping as soon as news of Amit's defeat was out.

Young and old alike who assembled at the site were shocked to know that all the hard work and money spent on the votes had not made any dividend.

A popular daily in the city, The Shillong Times, in its headline story said that 'Despite winning the hearts of many by his golden voice, Amit Paul could not fulfill the dreams of millions of his fans as he lost the battle of votes to Prashant Tamang of Darjeeling.'

Trying to come to terms with the loss, chairman of Shilling Arts and Music Lovers' Forum (SAMLF) J L Das said, "Though Amit could not become the Indian Idol, he is the idol in the hearts of the people of Meghalaya."

He also said that the Forum, which had spearheaded the campaign for Amit, gracefully accepts the verdict.

The result of Indian Idol has become the talk of the town. "I want to stop thinking about what happened but I can't," says Valerie Diengdoh, a shopkeeper at Iewduh market.

Meanwhile, 12-year old Dondor Shisha Nongrum said that he will never stop humming Amit's rendition of Pehla Nasha.