Anvesha:

I stared at the headmistress blankly. She was saying some incoherent words which weren't being processed by my brain.

I have been distracted for the past few days, and there's no secret why that is.

"--University of Calcutta." At the name of another institution, my ears perked up. I looked around to see dazed or blank faces of fellow students. I needed to know what the teacher was saying because it clearly affected everyone in the room.

I had familiarized myself with the woman sitting in front of me, so I decided to ask her what headmistress was telling because I couldn't catch anything else in her words other than the university's name.

"Pakhi?" I called out for her politely.

She turned around with yet another dazed look. When I smiled at her, she seemed to come back to reality. "Hello, Anvesha. May I help you?"

Pakhi was a girl with refined manners and a highly affluent background. She was half British and half Indian, due to her grandfather being a British officer of his time. I know that she wasn't allowed to talk to any cast below her, and that she was showing me these manners only because my father reached her "rank" on the social hierarchy. I personally despised that system, but I couldn't do anything about that because this girl was taught that since she was able to form coherent sentences.

With light brown almond shaped eyes, same coloured hair that reached her waist and lips which were slightly discoloured pink, she wasn't the most beautiful girl out there but she was enough to catch the attention of many men.

"Were you able to listen to the Headmistress? I was not paying attention, so I didn't get what she was telling us." I replied to her just as politely.

"Oh, she was telling us that we are going on a field trip to the University Of Calcutta. She feels that connecting better with the few other universities here would benefit us and our educational system." She said, not once loosing the curve of her lips.

I felt a warm sensation in the pit of my stomach; I was clearly excited. University of Calcutta was one of the most prestigious institutions in India. It is tough to even reach there. Even though I could not join it for obvious reasons, at least I would be able to fulfill my wish on how it feels to be there.

"Are they taking us without any fees?" I question Pakhi out of curiosity.

She smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"Thank you for your time." I smiled to her and relaxed in my seat.

"It was my pleasure." She said to me and turned towards the front of the class.

I looked around to see woman packing away there belongings in there bags. Some had there things placed in the hands of their chaperones. There weren't many women...ten to fifteen to be exact. We were paid much more attention with the lack of number in students. I shook my head and waited for everyone to leave, so that I could follow where they were going.

"You are not coming, Anvesha?" I heard Pakhi say. I was surprised that she was still talking to me, but ignoring the fact, I nodded towards her and together we both left the study arena towards the outside grounds.

About ten carriages were standing outside the main doors of the headquarters. We were told to sit in any one of them. When the teachers ensured that the students are safely sat, they ordered for the carriage drivers to move.

I felt a sudden sense of freedom and excitement within me, for the smile on my face never did vanish. Pakhi, who was sat beside me, seemed to notice this because she smiled back at me with a knowing glint in her eyes.

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Jordon:

We were given a short break, for the teacher was going on and on about how there's an interaction program with a nearby college.

I seriously wasn't as much excited as the other students in class. A mix of Indians and British students.

Where Alex was listening to the teacher with a great interest, Matt was staring out of the window as if he couldn't wait to get out of the class room.

He has been like that for the past few days, distracted and gloomy. Alexander was his normal self these days, totally opposite of Matthew. He would go with me to the cricket meets. He would laugh and make humorous jokes, but it was still unlike of Alex.

I sighed. Just then the teacher told us to be on our best manners because the students will arrive within a short duration of time.

"Isn't Bethune a girl's college?" Alexander asked me, as if I knew.

"Is it? There must be only Indians there." I said, not paying full attention.

Matthew's face snapped towards us. As if he knew something that we didn't, he smiled to himself. I and Alexander stared at him as if we both mutually understood that Matthew was no doubt, little out of his mind.

I shook my head, Alex raised his eyebrows and then we both went back to doing what we were previously doing. I dipped my pen in the ink pot and started drawing some pictures on my papers. Alexander was staring at the heavy book kept in front of him whereas Matthew was staring blankly at his desk.

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We were asked to go out and stand in queues to welcome the students of Bethune. I didn't want to go outside, so I told both of my friends to go out without me.

I'll join them, no doubt, but for once I wanted to be left alone from both of my friends' presence. It wasn't that I disliked them, no, but ever since coming to India, they have changed.

And no doubt who caused the change, that Indian woman. What was her name? Anshia? Anvisha? I had no idea, but she seemed to have an effect on both of my friends.

It was no wonder Matthew was attracted towards her. He had always been in love with fantasies, out of the world romances and what not.

But Alexander too? That man says that he has nothing to do with her, but I knew that he liked spending time with her. How? Because some days ago I realized, when both me and Matt were out playing cricket, he was out for a walk. But when we both came back in the evening, he wasn't there...does that mean he was on a walk for more that eight hours? It would seem like a bizzarre guess, but knowing my friend, it could be true.

I dropped my pen and closed the ink pot. After placing them both in my case, I left the room.

I walked through the silent passages of our institution to the main hall.

Without even reaching there I could sense the commotion.

I stood on the stairway, away from everyone's gaze and examined the students. All were women, no doubt. Some of them were adorned with expensive metals and jewlels, and some of them looked sophisticated and reserved.

When I caught the sight of an overexcited girl, everything stopped. It was like I had seen a ghost because I would never have imagined that she, of all people would be here.

Anisha-vesha...whichever her name was, was standing beside a girl I hadn't seen before (no wonder why) and they were chatting with each other in a bubbly, happy kind of way.

I was too eager to learn about certain people's reaction, because the next thing I know, I was searching for my two friends. I found them standing next to each other at the back of the third queue.

And guess where they were staring? If that was even a question, then my friend you aren't paying attention.

Alexander was staring at that girl with balant shock, and...is that excitement I see in his eyes? Not shocking. On the other hand, Matthew was staring at the girl with clear happiness and longing. As expected.

Staring at my two friends who had those pathetic expressions on their faces, I wanted to bang my head with any nearby wall.

Some time ago, I was sure that these two knew how deep the hatred was between Indians and the British, more on the 'Indian' side towards the British. But now, when Matthew was staring at that girl as if he is a little boy just found his lost toy soldier and Alexander was looking at her as if he is given another challenge on a silver platter, I knew that these both have lost it.

I don't under--

"Mr. Wedlock? What are you doing standing there idly?" Mr. Buckthorne hissed at me. Oops, I've been caught.

I apologized to him and walked towards my two friends. I didn't plan to talk to both of them until they both come back to reality. But that didn't last long.

"What is she doing here?" Alexander said, still not removing his eyes from that woman, even though his tone was somewhat confused and a bit of annoyed.

I wonder why...

"She goes to Bethune, she told me once." Matthew replied to him, now looking at the floor.

Alexander snapped his face towards Matthew, going a little red in the face.

Whoa, whoa...that's why.

I took this an opportunity to annoy Alexander. I leaned forward and whispered, "Are you jealous, dear friend?".

He turned around to glare at me, making sure that Matthew didn't hear me. "Jealous of what?"

I gave him a smirk and said, "I don't know, you tell me."

He ignored me and stared at the big clock on the wall. The headmaster came towards us and told us that they don't want chaos in here, so she would like some volunteers who would show the students around in small groups.

Almost all the British students left instead of the three of us and a timid chap. There were about five Indians who volunteered.

"Don't you both think that we should go inside, I mean...why would we want to show them around, right?" I said and waited for their reaction.

"You know why I'm volunteering." Matthew replied almost nonchalantly. His hands were shoved inside his coats pocket.

"Alexander, you come with me then." I tested him. He had been quiet about the whole ordeal.

"I d--"

"You two-" headmaster pointed towards Matthew and Alexander, "-will give the women right there-" he nodded towards Anvesha, her friend and two more girls,"-a brief tour of the building. Don't forget to explain the methods and ways of teaching used in this institution."

She dismissed them.

I smirked to myself, well this will be interesting.

With that thought I left for my next session.

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Thank you!

♥