Royal Institute - Next Series Link on Page 1 - Page 13

"What are the characteristics of tribes in this country, Ms. Sharma?" Professor Bhatia asked. I doubt anyone was even listening. I speak for entire eleventh grade when I say that we were far more interested in what was going on at our school than in the countries around the world. I mean, how were we supposed to focus when there were extra chairs lined up besides us. The extra empty chairs, for boys!

But did our Countries of the World teacher care? No! He just kept on going as if it was any other ordinary day. Which let me specify again--it is not! Even Panchi kept stealing glances at the chairs as if the boys were going to teleport in there or something. Professor Bhatia continued his lecture--until a shadow entered the doorway, and Dr. Desh knocked on the open door.

"Professor!" He said. A grin plastered on his face. "I hope I am not interrupting something important!"

Professor Bhatia turned to him. "Don't worry Doctor."

It was then that I noticed four boys who followed Dr. Desh inside our classroom. The first boy looked like a perfect replica of a Greek god. We hadn't seen him at the grand hall. He stood against the table with an annoyed expression. At the end of the line was a boy with the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen. His shoulders were broad, and he stood as tall as other boys. The boy before him was skinny yet attractive. His eyes scanned the room (Not in a covert sense though). And standing in the middle, the second in line was--Ayush.

I am Neesha Rai. My name means night, and I am most of the time invisible, because at my school, it is cool to be invisible. But I have never wanted to be more invisible then at that moment.

"I have heard your voice before. Have we met before?" Dr. Desh asked. Professor Bhatia turned around, annoyed.

"I believe not."

"Well, in that case, shall we let the boys introduce themselves?" Dr. Desh said, turning to his boys.

"In our profession, Dr. Kumar,"

"Desh." Dr. Desh interrupted but Professor Bhatia continued as if he hadn't heard a word.

"...Names are at best--I believe--are temporary." He completed. Which, coming from a man with hundred and forty-six aliases was an understatement. "But if they must..." He gestured at the boys.

"I am Ranveer Shergill." The skinny boy step forward. "I am seventeen, and an eleventh grader?" He said. Not sure if that was what he was suppose to say.

"Thus your enrollment in class. Please take a seat Ranveer." Professor Bhatia said, already moving to hand out a pop quiz.

"Excellent Ranveer. Now, who will volunteer to be Ranveer's friend and give hima tour?" Dr. Desh asked. I saw Panchi jump right as Dr. Desh's eyes landed on her. (It was because Gen had kicked her chair.) "Excellent. What's your name young lady?"

"Panchi." She said, and then added quickly. "Rastogi."

"Excellent! Ranveer, why don't you go take a sit next to Miss. Rastogi!"

"Keshav Desai." The boy first in line said in a deep voice as Ranveer took his sit next to Panchi. There was an audible gasp in the room. And why not? We had a son of one of the most loved man in India. Kesha Desai was son of Rajveer Desai--the super star of last decade. "Call me KD."

"Looks like you are well acquainted with Ms. Gujral already. Why don't you sit next to her?" Dr. Desh said. I turned to look at Kiya behind me who was anything but happy to have him sit next to her.

"I am Kush Garewal." The boy with gorgeous eyes stepped forward. Kush didn't look like--Kush. He looked like Shahid Kapoor's double body.

"Excellent!" Dr. Desh said once again. Seems like excellence at Ashvamedh holds a different level. Kush went around the room and took a place across me, next to Gen. Gen didn't seem pleased either, but the boy just smirked at her. Gen has some explaining to do.

The last boy left for introduction was already moving around the room.

"I am Ayush." He said taking a sit next to me. "And I think I found my friend."

I heard a faint "Excellent", but I don't think I agreed.

As I gathered my books and started out of the class, I thought of reasons that would make me feel better.

1. In Espionage world, it is very important to make good use of socialization. So knowing a Asvamedh boy or two can be a very good thing.

2. According to Panchi, having unlimited access to boys can be a good thing, scientifically speaking.

3. Mr. Saxena went to Ashvamedh Institute, (And possibly even my dad) and they turned out fine.

4. Ayush was only following orders when he was following me around the city the other day.

5. Ayush was nice to me.

6. Ayush had offered me Gems. (I find chocolates more precious than diamonds to be honest.)

7. It wasn't his fault he turned out to be--better than me.

"So we meet again, Princess!"

Yes, Ayush said that to me. So much for making a he-is-nice list! Covertly speaking, we hadn't met before. His cover identity had met my cover identity. I mean, talking to someone who doesn't know you're a spy is very different from talking while standing in the middle of a school where we are trained to be a covert spy. Plus, why is he calling me a Princess?

"So this is the famous Royal Institute." Ayush looked around. I wasn't sure if he was looking at the architecture of the building, or the girls swarming past us in the busy corridor.

"Yes." I replied politely. Because Culture and Assimilation has trained me to do so. "Most of our classes are on the second floor."

But Ayush are just turned to look at me, his eyes looking for something in me as he said slowly, "And you're the famous Neesha Rai!"

First of all, I don't know how he knew my name, but that wasn't as intriguing as Ayush's ignorance to slamming bodies and whispering girls.

Kartik used to look at me like he wanted to kiss me, or laugh at me, or take me to a psychiatrist. I preferred any of those looks over the look that Ayush was giving me as he looked at me. Not as if I was famous, but as if I was infamous.

"Come on" I said turning away, because his gaze was sending un-needed shivers down my spine. "Culture and Assimilation is three hallways away."

"Wait!" Ayush exclaimed behind me. "Are you taking me to a culture class?" He asked with a mocking smile.

"Yes." I replied, and kept walking.

"Boy! They weren't kidding when they said you got the hardest curriculum out here." He mocked. I turned on him as we stood in the hallway.

"Culture and Assimilation has been a part of Royal Institute for hundred years." I turned to walk don the hallway. "Assimilation isn't about social graces. Sometimes, t becomes a matter of life and death!"

I opened the door to Madam Rochette's class and froze right there.

The room I did known as lecture hall was transformed into a hall. A chandelier hung at the ceiling spreading yellow light in the room. A piano was situated in the corner of the room, a vase adorned above its shiny surface. Chairs were pushed back to the wall, and Madam Rochette stood in the middle, her hand clasped and a grin on her face.

"Welcome ladies!" She said. "I have wanted to do this for years, but never got the opportunity. But now that we have boys here, we are going to have a special lesson."

The room was as silent as it can get.

"We are going to have a ball by the end of this semester! And from now on, you will be learning to dance in this room." She said.

Behind me, I felt Ayush lean over my shoulder and whisper in my ear. "Yeah," He said slowly, "Life and...death."

"You must be Ayushman Kashyap." Madam Rochette looked at Ayush behind me.

"Yes, madam!" He said with a smile.

"Why don't you and Ms. Rai lead us?" Madam Rochette said in a manner that said dare-say-no-to-me.

So that is how I Neesha Rai, ended up in Ayushman Kashyap's arms. Really, the world is evil.