"Aummmmmmm." Jannat sat cross legged, one thigh on top of the other, as she meditated.

"What on earth are you doing?" Roshni popped her head round the kitchen wall.

"It's national yoga day!"

"Oh my god - you still do it since we were taught about it in Primary?"

"It's good for your health though." I added.

"Exactly. Maybe you'll benefit from some." Jannat responded to a marveled Roshni.

"By the way, Reem - you coming to the cafeteria after biochemistry today?"

"Yeah sure."

"Cool, let's go to class now, we don't wanna be late - coming Roshni?"

"Oh, I'm just painting my nails, you go, will be there."

Jannat rolled her eyes and beckoned me to come.

I clutched my new textbook and notebook to my chest and observed this whole new place through my faithful spectacles, it's dark frame, wiring around my eyes.

Finally, we reached a wooden door which said: "Professor Smith."

"Come on in girls! Your late!" I heard him say as Jannat apologized.

The class was full, with young men and women talking across the desks laid out separately.

"Err! Excuse me, I'm talking to someone here can you please shut your mouths?" Professor Smith seemed tough.

"Hello my dear." His sweet old voice reached my ears.

"Hello."

"You must be...."

"Reem, Reem Sheikh?"

"Ahh yes, grab a seat then and we shall begin our lesson. So as we were saying the formula for......."

I began to find a seat but the class was almost full. Everyone watched me and I tried to put on a face which said : "I'm not nervous."

I was.

Everyone seemed to whisper across the desks to each other and I feared it was about me.

I walked down the aisles hesitantly as I heard the professor's voice continue. There weren't any spaces free.

Just then, a young man got up from his seat and offered me his desk.

Woah. Okay now - that was nice of him.

"Oh... are you sure?" I asked him quietly.

"Yeah, go ahead." He bellowed me to sit down.

"I sat down in uncertainty of what he would do next."

He crept towards the door and tried to turn the handle as quietly as he could while the professor was facing away and writing some notes on the board.

"Holddddd on Mr Nigam.... and where do you think your off to?!" He boomed.

"Oh err, the new girl didn't have a seat so I...."

"That is no excuse for you to escape out of my lesson."

"But sir..."

"SILENCE!" He thrust his palm in the air with his eyebrows just as high; I was worried they might fall off in a bit.

The boy stood, almost smirking out of the corners of his mouth near the door.

"You can sit on the mat I put on the floor there, Nigam."
There was a slight Mexican wave of laughter in the class but returned quickly to silence as the professor stamped his hand on the desk.

The boy seemed to annoy the professor by looking just as happy to sit on the mat. He placed himself down comfortably while the professor shook his head and eyed him in fury.

I realized this class wasn't the perfect class anyone could ask for. There was silliness, giggles, secretiveness and gossip.

I sat silently, coping my work down obediently.

"Hey new girl - what's ya name?" A boy next to me asked.

"I'm Reem." I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"Where've you come from?"

"She's come from India." Said Jannat.

"Sweet, how you findin it here?"

"Cold." I replied, uncertain of what to say.

Then there was a weird chuckle that turned into a straight face as soon as the professor's gaze fell upon this naughty guy.

"Right, if you do that one more time in MY lesson, you shall get a detention Sumedh!"

"Sorry sir." Sumedh turned in his seat and bent down to work, but smiled at me while resting his head on the desk.

I smiled back unsurely.

The bell went and there was an orchestra of books being shut and everyone scurried off with their friends, even Jannat.

I was left alone.

As I was lost in my thoughts, I didn't even realize someone running towards me and accidentally knocking my arm which made me drop my papers.

"Urgh." I bent down on my knees amidst the hustle and bustle around me, fixing my gaze on each sheet.

Suddenly - hand crept into my sight.

A hand with long fingers that reached out towards my papers, belonging to a familiar face whose cheeks were perfectly chiseled like a limestone statue. His eyes reflected my confusion and the watery glisten in them made me retain contact with them. A slight smirk rested in each corner of his mouth as he bent down and offered me each of the sheets.

We both stood up and he offered a hand.

I looked at it and back at him.

"Reem." I slid my hand gently and he shook it slightly.

"Hey... you were the guy who Professor Smith made to sit on the mat."

"Yup," he said casually, with his hands in his jeans pockets.

"Weren't you angry at him?"

He clicked his tongue. "I don't take these small issues seriously. He'll be okay. Oh - Uh, need any help getting back to your dorm or anything?"

"I'm good, don't worry."

"Alright - see ya tomorrow." He turned to go a few meters.

I didn't know who he was.

"Um - excuse me!" I cried to his back. I saw him stop.

"Sidd." He turned looked at me over his shoulder and threw one strap of his rucksack over his shoulder, continuing to walk away, leaving me in the busy corridor, the only still person watching him disappear.

I turned to go to my dorm, walking slowly as I thought of this queer guy.

"Oooh hey Reeeem!" Roshni bounded up to me.

I sighed in relief.

"Oh phew, I thought I'd lost the way for a minute."

"Reem - I need to talk to you urgently."

"What happened Jannat?"

"Just follow me."