"What's the gossip cooking on between you too, huh?" Smriti asked, an amused grin curled on her lips as she noticed the two dancing best friends, Suraini and Chitra, giggle with each other.

Medha smiled at the two and took her seat beside them after placing her belongings on the ground. Suriani nudged a flushed Chitra, who mock-glared at her while shaking her head.

"Uff... come on! Say it now," Smriti commanded in a playful tone.

Chitra looked at the fluttering green grass outside the dining area, her eyes carrying a dreamy look. "I saw a boy with dark hair, straight out of a romantic poem."

Shrugging her shoulder, Suraini said, "Rumour has it that two new boys have joined our year. They both are very close friends, and our dear Chitra fancies one of them."

"You mean Ekaksh and Ravishtha, right?" Medha asked while passing a knowing glance towards Smriti.

A squealing Chitra replied, "Why yes! That guy is Ravishtha. I saw him in our math class today. The other guy is handsome as well, but his friend with that rugged warrior-like face looks more attractive."

Suraini looked at Smriti with a 'told you so' look as the latter blinked her eyes with a soft smile. The girls got up to carry their plates to collect their food from the servers while hearing Chitra gush about Ravishtha.

"His eyebrows.... Arched like a bow. The way they came together while he focused on a sum the teacher gave us." Chitra fanned herself. "It gave me butterflies. I also noticed the veins in his wrists."

Suraini gasped and hit her friend's shoulder. "This observation is borderline creepy, Sakhi."

One of the female servers greeted the girls with a cheerful smile. Chitra waved at her and then turned towards her friends after filling her plate with food. "It's not like I have a chance with him. I will be married to the next rich son of a rich man right after I finish school." Smriti and Medha's eyes looked at hers in sympathy. "But, no worries, because until then I can fill my eyes with his lovely form."

Suraini rolled her eyes at her friend's dream-like expression. Carefully walking with her plate filled with lunch, she commented, "I used to think that if one is rich, one is free to do anything at any time."Growing up, I don't see it so."

Mixing the lentil curry with rice, Chitra simply stated,Being rich and also being the daughter of a very orthodox rich family means that you have to live your life in a golden prison. The only good things are delicious food, fine silks and fabrics, and grand homes and parties to attend." Gulping the first bite of her food, she continued, "My mother has already started to look for suitable proposals."

Suraini stopped her hand in front of her mouth. "No way!"

Medha watched Chitra with wide eyes, while Smriti frowned in disappointment.

"Well, from the household I grew up in, I don't think I can ever trust men and their intentions," said Suraini, grimacing at the thought of marrying a man.

Suraini's mother was engaged in the profession of vaishya. Thankfully, her mother had enough money to let her daughter get a good education at a school like Gyanpith, and Suraini was well aware of her situation, so she accordingly strived to excel in academics to waive off some expenses.

Not many knew about her mother's profession. The girls knew it because Suraini herself had revealed it, and she was confident that she could trust them for it.

Medha, hungry from her class, had already finished half of her food in a jiffy. Tasting the sweet chutney, she smacked her lips to enjoy the sweet flavour and said, "Sometimes, I wonder why our society is so focused on matrimony. As if any human who doesn't choose marriage is bound to lead a very sad life."

Suraini smirked and added, "Meanwhile, these so-called happy marriages are the ones failing the most at securing happiness."

Smriti placed the bowl near her lips to sip the remaining lentil curry. "I think the concept of marriage started because humans felt lonely to roam alone, and we also felt attracted to the opposite sex." Pausing to swallow the curry, she raised her finger, signalling at her friends to wait, and then continued, "So, combining all that, everybody might have decided to let's bind ourselves to one person. That way, one secures progeny, wealth and a status too. Sure, feelings like love might have existed even then, but not every relationship has a romantic angle to it. I am no theorist, so yes, this could have been the case then, and then, as time evolved, people decided that everybody must follow it."

"Enough of this conversation, girls. Let's go sit near the fountain." Chitra's eyes gazed at the warm afternoon sun shining on the snow-clad hilltops. "The sun looks lovely, and I am dying to feel some warmth after this continuous wet spell."

Smriti observed the students frolicking near and around the fountain. Some girls drenched their palms in the clear water, while a few boys hollered around it, challenging each other to take a dip into the small pond-like structure where the fountain water collected.

From a distance, she spotted Ekaksh and Ravishtha walking with her two friends, Ved and Natesh. Ved had his arm around Ekaksh and was talking animatedly about something to him. Natesh, on the other hand, was politely listening to something Ravishtha said.

As if Ekaksh could sense Smriti's gaze, his eyes did not waste a moment in finding her. She waved at him excitedly, making him return the same excited wave at her. Ved left Ekaksh's side and jumped to Smriti, saying, "Let me introduce you to the two amazing boys I met. They are in my hostel, and in our same year." Looking at the two, Ved continued, "We joined two days ago only. So amazing, right?"

Medha joined in with a light chuckle. "Well, we might have forgotten to inform you earlier, but we actually met them the day they arrived." Taking a step towards the new boys, she asked Ekaksh, "How have you been?"

Ravishtha, placing his hand on his chest, pretended that his chest hurt. "I am hurt by this indifference, madam."

Medha facepalmed with laughter. "Pardon me for the offence, young sir. How are you doing?"

"Now that a maiden like you has asked me, I am in perfect health."

Ved silently gasped and looked between the two. Smriti immediately turned her gaze towards Ved and blinked her eyes rapidly to say that this was just some playful flirting.

Suraini silently observed the interaction between the friends while also looking at Chitra, whose face had turned red like a tomato. Her beautiful big eyes were cast to the ground, and her fingers played with the lower tips of her hair, causing Suraini to roll her eyes at her friend's bashfulness.

"And may I know who this doe-eyed girl is?" Ravishtha asked suddenly, his eyes landing on Chitra, who let out a silent gasp.

"Chitralekha," Suraini answered.

"You can call me Chitra, though. All of my close friends call me Chitra." joined an excited Chitra, her eyes bright and sparkling.

Smriti, Medha, and Natesh shared a look at each other. Ved raised his eyebrow at Chitra's overenthusiastic pitch and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well..." Ved dragged out the word to put the bashful Chitra out of her flushed reverie about the boy she fancied. "How is everyone feeling about classes?"

Natesh groaned. Crossing his legs, he ruffled his fair, saying, "I already feel exhausted by evening almost every day. There are countless projects and papers to write and present that will be strictly graded, and then I have to also examine my future path." Releasing a sigh, he continued, "It feels surreal that we are at this stage at last when, some time ago, we used to talk about how our seniors felt about their last year and about making decisions about the future."

Medha swatted a fly that flew near her eyes. "Now that Natesh has mentioned it, What are your thoughts about your path ahead? What are you all thinking?"

Chitra spoke first. "No thoughts from my side. I might just have a wedding invite to send you all right after I finish school."

Suraini wiped some of the dust off the pallu of her saree. Keeping her chin on her knees, she answered Medha, "I just want to get my mother out of that place, lead a life without any interference from pervert men, and show them that this girl will not tolerate any of their insults or entitled behaviour towards us." Her eyes shone with ambitious determination. "Only if I become a respectable teacher right here in Takshashila, shall I spit on their so-called noble faces."

The group turned quiet. Only the girls, Natesh and Ved, knew of her heritage. Ekaksh and Ravishtha were a little confused but did not comment on it. Smriti's eyes met Ekaksh's, and she passed him a reassuring blink that said, "Aconversation for later.

Realising the grave silence that the group had turned to, Suraini patted her knee and asked Smriti. "What about you, Sakhi?"Are you thinking about taking up dance? Acharyaa speaks so well of you and is really hopeful about your choice of dance. You will excel in it, too."

Passing an awkward but grateful smile towards Suraini, she said, "Thank you, and I am really, really grateful for the faith shown in me, but I am still confused. There are many things I want to do, and confining myself to just one identity doesn't faze me. I am still exploring."

"But you do need to make a decision to apply for higher studies, Smriti. You can't take too long to explore yourself," Medha cut in. Smriti pressed her lips into a thin line and shrugged her shoulders.

"I think I will figure out something."

Ekaksh looked at Smriti. His eyes did not fail to notice the slight downcast expression on her face. The glow in her eyes had dimmed, and the smile on her lips seemed a little forced as she heard the others give their answers.

Natesh had decided from Year Nine to choose dance after school. Ved would deviate from the path chosen by his forefathers in his family and go with dramatics. Mohini talked about choosing political science and working as a city administrator, and Medha wanted to pursue architecture.

Smriti had gone quiet for a while, silently assessing her life and her future choices. She gulped and realised that her throat was dry, and she barely drank water today. The conversation moved from career and life choices to the latest gossip and the preparation for Janmashtami ahead. If it were some other time, she would have gladly given her input, but Medha's comment had drained all the excited energy out.

"She is right, too. What if my exploration never leads me to any destination?" Smriti thought to herself while nodding at something Ravishtha said.

The sun had dipped lower, casting a warm golden glow over the entire campus. The leaves of the large trees planted inside the campus basked under the sunlight, the green shades looking brighter and more joyful, as if happily welcoming warmth after continuous rainy days.

Teenagers walked around the fountains, some laughing with their friends, all carefree and relaxed, and some with exhaustion written over their faces, with hands carrying thick books and papers. Where the young gather and live together, there are always great chances of tender love blossoming.

Ekaksh noticed young lovers shyly holding hands and walking around. A boy was tucking a small jasmine blossom behind a girl's ear. Somewhere, a couple was comparing hand sizes, their faces brightening with adorable laughter.

It felt pleasantly heartwarming.

Though Medha, Smriti's roommate, was deeply involved in the group conversation, she still managed to observe how frequently Ekaksh's eyes travelled to Smriti, as if Smriti's being was the only destination for him.

"I swear, I would be mortified. Can you imagine how bad it was??"Ved was talking about their literature teacher. Medha, aware of the incident that he was talking about, shifted her gaze towards Smriti, who unusually appeared lost.

She was nodding and smiling at everyone—she even came up with some witty comments for certain incidents that Ved narrated with great enthusiasm—but that fun-filled self of hers felt incomplete, as if shadowed by other sombre thoughts.

"I didn't say something wrong to her, right? Was I too blunt, and now I have upset my friend?" Medha thought to herself.

A loud shrill from the evening bell made Ved cringe. Chitra rolled her eyes, while Suraini twisted her body at the uncomfortable sound. Ravistha cast a judgmental look at the bell, while Natesh laughed at how everybody cringed at the sound.

"You all are here. I wish I didn't have homework to submit tomorrow so I could have ditched the library and talked to you all instead," said Mohini from a distance of four steps away, carrying a stuffed bag and an inkpot.

Natesh immediately engulfed Mohini into a side hug. "No worries, darling. I will fill you in on all our talks later on." He waited until Mohini stepped away from him. Looking at her ink-stained fingertips, he commented, "I think this assignment involved a hell lot of work."

Throwing the bag over her shoulder, her fingers tightly grasped the strap. "Absolutely! I referred to three textbooks and had to scan all of them—each page sometimes too—to write this essay. I will dream of the words on my parchment, I think."

Natesh patted her shoulder and turned to the others. "Well, the evening bell has already rung, and all of us need to go back to our accommodations." Looking fondly at Mohini, he said, "But first, I must drop my beautiful girl, so goodbye. See you all tomorrow."

Medha cooed at the couple, while Ved smiled at her cute, melting expression. Suraini and Chitra waved their goodbyes at them. "Mohini and us are in the same building anyway, so we should depart too," said Suraini.

The two girls walked behind Natesh and Mohini. Ved looked at the retreating figure of Natesh huddled around Mohini and said, "If only a love like that graced my life, I would have walked with her to bid her farewell for the night and impatiently waited for the sun to grace my eyes with my beloved's face."

"Shut up, Takshashila's Dushyant!" Smriti smacked Ved's arm hard, causing the fair boy to hiss in pain.

"You are just jealous that you are no one's Shakuntala to have a lover say poetry to you," Ved jibed, twisting his lips in mock disdain.

"I did become a painter's muse this summer, dear Ved," Smriti said, her voice carrying a tone of pride as her eyes briefly met Ekaksh's, who quickly averted his eyes to the side, only to meet his brother trying to stifle an amused smirk.

"Excuse me? When did this happen? Who is the painter?"

Medha was about to point her finger at Ekaksh, but Smriti immediately held her wrist beneath her falling pallu.

"Someone saw me to be ethereally beautiful, which I obviously am, and decided to immortalise me in their creations."

"Careful, sakhi, one must not be vain in matters like beauty."

Medha, smiling ear to ear at the dramatic antics between the two, interrupted them, saying, "Okay, we don't have to go from romance to philosophy today. Say goodbye to each other."

"No!" said the two together at the same time, causing them to double up with laughter.

"It is always 'see you soon,' chimed the two best friends once again, making Smriti laugh harder. Ekaksh looked at the banter with cheery amusement. Ravishtha nodded his head slowly and turned his face towards the left to hide the smile that was about to erupt on his face.

'Cutiepies! I am so glad I came here. They are so fun!' He muttered under his breath.

Medha linked her arm with Smriti and asked, "So... ready to leave?"

"Oh, ye-"

"Can I get a few moments with you?" asked Ekaksh, his face slightly nervous yet hopeful.

Ravishtha, Ved, and Medha looked at each other and then at the two, with Smriti being slightly surprised by Ekaksh's question at this time.

Ravishtha, sensing what to do best, moves his arm across Ved. "Let's go eat snacks. I heard from the boys beside our room saying that today they serve really delicious snacks."

"And I will do some light reading." Nudging Smriti towards Ekaksh, Medha raised her hand and wiggled her fingers while mouthing the words, "Enjoy and come back fast."

As the three of them left for their respective dormitories, Smriti breathed deeply, moving her neck from one side to another, and stretched her fingers, her eyes keenly observing the gently seated boy in front of her, all flushed but happy.

"So, where do you want to take me?"

"Lakshmi-Narayan temple?"

"A boy with a great choice of place, it seems..."

It seemed that even the skies took to donning a shade of light pink to match the painter's cheeks.

***

The skies were filled with pale grey clouds, obscuring the pink and red shades from sight. The majestic dark clouds loomed over Gyanpith as a slow, gentle breeze blew over, signalling everyone about the arrival of another shower.

Smriti walked around the temple complex, her fingers tracing the curves of various sculptures intricately carved into the walls of the Lakshmi-Narayan temple.

The prince of Avanti, clad in simple cream robes, sat right in the middle of the inner sanctum, in front of the gods, watching not the loving deities ahead but Smriti.

Beside her foot, a few jasmine buds from her hair had fallen to the ground, their white shade now possessing a slight dull colour. The incoming monsoon-laden breeze blew some of her hair from the sides, making her close her eyes as a peaceful expression shone on her face.

"I love it when I have eyes upon me," Smriti said, her eyes still closed and a playful grin forming on her lips.

Ekaksh, raising his right eyebrow, said, "Someone flatters herself far too much."

With a brisk walk towards him, Smriti sat down beside Ekaksh, her eyes now shining with enthusiasm and joy—the emotions she lacked a few moments ago. "I only speak the truth. Now, if it is flattery for someone else, then it is their problem."

Turning towards the gods, Ekaksh replied, "Always ready with an answer for everything."

"It's only been two days here. How are you liking my school?"

Tilting his head towards her, he answered, "It is my school too now, Smriti. And it is too soon to form any opinion, I think. Ask me the same after a month or two."

A distant rumble from the grey skies made the both of them turn their attention outside the temple. Ekaksh eyed the small tornado-like pattern forming on the ground by the dust of the dry soils on the path. A few leaves moved in circles within the mini-dust-laden tornado.

"There is something so romantic about the coming of rain, don't you think?" asked Ekaksh, his eyes fixed on the approaching clouds.

Nodding her head, Smriti replied, "I agree. The large grey clouds that come from faraway places remind me of the recurring theme of the beloved finally coming home after a long season."

"Aren't you worried about getting wet in the rain? It might rain any moment now." Ekaksh now looked at Smriti in concern, but deep down, he was secretly hoping that she would stay around for a moment longer.

"I will just make a dash and get back to Bodhi. Are we really the children of earth if we can't handle a little rain that nourishes our mother?"

"As always, you impress me with your thoughts."

"And I thought my beauty was enough for it."

"That which is transient doesn't impress me for long."

It was Smriti's turn to repeat his words. "As always, you impress me with your thoughts, Ekaksh."

There was a loud coo from the koel. Against the dark background of the clouds, a group of white geese flew across the sky. Smriti stretched her arm outside, and a raindrop fell on her skin that slowly slid off to the ground.

Releasing a pleasant sigh at the fragrance of the incoming monsoon showers, Ekaksh said, "Indra's blessings are back today."

Smriti noticed a few raindrops falling on the outer steps of the temple complex. Eyeing the pace of the rain, she deduced that she could spend just a few moments more inside before she would have to make a speedy run back to her dorm, for she could not risk falling sick when tests and assignments are around the corner.

I shall dance in the rain some other day soon.

Brushing away the concerns of getting drenched and about her upcoming commitments, Smriti decided to watch Ekaksh. This boy looked something special. He had a heart full of noble thoughts, and though a young boy, he possessed mannerisms akin to those of a sound gentleman but maybe more refined than those of a normal gentleman—perhaps a noble prince like nature.

But princes are to be of warrior-hearts, their eyes shining with valour and determination, but his eyes were gentle, as gentle as moonbeams that soothe the sight and soul; eyes filled with appreciation of life and a gaze that bores deep into one's heart, like that of an artist infusing all of their attention in their loving creation.

'Boys like him are rare... very rare,' Smriti thought to herself.

Another call of the koel, its soft, loving sound clashing with the loud rumble of thunder.

Smriti turned over to Ekaksh, saying, "And here is Indra's Vajra."

***

I am back with Smriti! Took a long enough break, but I think I am going to follow a schedule something like this. A month has 4 weeks approx, so one week for each book. 

I do hope you really enjoyed reading this chapter, and maybe we now delve a little deep into Smriti's mind and her wishes/doubts.

Have you ever felt this way?