Episode 15
Parvati comes up on the stage and addresses the assembly…
All turn to look at her… She stands on her podium and uses her wand as the microphone…
Parvati “Good morning Freshers and and their seniors… Welcome to the new session of Hecate college of witchcraft and wizarding… As you all know… What you all will be taught here… So I need not stress on that part… Well let me introduce the New comers to the houses and their in charge professors… Well you all can see the ceiling (all look up)the ceiling has 4 huge test tubes each with different coloured liquid-Red, Yellow, Blue,Green… Right now at their lowest level as it’s the beginning of the session The four liquids are the four house colours… Red For Arete House… Silver Sword is the house symbol… Arete is the Greek Goddess of Bravery… VP Maheshwari is the house in charge…. Yellow for Ponos… Golden plough is the house symbol… Ponos is Greek God of Hardwork… Professor Shekhar Gadodia is the house in charge… Blue for Athena… Silver crown is the house symbol… Athena is Greek Goddess of Wisdom… Professor Sharmishtha Gadodia is the in charge of that house… And Green is for Daedalus… Green Snake is the house symbol…Greek God of cunningness and ambition… Professor Durgaprasad Maheshwari is the house in charge… In case of any emergency,the house tenants must report to their respective house in charge or other house in charge if someone is unavailable… Indiscipline will not be tolerated and will lead to severe detentions… Going to the dark forest without supervision or permission is strictly prohibited… Some magical creatures reside there who do not like Intruders… I hope I am clear… In case I am not, then you can ask questions…”
Ragini instantly raises her hand… Gadodias look on tensed… Annapurna smiles seeing her…
Rohan “See dude… That’s her… Swara’s sister… She is a storm…”
Sanskar “Oh… I saw her… Man! She is really ahead of me… She just came and used the slug curse on that brat. What’s his name… Oh ya… Kartik!! We are going to rock… Now even I got a partner in crime…”
They both laugh and do high five…
Parvati (tensed) “Yes…??”
Ragini “When is our house division supposed to take place if not today… And if it’s later,then where are we supposed to live till then..? In the house hostel or where we used to live earlier… And till we are not put in our respective houses,then will any indiscipline on our part now lead to points deduction in future?? If yes,then why and if no then what’s the guarantee??”
Aisha looks on open mouthed at her while standing beside her…
Swara has already faceplamed listening to Ragini’s question(s)…
Sanskar and Rohan first look at Ragini,then at each other and then at Swara at regular intervals…
Shekhar and Sharmishtha quietly look at each other and shrug their shoulder and then look at Parvati who is all smiling…
Annapurna and DP smile hearing her questions…
Lakshya (in mind) “What type of girl is she!! Is she really sane!! What all she is asking… Who asks such questions?? That too in front of whole college… She could have asked this personally as well… God!! I wish she isn’t in my house… Else how am I going to deal with her!! I will faint with irritation and frustration… Who will believe that there is a devil behind this cute and innocent face! Wait!! What I said just now!! Unbelievable!!!”
Parvati “Well… That’s a very valid question and I am sure many must have it in their mind… I am glad that finally someone asked it… Before answering I want to know how many among you have these questions in your mind…??”
Swara removes her hand from her face and looks up instantly… She is shocked seeing the view…
A good number of students raise their hand… What was more amusing was that Sanskar and Rohan are also one among the students… Ragini giggles seeing them… So does Aisha… Lakshya shakes his head seeing them and says unbelievable…
Swara “What are you guys doing!!”
Sanskar “Raising hand in favor of the question…”
He raises his hand even more high… This time the Maheshwaris and Gadodias have opposite reactions… Annapurna and DP give blank look while Shekhar and Sharmishtha smile…
Parvati “Mr. Maheshwari and Mr.Mehta you both are in second year in case you both have forgotten…”
Rohan “No professor… We remember but you asked who all have this question in their mind… So we both raised our hands… We have this question since our orientation but we couldn’t dare to ask…”
Sanskar “Infact I have an add on to the question (Parvati nods) Until first years are not divided into houses,the points table shows zero reading… So does it means that seniors are also allowed to skip discipline sometimes and enjoy during that time, being carefree about the house points??”
Rohan vigorously nods at his question…
Parvati “Alright… Well I have to answer a whole lot of questions together… So let me remember them… Ms. Gadodia, The house division is supposed to take place next week… Hecate gives their students the privilege of enjoying their first week without any worry regarding points… And that answers your question as well Mr. Maheshwari… The first week is considered tension free week for all students… Which means the seniors as well… About the residing thing,the freshers are going to live in the house hostel only… They can live in any house hostel they want but after they are divided,they have to move to their alloted place… And don’t worry about the points and your behavior during the tension free week… No grudges will be carry out in future based on this week… And to answer your last question Ms. Gadodia,I take the guarantee… I hope that’s satisfying??”
Ragini nods smiling… She looks into her eyes and communicate via telepathy…
Parvati “You are such a devil..!!”
Ragini “Sorry… But I had this doubt…”
Parvati “You are never going to change right?”
Ragini smiles sheepishly…
Parvati (to everyone) “Now… Before making you all wait more,let’s us all grab a seat to have our grubs…. And remember freshers you all have to report to VP Maheshwari’s office for the registry of your wands… They are your pass to enter Hecate during non school days…”
Parvati takes the wand in her hand and sits on her seat… RagLak and Aisha join SwaSan and Rohan on the table… They all order their food…
Sanskar “So I guess,we need introductions here… So hi,I am Sanskar Maheshwari…–”
Rohan “You aren’t in a muggle corporate meeting!(to Ragini and Aisha) You have met me… This is Sanskar,my best friend and Swara’s boyfriend… And this is Lakshya, Sanskar’s brother…”
Lakshya just passes a nod and an almost no smile… Ragini frowns on his expression…
Ragini “Me Ragini… Those who love me,they call me Ragu… And Sanskar in brackets jiju but that would be weird so I won’t call you that, congrats,you have a new partner in crime… I have heard about you from Di… And this is Aisha,my first and now best friend…”
Sanskar at once looks at Rohan who notices his gaze and almost sinks his head in his plate… Sanskar smirks…
Swara “Hi Lakshya, Swara…”
Lakshya “Hi… Hey Aisha…(Aisha nods… Now Lakshya talks to Swara) Iam glad that I finally met you else relying on Bhai I guess I would never have… BTW,how you hooked up with him!! He is so unbearable and crazy..!!”
Swara “Well a valid question but you see,I am used to handle an even bigger mess…(she points at Ragini) So it’s not a big deal…”
Ragini passes her a death glare…
Lakshya “Ya… I saw this morning… Btw I didn’t knew that you are her sister… Anyways…Lakshya or you may call me Lucky…”
Ragini “Why would I?? And I heard Rohan when he introduced you… Well whatever… Ragini… And you dare not repeat my lines…”
Lakshya “As if I want to..”
Ragini “Whatever…”
They both make a face and without looking at each other start eating…
Lakshya (in mind) “Ms. Good for nothing Attitude Gadodia!!”
Ragini (in mind) “Mr. Frowning Arrogant Brat Maheshwari…!!”
The other four look at each other blankly… And then decide that it’s better to feast on food…
Ragini “Now I know why mom wanted me to be in Athena… She is the house in charge..!! She wanted to keep an eye on me while I am in hostel…!!”
Swara “Mom said you that??”
Ragini nods “But I told her that I wish sword is tattooed on my neck… I wanna be with you…”
Sanskar “And of course I will also be there… We can do pranks together and boss around people…”
Ragini “Correct… You are my true partner… Di don’t get jealous… I am not talking about life time…”
Swara blushes… Ragini laughs… She does high five with Sanskar…
Lakshya “Seems like I have to change my choice of house…”
Sanskar looks at him at once…
Ragini passes him a frowning look…
Ragini “Sometimes I doubt whether he is your own brother?? I mean are you sure VP Maheshwari had not adopted him??”
Swara signs Ragini not to speak…
Lakshya looks at her pissed!!
Lakshya “What is your problem!!”
Sanskar tries to keep him calm as he raises his voice…
Ragini “Your arrogance!!”
Swara tries to sush Ragini…
Lakshya “That’s none of your business!!”
Sanskar “Lucky will you be quite!!”
Lakshya ignores him…
Ragini “And so is my choice of house yours!!”
Swara “Ragu!! Don’t make a scene here!!”
Ragini doesn’t pays heed…
Lakshya “It is!! I have a problem with your attitude!!”
Sanskar gives up…
Ragini “Why do you care!!”
So does Swara…
Meanwhile Rohan and Aisha look at both of them turn wise as they speak… Now SwaSan also join them….
Lakshya “I don’t… It just pisses me off!!”
Ragini “What else do you know?? Mr. Frowning Arrogant Brat Maheshwari!!!”
Sanskar and Rohan gasps… They mentally clap for Ragini… Finally someone is able to give an equal competition to Lakshya…
Lakshya (pointing at himself like me arrogant,brat!!) “Then what are you… Ms. Good For Nothing Attitude Gadodia!!!”
Swara (in mind) “Oh no!! He commented on her attitude!! Now volcano will erupt!!”
Ragini “You—”
Swara (in mind) “There you go!!”
Aisha “Guys!! Stop it!! Will you??”
Swara takes a sigh of relief…
They both look at her and stop yelling at each other…
Aisha “Just look around,we are sitting in dining assembly and the whole Hall is seeing you yelling at each other like cat and dog!!”
Rohan “And to inform you both!! Your parents as well…”
They both look at their parents who are passing them death glares…
Ragini (glaring at Lakshya) “Di!! I am going to your room…!!”
Lakshya (passing her the glare) “Bhai… My things have been shifted to your room…!!”
They both get up to leave still glaring at each other…
SwaSan “But you don’t know the direction!!”
They both point up their wand (still glaring at each other) “POINT ME!! ”
Their wands suspend in the air pointing towards same direction acting like a compass…
They are again pissed off at each other for similar action and frown…
RagLak turn to go but Ragini turns again and comes to her seat and picks up her food plate… Lakshya realizes that he is also hungry and picks up his food plate as well…
They again frown at each other and Strom off from there…
Rohan “Did you guys also noticed it or it was just me???”
Aisha “Yaa… They are so similar!! And so rival!!”
Swara “Finally they both have got someone who can give competition to them!!”
Sanskar “You are right sweetheart… We got to know it today even though it’s just the beginning!!!!”
All four look at the direction where RagLak went…