Alex:

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes:

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

I walked along a raw road, humming one of the greatest poems of the romantic movement by Lord Byron. I didn't have the slightest idea why I felt so giddy inside. Maybe it was because today's weather happened to be my favourite, clouds and rains.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

Or maybe it was because of the highly sweet sugar delights I happened to have just a few hours ago. I'm sure that is the reason. Their sweetness has gone to my head. I could feel my mouth getting watery as I remember the crunchy texture, how they melted inside my mind and how it felt like a thousand sweet arrows have been shot in my mouth...What?

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

I don't know why I am avoiding the fact that there is another thing that happened today. Anvesha and I apologized to each other. Politely, might I add. Very shocking, might I also add. And very funny, might I...anyway.

But this feeling, it can't be because of that, can it? No, I am acting completely delusional. I haven't had lunch, just some sugary sweets and that's why I am so hyperactive and feel so happy. Yes, that is exactly the reason.

Wait a minute, was I just singing a "romantic" poem? What, in the name of God, is wrong with me?!

...

I cleaned my shoes on the foot mat placed just outside my room. I gush of wind swept by and I felt myself shiver. This place was already cold, and now the winters are also coming.

I could hear the voices of Jordon and Matt from inside. They clearly sounded like they were engaged in a heated debate. I knocked the door three times. A second later, the door opened, revealing a flustered Matt. His hair were matted to his head and he appeared red.

"What happened in here?" I asked, with a light humour as a flustered Matt took a seat opposite an angry looking Jordon. Unlacing my shoes, I looked at Jordon.

"Matthew is in no sense to stay here in India", he gritted through his teeth, while looking at me.

Confusion took over the humour. "I don't understand?" I stated, or more like, questioned.

"Everyone is acting like they are deranged." Matthew fell back on his bunk with a thud. The gesture was a bit dramatic to say the least.

"I really don't understand what you both are saying." I said with annoyance.

Jordon let out a dramatic sigh and walked towards the table where water and some refreshments were kept. My stomach grumbled when I saw fresh cutlets with cream. I snatched it like a madman. Jordon poured himself some water and then sat next to me on the sofa.

As I devoured the cutlets, Jordon looked at me and began, "As you already know, we went to play cricket with some of our friends. Clearly those officers are older than us. As we joined them for the game, they started making disrespectful comments about us. Matthew here-" he shot Matt a glare,"-decided that it was okay for him to storm out of the club in front of everyone."

Matt sat up on the bed and looked at me with a look which said that he was waiting for my reaction. I gave him a tilted smile and got up to give a joking pat on his back. Jordon glared at both of us, after I was comfortably seated on my bed, I asked him to continue.

"His father got the news and he was furious."

I shivered at that. Matt's father was a frightening man. He had silver hair and a pair of dark, brooding eyes. I remember, when we were eleven, Matt decided that it was okay for him to wear his mother's dress so that he could play 'tea-party' with Amelia, I and Jordon. Of course we needed two boys and two girls for the game, and Matt being the most helping of all became the 'girl' alongside Amelia. Mr. Hemmings found the four of us in the lawn and when he looked at Matt dressed in a ladies clothes, he gave him a lecture that was so bone chilling, we stopped visiting Matt's house, only going there for highly important reasons. Matt was embarrassed to this date whenever we recited this story.

"He ordered for Matthew to meet him in his office. Would you like to tell what happened next?" Jordon asked Matthew.

He huffed and said, "He insulted me and told me that I've brought shame to his name, that I need to apologize to everyone who was present at the club." Matt's said in a tone so icy, that I was astonished to the core. I stared at him. "And he said something I never thought that he would get to know...He-he told me that he knew of...of--"

Matt stopped suddenly. His face became a dark shade of red and his nostrils flared slightly. He was angry. Whatever his father has said had taken a toll on his emotions because I have seen this side on Matthew only when he is hurt deeply.

"--He said that he knew of my 'affair' with a local woman." He spat.

I sat there, stunned. All words which were previously trying to evade out of my mouth suddenly vanished and I became speechless. My eyes were as wide as saucers.

I looked at Jordon, my eyes pleading for any possible explanation, but I was shocked to see that all colour had drained out of his face too. He was just as astonished as me.

"I don't know how he got to know, but he told me that if I did anything out of control once more, then I will be thrown out of India, back to Britain." He said. His tone was begrudging, and his posture rigid. He didn't need to explain, I knew that by "out of control" his father was pointing towards his supposed affair with Anvesha.

And I know why Matthew was upset. He was not romantically involved with her, but he held feelings for her...I thought bitterly.

Wait, why was I being bitter?

I brushed my thoughts aside and looked at Matthew, who had become silent but I knew he was fuming inside, his shoulders were shaking uncontrollably. I gestured for Jordon to give Matt a glass of water and he understood.

He poured a glass full of chilling water and gave it to Matt silently, who took it without protesting.

I needed to say something, even if if meant saying that I don't know what to say. So I began, "Listen Matt, I really don't know what to say but--".

His face snapped towards me, but his face was not understanding. It held a menacing aura around it and when he cut me off saying, "Oh, you don't need to say anything, you must be happy." and then walked out of the room, I was lost.

I felt confused at first, but then I realized the meaning behind his words and that's when I felt white hot rage within me. That assuming bastard...I fell on my bed and withought saying a word, switched the lights off.

I'm not sure, but I think I heard Jordon say, "Why am I always the one stuck between these imbeciles idiotic fights!"

...

Anvesha:

The next day, I woke up with a fresh mind. The previous day's events were running wild inside my mind, but not for any negative reasons. All I thought was how the previous day, Alexander had apologized to me and I had did the same. Finally, everything between the two of us was resolved. It felt good to know...yet it felt as if it happened way too early.

But this is reality, not a page of a famous novel.

Now we won't have any meaningless arguments and he would probably stop with his childish comments.

Free!

I thought that today, I would finally have a normal day after a long time.

But I was wrong. I took a bath and wrapped up in a blue sari, tied my hair in a plait and wrapped a light shawl around myself, as it was chilly outside. I was all set to leave for college, having not even the slightest knowledge of what was happening outside.

Everything came crashing down on me when my father came rushing inside my room.

I smiled and greeted him. Before I could say anything, he said, "Anvesha, don't come outside. And today you will not be going to college."

I stood there confused. I had no knowledge of what he meant by that. "Why, papa? Has someone come outside?"

My father nodded in a slightly rushed movement and said, "Yes, someone has."

"Should I prepare breakfast for them?" I inquired, dropping my bag on a table. I was slightly upset that I would be missing the lessons for today, but I respected my father enough not to say anything.

"No, just stay here. Read something but don't come out." He answered me. A feeling of suspicion flowed in my mind. My father appeared a bit out of breath and his body appeared tense. When I looked at his eyes, they gave away a slight regretful look but it vanished when my father saw what I was doing.

He dropped his hands by from his shoulders. "A friend of mine has come to talk to me about...about you and his son."

My breathing became heavy and everything vanished in my sight. Only my father and the guilt in his eyes appeared in front of me.

"...you and his son".

Oh my God! No...no! It can't be...can it? I searched my father for answers...and when he averted his eyes away from me and hung his head low, as if in shame. I knew that it was true.

I lost my balance. My father rushed forward and grabbed me by the elble. He didn't say anything and made me sit on the bed.

After handing a glass of water in my hand, he left.

My heart was slamming wildly inside my chest and horror seemed to have clouded over my heaf. A chocked sob escaped my lips. I quickly covered my mouth, not wanting anyone to hear me.

Everything was over.

My father...his friend...his son...me...marriage.

...