Reclaimed Legacy

(33) - Embracing the Past

Abhira sat quietly in her room at Rutherford Quarter, the soft glow of the fireplace casting flickering shadows on the crimson walls. Blackstone Academy had always been her world, and yet, even after all these years, its grandeur still managed to take her breath away. The academy was more than just a school—it was a sanctuary of tradition, legacy, and knowledge. Each of the four houses was named after the founders: Sinclair, Rutherford, Ashford, and Sterling, each one bearing its own distinct symbol, color, motto, and associated fields of study. Abhira belonged to the House of Rutherford, just like her ancestors, the Brars and Rathores, who had been part of this house for two centuries.

The Rutherfords had always been tied to law, public policy, and international relations. It made sense for Abhira to follow in those footsteps, considering her lineage used to be a royal family with a rich history in military and governance. Of course, the academy didn't bind anyone to a predetermined path—students were free to explore all disciplines, but their house placement was a tribute to their family's history. That was why Abhira had always been a Rutherfordian. The crimson red of the house colors was everywhere—inside her quarters, on the uniforms they wore during ceremonies, and emblazoned proudly across the House's living room walls. The Torch, Rutherford's symbol, stood for leadership and integrity, reflecting their house motto: "Lead with Honor, Serve with Integrity."

Leadership, justice, and the common good had been the pillars of her upbringing, values instilled in her from birth. Most of her closest friends had also found their place within Rutherford. Adi, with his Rathore blood, stood proudly in the same house as her, though his Goenka heritage didn't tie him to the academy in the same way. And thankfully Adi was able to join her for the celebrations, so now he's representing the Rathore family and she only had to represent the Brar throughout the celebration week. He, along with Virat and Chandu, had been her constant companions throughout their years here in the academy as well as in this house. Chandu, however, wasn't able to join the celebrations—caught up in an important case back in India. Abhira didn't know all the details, but she knew enough to understand why her dear friend couldn't make it. It was strange not having her around, and it left an unspoken emptiness in the group.

Then there was Surya, a beloved friend who had found his home in Ashford House. Ashford's focus was on the humanities, history, literature, and philosophy—fields that aligned with Surya's talents as a world-renowned writer and also considering he's coming from a family of world-famous writers and historians. Their house color was forest green, a shade Abhira had always adored. She shared Surya's passion for literature and often dreamed of being part of Ashford herself. The Ashford Quarter was a dream come true for any literature lover, and there were moments when Abhira imagined herself walking its halls, surrounded by centuries of written knowledge and philosophical debate.

Satya and Nats, on the other hand, belonged to Sterling House. Known for its association with science and the arts, it was fitting that Satya, a doctor who is coming from a medical family, and Nats, a renowned fashion designer who is coming from a medicinal & world-famous photographers family, would belong there. The connection between Nats and her was deep-rooted. Roop Ma had found Nats interning at a small design house years ago, just after Nats graduated from Blackstone. She had been 18 at the time and instantly took on the role of designing for a baby, making Abhira, her very first client. Since then, Nats' name had skyrocketed in the fashion world, but no matter how big she became, Abhira remained her number one client. Over the years, Nats had never once failed to craft something extraordinary for Abhira, and now, for the upcoming masquerade, she had promised a dress so beautiful that it would remain a secret until just four hours before the party. Abhira was excited—no, beyond excited—to see what her dear friend had created for her this time.

Among the circle of close friends, there were Rose and Rohit too, both assistants to Abhira. They had been with her through thick and thin, and both belonged to Sinclair House, the house known for its excellence in business, economics, and technology and both of their family was of that field too. Even though, the academy put students on the basis of their family's profession they do not force the students to go that way only, but all her friends and most of the people who studied in this academy ended up following their ancestors profession or something related to them only.