Home school

3- Rishikesh

Author's POV

It was 4 am in the morning. The students were lost in their dreamland when there was loud shrill noise of alarm clock.

Devendra & Advitya buried their faces in the pillow trying to cut off the shrill voice.

Everyone was starting to realise that their sleep will be vanished because of this.

"Stop it yrr. What the hell is happening at 4am??" Siddhi cried without getting up from her bed.

Aryaman, Shrestha and Aditya got up from their looking at each other rubbing their eyes.

Being the elders and looking at the dreadful state of their classmate, the 3 decided to check what's happening.

Kritika was standing outside.

"Good morning, students" she greeted in a gentle tone.

"Good morning teacher but I think you forget to put your alarm at off" Aryaman said. Being sleep deprived was not helping him a bit.

"The students will wake in brahm muhurat and it start from 4 am" she told the students. Her voice was not gentle anymore.

"Go freshen yourself. I will wake up others" They thought to defy the order but they saw Vikram standing behind kritika which made them rethink their decision.

They obliged thinking about what will happen to their classmate who didn't woke up with the continuous shrill alarm.

In the room, Vikram entered. Looking at them he shouted "Students, freshen up. Right now"

"It's 4 am mom. Let me sleep more" Advitya cried from his bed thinking about his home.

"I am not your mom. Wake up or I will really make you asleep just like I did with with Devendra yesterday" he said.
Hearing this everyone woke up with a jerk. They realised it was not their home. They were at gurukul and they have to follow the rules.

Everyone stood up rubbing their eyes. Some making crying faces.
Some sulking behind.

Samriddhi thought about last night.
Was anyone really here!

After everyone freshened up they gathered at the hall as per the order.

Dhara was leaning on Devendra who was holding her with a hand. Both of their eyes were closed.

Advitya was leaning against Aditya who was holding him so that he does not fall. Imagine a 6 feet tall boy holding other 6 feet tall guy. Both with similar face. One with a serious expression and other with carelessness on his face.

Siddhi was putting her head on the avika's shoulders .

Samriddhi looked at shrestha who was standing beside her.

He sensed her. "you can lean" It came out as a statement.

She shooked her head as a no.

The teacher entered silently.

"Attention everyone" Vikram shouted like he is in parade ground.

Dhara and Devendra stumbled standing. Advitya opened his eyes with a jerk.

Some of them cursed them under their breath.

"Follow me, everyone" Vikram commanded.

"Where are we going?" Aryaman questioned him when he realised they were going out of school premises.

"Do you forget rules" Vikram asked continuing his walk towards outside.

"No" Then aryaman realised that one of the rule was not to question the teacher.

They were outside the school premises. Cold wind were blowing which made everyone shiver. Month of November is something in india. It is usually not that cold in November during days but early morning, the cold makes everyone shiver.

There was a river flowing which feels surreal. The reflection of full moon in the flowing river was the definition of peace.

Suddenly, Vikram jumped in the cold water with his clothes on. Everyone gasped when some water splashed on their faces. The water was freezing while the wind blowing was not helping it a bit.

'Isn't he feeling cold??'

'The water must be so cold'

'I would die before doing that'

'Is he mad??'

'He will get cold'

Random thoughts were erupting the thoughts of students.

Vikram stood up in th river chanted something under his breath.

"Warrior, come in the river. We will have a bath here" Vikram smirked at the terrified sight of the students.

No one moved forward. Unwilling to bath in the cold water. Aditya thought to go in the river but the water that touched his face which was splashed by Vikram made him stop.

Advitya and Devendra were in no mood come out of their sleep.

Avika, dhara couldn't gather the courage to do it.

Samriddhi was dumbly looking at Vikram.

"You know, when we go inside ganga we can take our loved ones there. Can you see this??" Vikram breaked the silence showing them a small handkerchief wrapped in his palm which have some letters engraved in it.

Everyone nodded because they were so invested in the story than being in home school.

"It's my mother's. She always wanted to bath in Ganga but she died. I started bathing in Ganga with her hankerchief which means she is also here, present with me, fulfilling her dream" He told the story looking at samriddhi.

"Does that means we can fulfill someone's wish by carrying something they owned" Aditya emphasised the whole conclusion.

Vikram nodded.

"I am not still not convinced to be in deadly cold water" Advitya said in between his yawning.

"You don't need to be" Vikram said when he noticed samriddhi taking off the ring from her chain which she was wearing.
She wore it and moved toward Vikram.

He let out his hand she grabbed it entering in the cold water.

The cold water touched her feet, it feels like it never existed. He pulled her in the water. At a point she tried to get back but she closed her eyes kissing the ring and moving forward.

He dipped her in the water putting his hand on her head. When she got out of water she gasped for some air.

She stood still in the ganga feeling it. Ganga held something which can heal every thing.

Shrestha followed her footsteps. He himself dipped in the Ganga and shivered when he got up. The cold wind made him shiver.

Samriddhi and shrestha got out of the water. They were shivering which made everyone think one more time to enter in the water.

Aditya did it.

Aryaman did it.

The 4 were send back to their rooms to change.
They were shivering when they entered th room. They changed into comfy clothes and waited for the others to come.

The remaining students were still standing at the bank of river when someone grabbed them from behind and threw them in the river.

Principal threw avnni in river.
Vidyut threw dhara. Vayu threw advitya. Kritika threw siddhi. Rohini threw Devendra with precaution.

Devendra just thought how can rohini pick him up. For God sake, he is heavy.

After they got out from water cursing the teachers under their breath.

When they were alone Vikram signalled someone to do the same.

He did without any questions.

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Guess who is the SOMEONE..
Waiting for your reply.

Signing off: author_vaishz