A Drink of Love

1. First Day

“And here it is”, Jason pointed out from car window.

I craned my neck; there wasn’t much to look at, just a line of trees around what it looked like a hockey ground. As the car moved forward a little stadium crammed between the high top buildings came in view.

Adrenaline started to kick in, leaving me excited with the thoughts of spending my next five years in this institute.

"It looks like a huge University rather than just a medical college." I told Jason.

“Yeah, the college owns a huge area. Each department has its own block, with grand lecture halls, dissection rooms and ...oh there’s the hospital”, Jason pointed to other side of road where another series of buildings were present.

I could get the glimpse of the parking lot and the Hospital's Emergency block. I couldn’t spot the sign board saying Emergency Department but judging from the no. of ambulances and the storm of people coming and going out, it was definitely the Emergency.

Too busy noticing the hospital, I didn’t notice the other side until Jason pulled the car into side lane and then turned in through the front gate which looked more like an entrance gate to some Mughal Ruler Palace then to a medical school. It had “Phoenix Medical College“written above and on either sides of it; there were two carvations of eagles. Flying, but ribbons were bound around their claws.

“Whoa-“, I started awing at the carvations but I went silent as a very huge, realistic looking statue of a flying eagle came into view. Water was rushing from its mouth, collecting into a shallow pool below. I had seen this fountain in pictures but seeing it in real was another thing entirely.

“Stop the car” I told my cousin and immediately started digging for my Nikon camera from the luggage.

“Slow down dude, you will be spending the next 5 years at this place and you can take as many pictures as u want later.” He told me indifferently.

“I never thought it would look so realistic and magnificent. Just let me take one picture” I begged, the fountain was already falling behind.

“Later, I have to get you to your orientation, and we are running late.”

I sighed, that eagle had momentarily left me breathless.

There was a crowd of people in front of the auditorium where we; the new comers would be getting our orientation before the start of our classes. 

As I got out of the car I saw some parents had come to drop their children. In front of me, a mother was trying to kiss her son, who was shying away. I smiled, recalling a much similar episode in the morning.

“Hey Jason” A boy called from behind. I turned and saw a tall boy with speckles grinning at my cousin.

“Hey Andrew” Jason punched the boy playfully. I recognized him. He was Jason’s best friend. He turned to me.

“Ryse, right?”

“Yeah” I said extending my hand.

Jason and Andrew exchanged a mischievous look.

“Oh no bro, no hand shaking hands here” Jason told me.

“Why not?” I asked.

“You will get to know later” both of them laughed.

“Alright” I got my bag out of car.

Jason got hold of it,” its better if you leave it here too”

“What? Do Thugs and bandits study here?”

“You have no idea” both of them laughed again.