Rail roads were unexpectedly secure between mountains as the train passed smoothly between high terrain.
Reva expected the motion sickness to come through. It has been 7 hours since she took the train from Karnavati city. Maybe the adrenaline rush was still high and her brain was still occupied by the events of the day before that it had not registered the change in surroundings and continuous shaking of the vehicle.
Fresh breeze blew from the half opened window. Reva looked out from the window, squinting at the morning sun. First rays of sunlight peeking from behind the hills shining on the tall trees dispelled the fog and baptized them with pearls of dew.
'Reva, we are not forcing you to make decision immediately. But, just take a look...'
'We are getting older day by day...'
'But I also want to support you. I want to earn enough to stand up for myself...'
'Will you also come when someone try to force me? Will you listen to my complaints...'
'If something happens to me, what will you do? I will blame you my whole life. Will you be able to put up with the guilt...'
The scenes from the day before played before her eyes like a movie. That was the biggest quarrel she had with her parents and grandparents. She felt suffocation in that house. Without even waiting for the dawn she ran away with only a few pairs of clothing and toiletries.
She was so happy when she received the admission letter from one of the top universities in the country. She couldn't wait to give the surprise to her closest relatives. But who knew she would receive the biggest shock of her life before even saying anything.
She was hoping for the blessings in the career and future, but they were planning for the different blessing for her, which may strip her from her control over her choices, lifestyle and even career. She wiped her eyes stubbornly and took the first train directly to Taxila City in Gandhar State.
Taxila University. One of the top universities in Maurya Country. Surrounded by historical monuments from the west and blessed by the Indus river from the north, the Taxila City was prosperous and top choice of the scholars from around the world. And the famous Taxila University was the reason it became a business hub and the fastest developing city.
Reva glanced at the phone screen. It was 6 o'clock in the morning. As per her information the gates of the University would open at 7 o'clock. In an hour the train will reach the Taxila City. And the time she reaches there, the University will definitely welcome her with open gates.
An hour and a half later the yellow and black taxi tore through the busy traffic and turned towards calm University area. The university named after the same city occupied nearly 1/10th of the area of the Taxila City. In the heart of the city there stood a tall clock tower, which the residents described as could be seen from the any corner of the city. But after the city prospered and started developing, the urbanization and new constructions spread the area wider and wider. And now the whole radius from where the clock tower could be seen was called Old City area.
The university area is normally calm and serene. With the only noise being occasional vehicles and mild chirping of birds faraway. The taxi stopped at the guard post outside the main road towards university gates. The driver helped her luggage out of the taxi and pointed her to the guard post window, which was the normal occurance. Not many taxies were stopping by at this time. But there were quite a few people before her. The queue was formed against the window. Some were holding luggage while some teenagers were talking animatedly forming a group. Clearly they were parents who came to send their children to the next step of thier life.
Reva sighed softly as she pulled her luggage on the smooth road. She took out the file containing admission letter and her scholarship approval letter from the backpack and stood at the end of the queue.
"Hold the admission letter properly. Why are you folding it? What if it tears before you show it in the office? What will you do if they don't accept you? Drink some water, and wipe the sweat from the forehead."
The nagging voice from the mother scolding her son was not the noise, because the same scene was occurring through the whole queue. Parents were worried and jittery about their precious children studying away from their home fir the first time.
"Make sure to change bedsheets before sleeping. And I have put the mosquito repellent and net on the bag."
"You will have to stay with your dormmates for next few years, so make sure to have good relationship with them. And if I find that you've caught bad habits during summer vacation, I'll skin you alive, understood?"
Reva wiped the sweat from her nape and forehead with the napkin, and took a mouthful of water. She hastily put away the waterbottle and took out the file again because the window was accepting the inquiries. A guard came forward and announced that the new admitted students should keep thier admission letters ready. The gates will be opened for public in 10 minutes.
Reva was in a trance as she stepped on the tiled campus floor. The local students also started to come as they were aware of the timings mire clearly. The guard post and the front of the gates was soon filled with crowd.
The clock tower stood tall in the centre of the campus as it chimed eight times to mark the beginning of the new freshman year. On the right side of the gates, the table was arranged as the senior students helped the new admitted prepare the documents, so that the work of administration department become easier.
Reva stood behind waiting for her turn.