Be great in act, as you have been in thought. Suit the action to the word and the word to the action.
~ Shakespeare
Jiya opened her eyes and she knew that the sun was above her head, glaring at her so intensely that she felt blind. Did she suddenly end up in the Thar desert? She blinked a few times to clear her vision. And this time, there was not only the sky and the searing sun but many faces of people, looking down at her. One of the faces she recognized, was of Alex. Her eyes narrowed. But everyone above her displayed a single emotion on their faces. They stunk of curiosity. The stench was so overwhelming that she crinkled her nose. What were they so curious about? But what she could do? Humans are curious by nature.
She pulled her torso up and sat straight. She realized that she was not the only one who was flat on her back on the soft grass. The others were Stephanie, Stephan and Ralph. Ralph groaned and stretched his neck. Stephanie and Stephan rubbed their eyes and glanced around in confusion.
"What's going on?" Ralph was the first one to speak. He rubbed his nape in extreme confusion as if it would somehow help him get a hold over the situation.
"Were we not at Tip-" Stephanie was about to burst the bubble, but Stephan thoughtfully placed his palm on his sister's thigh. She stopped.
"What happened all of a sudden?" someone from the crowd spoke up. Jiya squinted and tried to figure out who it was.
"We… we don't… remember", Stephan stammered as his eyes met with Jiya's.
"You don't remember?" This time, it was Miriam, who sounded surprised. She had her arms linked with Alex. Worry and confusion were evident on his face as his eyes locked with Jiya's. She averted his blue eyes.
"Cut the crap and spit it out", Stephanie scowled at Miriam, "We don't remember."
"Well…" someone in the crowd spoke up, "You were just walking normally, when all of a sudden, you all fell down together. We thought that you have slipped on the grass. But…"
"But what?" Jiya raised her head with a questioning frown.
"But you four had surprisingly passed out", a girl standing beside Miriam, finished it. Jiya's frown deepened and she exchanged glances with the three of them. Then, she stood up and brushed her cloak. The others followed suit. Jiya smoothed out her ponytail while the twins plucked each other's hair for any straw.
"Let's go", Ralph said with extreme irritation.
Jiya and the twins nodded. A buzzer sounded in the nearby area. The crowd quickly began to disperse.
"What the hell happened?" Stephanie asked to no one in particular. Nobody answered her either.
"Jiya, wait!" Alex grabbed Jiya by her arm, halting her to a stop. She winced as she tried to yank her hands away.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" she almost yelled.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked, worry evident in his voice. Jiya could swear to God that she saw Miriam grit her teeth.
"Something is seriously wrong with you, Alex", Stephanie eyed Miriam scornfully, before a nasty sneer formed on her face.
Stephan moved forward and yanked off Jiya's arm from Alex's grip. He glared at Stephan.
"Save that for later", Stephan had a sober look in his dark eyes.
"Let's get the hell out of here, man", Ralph rolled his shoulders with extreme irritation. Jiya straightened her cuff as she took off with the others. Alex was about to follow but Miriam held him back.
"Let them go", she said to him softly, "They are not worth your time and they don't want it either."
"One moment we are Tipsy's office and the next moment, we are rolling on grass", Stephanie crossed her arms over her chest, "What the hell is going on?"
"What time is it?" Stephan glanced at Ralph.
"Half-past nine", he replied as he glanced at his watch.
"God knows what the hell happened to the old man?" Stephanie sighed with exasperation.
"Probably he got older?" Ralph was back at it with his cocky grin.
"This is nothing to joke about", Jiya said solemnly. Stephan nodded.
"No one shall let the cat out of the bag", Stephanie said before she glanced at Jiya, "Thanks, gal."
"Huh?" Jiya was taken aback and so were the boys, "For what?"
"For saving us from whatever dark matter it was", Stephanie grinned.
"You never fail to amaze me", Ralph chimed in, "Oh my God! I couldn't believe my eyes when you unleashed the power of a true Leo."
"True Leo?" Jiya tilted her head.
"Yes", it was Stephan. Jiya faced him He nodded furiously, "Only a true Leo can summon the Lion so easily."
"And it was amazing", Ralph spoke up, "With you being a girl and stuff, you know?"
"Ah! You are making me jealous", Stephanie added sarcastically.
"I don't know all these stuff", Jiya shook her head, "You guys have to teach me, okay?"
"Always", Ralph spread his arms wide, "This library is always opened."
"Idiot", Stephanie slapped on his chest and Ralph took the chance to wrap his arms around her. She squealed when her feet left the ground. Jiya shook her head and smiled. On the other hand, Stephan kept clearing his throat and repeatedly tugged at his earlobe.
When they had finally reached the orientation hall, students were already standing in uniform rows. Their entry garnered attention, given the earlier commotion. Stephan and Ralph walked away to the further side as Stephanie escorted Jiya in the first row. Rows were formed according to the students' year of class. Jiya stood on the first row as she was in the first year. Beside her row was the row of boys of the first year. And, then it followed in that order serially. Stephanie stood in the row for second-year girls. She winked at Jiya to dissipate the tension building in her muscles. Professor Tipsy Whiskers soon appeared on stage and the crowd cheered from below.