yesterday the students were introduced to the first two courses, between learning 4 languages and trying to win an international trophy by the end of the day the students were exhausted.
Little did they know, the real challenge had yet to begin.
"Damn, I'm so tired," Said Battol with a sigh.
Nora rolled her eyes and said "It's only our second day here"
"I know, but the chess training gave me a headache, I slept over 9 hours yet I'm still tired!" Exclaimed Battol.
"Get a grip, you won't survive if you keep complaining" Nora firmly said.
A few minutes later, The professor walked into the classroom.
He was a tall man with pale skin and sharp eyes, he had an intense aura surrounding him, despite that he was a good-looking young man.
He walked to the center of the classroom, placed his hands in his lab coat, and said
"Good morning, I'm Doctor Ahmed, I'm a resident doctor at the University's Hospital and I'm your first course lecturer"
He was carefully examining his students with his stern eyes, he carried on and said
"Usually, a first aid course is optional
I don't know why the dean decided to make it obligatory,
none the less I'm going to make sure each of you passes this course with decent knowledge of emergency help and first_aid"
"Despite this awkward tension that's surrounding him, he seems harmless," said Battol optimistically.
Nora rolled her eyes and said.
"Don't be so sure before the midterm"
The professor cleared his throat and said "So, I'm not a terrible person, I know your life is already hard but I can't go easy on you now can I?"
"Oh, no!" said Battol as her heart dropped.
"The grades of this course will be taken according to your performance in the field tasks.
we will go to the refugee camps to give them first aid and basic medical care" said the professor.
"Excuse me, are you talking about the refugee camps as in the ones at war?" Asked one of the students.
"Are there any other definitions of refugee camps that you mixed it with?" The professor questioned sarcastically.
"Is that safe? How are we going to get there?" Asked another student.
The professor sighed and said
"Don't worry, we will be taking the institution's private airplane"
"Wait this colleague has a special airplane!" Asked Battol in shock.
"I wonder what else they have." Nora sarcastically said.
"Maybe a spaceship!"Said Battol.
The professor glared at Battol and said "Miss, please stop talking during my lecture"
Battol nodded her head in embarrassment and said "Sorry"
The professor rolled his eyes and said "As I was saying, we will go to refugee camps to lend them a hand, I will take you to watch the professionals in a shift in the college's hospital first.
I will give you a few lectures myself then we will carry on in the hospital, when I decide that you're ready I will ask the institution to arrange a trip to the camps"
The professor looked around the room to examine his students' faces to figure out their thoughts about this, then he asked "Any questions?"
Battle hesitantly raised her hand, the professor noticed her and said "What is your question?"
Battle cleared her throat and timidly asked "During this course are we allowed to cry?"
After the class ended the girls went to the cafeteria to meet up with Maha and have lunch.
"I'm done, I quit, I can't believe you convinced me to carry on with this!"
Exclaimed Battol.
Nora rolled her eyes and said
"Stop blaming me, it was your choice, you can quit any time, stop acting like someone is forcing you!"
A few minutes later Maha arrived. She greeted them and said
"Sorry for being late my class took longer than usual"
She looked at them and said, "What's wrong, both of you look upset!"
Nora sighed and said
"Don't worry about it, she's just being a crybaby."
Battol pouted and said
"No, I'm not. I'm a tough girl, but this colleague is ridiculous!"
"Did your courses seem a little rough?" asked Maha worriedly.
"A little? Not at all, they only want us to go to a refugee camp in the middle of a war as a final exam!" Exclaimed Battol.
Maha smiled gently and said"I know, some of my courses were too challenging too, and some of them required traveling as well"
Battle sighed and said, "You seem like a nice girl, please help us this year, tell us what to do?"
Nora agreed with Battol, she said "Indeed, we can use your help"
Maha smiled and said
"Of course, I'm going to help you with everything, I'll do all I can.
My first advice is to work smarter, not harder.
This is how this institution works"
"Our next course is the one where we are supposed to save someone to pass, do you have any idea what that might mean?"Nora asked.
Maha looked puzzled, she looked like she was thinking about it, after a few seconds she said "Let's see, saving someone could mean many things, I wonder whether they mean physical rescue or emotional?"
"I was wondering the same thing," said Nora.
"Why are you discussing this now? we will attend the lecture and find out anyway, let's just relax for now" said Battol.
Nora sighed and said "For once I agree with you"
After lunch, they attended the main course which is to save someone.
When they arrived at the classroom Battol said "Please let this lecturer be a nice or at least a normal person who has sympathy for others"
Nora rolled her eyes and said"Please stop, don't you get it? you only make things worse when you complain"
They waited for 10 minutes till the professor finally arrived.
He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a good physic.
He had blonde shoulder-length hair and green eyes.
He walked into the room and said in a gentle tone "Good evening, sorry I was a bit late because of my cat, that poor thing hasn't been feeling well lately"
He smiled gently as he took a look around the class, then he carried on and said "Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Ali, I love traveling, animals and plants, and I'm a very spiritual person"
"he seems nice"Battol whispered to Nora.
Nora pinched Battol's cheeks and said
"Please just keep quiet!"
The professor walked around the class gracefully, with a gentle smile never on his face.
"In this course, I will help you find yourself, and then through this journey, you will have the strength to save others.
I'm not going to be giving you lectures on life and things as if I know it all.
But I will help you discover the routes of the maze of life.
I can't teach you music, but I will inspire your tunes.
I won't ask you for anything, I will make you hungry to give willingly for the sake of the greater good"
The professor kept rambling about himself and his lectures till the students lost track of what he was talking about.
Battle pouted and said, "Ok, now I don't understand anything, what exactly is this course about?"
Nora sighed and said "I have no idea"
"Ya Allah, this one is the craziest of them all!" said Battol.
One of the students interrupted the professor and said "Mister Ali, is it ok if I drop out of this course and take the none compulsory one instead?"
The professor looked disappointed, he said "No, this is the main course you can't drop out"
He pouted and said "Honestly, I'm hurt why would you want to drop out of the most sensational course we have?
This course is what this institution is about, the human duty to help others, the unselfish side of humanity.
The world has gone through so many wars and tragic events it's time to stop thinking about our identities and make some effort for the sake of the future of this earth.
This earth was once so beautiful and charming, but once man gave in to his vengeful side and pride a never-ending series of murders and misfortunes began.
That's why I'm very honored to be the one assisting you in this course, you are the ones who will lead our future toward a new path, and I will do my best to make sure this path will be a peaceful one"
"Isn't he exaggerating ?" said Battol.
"I don't know, but he's an odd man indeed" answered Nora.
After the lecture, Battol and Nora met Maha again.
"Saving lives, first aid for people in refugee camps, 4 languages, crazy lecturers, world peace, what on earth is this place!" yelled Battol as they were walking back to the dorm.
"One of the most prestigious colleagues in the world" answered Maha calmly.
"Can you stop acting as if this is normal and sympathize with us!" exclaimed Battol.
Maha smiled and said, "I'm on your side, believe me!"
"Then give us a real advice!" Said Battol desperately.
"The dean said something about a none_compulsory course that we can take as a substitute for any of the courses, what do you think?"Nora said.
"That's right! we should take it instead of that mission-impossible course!"
Exclaimed Battol happily.
"You have a mission impossible course?" asked Maha.
"I believe she means the one where we need to travel to refugee camps" Explained Nora.
"Saving someone is the main course, you can't substitute it, you may be required to travel for the International tournament," said Maha.
She carried on and said
"traveling for 2-courses will exhaust you, that's why it's a good option",
Battle looked at Nora and asked, "What do you think, should we do it?"
Nora fell silent for a few minutes, then she said
"I think it's a good idea"
"So you're taking the none_compulsory course?" asked Maha.
"Yes, that I'm sure of," said Nora.
"It's about offering a service online right?" said Battol.
"Yes, you need to design a website or a social media account for a specific free service," said Maha.
"Is there a class for this course?" asked Nora.
"I believe it is an online course" answered Maha.
"Finally, some space" Said Nora.
"Yeah, this course is too convenient that it's suspicious," said Battol.
"I hope there are no impossible demands in this course, unfortunately, I know better," said Nora.
"See you, I hope you sleep well tonight," said Maha as they arrived at the dorm.
Nora smiled and said "Same to you"
"Goodnight," Battol said as she waved to Maha.
As the girls were getting ready for bed, someone suddenly started knocking at their door and calling them out!
"What is this noise? I'm so tired, please just let me rest!" Said Battol.
Nora got up and opened the door, there stood a familiar girl and she looked terrified.
"Please help me, my roommate, she suddenly started crying hysterically and breathing heavily." The girl frantically said.
"I didn't know what to do so I knocked on the first door I came across!" She added.
"Ok, I'm coming, we will take her to the college hospital" Nora firmly said.
"I'm coming too!" Said Battol as she followed them.
They went to the other room to help the girl, she was conscious but in a miserable state, she was breathing heavily and crying.
"Leave me alone!" The girl cried.
"I don't need help, just leave me alone!"
"Come on, you are not ok, since the first day I could hear you cry yourself to sleep and you are having a panic attack," said her roommate with a worried look on her face as she was trying to calm her down.
"Battol, get Doctor Ahmed he said he's a resident doctor at the university's hospital" Nora ordered.
"That's right, I will go get him, I'm sure he will know what to do," said Battol as she ran to get him.
"Please calm down, just breathe," said the girl to her roommate.
"Stay away from me!" the girl cried
"Don't just demand her to calm down it will make things worse, just give her some space till the doctor arrives" said Nora.
"Are we just going to stare at her till then!" The girl yelled.
"No, the first thing we need to do is to calm down ourselves" Nora calmly said.
"Now we need to assure her that she is going to be ok" she added.
Nora carefully took the girl's hand and gently patted her back and told her that there was nothing to be afraid of and that she was going to be ok.
"Now look at me, let's take a deep breath together"
The girl's sobbing softened, she lifted her head and took a deep breath as she was told.
Nora turned to the other girl and said
"Can you please get her a cup of water?"
The girl got her a cup of water and Nora gave it to the crying girl.
Though she was still shaking, the girl drank her water cup and took a deep breath.
Doctor Ahmed arrived, checked her blood pressure, and gave her a tranquilizer to calm down and sleep.
"Is she going to be ok?" The girl asked the doctor.
"She's fine, that wasn't a bad one, it's just unfortunate that she's getting panic attacks this young," said Doctor Ahmed.
He looked at Nora and said
"I'm impressed Nora, you did half of my job, what you did was the right way of handling someone going through a panic attack.
I was worried about her but now I'm relieved, that at least she has someone nearby who can take care of her."
Nora blushed faintly and said "Don't mention it"
Battol noticed and said
"Oh, am I seeing a blush!"
"What are you talking about?"Nora said angrily.
"You're flattered, your face is red!"
Nora denied it and said "No, it's not"
Battol giggled and said "Come on, after all, you saved the day"
"Wait, YOU SAVED THE DAY!"
Battle loudly said.
Nora covered her ears and said
"No need to yell it."
"I believe what she means is, that you can use this to pass your course," said the doctor.
"That's right we are expected to save someone to pass the main course," said the roommate.
"Do you think the professor would count this?" asked Nora.
Doctor Ahmed explained to her and said
"The one you save is the one who grades you in the main course.
when she wakes up in the morning you can have her sign a paper saying that she is grateful for you or something and that she gives you an A.
if her speech impresses Professor Ali, you will pass the course"
"Wait, this sounds too easy!" said Battol.
Nora nodded and said
"Too easy, suspicious
But I have nothing to lose, so why not I will get back to her in the morning"
"I believe her first class tomorrow starts at 9, you should come earlier or you can meet her during her lunch break at 2 pm," said the roommate.
"Our lunch break is at 2 pm too, let's meet her then," said Battol.
"Ok, if she feels well tomorrow can you please ask her to meet us in the cafeteria tomorrow at 2 pm?" said Nora.
The roommate nodded her head and said "You can count on me"