'Mom, I didn't mean to not call!' 'Oh yes, start making it about how ungrateful I am' 'Okay, I TAKE THAT BACK! No don't do that!' and the line went cut. I guess that's goodbye to this month's allowance.

'Angry Mom?', asked Nadia as she packed her bag for the next class and I let out a sigh to show her my frustration. 'I'm pretty sure she'll call up my Umma, now', she giggled and that was received with a loud groan.

'Why do our parents have a Whatsapp group?! It's not like they've sent us to war or something to always keep themselves informed!', I exclaimed and she laughed.

Nadia and I met each other at the orientation program and apparently her mom used to work with my mom years ago so it was like a relief for Mom to know that I was with someone she knew.

'Hey, I need some help with the assignment. I forgot to ask you yesterday so would you mind on short notice?', she asked squinting her eyes as her mouth turned into a little pout. How could I say no to that face?

Nadia was what I would call the human version of a rosebud. She had these huge dark brown eyes that shimmered each time she felt excited and these two apple-sized and colored cheeks that would push up to her eyes when she smiled. What I loved the most about Nadia was her style of fashion. She would wear these long tunics with flared pants and wear her multicolored chiffon hijabs in a fashionable way.

She would always be the center of attraction wherever she went and while some were always complimenting her ethnicity, some always turned their nose up at her but never once have I heard her speak one nasty word against them. 'They don't know, Omi. I'm not here to educate them', she said. 'Yeah well I could give a few free classes', I'd say but she'd hold me back and today was no different as I overheard a girl who sat behind us say, 'such a prude' and I realized it was directed at Nadia.

If I hadn't just been scolded by my Mom, I 'might' have handled the situation a bit more gracefully but I had been scolded so,

'Excuse me?', I asked looking at her and I realized she looked stunned as if she thought she wouldn't be confronted but then she quickly collected herself.

'What's with the whole uptight wardrobe? It's like she's scared or something to show a little skin', she retorted and I could feel the rage slowly building up inside. 'Omi don't, it's not worth it', said Nadia quietly but I ignored her.

'Show a little skin? Like you?', I asked calmly and looked her up and down. Jane was her name and she wore a plunging blouse with distressed jeans which looked more like they had been mauled by a bear. In fact, she was the only person in class who wore that kind of clothes while everyone else looked like they just rolled out of bed and pulled a sweater over their head.

I watched as Jane's mouth twitched because almost everyone in the class was looking at her as if she were crazy. 'You're the one who's uptight Jane. You basically just said the worst thing to a person who respects her religion and from where I or anyone here comes from, it's called being racist', I said and everyone chimed in.

When I looked at her, I realized that she was now scared because she would have a lot to lose if any word of this reached the Advisor.

'So, Jane, shall we all come to the agreement that you're a racist student who should be immediately expelled?', asked a voice from behind. I turned my head and there he stood with his hand on top of a bench to support his weight as he leaned against it.

There's this certain power that beautiful people have. It's like whatever they do, tends to be admired with great awe so it earned him the crowd support and Jane turned red from being told off by a gorgeous human being.

'I think you owe Nadia an apology', I said and everyone chimed in.

'What is wrong with you people? All I did was comment on her clothes!', she exclaimed.

'No, you insulted her. You can't just go around forcing your ideals on people, especially when it's in the form of being a bully. Show some skin it seems, because you look like you've been attacked by a bear', he said with a voice that silenced the entire class.

'Fine! I'm sorry!', she exclaimed with a scowl.

'Oh that doesn't sound like you're sorry', I said and everyone started to boo at Jane. I couldn't believe what was happening and I was struggling to keep a straight face but sea glass eyes looked like he was enjoying every minute of it.

'I'm sorry, okay. I really am and I won't do it again', she finally said and I could tell she meant it because she looked so ashamed that it made me feel bad but bullies had to be taught a lesson.

'Apology accepted', replied Nadia and with that Jane ran out of the room.

'Did you really have to do that Omi?', asked Nadia with a worried expression. 'Oh she caught me at the wrong time and besides you couldn't have stopped me. Also, it's high time you realize that you're not meant to be pushed around like that because contrary to what you think, it is worth it', I said.

Nadia smiled and then hugged me. 'Thank you, Omi', she said and I smiled as I returned the hug.

'Ahem', interrupted a voice and we both turned to find sea-glass eyes looking at us.

'You are the girl who I met at the shop yesterday, right?'

That earned me a look from Nadia.

'Uh, yeah', I said quickly.

'Great because I wasn't so sure when you didn't recognize me yesterday and then today after that debacle...', he trailed off.

'You never told me this story' said Nadia and I gave her a warning look as I noticed he looked amused but she ignored me and continued to thank him for standing on her side.

'Yeah thanks ', I said and he smiled with a small shrug, 'It was the right thing to do', he added and it was followed by an awkward long pause.

'I have to get to class, I'll meet you later, Omi', said Nadia with a sneaky smile.

'But I thought you needed help with the assignment!', I called after her but she was long gone, leaving us both at the doorway.

'So, where are you headed?', he asked

It was then that I noticed he had a faint British accent or was I imagining it. I mean you can't just get all of those qualities in one person, that's not normal.

'I thought I knew a minute ago but it went along with Nadia', I said and he chuckled.

'What's your next class?', he asked.

'History but it's a free period so I was going to spend it at the library', I said.

'Oh, I was headed there too, mind if I join?', he asked and to calm down my complicated thoughts I replied with a simple no.

'I didn't get your name yesterday although I overheard someone call you, Salome', he said as he walked beside me.

'Yeah, Salome', I replied and watched as his face twisted a bit before he asked, 'You're from India right?',

'Yes'

'So did your parents name you Salome because you're a Christian?', he asked and I looked at him confused.

'Don't get me wrong. I have quite a diverse group of friends and most of them are Indians so we all love to talk about culture. Am I boring you?', he asked suddenly and looked at me as if he were trying to read my expression.

'No! I'm actually curious. It's not every day you meet someone who's interested in culture', I said and his light bulb smile reappeared.

'Yes well, they told me that Indian parents normally name their child according to their religion. It came up when they were making fun of the ' what's your Indian name' thing', he said and I smiled.

'Yeah, they're right. And then again there are some parents who quote Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet while naming their kid and it's quite amusing to see elderly people look so shocked when they hear a Hindu name on a Christian or any way around', I said and it brought back a memory but pushed it back to where it came from.

'It's quite something to know how much weight a name could have or its impact', he said and I nodded.

'Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Ethan', he said and I faltered in my tracks.

'Are you okay?', he asked pausing but it sounded like a blur because my heart rate was increasing.

It's just a name Omi, it's just a stupid name- NO IT'S NOT SOME STUPID NAME!

'I have to go', I said without looking at him.

'Go where? Do you need help?', he asked concerned.

'No, I just remembered that I left my phone in class', I said looking for a way out and noticed that his eyes were fixed on my hand which held my phone and I mentally face palmed myself.

'Okay then, I'll see you around', he said with a small nod and walked away.

I immediately went into the empty classroom next to m and I tried to calm myself down as the memory I pushed back came charging back in.

'How on earth is your middle name Ethan?'

'My Mom knew an Ethan and she wanted it to be a part of my name', replied Karthick, my best friend in the entire world.

'Weird', I stated.

'As if calling a Christian 'OM'-i isn't weird enough', he shot back and we started to laugh.

'We have weird parents', I said.

'Right on', he replied.

The memory ended with a single tear but I quickly wiped it away before it invited the rest of its teammates for an encore.

I took a deep breath and started to count the number of bricks on the wall to calm myself down only to have my eyes fall on a poster that read,

'What's in a name?'

Oh for the love of God and I quickly exited the room.