Hello…Is anyone out there? Is anyone even still reading? Do I even have any readers left? Lol kidding but not really. I know I've been gone a long ass time. If y'all are still here, hey my lovelies! Well it's that time of the year once again, and my goodness what a year it has been. I know people's mental health has been all over the place this year as well, mine definitely has. But I hope everyone is doing okay and staying safe. We're living in some crazy times, but also a time of so many revolutions. A change will definitely come, it has to.

Anyway, here's a one shot that's definitely different from what y'all are expecting. This one is a Divali story, to those of you who don't know what Divali is, it is celebrated by Hindus and also known as the festival of lights. It was celebrated this past Saturday, and I had the idea to write you a Divali one shot in Lissa's POV. I hope you enjoy and I don't know if I have any Hindu readers, but to any Hindu readers that I might have, Divali greetings to y'all! Oh, I know I definitely do have one Hindu reader but I'm not naming names just in case she's not ok with being called out belated Divali greetings to you my dear. If you're reading this you definitely know who you are and I expect a PM!

Anyway…I've talked long enough. I don't own VA! And yes, everything Rose and Lissa learns on this journey is the truth, pm me if you have questions or ask Google lol.

Summary: They are used to all the beautiful things that happens in the fall from Halloween to Thanksgiving, but Lehigh university is about to introduce Rose and Lissa to a whole other culture. Will they be able to take any of this and apply it to their own world? Come along for the ride to find out what beauty they find in the lights.

The beauty of the lights.

One of the most beautiful things about attending a university that wasn't specifically for moroi was that a large part of its population consisted of humans. And yes, some might also say that this was also part of why attending Lehigh university was so challenging. They might say that not only will I have to completely switch to a human schedule, but also adapt and understand that sometimes going out in the sun wasn't going to be avoidable. They might say that I would have to keep most of my identity hidden, and they would not be wrong.

For the most part, I had been able to avoid going out in the sun, what with my excuse of a sun allergy. But of course, I couldn't tell anyone that I was an honest to goodness vampire who was actually the queen of her race and, that the fiery yet beautiful girl they knew to be my best friend was definitely that but also my guardian. I couldn't tell them that she was only one of a few scattered around here to keep me safe from the vampires their parents had told them about as children. Those poor unsuspecting humans had absolutely no idea that those soulless, undead monsters which to them was just a bedtime story meant to scare their kids into behaving, really did exist and, really did pose a real threat. In this case, ignorance really was bliss.

But those people who only saw the challenges did not see that a lot of these humans came from different parts of the world, bringing with them a melting pot of cultures that existed within these walls. Right now, for example, the university was getting ready to honor and celebrate those students who came from India or who were members of the Hindu community. Apparently, Divali, also known as the festival of lights, was approaching soon and, the university was incorporating the celebrations and encouraging their students to take part. I was quite on board, because after this we were all going to have to buckle down for finals.

Rose was sold the second she heard our friends Chandika and Divya talking to some girls about the food, and I was intrigued and curious to learn more about a culture that was so different from mine. So, like the rest of our peers, we had been eagerly awaiting the end of the day, and now that it was here at last, the air seemed to hum with excitement.

"Are you guys ready yet?" Our friend Chandika asked as she knocked on our door.

"Of course not," I said walking over to open the door for her. "When are we ever on time for anything when Rose is involved?" Chandika giggled, but there was no holding back my squeal as I opened the door and caught sight of her.

"Oh, my goodness," I said grinning. Chandika stood there in full traditional dress. "You look so beautiful!"

"Oh," She blushed a bit and giggled some more. "Um. It's just a sari," She said as I stepped aside to let her come inside.

"It might be to you," Rose said. "But Liss is right. You look beautiful."

"Thanks," She said. "Remember when I told you guys we should've gone shopping but you said you were too busy?" I groaned and nodded as Rose rolled her eyes.

"Yes," She said. "And I will forever be grateful to that teacher for giving us that extra assignment." Now it was mine and Chandika's turn to roll our eyes.

"She has got to be the only girl in the world who doesn't like shopping, you know." Chandika complained and I nodded.

"Hey if you had a best friend like her you'd get it," Rose grumbled shooting a pointed look at me and finally slipping on her shoes.

"Hey," I whined, yet again rolling my eyes at her. "I am not that bad and it is not my fault that shopping makes me happy ok?"

"Ok fine." Chandika said, cutting off whatever comeback Rose had opened her mouth to deliver. "That's not the point. Divya and I actually did go shopping, and." As if cued by her words, Divya entered like she owned the place. She looked just as beautiful as Chandika, but unlike Chandika in Divya's hands were 2 shopping bags.

"You did not," I said staring between them.

"We totally did," Divya said grinning. "We couldn't let you both go to this thing in regular clothes," She said by way of justification. "You needed traditional outfits so we got you some."

Fifteen minutes later, because no amount of arguing with these girls was getting us out of this, Rose and I stood in front of the mirror completely awe struck. Rose wore a gorgeous red sari which showed off hints of her tanned stomach and back, the beads and gems which decorated it making it sparkle. Most of her hair fell down her back in its natural waves, but a few strands were held secure in a golden clip. Dangly earrings and bracelets which the girls insisted she wore as well as very light makeup she had already put on completed her look.

As for me, I wore a pink sari which was simpler than Rose's, but I had to admit I absolutely adored it. It was decorated with gold stones and beads which complimented my pail skin perfectly, and the way Chandika and Divya had managed to braid some of my hair and secure it with a million tiny clips which sparkled when they caught the light, made it look like I was wearing a crown. Like Rose, I also wore very light makeup and dangly earrings and bracelets.

"You two look like literal princesses," Chandika said as Divya nodded. I couldn't help but grin at them both.

"Thank you," Rose and I said in unison.

"You're welcome," They said. "Now can we go?" Nodding, Rose and I followed them out, but I didn't miss how Rose somehow managed to hide her stake in the folds of her sari. I was willing to bet that there was another backup stake in her purse and probably several more hidden in her sari as well.

"Holy hell," Rose said looking around in awe. "I have never seen this place look so beautiful." Truth be told, I had to agree. From the second we stepped out of the dorm's lobby; we were greeted with a radiant display of lights. Those curtained-type Christmas lights hung around the doorframe and, strings of fairy lights decorated the trees and plants. But it was the Diyas, tiny earthen pots made from clay, filled with oil and then lit using a cotton wick dipped in oil, which seemed to hold all the magic.

"It's gorgeous," I said as we started to make our way to the venue where all the activity was going to be taking place tonight. Diyas lit our way, lining every path, mixing with the strings of lights that hung from walls and around windows and doors.

"I have to admit," Chandika Said. "I'm impressed. They really went all out this year." Divya nodded, both of them looking radiant. As for me, walking into the hall and finding more lights inside even though the doors both at the front and back of the hall were open, seemed to fill everything with this peaceful warmth I could not explain. But as I looked at Rose who I knew assessed everything the second we entered; I knew she felt it too.

As we took our seats with the rest of our friends, I saw Rose give an almost imperceptible nod to guardians Drake and Austin who stood at the doors blending in with the university's own security. I watched as they nodded back and, for the next hour/hour and a half, I felt like I had been transported to some other place. There were a number of cultural performances, Indian dances both Bollywood and classical, different genres of music and song, and a play which depicted the story of Lord Rama, one of the Gods of the Hindu Pantheon. It told of his 14-year exile into the forest and his battle and triumphant defeat against an evil king who had kidnapped his wife Sita. It told of how when the 14 years had ended, his subjects lit the way home for their king and queen using the same diyas Hindus used today.

We also learned about the Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity and how she was also worshipped on Divali. Not only was she worshipped as the goddess of wealth, but she was also the goddess of light. Divali symbolized the triumph of good over evil-Rama defeating the evil king Rawan, and celebrated Lakshmi, the goddess of light as Divali was the darkest night of the year. But with the way the place was lit up tonight, no one would have ever guessed it.

"Damn," Rose said after the program had ended. "We should go visit India, Liss."

"It's the food isn't it?" I asked with a giggle.

"It's definitely the food," She said grinning and patting her full stomach. "And all of these delectable sweets." I laughed, but I had to agree. After all, we had been treated to some of that amazing food and sweets tonight. And Rose did have a point. It was all amazing so much so that it could almost put Christian and Dimitri to shame.

"We've got one more thing for you guys to try," Divya said when Rose and I had finished getting henna designs on our hands.

"Oh no," Rose said. "That grin spells trouble."

"Well…Just come with me." We followed her out of the hall and back to our room where Chandika waited with some other girls.

"It's about time," She said handing Rose and I each a glass. "This is a drink made back home," She said but her smile and the gleeful look I saw in her aura put me on edge.

"Ugh," I said. "We're going to live to regret this aren't we?"

"Maybe," Chandika said. "Because it's got Cannabis in it."

"It's got what now?" Rose asked. "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely serious," Divya said. "This is bhang lassi. It's usually served on Holi. Do you guys want to try it?"

"Why are you even asking them?" Chandika asked giggling. "This is college. Lighten up and do something crazy for a change."

"Oh, hell yes," Rose said and I hesitated, but I watched Rose scan the room and remembered the guardian we had passed on the way up and nodded. I knew Rose would only agree to this if she knew there were guardians around who could cover her if anything went wrong. I knew she wouldn't jeopardize my safety otherwise. Chandika grinned and filled up our glasses.

"Wow," I said as I took my first sip. It was sweet and cold and really refreshing. It was like a milkshake or maybe smoothie was a better term due to the burst of spices and pieces of mango I could taste. I couldn't help wanting to drink more. And as I looked over at Rose, at the grin that came over her face as she too took her first few sips, I knew she felt like I did.

"Easy," Divya said. "I know you guys can't taste it, but there really is weed in there."

Three glasses and thirty minutes later, I figured out exactly what she was talking about. I was also really happy that I was already sitting on my bed, because I thought I might fall on my ass if I had to go anywhere. But even as the effects set in, even as my body and mind relaxed and a feeling of calm filled me, I couldn't help but reflect on everything I had learned. I couldn't help but think of how even in our world, light really did triumph over evil.

The silver stake charmed with all four elements was the weapon of choice against strigoi, but the sun's rays were lethal to them, too. Firelight terrified them because like the sun, it too could kill them. Spirit could restore strigoi because the magic was color and life and warmth, but at its core it was light. And if the magic in the wards kept them out, I could not help but wonder what strengthening the wards with spirit would do.

I knew this was something I had to take back to court, but I wasn't sure yet how I could incorporate this into an entirely different culture, hell an entirely different species. But one thing was for sure, I was definitely going to take some aspect of this back to my people. That was the last thing I remembered before I succumbed to the bhang's effect and slowly fell asleep.

Well guys, thoughts? I know this one is a little okay a lot different from what you're used to getting from me this time of year, but I hope y'all didn't mind so much! I hope I taught somebody something or at the very least someone thought that learning about other cultures is cool lol. Leave me your thoughts in the reviews! I'll be back hopefully soon with a Thanksgiving one shot which will definitely include the rest of the gang! And as always, feel free to send in prompts you'd like to see. Hell, if there're any authors out there who would like to write one of these with me feel free to let me know!

XXX

Roza