The upcoming weeks Kathani thrived in her studies. Thanks to Mary's love for literature, Kathani has been reading great books since young age.
She excels in history and science because her Appa never shied away from teaching them to her when he was preparing Karan for Oxford.
Her favourite subject so far was agricultural mathematics. She thinks that this is one subject that even Karan would have faced difficulties but not her.
She didn't get knowledge regarding this from her father or Mary but her Amma's Appa.
Every summer Karan and her would spend time in his lands where he would teach them various things about cultivation, harvest and its trade.
Since India is amongst the world's largest agricultural land her knowledge in this subject is far better than her fellow students especially Anthony Bridgerton who seems to be struggling with this subject very much.
"Bridgerton, tell me the best ratio of wheat crop?" Professor asked one day and she watched Bridgerton taking his time standing up as he looked nervously here and there searching for answer.
From the far corner side Bassett showed him his fingers and Kathani shake her hand because half of his right hand fingers were hidden with Fife's shoulder.
"Seven sir!" Anthony's voice boomed with confidence which soon deflated as everyone started laughing and the Professor started fuming at him.
"Its Ten Bridgerton! Barley is seven and Wheat is ten! I fear for the future of Viscount Bridgerton state and its tenants."
As Professor carried on with his lecture, Kathani noticed Anthony Bridgerton took his seat dejectedly.
Meanwhile her success in the chess club was going so well that for upcoming Autumn tournaments her name was selected in a team along with Henderson, Cho, Smith and Wallace.
Even here Bridgerton was left out because Wallace beat him in the final spot match. "You played well Bridgerton but it was Wallace's day today. Start practicing harder and who knows? you will have better luck for the Winter tournament."
She watched Bridgerton congratulating Wallace with a brave face but his eyes shows pain of defeat.
The truth is she would never feel sorry about Bridgerton struggles if she was not facing one herself.
Until now hiding her secret was the only struggle she had faced but now after two months into team she was dealing with more hurdles to be best in sports while keeping protecting her identity. Both are proving to be difficult to maintain.
At team practice she tried to maintain physical distance and it was easy as Basset and Dorset sat on opposite sides of both as they row in synchronized moves.
The problem she faced is with close proximity she found herself with Bridgerton.
First was the issue of who would sit in front of another. "Sharma you and Dorset will sit in front of Bridgerton and Bassett." She gulps as her eyes fell on Bridgerton who was rolling his shirt sleeves. She was mesmerized by his toned arms and veins.
She suddenly felt hot when their instructor suddenly barks close to her ears. "Sharma what are you waiting for?! Get in the boat!" With dreaded feeling she took her position and since both was small she had to sat between Bridgerton's open legs. This position brings her almost closer to Bridgerton's body.
For the first few laps they were rowing in smooth movement until Bridgerton lean forward and said out loud. "You really smell good Sharma."
In front of them Bassett and Dorset's mouths hung open and she herself was shocked and overwhelmed by his husky voice. A strange heat pool in her belly and she felt the need to leaned back against his body.
"Sharma smells good huh? What are you drinking Bridgerton?!" Basset teased. As Bridgerton stammered in confusion, Kathani got nervous and panicked and in that nervousness her oars lost it sync and soon she started hitting the other three sets of oars.
"What are you doing Sharma?!" Dorset yells as they tried to gain control of the boat.
"Stop rowing!" Basset yells but she was not listening trying to reach the dock as soon as possible.
Suddenly she felt two strong arms around him as Anthony Bridgerton spoke in a commanding voice. Stop rowing."
She couldn't understand why but suddenly her body sagged as her grip on oars loosen. "Now take deep breaths and calm yourself down while Simon and Thomas will row us back to the docks."
While she controlled her breathing she felt Bridgerton lifting their oars so that they wouldn't clash with Bassett and Dorset's oars as they started rowing towards the dock.
By the time they reached the docks the instructor and everyone else were staring at them.
The instructor waited until all four of them were standing in front of him and then he started shouting at them in front of everyone."What the hell! Were you thinking Sharma?! Were you trying to topple your boat? Or planned to drowned your team mates!?"
Kathani flinched as she tried to reply. "No sir, I just lost my control for a few seconds..."
But the instructor cut her off. "Few seconds! if you can't control your movements with just four teams mate then how will you perform with entire team during tournaments!?"
"Sorry sir, I will try to do better in future." She replied with her head hung low.
"You better! If by end of this month I didn't see improvement in you then I wont let you participate in autumn festival and you will be out of this team."
Everyone watched as Sharma flinched but nodded his head as they all were dismissed from today's practice.
As they watched Sharma leave Anthony couldn't help but think it was his fault. Excusing himself he ran after Sharma.
"Sharma! A word please."
He watched as Sharma slowed down as he managed to reach him. "Tough day Sharma but I know it's my fault you loose control on your oars. It just living with men you get used to smell sweat but today during rowing when wind picked up I got sweet flowery smell, Lilly's and soap scent coming from you and it was so pleasant that words were out from my mouth."
Beside him Sharma stiffen for a few seconds before he replied awkwardly. "It was not mine, I got it from a village nearby when I went for visit."
"Why would you pick girls scents?" He asked, perplexed.
"I didn't picked it!" Sharma exclaimed as he looked panicked for a while as he admits. "It was , a, it was my sister who picked it, yes um, she loves Lily and it reminds her of home."
Anthony frowns as he gives him one hard look. "Your sister? I thought your mother and sister lived in India? Isn't that you told in our first day inductions in our orientation class?"
Sharma's eyes momentarily widened as he quickly explains. "Yes my stepmother and little sister Edwina live in India but my, it was, I was talking about my other sister, my twin sister Kathani. She came along with me to London and it is her who is staying in the village and she chose this soap for both of us."
"Your twin sister Kathani? Sharma, you never mentioned her before and are you telling me that your young sister lives here all alone while you are studying here?"
"First of all you are not my friend so I don't owe you any explanation but still for your knowledgeshe is not living alone in village Bridgerton! I never said that!" Sharma replied angrily.
"My sister is staying with my fiancé and her family. You know that clothing shop in village that is my fiancé Genevieve's shop. My sister Kathani is working as her apprentice. Its our plan that they work there until my education is completed and then I will take my father's old job and Kathani and Genevieve will open their shop of clothes where English ladies can buy their clothes. Not all of us our born rich Bridgerton and with my father's death the responsibility is fell on my shoulders and my twin offers to support me so I can have my education. "
It was then Anthony really admires Sharma and his twin sister's devotions towards each other and their family. "I understand Sharma and you are lucky your sister is there to support you. I have lost my father too and if it wasn't for my Auntie and Uncle looking after my family then I would also be unable to concentrate on my education."
Sharma's eyes soften in sympathy as they both stared at each other until he blinks and step back. "I should leave. Um, thank you for helping me out there."
With that he quickly walked away leaving Anthony with this confused feeling that he couldn't comprehend.
Over the next few weeks, Anthony was facing more problems in Agriculture mathematics class.
Kathani, on the other hand, faces lots of problems during rowing practice.
She couldn't understand why Bridgerton is affecting her so much that every time she is near him she loses her concentration.
The only change was the shift between Sharma attitude towards her room/ team mates.
Over the days Simon and Thomas noticed that Sharma was being polite towards them, especially Anthony.
It seems something changed between these two since that first rowing practice.
As the autumn festival and first term examination is about to approach in a few weeks they both were summoned to the Vice Principal office.
Kathani looked weirdly at Bridgerton as he tapped his shoes nervously on the floor while they waited patiently for their turn.
Mr Harold, Vice Principal's assistant peaked outside. "Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. Vice Principal will see you first."
"Best of luck Bridgerton." Kathani told them as he gave a nervous smile. "Thank you."
She watched as he stepped inside and after a few seconds voices from inside reached her ears.
"I am worried for you boy. You are Viscount and soon you will be responsible for your family, your vast state and its tenants. It is worrisome that you are weak in subject that will help you most in future. Your Professor of agriculture mathematics is concerned about your inability to understand basics. We are afraid you are going to be failed in this subject and then we have to pull you out from all your sports activities so you can solely concentrate on your studies."
"No Sir!" Anthony yelps as he panicked. "Sir I assured you I am trying hard."
"Then try harder!" The Vice Principal sighed as he told him in plain words. "Look Bridgerton the first term examination is around the corner. If you passed this subject then I will let you continue with your sports activities but if you fail them you will be out of your teams for the rest of the year."
He then dismissed Anthony and tells him to send Sharma on his way out.
Kathani, who had heard everything stood up as Bridgerton came out of the office looking lost and hopeless.
"He wants to meet you next Sharma."
Kathani watched as instead of leaving he collapsed on the chair next to her and hid his face inside his palms.
She wanted to comfort him but since they are not that close she reluctantly stood up and went inside the office.
In amidst of his failures voices from inside reached Anthony's ears as he listens to their conversation. "Sharma, I think I have stressed to you the importance of sports and teamwork in our last conversation."
"Sir, I have done what you have asked, I got myself selected in two teams and you will be pleased to know that I have been selected in group of chess players to participate in a tournament during the autumn festival."
The Vice Principal gave her a hard look as he told her. "Well Congratulations for thriving in game that will require your own brain instead of working with team. You were smart to choose that sport and I am sure your other choices would also have been singular sports if you were fortunate enough to get into any of those clubs. Am I right?"
Kathani was embarrassed but she didn't get chance to defend herself as he continues. "Besides this meeting is not about that, it's about your performance with your teammates during rowing practice. Your Rowing instructor told me you are brilliant at rowing but when it comes to synchronized with your teammates you become pathetic sportsman ever."
Kathani gulped as the Vice Principal stood up and walked around the desk until he was standing in front of him. "Look Sharma, I really like you and your performance in your subjects is Phenomenal, in fact just next day your Agriculture mathematics professor was thinking about making his assistant. Do you know what honour that will be for you!"
Kathani beamed but then the Vice Principal sighed as he patted her arms. "Sharma, we all expect great things from you but all that will go down in the drain if you are kicked out of your team and sent home because you are unable to perform with team."
"Sir!" She gasped as the Vice president sadly nodded his head. "The rule did not just speak about your selection in two clubs but you have to maintain your place. Your excellence in your subject, your selection in Chess tournament, all that will go in vain if you lose your place in the rowing club. They will send you back to India."
"But sir that's unfair." She cried out.
"I understand my boy but the only way we can let students out of sports team if they are weak in their subjects and since that is not the case with you and you have proved your brilliance as student and individual player all you can do now is be brilliant with playing alongside your team members. You have until this autumn festival time if you want to stay here at this university then start working on your playing with team problem."
With that he resumed his seat and Kathani left with dreaded feeling.
By the time Sharma came out his face looked more hopeless than he was feeling few seconds ago.
He didn't even notice as he start walking with his head hung low.
Kathani was lost in thought when a voice snapped her out of her despairing thoughts. "Sharma wait up."
By the time Anthony reached him, Sharma looked drained as he pleads. "Look Bridgerton I am not in the mood..."
"I want to strike a deal with you!"
They stared at each other both wondering what was going on in the other person mind.
"Deal? What Deal? What are you talking about Bridgerton?"
"Listen, We both got bad news in that office. I had just been told that if I don't improved and passed in Agriculture mathematics by the first term examination then they will take me out from all my sports team for entire year."
"Lucky you." Kathani grumbled and he smiled as he continued.
"I also believe that your future here depends on your improvement in teamwork during rowing practice."
"What's your point Bridgerton!" She snapped impatiently.
"My point is that we can help each other out."
When Sharma stared at him suspiciously he held out his hand in truce. "Here is my deal! You can tutor me to improve my Agriculture mathematics and I will coach you to row with your team member. This way we both will get to keep our positions."
Kathani thought hard because as much his deal sound tempting, her secret is making her hesitant.
"So what's your answer friend?"
"Friend?"
"Well yes, even if we are striking this deal we will only be successful if we do this as friends. So what say you my friend? Deal?" He held out his hand excitedly and then to his surprise Sharma gave him a genuine smile as he reached out to shake his hand. "Its a deal my friend."
In the dark corridor of Oxford university a friendship is formed between these two students.