The first week of oxford was time to settle down in this new atmosphere. To understand the layout of vast buildings, to memories ways to classrooms and to decide which sports team you will be joining for the duration of your stay.

They were allowed to send weekly letters and post them by Saturday. Like every other student Anthony also wrote letters to his family.

Most of his letters were just about informing his is faring well and about choosing boxing, fencing, rowing and chess club for his sports activities.

The only detailed letter he wrote was to his uncle George as he shared his first week experience in that letter.

Even while writing it he felt wave of guilt and sadness. This letter was supposed to belong to his father but now he can never write to him.

Dear Uncle

I hope you and Aunt Poppy are faring well and I also hope that you both are not facing any kind of problems managing family and other matters that are my responsibility.

You will be happy to know that I have settled down at Oxford and having Simon as my roommate made things even easier for me.

The teachers here are decent and few are strict. The subjects I have chosen are so far easier to understand but I am having a problem with agriculture mathematics studies but I am sure over time I will get better at it too.

You will be happy to know that I have joined fencing, boxing, chess and rowing clubs just like you and father have in your oxford days. We are still two players short but soon we will start our rowing practice which I am looking most forward too.

We have decent accommodation and are allowed to leave but have to return back to our rooms by twenty-one hour otherwise gates will be closed on us.

Apart from Simon I am sharing a room with two more guys. One is an old classmate from Eton days, Thomas Dorset. Dorset is studying medicine so we don't share many classes except English. He is also in rowing team with Simon and I so at least there we will spend time.

The other roommate is Karan Sharma, a fellow from India and I swear he is the most peculiar person I have ever met in my life. Sharma has established from the beginning that he prefers to stay alone and wants nothing to do with our company. At first we thought there was some problem with us but in a week we figured out that problem is with him because he likes to stay alone. He has no friends nor he made efforts to make one. It is not like anyone has not approached him because on the very first day in all our classes (Yes Sharma and I share the same classes) He established what a brilliant student he is. In just one day he became favorite of our teachers. Always first to raised his hands and always giving correct answers. Many of our classmates tried to befriend this genius but Sharma had told them in plain words that he is here to study not form friendship of any kind. Seriously Uncle how will he plan to stay four years away from home in a foreign country without any friends baffles my mind. Anyway he is not my problem. if he thinks of himself too high and mighty then good for him. I am happy staying away from him and spending my time with Simon, Dorset and other guys.

Sorry uncle I will stop venting about Peculiar Sharma and end my letter in hope of going through with first term soon so I can return home.

Please send me ledgers by end of month and keep me updated with news of family and tenants.

Give my love to aunt Poppy and tell him to take care of mother and children and not worry about me.

Your nephew

Anthony.

As soon the letter was finished he picked it up along with his other letters and went out to post them.

He was returning from the campus post office when he saw Sharma with the Vice Principal and it seemed like Sharma was being reprimanded.

Feeling curious, he stepped beside the closest pillar to eavesdrop on them.

"But sir, I have travelled all this way to learn to study at one of the most prestigious and respectable universities in the world and now I am being told that just focusing on my subjects is not enough! That it won't get me my degree?! With all due respect sir, I think I could utilize my time much better in learning rather than wasting it on sports that I have no interest nor use in my future."

"Bad move Sharma." Anthony whispered to himself with a grin on his face because just as he thought the Vice Principal (Who was also known to some as sportsman legend) burst in anger. "Sports build character of and upstanding man in society Sharma! So I suggest for your own good that you participate in at least two sports."

"But Sir!" Sharma was about to begin to protest when the Vice Principal gave him a hard look. "No excuses Sharma! You are good with books and your subjects but here we do not just molds great minds but people with great personality too and that's why participating in sports is compulsory. So with that being said you have one week to get selected in at least two sports clubs otherwise you will pack your bags and go back to India!"

Anthony didn't waited to see disappointed look on Sharma face as he gleefully ran towards his room to give the good news to Simon and Dorset.

"Friends! Great news by the time next week this room will belong to three of us."

"Why? The faculty is giving their favorite student his own room?" Simon ask while drinking from his flask.

"No, in fact there is high chance our roommate will be kicked out because of his lonesome ways." Anthony replied, making them frown at him as Dorset asked. "Why? What happened?"

So he quickly fills them in with the heated conversation he has just witnessed between Sharma and the Vice Principal.

Once he was finished filling them in with his great news, like him both of his roommates looked happy with this prospect.

"Sharma would never get selected in any team. He could never work with a team and because of his attitude the students loathes him too much to play with him."

While Simon agreed with Anthony, Dorset looked troubled with some thought. "He is bright enough to get in chess club and since there is no playing in team he will thrive in that game."

As Anthony frowned at that possibility, Simon looked completely unbothered by it, as he points one important fact out to his friends. "That's one club and Vice Principal told him to at least join two and thanks to our lonesome friend's delay the only two other sports that will not require to play in teams are already filled up."

"Boxing and Fencing!" Anthony yells out excitedly. "Which left him with cricket and rowing clubs and since first years are not allowed in cricket team that will leave him with."

"Rowing Club." Simon and Dorset concluded together.

The three of them are now even more excited about the high possibility of getting rid of Mr Boring, Peculiar Karan Sharma.

Finally Simon took out his hidden Whiskey bottle and poured it into three glasses. They all grabbed one and raised it in the air as Anthony made toast.

"Farewell Karan Sharma. You will not be missed!"

"Cheers!"

As they were celebrating they didn't noticed they have been clearly heard by their roommate who has tears falling for her eyes as she promise herself.

"You will see Viscount Anthony Bridgerton! I will get selected in two teams and I will be the best sportsman this university has ever seen!"