Ishtar pulled her skirt down just a bit instinctively upon seeing Bala's panties. Ishtar knew that the school skirts were short, but it wasn't until right then that realized how short they were. But before she could get too lost in thought, Bala sat up and asked her question.

Ishtar smiled back, I do have just one sister. My sister is Minerva, and she is my older sister. She is currently studying back in the states in college. I believe she is at Northwestern. I'm trying to remember what her major was but it escapes me at the moment.

"Oh! How nice. I've heard good things about Northwestern. I looked into entering the Medill School of Journalism there." Bala reached over to the nightstand next to her bed and took a bottle of water out of the drawer. "Oh, would you like some? Take one", she said, indicating the other bottles in the drawer.

"Me? I have four siblings, all of them older, and all of them married. I have two sisters, Sasmita, who has two sons, four and one, and Anamitra. My brothers are Rajat, who has a two-year-old daughter, and Jaiveer. As is our family custom, all there marriages were arranged by the parents." Bala opened her bottle and took a sip.

Ishtar smiled as Bala offered her a bottle of water. Thank you, I would like to have some water. Ishtar thought it was nice of Bala to offer her some water. Ishtar reached over and grabbed a bottled water.

They all have such wonderful names. So they were all had arranged marriages? Do you have such an arrangement set up by your parents?

Bala paused a moment. She remembered the first time she told someone about her betrothal. "Yes. I'm betrothed to a nice man in New York City. Our fathers have known each other for years. A few months ago, they came to an agreement and I became betrothed. I'll meet Daivik when I graduate from here."

Bala stopped to make sure Ishatar wasn't shocked by that news. Since she had asked Bala about it, she was more likely to accept Bala's answer. But she remembered the jaw dropping response of the first classmate she had told here and wanted to be sure. "He's five years and two months older than me and works in New York. I don't know what he looks like. From an old Christmas card, I do know what he looked like when he was seven." Bala giggled at that last part. She looked at her new friend to judge how she was taking this news.

Ishtar took a swig of water as she mentally took in the news of Bala's betrothal. I don't if I could marry someone I never met. However, for Bala's family it seemed to work as Bala's nieces and nephews were living testimony to. And if it works, who am I to judge.

As Ishtar moved her bottle from her lips, she smiled. That's wonderful. I am happy for you. Do you two write each other often? Ishtar thought about her own question for a second.

Wait a second, you don't have to answer that straight away yet. I am not doing this right. You get to ask another question before I ask again. Ishtar put her bottle down for a second as she readjusted her legs, putting one leg over the other.

I guess I should also answer my own question. I currently unengaged. Actually, I am not even seeing anyone.

Bala smiled as Ishtar caught herself asking too many questions. "That's ok. I'll go ahead and answer it before I ask you a question. No. We haven't written or communicated in any way. We don't do that until we've physically met. He does have a photo of me while I don't have one of him. Those are the traditions."

Bala lifted her eyes, placed her hand on her chin, and thought for a moment. "Well, let me ask the obvious question. What do you want to get out of Shokushu? What's your major?"

Well, I was sent here by my father for my own protection. Ishtar sighed a bit as thought about the reason she was here. However, she didn't want to bog Bala down with her troubles.

Ishtar took a second to collect herself, a smile came across her face when she began to talk about her hopes and dreams. My major is theater. I am hoping to become a famous actress someday. I am hoping that my classes can help me prepare for that.

Bala thought about Ishtar's saying her father had sent her here for her protection. Bala wanted to find out more about that, but it seemed to cause Ishtar a fair amount of distress. Bala didn't want to add to that distress. She'd drop it for now. But she would try to find out what that meant later, when Ishtar was more comfortable with her new friend.

Instead, Bala concentrated on Ishtar's major. "Oh, how exciting! I love the theatre." Bala actually bounced on her bed at this news. "Have you been in any plays?" Bala stops and laughs, putting her hand over her face as if to hide her embarrassment. "I did the same thing you did. It's your turn to ask a question. Sorry."

Ishtar giggled at Bala last comment, It seems we both bad at this game. But to answer your question, I been in several plays at my previous school. In fact here I am already in a play called Aida here at the school. In addition I am hoping to get a lead role in Romeo & Juliet.

Ishtar smiled, happy that her roommate was interested in the theatre. So what are you majoring here at Shokushu?

"I'm going for a Liberal Arts degree. I want to be a journalist and I basically had two scholastic paths available to reach that goal. Go for a degree in Journalism or go for a degree in Liberal Arts. Both methods have led to some of the most respected journalists in history and today. Some say a general degree is better for overall knowledge. While others say that journalism school is the best because it helps jump start your career. I chose the Liberal Arts path because my favourite journalists took that path."

Bala scrunched her face as she thought of the next question. Her expression brightened as she came up with one. "Aida is an opera isn't it? Do you sing in it? Are you good?"

Ishtar smiled as Bala recognized the play. You are correct, it is a rock opera. I do indeed sing in it. I play the daughter of the pharaoh who is supporting character. Ishtar blushed a little. I do think I am pretty good, but I really don't like to brag. Maybe I can sing for you later and you can judge for yourself.

I guess it is my turn to ask a question. Ishtar immediately held up a finger. I do have one that is related to the last question. You said you have favorite jouranlists, who are your favorite and why?

"Oh, I definitely want to hear you sing. Maybe later you can sing something from the play. And to be fair, I'll dance for you. I was a coryphée in the Greater Pittsburgh Area Junior Ballet Troupe until I came here."

Bala smiled and said, "my favourite journalists are Helen Thomas, Cokie Roberts, Susan Mannella, and Tony Norman. I met the last two while working at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"Mister Nor... Tony is probably my favourite. Not only did he major in something other than journalism, he didn't even hire on at the paper as a writer. He was hired to input letters to the editor and answer phones. He said he would have taken any job there just to work at the paper. He worked there for over a year before he got an assignment as a reporter."

Bala hopped up further on her bed and crossed her legs. She reflexively tucked her skirt down with a smile. "I love the uniforms here", she said out of nowhere. "I've been in Catholic girls' schools my whole life. We always hated our skirts. They were like tents. I never could figure out why boys had fantasy about girls in them. We thought they looked awful. Now these uniforms, boys would love them. It's too bad there aren't any around."

Back from her non sequitur, Bala looked at Ishtar and grinned shyly. "I guess I mean 'do you like our uniforms?'"

Ishtar looked at her uniform. I do like the how they look on us. I especially like the vest, it contrasts well with our blouses. The skirts do provide alot of free leg room, but sometimes I find they can be a bit short. I mean if move in the wrong direction, everyone can see what color panties you are wearing. Other than that they are great uniforms.

Ishtar thought about Bala answer a bit. So Tony was it. It sounds like his was a mentor to you while you were at the paper. I bet you learned alot from him. What do you think was the most important thing he taught you?

"Well, not so much a mentor as an inspiration. While I was an intern there, I talked with any reporter or editor who would spend time with me. Some couldn't be bothered to talk to an intern except to send one out for coffee or to take something down or bring something up from the Archives Room." Bala took a sip of her water.

"I guess the biggest thing I learned from Tony was the importance of working towards a goal. His perseverance paid off. He went for several months without ever having a chance to show them he could write. He would write his own articles of the stories printed in the paper, honing his craft. Until the day he finally saw his first article in print. I never thought I could do that. But today, I think I can. I mean, here I am, thousands of miles from home, halfway across the world, trying to achieve my goal. A couple years ago, I never would have believed I could do that. I know I'll be a big time reporter for a big newspaper some day. I just have to keep working towards that goal."

Bala thought for a moment. "So you want to become a famous actress some day? Well then, what actress is a role model for you?"

Ishtar blushed a little. This going to sound weird coming from me, but I have always admired Audrey Hepburn. She percerved through so much turmoil and grief in her life, to become one of the greatest actress that ever lived. Her performances have always been memorizing. And in spire of that, in spirte of her fame, she always remembered the people who still had a lot of problems in their life, and did her best to help them. I can only hope to be half the person she ever was.

Ishtar looked over some of the books they had accumulated in their studies in the library. So what do you think is the most important thing you have learned on the campus so far?