Chapter 5 – De Morte Villas

“Either its castle or grave, the uniqueness of the architect implies the true feelings. I don’t know where I get the inspiration for choosing this course; it was like I have born to design the uniqueness in the buildings which could speak my name.” Mrtyu explained.

“So to become a successful architect you need to focus on everything, think out of the circle you draw and put some effort to master your chosen course.” Mr Alex concluded.

“What a waste of time!” she thought inwardly and replied to him with a fake smile, “oh… Thank you for your time, Mr Alex. I won’t bother you. I won’t disappoint you in the project; I will do my level best to get recognition as an architect.” She added little force in her legs to exit.

“Miss Mrtyu, wait.” Mrtyu halted her legs and waited for him to continue. He asked her, “I saw you admire the portrait? May I know the purpose of your admiration of this portrait?”

Mrtyu knitted her brows and spoke with little hesitations, “Before answering your question, may I know where all these buildings in the portrait were designed by you, Mr Alex?”

Mr Alex nodded positively and waited for Mrtyu to answer his question. She looked at him and thought, “What a weird response!”

Mrtyu titled her head and looked at the portrait and started to explain by getting closer to the portrait, “The building in the portrait has the uniqueness… hmm… combination of four architecture styles…”

Mr Alex wrinkled his forehead muscles and exclaimed, “Four…?”

“Yes, four different architectures for all times.”

“Miss Mrtyu, can you elaborate your explanation?”

Mrtyu nodded and started to explain by pointing the structure in the portrait, “the Corinthian columns simply called pillars denotes the Greek and Roman classical type and the pointed arch, rib vault, flying buttress, majestic outlook denotes the gothic type and these octagonal towers picture the Victorian type and…”

“And there is no last one…” Mr Alex interrupted her.

“No sir, it is there. The elaborated motifs, gilded sculptures and large dome in the middle tell it is baroque style along with windows are placed at the rightful place to the air ventilation even the atmosphere was bad or hot.”

She explained her views and thoughts about the building on the portrait-like she was lecturing Mr Alex. He too listened to her with crossed arms and keen eyes with a head shake.

After a few minutes, Mrtyu completed her views and she asked in return, “Sir, it’s all just my views. Maybe I am wrong in my views.”

Mr Alex shook his head negatively, “I have no objections, Miss Mrtyu. The explanation matches perfectly. No wonder you are an amazing architect of the time. Do you know where this…”

“Oh my god, Sir, I think it was just a painting, is it a real building? Where is it? I love to explore this…” Mrtyu interrupted. “Unless I got a chance to enter inside this building, I can’t say what type they used for interior design. And I am curious to know where this majestic thing is located?”

Mr Alex looked at the portrait and revealed, “Why not? If you wish so… It’s a villa located far away from here.”

“How far…?” Mrtyu asked with curious eyes ignoring the chillness in the environment.

Mr Alex replied, “Very far, it is called as De Morte Villas named after the rich merchant, Hexa De Morte.”

The dark clouds surrounded the clear sky and visible lightning was seen. The thundering was minimally audible to one’s ears. Mrtyu continued while hugging herself due to the cold wind’s arrival, “She must have a great taste to build such an amazing villa.”

“The merchant is not a female.”

“Oh… from the name I thought it was female. Weird name HE got. Is this photo or portrait?”

The drumming sound from the sky warned her and before he could answer her question, Mrtyu interrupted his reply, “Sir, It's time, I must return to my dormitory before the rain hits the ground.” She rolled her eyes and asks permission for her departure.

She pedalled the bicycle hard enough to get back, she felt cold in the atmosphere and, “When I was coming, the sky was clear and the sun was scorching me. When I was about to return, the dark clouds drummed with thunder… I curse you (she pointed to the sky) if you let your drops before I reach my dormitory, I would kill you…” she talked to the sky all her way to her dormitory.

*****

Monday morning,

When Mrtyu entered her classroom, she saw the places switch of her colleagues and understood that they have been seated according to their team project, she spotted Adriana, the most beautiful girl in the department as she was her project lead.

All her colleagues looked at her with humiliating and cursing eyes. According to them, she was just an underrated student to take up the course with them, as they think they were born to be top-rated high-rank holders. People in her class saw her as she was covered with the ugliest thing ever that exists in the world.

Mrtyu was a little happy to see her desk mate, Seyfert seated next to his girlfriend Dmitri who looked at Mrtyu with flaming eyes. But Seyfert beamed with welcoming eyes who gave thumbs up along with a wink.

Mrtyu walked to her seat at the back and she found her name is ridiculed on the desk, Mrtyu Nyfitome, her last name was stroked out and rewritten as a phantom, finally, it said, “Mrtyu Phantom.” Mrtyu looked at everyone and tried to figure out who would do this to her. As she can’t spot as everyone is very enthused to humiliate her.

On their discussion, Adriana stood on the desk with her heels on, “Friends, since it is our final year and we are going to end up as professional architects spreading over the world, I have a spooky-dooky idea to enjoy our final year.”

Her team members cheered their project lead with a loud chorus, “All hail Adrey!”

“We get our special permission to ride to the outside world to explore that we are about to project on.” All hailed her again and Adriana gestured to hold their hailing and continued, “On our way home, we are riding into the newly renovated theme park. The happiest news is all our eatery and enjoyments are sponsored by our Ishvakar Academy. I am expecting your presence, so, hold your outings and dating and be present sharp at 7 pm and we will leave by 7.30 pm after our attendance. And we will be accompanied by one of our lecturers.”

Mrtyu stood up with a raised hand, “Can we return by tomorrow night?”

“What’s the hurry, Miss Ugly duckling; do you have any date tomorrow night?” Sycamore, a girl with red-dyed hair turned back and mocked Mrtyu. Her friends who equally dyed their hair in green and blue giggled at her.

Adriana laughed and replied, “All the day comers are willing to stay if our tour prolongs, since you are staying in the Academy dormitory, I hope it won’t be any problem for you?”

Mrtyu maintained her silence and Adriana continued, “As there is no objection, we are on our way to enjoy our final year in the Ishvakar Academy of architecture.” All the students hoorayed and enjoyed exploring the theme park.

*****

Monday night,

The red bus with eye-catchy graffiti designed was parked at the entrance of the Ishvakar Academy. All the girls and boys arrived on time in their casual outfits and paired with each other.

Geeza and Mrtyu arrived on the spot who accompanied them to bid goodbye to Mrtyu. She whispered in Mrtyu’s ears, “Looks like your colleagues are not for the project, it’s like they are going on for a date arranged by our Academy. Look how those boys and girls are tangling each other.”

Mrtyu silenced her, “Shh… Keep quiet, Geez.”

“I told you millionth of times to date a boyfriend, you always turn your deaf ears to me,” Geeza patted on Mrtyu’s head which annoyed her, “What is it, Geez?”

“Who is the handsome man in peach trousers and olive t-shirt? Don’t tell me he is your colleague.” Geeza said with hard exhales.

 Mrtyu looked at the wide-open mouth of Geeza and turned to locate the person she was mentioning, thinking it was Quasar Malgam or Seyfert Broomrape. But it turned out to be none of the people she thought, it was Mr Alex.

Mrtyu heard inhales and exhales from her other female colleagues on seeing Mr Alex in casuals. On seeing Mr Alex, the bus driver in the early 60s greeted him.

Adriana voiced to gather all the students and Mr Alex spoke, “Hello, students. I am the host throughout your ride and this is Cherry Hornworts, an experienced driver who can ride even a vehicle of hell. (All giggled) Hope you will enjoy the ride along with feeding your mind with some useful stuff than enjoyment alone and… get in the bus.”