The quick flight to Delhi was a breeze, thanks again to Eva's faultless "logistics." After settling into their five-star hotel, the group was ready for a day of monument viewing, which required an early, dark start to beat the crowds, especially for their most anticipated stop.
The buses took the friends out of Delhi and across the Yamuna River to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Even Emerald, with Zinan's ancient, jaded soul whispering critiques about structural load distribution, was stunned by the sight of the gleaming white marble structure rising majestically against the morning sky.
Eva, radiant in the soft light, gathered the students. "The Taj Mahal is perhaps the single greatest monument to love ever constructed. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, it represents absolute symmetry, devotion, and extravagance."
"Extravagance is an understatement," Emerald muttered to Ananthu. "He basically spent the GDP of a small kingdom on a tomb."
"Yeah, but what a tomb!" Ananthu sighed dreamily. "Imagine being loved that much."
Eva overheard this and smiled wryly at Emerald. "Indeed, Ananthu. But remember, the architects who designed this perfect symmetry were probably paid minimum wage, and the Emperor eventually got overthrown by his son. The devotion is often more complex than the marble suggests."
This sparked immediate sarcasm among the friends.
"See, Karthik, this is proof that if you love your wife enough, she won't nag you about the dirty dishes for like, five centuries," Goutham joked.
"I bet the Emperor was actually relieved," Shanie whispered to Emerald. "He finally got the house all to himself, and a quiet moment to read without her asking what he was thinking."
Eva, meanwhile, was focused on the biggest challenge: getting a usable group photo.
"Students! We need to capture the symmetrical beauty of this wonder!" Eva commanded. "And no one, no one, is allowed to take a picture that looks like they are pinching the spire. That is a logistical failure!"
Karthik, naturally, immediately attempted the pinch pose, resulting in Eva physically repositioning his arm, drawing huge laughs from the rest of the group.
Back in Delhi, their second stop was the soaring Qutb Minar. Eva explained the history of conquest and adaptation embodied in the structure.
Emerald found himself gazing at the famous Iron Pillar nearby—a 4th-century engineering marvel that refuses to rust.
Eva, spotting his thoughtful pose, walked over. "What deep philosophical thought is Emerald bin Mortaza having about metallurgy today?" she teased, knowing his friends believed her to be his extremely knowledgeable German cousin.
"I'm thinking about persistence, Eva," Emerald said, careful to keep his voice light. "That pillar has withstood fifteen centuries of weather. It's like, a physical version of Ananthu's willpower when there's an all-you-can-eat buffet."
"The best compliment I've ever received!" Ananthu declared, walking up with Shanie.
"I just see a lot of old, angry stone," Shanie remarked, looking at the Qutb complex. "Every block represents someone conquering someone else. It's a lot of drama."
Eva stepped in, tapping Emerald lightly on the arm. "It's history, yes. But it's also a lesson in adaptation. The Minar was built on the ruins of older temples, showing that even the greatest conquerors reuse and reinvent the past. It's the ultimate recycling project."
"Speaking of recycling," Goutham said, joining them. "Emerald, we need a photo of you looking up at the Minar. Your white hair against the red sandstone is epic. It's like you built this place last week."
"Yeah, Eva, teach him the best lighting for his 'ancient artifact' look," Karthik urged.
Eva, suppressing a genuine laugh at the unintentional truth in the comment, grabbed Emerald's phone. "Fine. Stand here. Look up, but tilt your head slightly to emphasize the high contrast. Logistical Rule #37: Always utilize natural light sources for maximum dramatic effect."
Their final stop was the peaceful Humayun's Tomb. The beautiful symmetry instantly relaxed the group.
While Eva explained the significance of the Persian architecture—a tomb built out of devotion and legacy—the friends were busy setting up a low-stakes prank.
"I bet you fifty bucks I can get Eva to talk about the Mughal drainage system," Nihal whispered to Albi.
Albi took the bait. "Deal! But you have to bring up the plumbing from the 16th century."
Nihal instantly interrupted Eva's speech on the tomb's perfect geometry: "Eva, I love the symmetry, but what about the practical engineering? How did the Mughal plumbers manage the sewage system here? Was it a high-grade jal prabandhan system?"
Eva paused, clearly amused by the pivot from philosophy to plumbing. "That's an excellent, if unexpected, question, Nihal! The Mughals utilized advanced terracotta pipe systems for drainage and cooling. They understood hydraulics surprisingly well. They were, in fact, incredibly clean."
Nihal immediately claimed his fifty dollars from Albi.
Eva stepped in, shaking her head. "Hold on! While Nihal successfully redirected the conversation, the real topic was legacy! Therefore, Albi, you only have to pay Nihal twenty-five dollars. The remaining twenty-five goes to me for emotional damages resulting from the sudden switch from poetry to pipes."
The friends howled with laughter at Eva's impartial, high-stakes ruling, cementing her status not just as their guide, but as the fun, strict, and quick-witted referee of the trip. Emerald watched his friends interact with the vampire coordinator, who was now one of them, and for the first time in months, he truly felt light.
(To be continued)