4. The Training

I went out of the booth room and then made my way up through upstairs. I really hope I get the wings quickly so I do not have to climb these stairs anymore. I can just fly and reach the room. Damn these wings will make me lazy. Anyways I will not gain weight now. That's a good thing. I giggled.

I came to the big gallery. "Great! How will I remember my room? This gallery contains around 100 rooms." I wondered

Then I noticed there is a white light reflection showing me a path. I followed the path and then in a few minutes, I was in front of the room where I was before.

I came inside the room and then went to my cupboard to select an outfit to change into something comfortable.

I spotted a white tracksuit. This will be perfect. I changed into sportswear. I really need a clock to know the time.

Suddenly I heard a noise, more like a speaker "You have 4 more minutes to reach the hallway."

I rushed immediately out and reached the hallway sweating and panting. Sam was already there.

Sam: "You are 30 seconds late."

Seriously? This guy is insane. Who counts seconds? Come on.

"Sorry but I have to walk here unlike you who have wings and can fly and reach fast" I gave a sassy response.

Sam rolled his eyes.

Sam: "Let start with 1st lesson. For that, we need to go to the garden. Follow me."

We walked from the hallway to one corner and this lead to a gallery and there was a door at the end. The door leads to a beautiful lush green garden. There were flowers and fruits everywhere in different beautiful shapes and colors. They all were glowing like emerald and ruby. The garden had an amazing scent.

Casie: "Wow I haven't seen anything so beautiful. It's a scenic beauty."

I was dazzled and mesmerized for a few seconds. Suddenly a voice hit me.

Sam: "As an angel, it is very important to remain calm and cheerful. We will work on your patience aspects today. I want you to talk the flowers".

Casie: "What? Do I look like an idiot to you who will talk to flowers when I know they cannot hear me? I might be a girl who talks to herself by looking in the mirror but that doesn't mean I am so stupid to talk to flower in an open garden."

"Excuse me miss." I heard a tiny sound. I know this is definitely not Sam's voice. I looked here and there and then a few steps away at the bottom I saw a red-colored flower. I noticed it had eyes, nose, mouth.

Casie: "O my god you have face and you are talking?"

Flower: "Of course miss I have a damn beautiful face as you can see and I can see, hear, talk and sense you."

Casie; "That's amazing. Umm, what's your name?"

Flower: "I am Rosy."

Casie: "Glad to meet you Rosy. You are so soft, delicate, and beautiful?"

Flower 2: "What about me?"

I heard another tiny voice.

Rosy: "Sunny grow up. Everyone knows Yellow is so loud color. I am more beautiful than you."

Sunny: "Who the hell you think you are Rosy. You are so red. However, I am so bright. Also, I have petals bigger than yours. I am better than you."

Cherry fruit: "You stupid flowers think you are a wonderful and beautiful creature. We are the real gems. We shine like diamonds with the rays of the sun."

Strawberry Fruit:" Absolutely we fruits are damn gorgeous compared to you flowers."

Casie: "Guys I think you all are so beautiful and unique in your own way. There is no comparison of who is better as all of you are best."

All flowers and fruits cheered happily.

Sam: "Amazing I am impressed that you treat everyone equally without been partial but during our tasks we need to make sure that you maintain this calmness and cheerful nature. Let's proceed further."

As we move ahead there were few angels sitting on chairs and there was an angel in her late 50s who was teaching them something.

Senior Angel: "Remember student when you go to the human world to help a depressed person, you have to show them how beautiful life is. You can do that by giving them a vision of their dream or by putting thoughts in their mind. The aim is to convert the negativity of the mind into positivity. Life is a very precious gift of god and should be used judiciously for constructive purposes. "

Casie: "That is so deep, right, and meaningful."

Sam: "Yeah. She is the wisest angels of this kingdom."

Casie: "Yes she has to be. As the most arrogant one is walking beside me."

Sam rolled his eyes "Let's move ahead kiddo."

Suddenly we came near a pond.

Casie: "Hey do you know swimming? Do angels swim? Doesn't your wings get wet? I wonder  how do you fly than with wet wings...."

Sam(annoyed): "Yes I know swimming and no my wings don't get wet and I can fly after swimming."

Casie: "Like an angel, you should always be calm and composed Sam."

Sam: "I was really calm and composed before I met you. You kiddo really know how to get on my nerves."

Casie: "I swear if you call me kiddo again I will put you in water."

Sam: "That's not what angels do."

Casie: "As if I care."

Sam: "If you don't stop the childish attitude you will never get the wings. Let's focus on training."

I stood there shocked and suddenly quiet. He is right. I need my wings. I want to fly and feel the sky.

Casie: "What are we doing near the lake?"

Sam: "This is your first lesson. You have to swim in the pond. There is a crocodile in the pond who is known as Lucky. You have to convince him to allow you to swim."

Casie: "Wait. Did you just say that I have to swim in a lake where there is a crocodile? Stupid it will eat me and why do I have to convince him for his permission?"

Sam:" You are already dead Kiddo. He can't eat you. He is a lake king. He will throw you instantly out of the water if you go without his permission and how much it will hurt you don't want to know."

Casie: "Looks like someone has already tried going in without permission. "I chuckled.

Sam gave me an angry look.

Casie: "Will I get a bruise?"

Sam: "Casie we are angels. We can physically feel the pain within us. We do not get bruises or blood clots."

Casie: "Ok I will try."

I sighed and then shouted

"Hey, Lucky are you there? I am Casie. I want to talk to you."

Suddenly I saw a green-colored crocodile came from up on the surface of the water. It looked like he has just woken up from sleep.

Lucky: "Hey who are you and what do you want dressy."

Sam burst into laughter "Dressy...This is hilarious."

Casie:" It's Casie not dressy" I replied angrily

Lucky: "Whatever. Who are you?"

Casie: "I am an angel."

Lucky started laughing loudly "An angel without wings and named dressy. Its joke of the day."

Casie: "Hahaha a talking crocodile without many scales and long tail. It's hilarious."

Lucky becomes serious. "What do you want dressy?"

Casie: "I want you to allow me to swim in the pond"

Lucky: "Why should I allow you. You just called me a talking crocodile and without scale"

Casie: "You called with an angel without wings and renamed me dressy. Stop being clumsy now. I know you want me to swim in the pond. It will be fun for you to watch an angel swim who doesn't have wings. Also, I know how much you hate been here arguing with me. You really want to enjoy your sleep a little more."

Lucky; "Alright I will allow you to swim only because I want to go for my afternoon nap and you didn't give me any funny name.

Casie: "Thank You Lucky. I really am thankful and you are one of the most beautiful crocodiles I have seen till now. Have a good sleep"

Lucky is flattered. "Ok cool. Bye Dressy"

I guess the name is going to be dressy now onward around Lucky

Casie: "So Sam. What do you think?"

Sam:" You are clumsy but smart. You convinced him pretty well. But this is just the start kiddo. Don't flatter yourself. Let's move to the next destination."

Casie: "Hey we haven't swum yet."

Sam: "Alright but only 10 mins !"

Casie" "Are you not gonna join me??"

Sam gave me a blunt look.

Casie(sassy response): "Ok I get it. Waste your 10 minutes loser."

After 10 minutes of a swim in the pond, I felt so relaxed. Swimming was one of my favorite sports in school. I loved swimming.

I went into the lake and started swimming in butterfly stroke and freestyle.

After 10 minutes, I came out of the lake and walked in Sam's direction.

I saw Sam talking to one of the angels nearby. The angel was beautiful with gold-colored skin, light brown silky, shiny hair, oval wide grey eyes, sharp nose, and small heart-shaped lips.

Could she be Sam's girlfriend? I wondered.

Sam: "O Casie you are here. Meet one of my best friends Eva and Eva this is Casie.. Umm, she is new here and I am helping her to get settled."

Eva: "Hey Casie. Glad to meet you. I can see you still don't have wings so you must be going through your training and tests. Try hard and all the best for the training."

Casie: "Thanks Eva. Glad to meet you too"

Eva seems sweet but still, a sense of jealousy hit me. what was she talking about with Sam? By their expressions and body language, I can say they are close.

Sam: "Let's go Casie. We need to go for your next assignment."

Casie: "Ok where are we going?"

Sam: "We are going to the lobby area. "

Casie: "You mean where there is a beautiful fountain in front of the big gate and all hot girls and guys hang around and chit chat?"

Sam: "Yes it's the kingdom lobby area.  You are an angel now so get used to it. But what do you mean by hot guys and girls? Why you were checking out other angels?'

Casie: "Hey I am a girl and what's wrong with checking out hot guys?"

Sam: "Whatever"

Casie: "By the way is she your girlfriend?"

Sam: "What? who?"

Casie: "Eva?"

Sam: "Casie for god sake. This is not a school where teenagers have crushes and boyfriend and casual flings. It's angels world. It's about love. We are a symbol of love and purity"

He dodged my question quite smartly.

Casie; "So why we are going to the front lobby area?"

Sam: "To meet other angels."

"And why we are meeting other angels," I asked

Sam: "Angels also have their own set of problems. We will talk to them, understand their problem and you will suggest solutions for them."

Casie:" As an angel are they not suppose to solve their own problems?"

Sam: "That's right but every angel has a different mind, different way of dealing, and solving problems. We are going to see if we have better solutions to their problem."

"Alright," I said

Within 10 minutes we came into the lobby area. We saw an angel sitting beside the fountain alone.

Sam:" Hey Cristina. what's up. This is Casie. she is new here. Where have you been and why are you looking so sad"

Cristina:" Hi Sam, Hello Casie. I am feeling depressed. I am most of the time in my room. It's just that I am missing my college friends. I miss our picnics, conversations, fun time. I can go on earth and see them but this doesn't make me feel any better.

Sam: "I understand your sadness and emptiness. But this is our life now and we have to accept it Casie what do you say. What do you think?"

Casie: "I feel because your friends are away from you and this makes you uncomfortable. Also, I feel You don't spend more time with yourself or indulge in many activities and this makes you anxious and lonely. So you remember your friends and get nostalgic and sad"

Cristina:" You are right. I mostly sit in my room or play music."

Casie: " You should interact with more people and make friends here. you should probably make your bucket list."

Cristina: "You are right. Thanks, Casie for the amazing advice. I will make a list of things that I want to do. See you later Sam and Casie. Bye"

We waved Cristina.

Sam:" Wow that was deep. I didn't expect you to give such wonderful advice"

Casie: "Well you see when I was 3 years, my mom passed away and my dad used to be too busy with his work. So I kind of grew up lonely and so I can relate to what Cristina is feeling like."

Sam: "Oh I am sorry. That's so sad"

Casie: "Hey do you think my mom is here as an angel?"

Sam: "There could be a possibility but also since its long she might be in her next birth cycle as well".

Casie: "You are right. Anyways...So what's the next task now?"

Sam: "Now it's time for you to rest. Tomorrow we are going on earth for your 1st test."