Discuss the atmosphere as depicted in the page?

A ripple of laughter ran from one corner of the room to the other . The oppressive air of discipline that swirled in with latikas entry. Suddenly drained out, karimuddin was a servant in the hostel, stories of his laziness and shirking had been circulating among generations of students. Latika suddenly remembered something. Holding up her lamp she ran her eyes over the room. The girls sat in a circle, huddled against each other. Familiar faces all, but in the lamps pale light it was seeing them for the first time.