Everybody's story...

(written on the occasion of convocation day function)

As in any official function, our college graduation day programme too concluded with Indian national anthem, sung by a ‘DVD player’. I don’t know how many proud engineers present there, know to sing ‘Jana Gana Mana’ (I googled, Jana gana mana, as I wrote the above line).  After 52 seconds, my eyes ran through the certificate, which certified me as an engineer. I thought whether the person who certified us as engineers would dare enough to let us, to engineer the construction of his house? Or to fix the trouble in his SUV?  Or invest on us to start a software firm? I laughed at myself and left the convocation hall.

                As I strolled out of the Murugappa hall (convocation hall), I could feel an air of mixed emotions. I could see loads of FB profile pictures in making. Graduates taking photos with friends and families, photos with borrowed medals, weird poses, I guess the black robe gives an intellectual stimulus to anybody who wears. Happy parents looking at their child’s certificate with pride drenched face, friends introducing their families to each other, some guys taking a longing look at their college day crushes and still hesitant to talk. Guys and girls searching their friends, whom they missed out to meet. Small small gatherings everywhere around with loads of laughter and joy. Nobody will believe, if I say that we were total strangers just four years back.

                Its hard to believe that, time has such a power in bringing people together.  Nearly five years back, every friends, crushes, lovers, and enemies present today, were just total strangers, drooling randomly at each other looking for someone they don’t know. It is the first and last day when we treated each others with utmost respect. Parents with heavy heart left their child in hostel half-hearted.

                Those where the days when we took notes in class and series tests had full attendance.  The days when we struggled with standard author books, the days when we feared punishments, the days when we wrote leave letters, the days when we waited for Fridays. The days were seniors seemed frightening.

                Later came the days when we mingled. Names turned into nick names and mock names, so that we forgot the real names of some friends too.  The days passed when we used five notes for five subjects, and came the days were one small LIC diary is enough for a whole semester. Attending series tests became achievements. Seniors were no more frightening. Lab sessions were mostly spent experimenting on friends (batch mates) rather than apparatus. “Why were you absent?” turned into “Are you this class?” Punishments became entertainment and funny.  Standard author texts books turned into local author Xerox. Parents were waiting for Fridays to meet us, after long breaks. Semester holidays seemed boring.

                Unfinished assignments, self signed records, arrears, revaluation, Sunday outings, late night movies, messaging in class room, late night nuttings, e recharges, unplanned mass bunks, exam night tea, wearing friend’s clothes, college petty shop, tea stall, canteen, water doctor, college bus stop, watch man,  bench scribbling and etchings, sleeping in class, first year class, verandah meetings, gym, EEE labs, CS mams, first love, lost love, unproposed love, college walls and roads with infinite memories.

                A light drizzle brought me back to my sense. I could see parents leaving with filled heart, and their children with half and heavy heart.