No more classes, no more exams, no more boring lectures. But, didn't that also mean no more hanging out with friends, no more friendly ribbing and banter, no more bunking classes together, no more midnight Counter Strike sessions?
It was the last day of classes in the academic year 2015-16, and oh what a day it was! The fact that only exams stood between me and the train home wasn’t all that made me happy, the chance I would soon get to study a vast range of human emotions lent an edge of anticipation to my joy. Farewells do tend to bring out all of one’s suppressed, subconcious feelings you see.
In class, while acting out a part of our most successful skit, I realized that I quite enjoyed shedding my inhibitions and playing the fool to make people smile. I will never forget my surprise at our Mechanics ma’am laughing at our antics. I had always likened her, most respectfully of course, to Hitler.
Later, as the classes ended, an array of white shirts and the strong stench of marker fluid greeted us. Comments and wishes, ranging from maudlin to profane decorated shirts that would become prize posessions for the passing out batch.
As I walked corridors that would soon be our seniors’ memory lanes I came across groups of people trading stories of their LPU years and recalling their most cherished moments. Soon it was pure madness. People were running helter skelter, cheering, fist bumping, throwing each other’s bags in the air, bathing each other in cold drinks, and generally letting the world feel their euphoria.
I could see the joy in their eyes, they’d soon be free forever from these bounds. No more classes, no more exams, no more boring lectures. But, didn’t that also mean no more hanging out with friends, no more friendly ribbing annd banter, no more bunking classes together, no more midnight Counter Strike sessions? Indeed, I could see these very thoughts chase across many sad faces. As I pondered all the emotion around me, I caught a glimpse of a glistening tear running down a girl’s cheek, and lo and behold a flood of tears soon surrounded me. Like a forest fire, the mood ran rampant and in a few minutes everyone was crying even as they tried to console others. Hugs and tremulous smiles were shared, each friendly exchange only adding to their sense of loss.
Just then a friend of mine mentioned food, effectively ebbing the emotional tempest. Crying would keep for another day but free food – only fools missed such opportunities. Well it wasn’t technically free, but my magnanimous contribution of Rs. 2 was well worth the cause.
