Graduation Day

I always come back from Milan with a jumble of emotions sprouting up from everywhere. My little short trips are microcosms of a life I once had, and remind me of a time which once was. I go through the same routines that were once just that, daily routines. I meet people I used to live with, literally eat, sleep, study, play, cry, laugh, shout, whisper, just simply exist with. People who know my favorite food, who know my pet peeves, who laugh at my quirks, and hug me when they feel I need the warmth of support. The places I see, are those that still bear my footprints , or have glimpses of where my most beloved memories took birth. How a city can bring back so many emotions all at once, I fail to understand. I do know that I always come back with tears in my eyes, and a faint smile on my lips.

This time, the trip had a unique purpose. I went back for my Graduation Ceremony. Glee. Apprehension. Utter excitement. Euphoria. I set out with my head already up in those proverbial clouds, and my face already breaking out in unexpected smiles, each time I thought about what awaits me. Images of the past swarmed around me, as I made the journey towards my recent turned memory lane. How can I even begin to put it in words? How does one describe the joy of reuniting with friends? Running upto someone to engulf them in an embrace, and feeling the tightness of their hug in return? The look in the eyes, when someone sees you from a distance and beams as they approach you? Or the delight in their voice as they say, "Welcome back"? You're just simply left with simple thoughts, which question why you left in the first place, and how easy it is to be where you are right now. Pure bliss.

The Graduation Ceremony was undoubtedly one of those moments in my life, when I sort of float up above my body, look down and just absorb the benevolence of the entire atmosphere. The black toga-gowns, the funny little square hats, the laughter and cheer all around, the proud familes who cannot stop marvelling at how good their child has been, the friends who come to be there for you on your day, the photographs which capture the happiness and pride which radiates all around...its just magical! Walking down the steps to collect the scroll, which symbolises all my blood and tears of 3 years long years, is a moment I'll always cherish. In that moment, all the pain becomes insignificant, all the tears become past obstacles that I crossed, all the sweat and anxiety, the panic before exams, the disappointments, it all gets stored in a little box in the brain, and gets tied with a string of relief and pride. I did it. I finally did it!

On a more superficial note, its also great to look at what everyone's wearing...and even cooler when you're the most unusually dressed of all! I take my uniqueness seriously, so I decided to dress in a sari..in Milan...in November...in an Italian university. The result was much better than I could have expected. I have never felt more of a celebrity! People actually stopped in the streets to turn and look at me...and honestly, I'm not complaining! The evidence: the pictures, which tell the tales accurately of an unforgettable day.

Of course, even the brightest colours have a darker shade. We were all so charged up in the day, that when the excitement simmered down, we were left with enormous exhaution. Its great wearing high heels with pretty dresses, but how much fun is it to walk in those murdering shoes throughout the day? The sounds I made when I took my heels off in the car could easily have been censored from any respectable PG-13 movie. I guess bleeding feet is just a minuscule price to pay for an enchanting day.

The day is already behind me, its still fresh. The goodbyes were hard. The tears unstoppable. The pain of watching my friends distance away as the taxi pulls out and carries me to the airport, hasn't been burried yet. The blurr as the tears roll out is still clear. The quiver in Mr.A's voice, still seeps through my ears, and shakes me. I'm back home now, the new abode where everything's distant already. I now smile at the pictures of that wonderful day, and hope for another where our grinning faces will be captured again in a single frame...

PS: There was a party too later that night, at a club, with alcohol...but some things should just be left to imagination ;)