Last day at the college

Diya will always remember her last day at the college. The test examination was over; the results had been published. She was among the candidates who were sent up to sit for the University examination. She had a reason to be happy. It was good to feel that she had not wasted her time and that she had passed in all the subjects at the college test. She had come to pay her fees for the final examination along with a host of her class friends. Yes, they all felt merry and light hearted. It was a busy day. There was so much to be done. She had to get clearance certificates from the library and the laboratory. Records had to be hunted up, and the gentlemen in charge had to convince themselves that she had returned all property belonging to the college that she had been permitted to use. Those who stayed at the hostel had to get similar certificates from the Hostel Superintendent. On any other day these transactions might well lead to impatience and irritation. But on this day of all days, they were all equally good humoured. The business took up much time, but tempers were not lost. At the counter, when the fees were being paid, a few on both sides were inclined to be high and mighty, but on the whole they behaved admirably. Most of them were ready to make allowances, and so at last the task of depositing fees was over without much trouble. She confess that, after the busy day had come to an end, she did feel a sort of vacuum in her mind. For two years the college had filled her life. While in it she was often critical and dissatisfied. One day perhaps an expected lecture fell through, for the teacher was absent. On another day an angry lecturer pounced upon innocent her, and let her have it hot for a few painful minutes. Some lecturers bored her stiff; some others scared her out of her wits. Occasionally she had felt a desire to run out of it all anywhere rather than be cramped by such a lifeless monotonous routine. But now all that was forgotten. As she paced the corridors with a friend or two, they did realise how much they had come to love the old institution. There were teachers who genuinely took an interest in them, and helped them out of their difficulties whenever approached. Even the most aloof we often found to be really full of kindness. The Principal in his sanctum seemed so forbidding from a distance, but whenever they summoned courage to approach him with a prayer or a grievance, he was ready to listen to all that they had to say, and to do something to help them. And the clerks at the office, how often they had tyrannised over them, and yet on the whole how helpful they had usually been…! Then there were the bearers : many of them had become quite friendly to them. Even the rooms had a charm; they were often associated with various memories never to be forgotten. No wonder that, when the time for parting came, they were sad. They felt that they were leaving behind a precious part of themselves behind them. As to herself, as she listened to words of advice and encouragement from her teachers, and took leave of friends and acquaintances, and slowly passed out of the familiar college gateway. She felt really depressed and lonely. Somehow, it seemed that the best was gone : who knew what lay before?