Sarees+Ice-Creams+Tree+Lamps

The much awaited valedictory finally happened last evening! A swarm of women in colourful (some blinding) sarees were slurping down the free cornetto provided. To my dismay, it was chocolate. :( After the binge, was the glorious tree planting ceremony. G and I walked excitedly towards the CC Block only to find a dreadful pit dug up in the middle of the lawn+ the puniest leafless sapling possible. We figured that the planting must have been over and proceeded back to the swarm to find recognizable people to click happy pictures with. Alas, CR came and shooed us away! We go back to the lawn to find, not one but four pits dug! One for arts, one for science, one for commerce and one for the PGs. G and I parted ways in despair. It was amusing to see so many new faces on the day of the Valedictory! Anyway, we had work to do- i.e. PLANT the sapling with our LOVE and CARE and mud and water. Task completed. G is lost! This was when I embarrassed all by screaming Moooooo and Gaya! (Like a 70s hero calling out to his heroine!)

After the nostalgic reunion- we returned to the bright blue chairs. The management had to annoy us- “sit behind your dept heads, please.” “Nahin!!!!!” (in chorus)

Three years in this college have made me bold in many ways to take devious steps with no regret whatsoever. “Dept? What dept?” ha ha ha my wish comes true. I finally sat with the people I have shared my entire college life with. J

A random teacher came and passed the valedictory programme schedule and tiny brass lamps with a small candle on it. (the candle colours- neon green, mirinda orange and a green manga green)

Point to be noted- on lifting the candle we found that it was a wax covered candle. What was it covering?- well, a ball of mud. I wonder if it was from the pits that were dug up.

Hymns are sung and Sr. H delivers the longest ever prayer. It wasn’t unbearable but unbelievably long. P was at her best. Highlight of the talks- Sneha, the only one who spoke honestly. During the rest of the speeches, the GRAM group craved for water and juice and pointed at planes while nuts like me waved at them.

The oath was a little strange. While A refused to speak a line from it, I blindly repeated every word of it. Hmmm, I think I’m becoming more neurotic!

The lighting of the lamps was the best part of the evening. All the heads of the depts had to light the lamps of their students. While the sun set, leaving behind a warm darkness, we held our lamps high and sang the college song and the national anthem. Both have never sounded more beautiful. We then left to the grotto to leave our lamps near the statue of Mother Mary.

The valedictory was over.

But did we stop with that? No! Now, was family photo clicking time. While we randomly asked people to click photos of tens and twenties of us, we still couldn’t believe that we’d spent three years with each other.

Someone had told me that the valedictory was always sentimental and that it would make me weep. Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn’t shed a tear. The evening left me with a feeling of contentment as I knew I was going to go forward in life with some great friends and experiences.