The Friday evening I waited anxiously for...: Shankar
It was a weekend I had been looking forward to. The Friday evening I waited anxiously for, 9 th of September the day I began a journey down the memory lane. The destination was familiar…purpose known…a trip back to my alma mater, a trip that would lead us into completion of our 2 years of hard work. The journey from where when we return, a new degree, ‘MBA’ would be added to our resumes. It was our convocation, an event long awaited. More than the formalities of the ceremony, what really counted for me was the opportunity to just be back at the college where I had spent the lovely two years of my life.
As the train pulled into the Coimbatore station, it was early dawn. I along with two of my friends took a cab to planet Ettimadai. With the chilled morning breeze hitting our faces, I leaned back and closed my eyes trying to catch a quick nap. But old sweet memories kept flashing into my mind, some of which we shared amongst each other. Once we were nearing Ettimadai, the silhouette of our favourite Anamalai became visible. It truly looked as majestic as ever. The Ettimadai village was dark and silent, it was only the sound of our cab that broke the silence. Finally we arrived, crossing the railway tracks into the campus. After dropping our friend at the girls’ hostel, we proceeded to the boys hostel. Everything looked the same.
After spending an hour in the hostel room, I went to a much familiar and warm place of stay. The residence where my friends and I had spend times together, eating, laughing, listening to music and jokes. There was the same warmth and love that I had experienced as a student prevailing in that place. The morning in the campus was wonderful with the misty mountains, slight drizzle and nature fresh air. It was a welcome change for me away from the heat, dust and pollution of Chennai.
Now it was time to go to college. As I approached the college, more was the pull I could sense in me to visit the building adjacent to our college. It was the canteen. A place we as students would never forget. Professors often said we spend more time in the canteen than in the classroom. It was again the same, the white chairs, steel table, the person at the billing counter, the delay in serving the order.
In the canteen we met up with some of the second years. One question every body had was about the Corporate Life. Then we had to go and address the second years for they had arranged what was called the “Dynamic Sessions by Young Corporate”. Questions ranged from the relevance of MBA in doing our current jobs to how to face interviews for particular companies. Rest of the day was spent meeting every one, our batch mates, juniors, teachers and of course around five in the evening we had the formal alumni meet. Time was spent discussing ways and means to make the alumni network stronger. All of us were given a chance to contribute our points of view.
The alumni meet was followed by one of the most interesting parts of the two days, a cultural show put up by the first years. The kind of talent that they showcased was spectacular. It was a fun filled evening with comedy skit, dance, music etc…
After the treat for the eyes and ears, treat for our tummies awaited in the canteen. The paneer, chapatti, and ice creams every thing tasted so good. Post dinner was spent in again chatting, clicking photographs, pulling each others legs and everything that rekindled old memories.
Next morning I was up and awake, all ready to get into the convocation attire. By around 10’ most of us were at the auditorium. Many of our batch mates arrived that morning as well. Our parents were also present to see their wards receive the degree, a calculated risk most of them had invested in.
The highlight of the function was the convocation address by the Chief Guest. It was an inspiring talk with the right mix of satire and seriousness. With the degrees in hand every body’s face was beaming with joy, was it a sense of accomplishment or relief?? Wasn’t too sure. Now it was time for the photo shoot. There were so many cameras pointed at the whole batch with flashes flickering all around. We felt like celebrities, at least for a while. The lunch arranged at the mess gave completion to the ceremony. After lunch I felt very full both in the tummy and in the mind.
It was a nostalgic two days filled with fun and frolic. Walking down the corridors of the college, we were taken back to our student life. All those assignments, late night presentations, small tiffs here and there, campus romance, relief work at Nagapattianam, food at dhaba…hey did I hear someone sing “ those were the best days of my life”...
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