As we take the last step

As I walk across college, I feel my steps move towards the gate with just a few steps away from crossing line of fate. The day still plays fresh in my head, when I saw 'H. R. COLLEGE' flashing on my computer screen, I jumped to joy with the little butterflies in my stomach, waiting to discover a new world. The door that was left to be unlocked came as fresh breeze of light to my life. Today, as I look back, I see innocent school children walking into the gates of college with dreams, ambitions and a life to be lived. A pondering smile forms across my face leaving me dwelling on the memories and the life that ‘is’ with the sudden realization that it will soon become a life that ‘was’. 

The 5 years have gone by in a jiffy. When I started off, I didn't know where this would lead me, where I would lead myself, I only knew one thing; I wanted to paint a beautiful picture in my reminiscence which would be read as COLLEGE. A breath of relief washes over me; as I am relived I did so. Was college about getting somewhere? Or was it about building yourself to be someone? With high dreams and ambitions of being market ready individuals we all began our journey.

What is left in the end is the realization that nothing said above matters. What questions me is that, is it always about what you achieve? Maybe a few months back if I was asked my answer would be yes. But I stand a different person today. A person who has grown to realize, that you may be right but you can't always go against the wrong. So what is it that is important? What is it that lasts? What has impacting effect is not where you reached, but what you did right to get there or not.

It is not about who stood by you when you had everything, but who stood by you when you had nothing, and this is the sole purpose of life. This is why I give so much importance to college relationships, because 10 years down the line I might be the richest person and may have the best people and have world class food. But life's true achievement lies in the people who supported you when you were no one. The best food is the one that is shared among 10 people It is these college and school relations that one builds which are in the most pure and true form, because they love and support you for who you are and not who you would be.

I am blessed to have these kinds of relations in my life. People who made me realize the beauty of life, who now form part of a beautiful memory. I can't imagine a dreaded day when I have to get up one morning and not go to college. When I will no more have something senseless to laugh over. I will not have anyone to pat my back and throw footwear at me for getting good marks. I will not have anyone who will make sure that I ate on time. There won’t be people who will abuse you only to make sure you are fine.

In a matter of few months, life will change and all we’ll all have left is this beautiful box of memories. As we take the last step, I look behind smiling at the gates of college and my imagination paints the picture of watchman uncle insisting we wear our identity cards and we slyly walk past, wishing and greeting people on our way. The endless waiting for approvals, the fun-filled work, the day and night efforts to pull off events, the covering up for each other, running across the streets, sitting on the stairs(our khopcha) for hours together, the random tea and coffee sessions; all left fading as we move away.

The world outside seems an isolated place only to be decorated with memories of the life you once had. What was life changing was the fact that I learnt to find my smile in other people, because I know the people out there did the same. This one is a dedication to all those beautiful people out there, who in a big or small or any way walked across my college life and left your mark there. It’s a deep heart-felt thank you for touching my life in ways more than one; you make me who I am today. We all lived life to inspire each other so that we all grow to be who we are today. We fell, life challenged us but in the end we picked those broken pieces for each other and life moved on.

So never stop dreaming, living and inspiring, because the book of life will show you different chapters, but the most amazing one will be this unsaid, indirect and unlabelled chapter called COLLEGE.