The last day of school

          Seeing my friend's daughter's picture of the last day of school took me back....20 plus years. The tension of the exam months was nerve-wracking in high school. As the month of February approached, we put away all our novels and replaced it with text books.Our toys became the geometry boxes as we spent hours perfecting those trapezoids and polygons. Drawing books were substituted by Biology record books as we let our artistic skills out with sketches of cockroaches and frogs. In the ensuing weeks our text books became our listening partner as we recited all our syllabuses to it,pillows as we often dozed off on it and also punching cushion to show our frustration and anger.
           After two grueling weeks of non stop studies,tension, lack of sleep,I usually become a zombie waiting for a reprieve. This was especially true for the 12th std public exams when the pressure on us was tremendous. For me it was self inflicted since I had set my goals higher and challenged a senior friend of mine that I will score higher than him. In the final year of school though, exams seemed to be never ending as we jumped from half yearly exams to 2 sets of mock exams before the final one. On the morning of the first public exam,me and my friend Geetha went to the nearby Ramar temple and prayed to all our favorite Gods.Most of the students entered the school that day with their foreheads decorated  with "viboodhi" and "kumkum" from all the temples in the "Temple City"procured by their devout parents. That was an act so typical of our pious parents, who somehow seem to have had more belief in the supernatural powers than in the intellectual capacity of their off springs! The big examination hall, silence not usual for our Craft Hall, pacing proctors, and the racing clocks... so intimidating. It made me forget my own name. Finally I was able to get my thoughts straight and pull through the first examination which was English. As I got used to the routine the tension eased a little only to surface again as more difficult and important subject tests arrived. The last exam was biology which was very crucial one for me. That time I thought the performance in that particular exam could make or break my "White coat" dreams. After reviewing the answer sheet a zillion times, I submitted it to the examiner and without even looking back, walked out. I still remember the feeling as I walked out of the hall, felt like being released from prison. Sun shine seemed brighter and air outside crisp.In the midst of hot Madurai summer, I even felt the cool Kodai breeze on my face. I was in an euphoric state. Summer vacation at last!! No books, no homework and no more taxing exams !!
         As a tradition, me and my friends used to gather outside "Aavin". "Aavin" was our favorite haunt, a combination of ice cream parlor and on-the-go snack bar and one of a kind in TVS nagar that time. We talked about latest movies, TV shows, vacations plans etc etc. That evening was very special to all of us since we said "Good Bye" temporarily to our buddies. In those days without the internet chat rooms we had to meet each other physically in their living rooms to chit chat. Similarly face-to-face encounter was our face book to show our likes ( and dislikes). That being said meeting our friends who lived only 3 miles away was a remote possibility. This was particularly very hard after we finished our 12th exams. It was a bitter sweet moment I would say. As the excitement of starting college life filled my mind, my heart was drowning in sorrow to say adieu to my dearest friends whom I have known most of my life time.Equally hard was to bid farewell to my school which by then held a special place in my heart. Having spent 14 years in the same school, I personified it, often relating to it as guardian who embraced me with open arms and a warm heart. Its vast playground lined with shady trees, compact "Craft hall",open corridors and cozy classrooms,I knew will etched in my memory forever. As I came home that evening my excitement had died down. I didn't want to change my uniform and for the first time I went to sleep in it, knowing that I will never get another chance in my life to be a school girl again.