The party was over officially.The chief guest & the teachers had left.She sat there in one corner of the room,on a comfy chair at a place where she could feel the cool freeze from one of the coolers brushing her cheeks.She had not eaten anything since the morning.She always did that;before her exam,before an interview or before a programme that she had to host,she just couldn't eat.Today was no different.
She had gotten up at 7 in the morning and had hardly stopped since then.Decorating the hall and pleading(or rather persuading) the boys to stand up on the stool kept on a chair to reach the ceiling,telling evrybody the order in which they had to give their performances,making sure that somebody would take care of the refreshments,distribution of the flowers,making of posters,keeping in tune with her co-host,she felt like it was too much for her to handle !
The party had been successful.Everybody was now enjoying themselves.Some of them were dancing,some singing(rather yelling) songs on the mike & some playing guitar.Some were busy taking snaps and videos while others were too busy munching biscuits,chips and sipping cold-drinks.She remembered how much she loved all that;the dancing,partying,singing,playing.But,today was different.
Some of her friends came up to her several times,almost picking her up and carrying her to the stage,but she wasnt in the mood.She saved herself by saying that she was too tired.Perhaps it was her physical pain or emotional she couldn't tell.She just wanted to be alone for the moment,and look at everybody around her.One by one she looked at every single individual in the room.They were so happy,atleast they looked that they were.She had spent four years of her life with them.
From strangers to friends,the journey hadn't been very difficult but she never realised that they had become an inseparable part of her life now.She was smiling at them,though they were too busy dancing crazily,singing songs in perfect symphony.She loved it still.It was nice to see happy people around her.People who had touched her life,knowingly and unknowingly,who had given her memories good and bad,who along with her had transformed from teenagers to young adults,who had contributed in making her what she was.
Four years back she had attended a similar party,another place,another bunch of people,the same feeling though.She had moved on then and she would move on now.She pondered over the reality of life.It is so strange how life changes,people in our lives change,circumstances change.She closed her eyes and remembered the song,"Zindagi ke safar main guzar jaate hain jo maqaam,wo phir nahin aate...." She could now understand what it meant.She knew it was time to say goodbye to one world and hello to another.She knew she might not be able to meet some of these people ever again.She might forget what they said to her but she will never forget how they made her feel.She'll meet new people,make new friends but that wouldn't mean that she would forget them.Their memories will always remain in a corner of her heart somewhere.She knew she was good at remembering details.She opened her eyes,she wanted to absorb it all,every moment of the day.
She gathered strength,got up and joined her friends who were singing,"Purani jeans aur guitar..."She was happy now,she had nothing to lose,she wasnt going to miss anything,near or far they'll always remain a part of her life,of HER...she knew it and that was enough !!!