Having got the nod, Riya now proceeds to the washroom. Soon, sheโs out with a chilling bath. Now, she finds herself in front of her wardrobe searching for a dress to get ready for โLast dayโ. Meanwhile, her mother walks into her bedroom fuming at the sight of the messy bed; crowned by the wet towel. โGod knows what will this girl do after her marriageโ she begins with her rethoric. โoh mamma, I am still in school, thereโs still much time to ponder upon all theseโ Riya replies. โSchool, itโs over today naโ her mother asks. Exasperated by her motherโs response, Riya says โDoes that mean I sit for marriage tomorrow? Donโt you want me to study.โ
Startled by Riyaโs response, her mother leaves the towel she hold on the bed and moves to console her enraged daughter. โOf course, I want. Your father too wants to see you study, perhaps more than mine. Itโs just thatโฆ. Ok sorry beta, sorry.โ
Riya gets cherished by her motherโs response, she abruptly hugs her. Thatโs how she is. Frequent mood changes. Happy now, sad then. And her anger always at her nose, ready to burst as and when things donโt go her way. โOk Mamma, I am sorry too. I just carried away a bit. You know todayโs the last day at school so I am having heightened emotions of excitement, gloom, happiness, and all the rest, you know.โ
โItโs okay beta. But, excitement I get it. But why gloom?โ Her mother asks.
โIsnโt it natural? After all, I have been in this school for the last 12 years.โ, Riya replies.
โYeah thatโs true. Listening to you, now I realise how time has just flown awayโฆ I still clearly remember your cute and teary-eyed face the first day. Hope you donโt end this journey on the same note as you started it.โ
Riyaโs eyes light up listening to her mother, โI am getting nostalgic already. Just think of it. 12 yearsโฆ. So many friends came and went. So did numerous teachers. But I stood there as a constant amidst a changing environmentโ
With raised eye brows, her mother asks โGetting poetic, ha. Not in love, are youโ
โOf course not Mammaโ
โYeah better. You dare not, especially not without your papaโs permissionโ, Her mother replies with a relieved expression.
โDid you need to begin that againโฆโ says Riya, visibly frustrated by her motherโs reaction.
โItโs nothing to be angry, Riya. You are now growing up. So, you should know being a young girl is difficult in this society. And this things just add to your difficulty, you know. But donโt be upset now, itโs your day. Enjoyโ
โI donโt know what all these has to do with my being a girl. But okay I shall not argue with you todayโ
โAlright. Enjoy the day. But only for today. Then no outing for a month till your boards are over.โ โNow get ready soonโ, says her mother walking out of her room.
โIn a minute, mammaโ, Riya replies from her dressing table.
Within a few minutes, Riya gets out to the veranda of her huge house, clad in the โdress codeโ decided for the day, viz white T shirt and blue jeans. Her Father back from his morning walk, greets her. โLooking so cute my bacha. Last day at school? Enjoy.โ โSure papa, bye. See you โ, Riya replies gleefully. As she was about to move out, her grandma comes into the veranda, relieved of her hour long prayer. Riya greets her, โOh hello Grannyโ.
โAre you going to school in that dress?โ, asks her grandma with an expression of shock.
โ Aree, Grandmaa itโs my last day at schoolโ, she says stooping close to her. Then, she whispers in her ears, โAnyways gone are your days and thoughtsโ and shouts โBYE BYEEโฆ. Mamma, papaโ. Before she finishes, her School bus arrives. And goes Riya for one last time to her school..
