Ms HVM. When the principal (Nandini Sen) announced my name for the crowning at our farewell, I was on top of the world. The title was something I had wanted ever since I learnt it exists. Teachers and friends had been predicting it would be me ever since I became head girl at the start of Class XII. But that moment when four of us from the four science sections got called on stage as the nominees for the title, suddenly the pressure of expectations got to me. I had to get it not just for myself, but for all those who believed that I was going to get it.
Each of us got asked a question which we had to answer on the spot. While others answered what their best moment was, or recall a moment they regretted or talked of their first best friend, I was asked if my passion and my future plans were coinciding. While each section cheered its nominee, in my case so deafening was the noise that I could barely hear myself speak. My passion is craft. I can work wonders with paper. But I had to concede that this could not be my future calling. I want to be psychologist.
By the time, the teachers were ready with the decision, the crowd had made its choice. And the principal agreed. Yes. I was Ms HVM.
I still remember my first day in school 13 years ago, when I, a shy little girl, entered the classroom and occupied the first bench of the first row. Fortunately, I made two friends that day and also found someone to fight with, who in a few days became my first best friend.
In the subsequent years, I maintained my position as the class monitor followed by junior prefect, prefect, house prefect and finally the head girl. Eventually the teachers got familiar with my name and capabilities and started grooming me as an all-rounder.
Standing on stage I wondered how the years of my school life passed away in the blink of an eye and it was already our farewell day.
In our school, due to the large number of students, the farewell ceremony is held for two days. The first day is for the science section and the next for the students of commerce and humanities. As a member of the Student Council, I could attend the ceremony on both days.
The inauguration lamp was lit by the head of the institutions and the student council followed by a cake-cutting ceremony. The Class XI students put up a great show. The slideshow with our old pictures made tears roll down our cheeks. Ankit Dey, the head boy, and I felicitated our teachers and presented a token of gratitude to our juniors.
Then followed the conferring of the titles. Mr. and Ms. Corridor are they who are seen outside their classes more than inside. Since we science students are hardly in school, it was given only in the commerce farewell with Naman Beriwal and Trisha Saraogi bagging them. Anurima Dubey was named the Nightingale of HVM. She crooned for us on farewell day too. Preetam Dandapath, who did well in physics all through, was Mr. Studious. Invisible Man was Subhrangshu Ghosh for the lowest attendance. Yes, he did turn up to receive the prize!
— Lopamudra Das Gupta
Class XII, Hariyana Vidya Mandir
