FOR THE ALBUM: Shots clicked by friends on the last day of school

Ever since we were kids, we wanted to grow up. Over the years, we yearned for the day when exams would be over and we would outgrow our school uniform. Seeing our elder brothers and sisters having so much fun at their farewell, we couldn’t wait to attend our own. And as February ended, we finally had it — a farewell for us, the batch of 2012-13 of KV-1.

On the final day, after surviving the pre-boards and practical exams, everyone was finally there, dressed in their gorgeous best. The very first thing everyone did was take pictures, dozens of them. Then slowly we shifted to the stage area for the programme. To be honest, we were a little scared of what was in store for us. But it turned out to be a lot of fun. The students of Class XI, who have taken our place in the Class XII room now, gave it their best and the outcome was nothing less than delightful. Dances, songs and a lot of photography went on.

One particular dance item that touched us all was by the girls of Class XI commerce. They did a contemporary piece on the song Saiyaan by Kailash Kher. Abhishek, our school captain, boys, thanked our teachers for their blessings and support. “It is because of our beloved teachers we are who we are,” he said in Hindi. Srija, our school captain, girls, told us about her journey over the past 12 years in school and what it meant to her. “This school has taught me to respect my own self and others, to be confident, to handle difficult situations, to hold my head high through times of stress, about friendship and about love. And I am grateful to have been a student of KV-1, Salt Lake.” Her words echoed what each of us felt.

Our headmistress Krishna Deb Roy blessed us for the future and our principal Sumanlata gave us tips to conquer the Board exams and wished us the best for whatever awaited us in life. The farewell was brought to a conclusion with the students of Class XI sharing their experience of having us as their seniors.

But we weren’t ready to leave just yet. More pictures with everyone. Getting uniforms signed by friends. Even after school hours, outside the gates, shirts were being passed around along with markers. Strained relations got mended. Tears shed. Last hugs. Prolonged goodbyes.

And as my car pulled away, I had an empty feeling in my stomach as I realised that everything would be different from that moment onward. And with a last glance at my friends and my school, I bid my school life adieu.

Our paths would now take us in different directions, mine, for one, to Delhi where on June 24 I would sit for the counselling of NIFT for my B.Des course.