GRADUATION DAY

At last, it is the day I have been waiting for, my graduation I have got my first degree already, it just feels like I have just joined the college time really flies fast. I'm dressed in a red saree and ready. I open my bedroom door, and Krish is sitting on the couch in a grey suit. He walks towards me, looks at me up to down with his brows furrowed, and I throw my arms around him in a display of love and affection.

"You look so gorgeous in this saree. I'm delighted to know that you look awesome in all outfits", he mutters as he hugs me. Releasing me he holds me with his hands around my shoulder and walks with me to the living room.

"You look really good. Can't take my eyes off you", he says as we sit on the sofa set.

"Riya selected this for me", I reply and he rolls his eyes

"I see. Isn't she joining us?"

"No, she has some work so she will directly come there"

"Thank god. So I can spend more time with you"

"Shut up, okay"

"Shall we start now?"

"We have time. Would you like some coffee?"

"Sure. Come I'll prepare it for you"

"Krish", I call him out surprisingly

"I learned cooking so now onwards I'll cook and you focus on your doctoring", he says pinching my cheeks. He strolls to the kitchen and I enjoy seeing him preparing coffee for me. He returns to me and hands me a cup of coffee. It tastes good and the level of coffee powder and sugar was perfect for my taste. I complimented him and we started from home.

Krish parks the car in the campus parking lot, and we walk with the crowd of students and parents into the auditorium. I find dad waiting at the entrance of the auditorium. I go hug him from behind which startles him for a second.

"Ohh Megha, I'm pleased to see you. You look good", he says

"Even I'm pleased to see my old man who arrived here before his daughter"

"You look very nervous"

"It is a big day so"

"Yes. My sweet daughter has got a degree she is a doctor now. I'm proud of you."

"Even I'm proud of you, dear", Krish says

"Thank you for both of you", I said and wrap my hands around both of them.

"Enough of your family love. Here wear this, your graduation dress", Riya interrupts us and hands me a bag.

All three of them make their way to settle down with other parents and well-wishers present there and I make my way to my seat. I wear my convocation gown and my cap, it makes me feel privileged. The stage is still empty, my heart starts pounding faster and faster. I turn around and spotted dad and Riya, I give them a wave. Dad simply smiles at me while Riya gives me an excited wave. I observe the row where they are seated but I couldn't spot Krish, so I immediately text him.

Me: Hey, where are you?

Krish: Near the stage.

Me: Why?

Krish: Some staff asked me to do so.

Me: Okay

The auditorium starts filling and the voices become louder. Two girls settle on the left side of me. I don't recognize them but I was sure that they belong to my class. They were close friends for sure because they kept on talking. The seat on my right side was empty and soon a handsome guy took it. He was one of the most handsome rated boys in my class and he has ranked the second position according to the looks by the girls. He started the conversation with me and we congratulated each other and stopped talking.

At eleven-thirty sharp the guests appeared on the stage, followed by the Dean and senior staff. We stand and applaud our teaching staff. Some professors nod and wave, others just stand idle. Mrs. Ananya my favorite lecturer looks remarkably pretty and looks 5 years younger. As they all sit down, the audience also takes their seats and the applause gradually ends.

"Look at him!" the girl next to me hisses enthusiastically

"Whom", the other one whispers

"The one near the stage in the grey suit", she says. I see there to find out who were they speaking about. Gosh! It was Krish.

"It's Krish, you know the one expelled", the other girl says

"Yeah I know, but look he looks so hot"

"I know right"

"If he is single I'm sure that I'll try on him"

"Even me. Do you think he is single?" the girls asked me

"Maybe not", I mutter

"Ohh. What makes you say so?", the one next to me asks while both of them look at me

"I saw him with a girl two days ago", I said in defense

"We lost him" both the girls groan.

The day starts and I see Krish scanning the whole hall, I try to hide. But, I failed as his eyes found me within a minute. He stares at me with an unreadable expression on his face. A slow flush of blood spreads across my face because of his hypnotizing looks. I inhale sharply. He closes his eyes with his smile slowly vanishing from its place and the next moment when he opens it, there is a different expression, he looks away from me. He doesn't look at me again. The guests finish their speeches but still, Krish's eyes don't turn towards me. Why isn't he looking at me?

Suddenly the hall erupts with a huge round of applause which interrupts my thinking. It was one of the students to give an acknowledgment speech. The girl looked pretty as she tosses her hair back and then starts her speech. She smiles throughout while giving the speech. I listen to her carefully; I move my eyes towards Krish, but he is still not looking at me. Krish is watching and concentrating on the girl on the stage, a wave of jealousy feeling rushing through my stream. And the two girls beside me are also admiring him from here. The girl finishes her speech with a grand gesture, and spontaneously everyone stands, applauding and cheering the girl. She smiles at everyone and Krish is smiling at that girl warmly and clapping for her. He doesn't even look at me, and I'm now impatient to know the reason behind this annoying act of him.

One of the guests rises up and we start the process of collecting our degrees. I hear my name and make my way up to the stage and collect my degree. I shake my hand with the people on the stage and collect my degree and walk down the stage. Krish at last looks at me.

"Congratulations, Megha", he says as he shakes my hand and squeezes it gently. I feel his happiness and an unknown upset of his on my hand. "Who was that boy," he asked me

"One of the classmates"

"The second most handsome guy in our class"

"Hmm-mm", I say as he looks at me puzzled

"See you later", he says and I nod.

I move back to my seat. He saw me speaking to that boy, is that why he is annoyed? The ceremony takes another hour to end. It was too long. Finally, the guest leads the faculty member to exit the stage and everyone applauds and I'm bored of applauding. Krish moves away from where ever he was standing toward dad and Riya. He crosses the row where I'm standing but does not even glance at me once, though I'm willing him to do it. I am not pleased with this act of him. As I stand and wait for our row to disperse, Riya calls me out; she was heading my way from her seat.

"Krish wants to speak with you", she shouts and the two girls near me put their mouths open and stare at me.

"He has sent me here", she continues

"For what reason", I ask her

"Your boyfriend you must know, come fast you know in fact he looks disturbed and in hurry to speak with you", she says

"So he belongs to her", the two girls whisper in agony.

I walk with Riya to the hall outside where the buffet for lunch was set up. Krish was speaking to dad and as he sees me. He heads towards me and smiles briefly at Riya and asks her to join dad. He takes my elbow and pulls me to a room. He checks if it is empty and then locks the door. As he turns I blink at him. I don't know what he is up to.

"Why the hell, were you speaking to him?" he frowns.

"We just greeted and congratulated each other", I say. He is getting to feel insecure I guess. I try my distracting method, "You know you looked so amazing today", I say

"Thank you"

"Girls were looking at you so much"

"Megha I don't want to speak about it now and you don't try changing the topic. See the guy you were speaking to with is Jones Mathew's best friend, Charlie"

"I see I did not know about that"

"I don't want Mathew to cross lines with you again. We have had enough", he closes his eyes, and I feel his distress.

"Don't stress yourself. We are good okay", I say

"Megha," he says and steps closer

"Krish… we have left dad and Riya… alone there... I guess we need to return", I stammer. He steps back and shrugs his shoulder. Krish unlocks the door, his face with a disappointed but satisfied look. He looks at me and his lips contract to a smile. He opens the door and we move out.

The hall is still half full at least; dad and Riya are in the same spot. He sees me, waves at me, and walks toward me.

"Congratulations, Megha", he says as he puts his arm around me.

"Thank you"

"Had lunch"

"No, I'm fine what about you both"

"We already completed when you were busy with Krish"

"Do you people want to stay for drinks", Krish questions us

"Riya what you say?" I ask

"Up to uncle", Riya replies

"Sure, this is an amazing day my daughter has got her degree. Come let's celebrate but before that", dad says and drags a camera out of his bag, "One for the album"

Dad clicks a snap of me and later signals Krish to join and pose for the photograph. Krish steps forward towards me and put his hand around my waist as we pose for the photograph.

The area with hard drinks is vast and crowded with parents, students, staff, and friends chattering happily. Dad passes me a glass of wine. It was chilled and tasted exactly the same as what I drank at the house that night. I start to drink while Krish bends near my ear and whisper, "You can't drink more than one glass"

"Two glasses", I demand

"No", he says and cuts the conversation. We celebrated the whole day in happiness