Graduation day had arrived and Khushi and Katie were at their home getting ready. Katie was curling her hair to perfection, whereas Khushi was making sure that her dress was just right.
“Are you sure it isn’t too short.”
“It’s fine! I asked some of the other girls what they were wearing and the length of your dress isn’t going to be an issue at all.”
“I really would prefer to wear something a bit longer.”
“Khush, you won’t even be able to see your dress under your robes and after graduation we’re going after party and the shorter the better right!”
Rolling her eyes, Khushi turned away and pulled her dress down that little bit more. She was used to wearing short dresses, but she just felt a bit self conscious today because she knew that should would be meeting up with Arnav after.
“Have you spoken to him?”
“Yeah he texted me last night and he said we’ll meet after the graduation ceremony.”
Making sure that they looked perfect and their hair was in place, Khushi and Katie grabbed their bags and left for their graduation.
*****
Taking their places, the graduation ceremony began. As Khushi was sitting down, she saw Arnav sitting a couple of rows in front of her. Arnav too saw her and gave her a little wave before he turned around and sat back down. Khushi couldn’t help but smile, she loved how he noticed her. She knew it wasn’t a big deal, but something about it just made her feel so warm and special. Like she mattered to him, like they may actually share something special and precious.
The ceremony began, and one course at a time, the class of 2017 graduated from their masters programmes. They went in alphabetical order of the courses so Arnav graduated before Khushi. When his name was called for him to collect his diploma, a number of people whooped for him and Khushi and Katie made sure they clapped extra loudly for him.
Arnav walked across the stage and joined his classmates. When every last member of the business class graduated, they left the stage and made their way back to their seats.
A little while later, it was time for Khushi and her literatature class to graduate. Just like with Arnav’s class, Khushi’s class took to the stage, one by one and collected their diplomas. When Khushi collected her diploma and walked across the stage, Arnav cheered for her and Khushi blushed a deep shade of red. She reached the rest of her classmates and waited as the rest of them too collected their diplomas.
Once everyone from the literature class had collected their diplomas, the audience cheered for them as they took their seats once more.
One by one everyone in the auditorium collected their diplomas until everyone in the room who was to collect their diploma, had collected their diploma.
“And that concludes the graduation ceremony for the class of 2017!”
The graduates all took their mortarboards off their heads and threw them up into the air do cheered. They did it! They’d graduated!
*****
Katie and Khushi had taken off their robes and had put them aside, ready for the night that was waiting for them.
“Are you sure I look okay?”
“You look perfect. Now stop worrying and look cool for when Arnav comes to find you.”
Khushi smoothed down her hair and pulled down her dress. A moment later, Arnav walked over to her.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“Congratulations!”
“Congrats to you too.”
Arnav and Khushi were lost in each other. Katie watched them and realised that they were long gone and that she needed to get their attention again.
“Ahem.”
Snapping out of their little trance, Arnav and Khushi looked up. Katie extended her hand to Arnav.
“Hi, I’m Katie.”
“Arnav.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Same here. Should we get going ladies?”
The girls nodded and Arnav draped his arm around Khushi’s shoulders.
“Arnav! Wait up!”
Arnav and the girls stopped and saw Karl rushing over to them. Karl caught up with them, panting. He rested his hands on his knees as he got his breath back.
“I… Give me a second.”
Arnav, Khushi, and Katie watched with an amused expression as Karl stood there, hunched over breathing hard. After a moment, he straightened up.
“Hi, I’m Karl.”
“Katie.” Katie extended her hand and Karl shook it. Jackpot, he found her without even looking for her.
“And you must be Khushi, he hasn’t stopped talking about you.”
Blushing, Khushi looked up at Arnav who smiled down at her.
“Should we get going to the after party then?”
Everyone nodded and Arnav and Khushi walked in front of Karl and Katie, making small talk.
“So Katie, can I accompany you to the party?”
“You won’t ditch me will you?”
“I don’t intend to.”
“Then yes, you can accompany me. I don’t really fancy third wheeling those two.”
“How do you think it’s going to go down between them?”
“I don’t know, but I hope it goes well. Khushi hasn’t stopped thinking about him since she first met him.”
“Same with Arnav! He’s been going on about her for months.”
“I hope it works out between them. They seem really into each other.”
Karl and Katie continued to talk about their friends, whereas Arnav and Khushi continued to find out more about each other. Katie was glad to know that Arnav seemed to be as into Khushi as she was into him. It put her mind at ease, at least he seemed to care about Khushi the same way she did for him.
Karl led them to his car.
“I call shotgun! Is that okay with you Arnav?”
“Go for it.”
Katie fist pumped the air and got into the front passenger seat of the car, leaving Arnav and Khushi to sit at the back. Once everyone was seated and ready to go, Karl started the engine, shifted the car into drive and they were off towards their party venue to get their night started…
Tanzeela’s Creative Writing Corner 