Intimacy - Part 5

Silence engulfed Aarthi on the following days and she spoke lesser, with her friends too. She ignored looking at Rakesh. And it was obvious to everyone that, she was deeply hurt.

The academic year came to an end and Aarthi couldn't be more pleased. She went back to her native town and spent one long month. She visited her friends, relatives and spent her time the way she wanted to and stopped iterating the bitter memories on her head. She was happy for the time off from few embarrassing faces.

As she got set to leave her hometown, the feeling of ignominy entangled her. Still she felt much better compared to how she was a month ago. She kept telling to herself that it's a matter of one more year, to be with this class and after that she will fly far away from few people whom she never wanted to see again.

First day and last year at school. This year is so precious for every single student as it paves way to their dreams and in designing their future. The students had continuous assessments and were getting tuned to perform well in the main exam. They were all restricted from participating in sport or cultural activities. So there was lesser tension about points for the team. The score of individual's mattered much for all and no more fight for the team existed.

Aarthi and her friends indulged in fewer fun activities and spent more time in preparing themselves for various exams to get into a better University. Aarthi aspired to be a Software Engineer. She would be the first woman to get professionally qualified, in her family and the very thought made her proud. So she wanted to do her best and get good score.

The season of exams arrived finally. And exam fever was in the air. Sufficient hard work would never feel sufficient. The school organised a farewell treat for the students. As always, it was an emotional day for all the staff and students of the class. Every teacher spoke few words about the class and conveyed their wishes for the exam. Finally, their class teacher spoke.

"Good evening all. Farewells are the most toughest gesture in everyone's life. Every year, when every batch of students leave our school, it brings a lot of happiness to see them successful, but also it gives a tint of fear, as to how they will face the real world and its challenges. And I am sinking in the same feeling and the thought that my tiny birds are going to fly off the cage, to explore the world, is a little less than a dreadful nightmare. But that's how life goes. You have already started running your life race and years will roll over before you even realise. It is common to lose contact with each other and even the names and faces would go forgotten. But you children, please keep in touch with each other, get together when possible and never lose your friendship. Going forward, you will earn lot of friends. But the friendship earned at this age has higher level of innocence and truthfulness mixed in it. I know God has his bestest plans for each one of you and I will definitely remember you all in my prayers everyday. God bless you all!", she said, with her voice choking at the end.

Everyone were in tears and that's how farewell parties are meant to be. Everyone wants to grow up quickly and move onto next stage, just to regret later that they have not lived their previous phase to the fullest. Farewells are the saddest reminders to tell us that we have moved on and there is no coming back.

The following song is a work of the legend, K.V.Mahadevan. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a song similar to this, to suit the context. I hope Raja Sir won't mind!

Pasumai niraintha ninaivugale
Paadith thirintha paravaigale
Pazhagik kazhitha thozhargale
Paranthu selgindrom

Pasumai niraintha  ....

Kurangugal pole marangalin mele thaavith thirinthome
Kuyilgalaip pole iravum pagalum koovith thirinthome
Varavillaamal selavugal seithu magizhnthirunthome
Vaazhkaith thunbam arinthidaamal vaazhnthu vandhome
Naame vaazhnthu vanthome

Pasumai niraintha ....

Entha ooril entha naattil endru kaanbomo
Entha azhagai entha vizhiyil kondu selvomo
Intha naalai vantha naalil maranthu povomo
Illam kandu palli kondu mayangi nirpomo
Endrum mayangi nirpomo

Pasumai niraintha ....

பசுமை நிறைந்த நினைவுகளே
பாடித்திரிந்த பறவைகளே
பழகிக் கழித்த தோழர்களே
பறந்து செல்கின்றோம்

பசுமை நிறைந்த ....

குரங்குகள் போலே மரங்களின் மேலே தாவித்திரிந்தோமே
குயில்களைப் போலே இரவும் பகலும் கூவித் திரிந்தோமே
வரவில்லாமல் செலவுகள் செய்து மகிழ்ந்திருந்தோமே
வாழ்க்கைத் துன்பம் அறிந்திடாமல் வாழ்ந்து வந்தோமே
நாமே வாழ்ந்து வந்தோமே

பசுமை நிறைந்த ....

எந்த ஊரில் எந்த நாட்டில் என்று காண்போமோ
எந்த அழகை எந்த விழியில் கொண்டு செல்வோமோ
இந்த நாளை வந்த நாளில் மறந்து போவோமோ
இல்லம் கண்டு பள்ளி கொண்டு மயங்கி நிற்போமோ
என்றும் மயங்கி நிற்போமோ

பசுமை நிறைந்த நினைவுகளே ....