We all giggled like school children taking photos of eachother. My friends Jai and Kasturb were too excited as their families could attend our graduation ceremony. My uncle took responsibility of this function which made me too happy. Somewhere he wanted to do it for my sake, to make me feel that no matter what happens or what I do family is always proud of my achievements. The disagreements I had with my parents, they realised how wrong it is to compare me every merit student in the world. In a way I should thank Dr Amogh for being so thoughtful, he had a talk with them which I found extremely funny.

"Come on!." Kasturb shouted as we brisk walked in our corridors. What I love about this college is , the whole academic block was built separately which means we won't encounter any ward or patients in it!

"You save place for me! You know where! I don't want to miss good view ! We need photos remember?." I shouted halting in my place. The saree which was dress code for us started falling off from one side of my waist. I held it together and covered it with my graduation robe.

"Shit!." I shouted feeling frustrated. Just then my phone rang.

"Hello?." I heard Jai's girlfriend Sparsha voice. Relief washed over me.

"Can you please hurry to lecture hall 5? It's on left to auditorium. My saree is falling apart!. I will wait for you here in lecture hall itself." I begged her to which she agreed to come as soon my friends reach the place as she's saving seats for them. I got annoyed by this, why doesn't college alot seats for us? We wouldn't be this fussy!

"What?." I heard another's voice as I turned around.

Dr Sanjay?

Arrghh! Not now!

"Not to sound creepy shall I wait for you until your friend comes?." He asked.

Wait for me? To do what?

"No." I replied.

"But you are alone in some crisis." He spoke with hesitation. I turned around dialed Dr Amogh's number. Knowing he's busy helping my uncle. I faintly remember him telling me that he's assigned with distribution of some prizes. I saw that he picked up my call and turned around.

"Sir, I think it's better if you leave. My friend is on the way. It's not far from here." I spoke making sure Dr Amogh is listening to me. I could hear loud voices from his phone which Dr Sanjay didn't care.

" I will stay, your saree is falling apart. You have so many things in your hand. Give it to me I will hold and stand a bit far if you feel uncomfortable until your friend comes." He spoke looking away. Although he wanted to ne decent, I got angry. Who in the burning hell will help a student when it clearly shows that I have someone coming for me.

"Sir, that's OK. I am fine. You can leave." I said walking away from him crossing lecture hall 5. He stood at a distance trying to see if I will turn around. I hate my mom for tying my saree so loosely because I was crying of suffocation.

"Sanjay! Dr Panchal is calling you. " I heard loud voice of Dr Amogh. Looking at my phone he did not disconnect it yet. Dr Sanjay nodded his head and moved ahead. I leaned against a wall waiting for Sparsha and hoping I can thank Dr Amogh as soon as his friend is out of sight. He touched my hair, as I looked up at him.

"You are sweating." I said as I saw him panting for breath. Moving few feet away, I checked for cctv cameras around us.

"Don't worry, this is blind spot." He said smiling at me. Opening back door of lecture hall 5 he asked me to go inside and waited for sparsha to come. As soon as she reached, he opened door for her.

"I will wait here. Hurry up." He said. Sparsha smiled like a clown teasing me with her eyes. Of course Jai can't hide things from her while I was ok with her knowing the truth. She adjusted my saree draped it properly before securing the entire thing with tons of pins.

"Sir seems to be sweating. What did you do?." She asked with teasing tone.

"Nothing. " I replied smiling at her.

"Woah! If he's sweating for nothing I can only imagine how he will be when you do something." She winked adjusting my saree. I hit on her back asking my dear friends girlfriend to be quiet.

"Why? It's not like he can hear us. More over why didn't you take picture with him before entering the auditorium. You three are just bunch of idiots, fighting like dogs for best spot to take good pictures of eachother over the stage." She said making sure my hair is perfect.

"Well.." I trailed.

"Well? Take picture with him! We both know your ceremony won't start until chief guest arrives which will take atleast 30min. Go out now and ask for picture." She said. I only nodded for a moment when her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Why don't I ask him to come inside and close the door! He can adjust your saree or maybe readjust it! Orrrrrrr can have his ways!." She whispered.

"Sparsha! Shut up! This is our college! He's our professor!." I shouted as she chuckled.

"Really? Only 4 years between you both yet you behave as if he's some age old monster." She said turning her back to me. Before I could protest, she called him inside for some help and closed the door as soon he looked at me. I guess the way he's staring, Dr Amogh did not realise that Sparsha has closed door on us.

"Why didn't you take picture with me?." He smiled winking at me.

What? I opened my phone to see that our call was going on still. He disconnected it and smiled.

"Now come on, we don't want you to be late. Moreover weren't you worried about cctv cameras?." He asked. I nodded my head as no.

"Selfie?." I asked not knowing what else to say. He took his phone, clicked few individual photos of mine and asked me to take selfie.

" You are tall." I stated.

"Sure?." He asked. I nodded my head as yes. He side hugged me and clicked few selfies. I felt proud of him,  who knew genius like him will be in my life? As I was lost thinking about the man who is busy clicking photos, he pecked on my cheek and I heard a click.

"What.." I asked moving away from him.

"Technically you are not my student anymore. Come let's go. " He said pushing me by my shoulder. Sparsha giggled and pulled me with her. As I looked back, Dr Amogh had big smile  looking at his phone.

I reached my friends who understood my emergency. Sparsha still has one year left for her pg to get completed, she sat along Jai silently although she's not allowed to sit here. Our ceremony began with an Oath and speeches by Chief guest.  We were called department wise to in order to collect our certificates. As function proceeded I saw Dr Amogh talking with my uncle and him grinning widely agreeing to whatever he's saying. It's such an amazing bond to witness. For him,  uncle is like his late father. Sometimes I wonder did he ever come out of that trauma or grief or did he chose to live a life for the sake of others?

"I would now hand over the mic to Dr Amogh Upadhyay who's quite famous for his work as neurologist and who has been an immense asset to Department of surgery in our college. I am so glad to say, this college has harbored good amount of quality doctors like him who chose to be in academics to help us build young, intelligent and talented doctors. You might be thinking why have I started speaking about him suddenly?." My uncle Dr Panchal spoke. Whispers were heard all over the auditorium.

"We always give out prizes for students who topped university. Today after looking at Dr Amogh and peers of his age working as professors, board of directors have decided to felicitate them with some cash prize as well which will help them to be motivated and prepare them for better future. Also, college has decided to help all the pgs to help them with entrance exam for superspeciality for free of cost!. So I guess it's win-win for everyone else who have not secured top ranks!." My uncle announced as students cheered with joy. We really do need coaching.

"Also cash money is funded by the government. Rest, please don't get dejected. It's all about passing an examination not about money right?." Uncle spoke making people smile. To be honest I did not like this but I think internal politics play a major role to attract students and lure them to struggle. Whatever it is, I don't want students to think it has been introduced for my sake. That would be really awkward.

Dr Amogh walked on to the stage and called out students who secured top ranks in different departments. Lastly University top 3 rankers were called one by one. Be being first, was asked to wait as my name will be announced in the end. I patiently stood behind people looking at Dr Amogh. He glanced at me then at my uncle before calling out my name.

"Let us welcome the next person who not only secured good marks in her department but also managed to get highest percentage and rankings in our university. So i would like to call Dr Anagha  Upadhyay from Department of Pediatrics to collect her certificate and price money from our esteemed chief guest".

My eyes widened at his announcement. Whole auditorium went silent. People stared at him who was smiling asking me to come on to the stage. My feet refused to move on its own. I had no idea, he would be making me thank him in this way!

*********************
Please vote comment and share my story!