A Graduation to Remember

  I’ve never seen a worse management than in my college. Just last week I spent a whole months’ salary going to my convocation  in India, only to find out to my disbelief that my degree certificate was never processed! Imagine my disappointment and anger when I found out that the application that I filled up was carefully stowed away in a creaky drawer in the dingy place called the admin office. Further questions and queries led to no more than a merry-go-round of everyone looking at each other, wondering how and who to blame for such an blunder. And as expected, I didn’t have anyone to turn up to (not surprised since that's what i've been facing since the day i stepped into that god forsaken college).

  After hours of tailing behind the 'person-in-charge' and numerous phone calls to my guardian informing him of my situation, i finally found out the glitch behing this stupid mistake. Apparently, since my application was sent in late, a fine of 100 rs was supposed to be payed, which was never informed to that friend of mine who took so much trouble posting the documents from India to Malaysia and submitting it to the office when I sent it back, all filled up. The application was received by the person in charge, a very 'responsible' Mr So n So who just brushed me off in what could be the most sarcastic telling-off i've ever faced when I questioned him about this.

  So, while the rest of my batch mates were flocking the auditorium with gleeful faces and yellow satin robes, ready to receive the trophy of a 3 year duel, there I was also in the same auditorium with my yellowing application form,face fuming, clicking my camera furiously at my friends (which was also a disaster as i was chased away for 'unauthorized photography'-ironic considering such a wayward college would follow a standard graduation protocol). I battled in my head whether to stay on till the ceremony finishes or go ahead to the university and submit the application myself (1000 rs extra if you need the cert min in a week's time).Finally, I told my situation to a friend of mine, Ramesh who had already received his graduation scroll. After a few minutes of arguing on how irresponsible and absurd the situation was, the next thing I know, I was on his bike, zooming of to the university hoping to be there before 1 pm as any later would be lunch time already. Luckily, we did reach there on time, payed the processing fee (Rs1650 with the extra Rs 650 was for what I still don't know) and proceeded to submit the application papers. As luck would have it, the counter was empty as my eyes travelled the corridor to a clock hanging on the far end of the wall showing 1 pm. Ramesh and I sighed and stayed on till 2 pm until it opened.
  After some lunch (I could barely eat, my stomach was full of apprehension), we went back and I spoke to the person in charge, an ancient looking man with the slowest movements i've ever seen. I explained that I was a foreign student and would require the certificate to be done by tomorrow and also had to lie about the urgency of the situation since my imaginative flight was due to leave the following day. The man looked at me with an odd expression, then chatted away about how good my Tamil is despite me being a foreigner ( haiyooo...how many times would I have to face this statement). After a few minutes he told me to give a call before coming in the next morning. The knot in my stomach loosened slightly.