This journey in the ‘Tri’land had one main purpose, which was perhaps the key driver – to attend the Master’s graduation ceremony of the older boy of the household, at Limerick, Ireland.

To me, this was a moment of celebration. There were no expectations on how this graduation ceremony would be like. There was just a feeling of delight that I was getting the opportunity to witness the ceremony. I was particular that I wanted to wear a saree for the occasion and decided on one that I really loved; and on an impulse also packed a couple of simple yet elegant accessories to wear with it..

The day of the graduation ceremony dawned with the usual unpredictable drizzle and a nip in the air, with the sun peeping out every now and then. A festive air all around with a milieu of ‘to-be’ graduates / post graduates, their family and / or friends. There were manned counters for the graduate gowns, for the pictures, for the entry passes to the guests; and people to help out if one needs it. It was indeed a pleasant surprise when the lady at the ticket counter walked up to us and said, “You have come from far away to watch your son or daughter graduating. I would give you a couple of VIP tickets and you can watch the ceremony from one of the first few rows.” What a hospitable and thoughtful gesture!!! I was initially puzzled as to how she knew that we were from a far away land and well, I looked at my saree and I had the answer 🙂

There was this soft melodious music that greeted us as we walked into the building where the graduation ceremony was held. Walked a little ahead and this was the sight that greeted me..

These two women played the harp so so beautifully that it was tough to walk away from there.

It was all I could do not to trip and fall as I looked at the hall in wonder, while being escorted to our seats. Aesthetically decorated, it was indeed a solemn atmosphere..

As the graduating students walked to their designated seats, many of us were craning our necks to see where our son / daughter was.. a wave and a flying kiss if their eyes were caught, a picture of them taken from afar :-).. It didn’t matter that the picture would be hazy but it was a moment to be captured. And then with bated breath, the wait to hear their names being called and to see them on stage receiving their degrees. If this was how it was for almost all of us who would see our son / daughter on stage, I get the goosebumps when I think of the mother who walked to the stage, to receive the degree of her son who passed away after completing the course. As she extended her hand to receive the certificate and the dean extended his hand to hand over the certificate, everything froze for a minute. It was an emotional moment for her and the dean stood the entire minute, giving her the much needed time to gather herself. It was a pin drop silence in the hall. A poignant moment indeed..

As the older boy of the household walked up on the stage to receive his certificate, that small tear drop rolled out of my eyes. It was a moment that will remain etched in mind in the years that roll by. I could not but go down the memory lane reliving how he reached this stage.

It came as no surprise to me when he shared about his decision to do his Masters in Sports Performance. A basketball player from class 9, he gave all of himself to this game since then. Rain or shine, he would be in the court.. Fever, what’s that? A paracetamol and he would be in the court to basket the ball.. No injury will take him away from the court to the extent that when he was in his 10th, he had a ligament tear and was advised by his orthopaedician not to play for the next three weeks. He said in frustration “I think he is deliberately finding ways to make me not play.” :-)..

His stress buster during his 10th and 12th boards was the basketball court. During one of his board exams, a friend of mine heavily chided me for allowing him to go to the court to play, when he had exams the next day. She said, “You are mad to send him to play basketball, when he has his board exams tomorrow.” I could not but smile and tell her, “This is his stress buster and if it helps him to bust his stress, I would go with what he wants to do.” In my view, this game was his life changer. I think he found himself on the court and it gave him joy, alleviated his frustrations and lent a sense of direction. In my perspective, this was a trump card I used unabashedly in many moments and in many of my discussions with him. It would be a delight to watch him play a match because he would give himself completely and it would be passion for the game all the way. This was one reason that I would make myself free to be in the court, whenever I was given an opportunity to. The maternal me will be ever thankful to this game because it helped him to be what he is and where he is today. As one of the speakers at the graduation ceremony said in her note, “This is a day of celebration, an achievement that has happened thanks to the many sacrifices made by the student himself / herself, family and friends.”

As the old adage goes ‘No man is an island’..