The Graduation

Life in school was finally coming to an end, by end of August 2012. Sometime during the 2nd week of July, Riya shared with Sameer, that she & Adarsh may be required to head back to India, for good. For the moment, there couldn't be anything more shocking for Sameer. Any single instance of happiness in Houston, seemed pulverized. By August, it became evident that the apprehension was more confounded than expected. To add to his woes, there wasn't a job in sight, though he was at the tad end of his course curriculum. Sameer became all the more miffed with his decisions in life and peeved at his fortunes.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rati offered Sameer a job as a Graduate Assistant under her and he also started working as a customer service representative at the Au Bon Pain at University Hospital. The meager income sufficed for his house rent and other bills. Finally, he was happy to see his social security number and pay check.

Adarsh was to leave Houston for good on Sept.19. Riya requested Sameer to be there at the airport. Although she was joining Adarsh back in India, in a month's time, she felt alone and sad. It was a tumult of mixed feeling, emotions and may be anarchy too. In weeks to follow, after Adarsh's departure, Riya and Sameer spent time packing her household stuff, checking with packers & movers, taking care of unpaid bills and closure of utilities. With a heavy heart, Sameer bid Riya goodbye on Oct.5th, 2012. 

Sameer's Graduation ceremony was slated for December 15th, 2012. Sarika flew down from Minneapolis and both she and Priti ensured to share his moment of pride, when he took the 'Walk'. Sameer, finally took the walk with Jenny, Kyler, Pakhi & Wahid, among others. After a couple of photo sessions and a sumptuous lunch with batch-mates, the trio headed to Priti's home for a night of revelry planned by Pratik. For Sameer, it was the successful end to an arduous journey. Although undertaken in painstaking solitude, it was an experience, embellished with new-found gains. The Kentucky Bourbon that Pratik had got to celebrate the evening, could hardly live up to the Le Grand Sentiment that his achievement made Sameer feel. For a change, Sameer was too delighted to get sloshed.  It was a victory, hard earned. It was a battle, well fought. It was an enemy, well vanquished. It was a fort, truly conquered.