Your Average Girl.

The End Where It All Began.

The leaves ruffled beneath the bright morning sky. It was one of those March days, when the sun shines bright and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. If one had the good fortune of passing by, in the distant, one could hear a commotion from the football field that was reminiscent of a sporting competition. A closer look would prove to be contrary to your conclusion. Rows upon rows of seats were arranged in such an orderly fashion that, even God Himself, in all His might, could not have set them more in sync with the whole arrangement. The occupants of said seats sat with anxiety and excitement. Wearing their flowing black robes and square-topped hat, trying their best to look as proper as they could; it was unmistakably a scene from a graduation ceremony.

The commotion heard from afar, was in reality a mechanical voice which called out each member of the graduating class to the podium as parents and students alike applauded and whistled wildly; the parents mirroring their ward's excitement.

To see their little child, leave behind the last ounce of their childhood and step into a world full of promise but also of great sorrows and disappointments, was enough to condemn them to tears for the duration of the ceremony.

"MINAAL KHAN", the mechanical voice called out.

A tall girl stood up from amongst the crowd of anticipating graduates and walked gracefully towards the podium in order to receive her degree. While the robe she wore hid most of her dress, she had made sure to not tie up her hair. That was one ounce of her individuality she wanted to put out for the world to see at her graduation. Her thick, wavy hair fell over her shoulders like the majestic mane of a lion. What people failed to notice-probably due to the enormous graduation hat she wore- was that she had a distinct tinge of metallic blue in her hair. She had intended to dye her hair that color for over 3 years and it was only now, on the most important day of her life that she had gathered the courage to do so. As she walked over to the dean of her college, a frail man who commanded a presence of one twice his size, she couldn't help but feel insignificant in his wake. The number of people he had doled out this piece of paper was impossible to pinpoint. Was this really as big a deal as everyone made out to be? But as soon as that same piece of paper came into her hand, all such thoughts vanished from her mind. All she could see were the thousands applauding her, her struggle and all the difficulties she had overcome. Her eyes glistened with tears, but she had promised herself that she would not cry and she intended to keep her promise so she promptly scampered off the stage, lest she break down right then and there. In addition to that, her eyeliner game was totally on point. Her eyeliner OCD was promptly acting up. She was slaying it and she had convinced herself she wouldn't put that to waste over a few tears.

"MINAAALLL!!! We did it. It's done. It's over. We're finally DOCTORS!! OHMYGODD!" These were her exuberant friends. Their joy knew no limit today as they all hugged each other and a few tears were shed and a lot of crazy, almost maniac laughs were exchanged. They had been in this journey together, each step of the way. Minaal couldn't have wanted for better and today, her grin refused to go anywhere.

Her friend Mahira half screamed into her face as she hugged her. Puffy eyed, face flushed, she had very obviously been balling her eyes out at the prospect of graduation. She was nothing compared to Haya though. Haya had turned on the water works and her feet refused to touch the ground- metaphorically because of her joy and literally because of the six inch heels she wore. Neither of those came as a surprise.

"We still have alot of studying to do bro...." Minaal teased Namal, knowing full well the response she'd get.

"WE ARE DOCTORS, MINAAL KHAN", yelled Namal.

Everyone around them turned to look and Minaal could only smirk at how unpredictable her friend could be sometimes.

"Umm you guys... Listen. Do you realize something? " This was Ammana. She usually had something important to say so everyone paid attention. She looked at all five of her girls looking at her seriously and erupted into a laugh. "WE'RE DOCTORSSS!!"

They could never get over this line, no matter how many times it was said/yelled/whispered with awe. Rafia was dealing with the sheer unreal feeling of it all by laughing. Her crazy laugh was infectious and the girls started talking excitedly about how huge this moment was.

As the crowd thinned, the girls made way to their parents desperately!

"I can't believe it. I just can't. You're a doctor. My little girl is a doctor" Minaal's mother stuttered through the tears. Right behind her was her father, standing in his now customary dignified stance, face beaming with pride, eyes threatening to give way to a waterfall.

"Mubarak ho beta!" Was all he could choke out as Minaal hugged him. The next few minutes she spent hugging each and every member of her family, trying to stop her mother from crying and enduring jokes about how she could kiss her life good bye. As if Dow had let her have one in the last five years. But she bore through it all. Dare she say it, she actually enjoyed going through it all. The attention, the congratulatory sentiments. It was surely her day to enjoy. Suddenly she was pulled aside by Mahira, with the urgency which didn't only speak but screamed of a hangout her parents would never agree to.

"Okay. So you know the graduation after party. My amma abba said yes but only if you're going. Tum poochooo. Chalo yar buhat maza aayega. IT'S A CRUISE FOR GOD'S SAKE" She narrated the whole plan looking at her expectantly.

"Yaaar Mahira. Amma kabhi nhi manengii. Don't have much hope ke mujhay ijazat miljaye." As she said it, Mahira sighed crest fallen.

Minaal made her way to her parents and told them about the plan. Her mother seemed far from convinced. She seemed ready to deny her permission right then and there. Her father though, looked at her with consideration. To him she pleaded her case further. "Mahira bhi jarahi haiii. Pleaseeee jaanay deinn. It's my graduation dayy. Aaj toh ijazat dedein"

It seemed to work because as soon as her father heard her plea, he consented to her going.

"How are you going to get there?" Her mother asked, looking for ways to find holes in the plan.

"The guys have cars. We'll go with them." Mahira replied for her. Her mother seemed convinced she'd found the flaw she was looking for. But her father had other plans, "Aik kaam karo. Gaari lejao. Aaraam se chali jaogi. Aanay ka bhi masla nhi hoga." And with that he handed her the keys as both Minaal and her mother looked on with disbelief. But after years of battling it out with him over car permissions, she immediately seized at the opportunity and grabbed the car keys.