The Frills of Sanity

The Graduation

TWENTY YEARS LATER....

AT THE BRIGHTER DAYS...

Today was a very special day for the new graduates of the Princeton University and so was it for Hope. Today, she would take her first step towards who she always aspired to be.

'The psychologist- just like mother', she thought while playing with the golden locket that her mother had gifted her when she was five. She smiled at the thought that by the end of this day, she will be a certified psychologist.

She simpered as she recollected what one of the University's professors had once said while speaking about this degree -'It's license to officially judge people for their life, mistakes and choices! And... get a good pay for doing that!'

She glanced at the mirror for the last time before leaving for the University. All the while, a thought of who she has become kept running through her mind. She could see a young lady in her early twenties with fair, slim figure with long brown curls resting on her back. She could see her big brown eyes and the warm smile that reminded her of her mother.

With a heavy sigh, she walked away from her room and rushed towards the gates. She walked up to the Bus-Stand and waited for the bus arrive and to drop her at the gates of her destination.

With excitement, she entered through the gates of the University. All the graduating students were welcomed at the entry-gate and were assigned to their respective seats. She caught the glimpses of all the colorful banners and posters that covered the walls of the Administration Building. All the students were gathered around the Seminar Hall and were celebrating as if it was a start of a vacation.

There was a red-bricks-wall, near the seminar hall, on which the pictures of the major events were hung. Somewhere at the center, she saw her picture and smiled as she reminisced that memory. The picture was taken by her friend Jane when she was arguing about how humanity has become a very relative term in today's era and how its different facades have evolved over a period of time. She remembered her concluding words that day! 'Only some parts of it are worth preserving!' She nodded at the thought while taking in the to-be-drunk surrounding. She couldn't avoid overhearing what people were chatting about and there were only two discussions-a serious one about career options and another one-about party-plans of tomorrow, because 'Y.O.L.O'.

Hope couldn't stop laughing at those people and she continued walking through the crowd until she heard this very statement from one of her friends. She raised her hand and smiled as she saw them sitting on the chairs at a corner, seriously arguing with each other. She waved at them and started walking towards her seat. As she seated and glanced at the Stage, she observed that the Dean, few other Professors and the Honorary Guest had taken their respective seats on the Stage of the seminar hall.

"You are late!" Jane Merlyn complained while pointing at Hope. She was the blonde of the group with typical ocean-blue eyes and rich parents who were one of the renowned lawyers of the town. She had absolutely no interest in psychology and her future plan was to keep check on thoughts and money of her soon-to-be husband.

"So, we were discussing about what career opportunities we will be most interested in." Hope hummed and nodded at the statement as Mark Saunders introduced her to the topic of the day. Hope sighed. She had been thinking about this for a long time and yet she wasn't able to decide on her choices.

"Well..?" Mark questioned, disturbing her chain of thoughts.

"It's a tie between a psychology professor and a novelist." Hope finally answered Mark's question softly. Being a novelist had always excited her because it would involve a lot of real-time study and fun. Also, she could feel a little closer to her father's social and public image. But then, considering her present circumstances, a job of a psychology professor would always weigh up its scale with financial benefits.