My father wanted me to study at Kinnaird College. He had quite an assertive personality. So I was bound to fulfil his wishes.

To study at Kinnaird College was a matter of prestige back then. It was a famous college – no doubt. But I had no desire to disrupt my educational path. I had done my O” Levels. Technically, I was supposed to get a degree in A’ Levels in continuation of this. Kinnaird College was not offering this program. So I was not against the college – I was against not doing A’ Levels. On the other hand, my father was not against A’ Levels. He just wanted me to get a stamp of Kinnaird College – no matter what I study. So … we were not aligned.

Anyway, all my class-fellows were applying for schools that were offering A’ Levels and there I was…. filling up the admission forms for KC.

I didn’t know how to say “No” to abu. So I rested my case with God. My only way out was the fact that the College decides not to take me in.

I had 4 A’s and 3B’s in O Level. On the result card, University of Cambridge had written the percentage against each grade as well. But my beautiful country still had a regulation to convert these percentages into numbers using their own scale. I had heard that when they do the conversion, they give you low marks. So in Mathematics the result card said that I had obtained 98% but when it got converted, I only got 65/100. I had no idea what formulae Pakistani board was using. But honestly, this was one big way to eradicate the kids with an O’ Levels background from entering Pakistani educational system. There was no way I could get admission into any good college in Lahore with this pathetic grading system.

Anyway, that day had arrived when Kinnaird College was putting up its list for FSc. I remember my father took me to the College and asked me to go inside and check the list. When I went there, I started looking for my name. And there was no trace of it. I was over the moon. I was so so happy not to see my name. It was a moment of sheer happiness to me 😀 😀

I didn’t want Kinnaird College and Kinnaird College didn’t want me either. It was a perfect love story!

Khair, I came back to the car. My father was waiting – looking at my face. I was trying to look sad. I don’t know how sad I was looking but I broke the news. I think he was sad. He didn’t ask much. Now when I look back, I feel that he didn’t console me either. He had figured out that I didn’t need to be consoled – and unfortunately, there was no third person in the car at that time to console him. We went back home in sheer quietness. We were both absorbed in our own worlds… and we had nothing to say to each other.

I had applied to one other school as well. It was Lahore Grammar School. They were offering A’ Levels. They knew what my grades and my percentages were worth. They took me in happily. I had opted for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Urdu Literature for my A” level.

It is important to cite these details. It is important to give the context about how I landed into LGS. It wasn’t easy. I had to go through an emotional journey to reach where I went eventually.

Anyway, the day finally arrived when the new chapter in my life was starting. It was my first day at LGS. There was a sea of girls. The first day is usually tensed. You don’t know what to do, where to go and how to connect with other people.

90% of girls were just continuing their studies at LGS. They were there since grade 1 I guess. And almost all of the old grammarians were very unwelcoming. They were already hanging in their groups. 20% of the girls were like me – from other schools.

The blue-blooded grammarians had an air about them. They wouldn’t smile, nor will allow you to break into their circle. I won’t lie here but those girls made me extremely uncomfortable. For an outsider to be a part of the system, somebody had to welcome them in. But the first encounter told me that the girls from outside of LGS would have to make a little world of their own.

While moving from one classroom to another and strolling through the place, somebody caught my attention immediately. And I froze!

That petite girl, who had taken all my attention few months ago in that examination hall, was standing right in front of me. She was talking to another girl. I didn’t know her. But my God, she looked so familiar … and real!!!

Just like Kareena Kapoor who, upon seeing Shahid Kapoor, fell into his arm when she was avoiding the street boys (movie: Jab We Met)- I literally found myself running towards her with some unforeseen magnetic force. Lol.

Me: Hello!

She: Hello!

Me: So today is your first day here as well? ( how absurd!)

She: Yes!

Me: So where are you from? (Although I already knew the answer – she was from Convent … I remembered her)

She: I’m from Convent… and you ?

Me: I’m from Cathedral High School…. I smiled.

She: (pointed at the girl who was standing next to her)… this is S. She is also from Convent….

Me: Hello S !!!! Good to see you. Looks like I’m the only one from my school. Would you mind if I hang out with you guys today? Completely new here so really don’t know where to go and what to do? I asked …. after gathering all the guts that I had.

She: Oh sure, why not? We are also trying to figure out a lot of things today….

And this was it. A simple and clean start of a lifelong friendship…

Btw, this was the first time (and perhaps the last time as well) ever  when I approached somebody with an intention to start a bond.

A and I are together for more than two decades now. There had been times when there were gaps in our talk but whenever we got a chance, it took us a few minutes to land onto the current affairs and catching up on everything that had happened. With time, we also got to know that our fathers were good friends and that we knew each other from a different context as well.

A happened to be a difficult person to keep as a friend, for she has the tendency to get lost into her world without giving an ultimatum. But I always make a conscious effort to keep this friendship. She does too … but I would really like to take the credit for checking on her from time to time.

About my children, I always feel that they can never grow old for me because their first sight is fixated in my eyes. Even when Aleena/Haniya and Zara will turn 40, they will always be that baby on whom I set my eyes for the first time. I think for A – I have the absolute same feel. That little girl, who rushed into the examination hall and kept looking for her spot – this is how I will always remember A!

So there goes my first story about the very few people who I proudly call my friends….

Until then, Happy Reading!