Saka checked himself out in the mirror.
His hair was combed back, his creaseless white shirt and tie in place. He had to wear the school summer coat, but he would do so afterward.
His father would be coming in the afternoon for the ceremony and family photo session.
He had the admission letter from Vayu in his room. Tobi would be studying architecture in Phupha, but they were planning to meet almost every weekend. Both were going to be part of Gaya, and that was their comfort zone. It would have been better if their campuses had been the same, but then, you can't have everything your way, right?
"Dad! I'm leaving now!"
He ran down the stairs. The last month, Vira had never come anywhere near Saka. Except for the occasional bar of chocolate or flavored coffee with a note to cheer him up, there had been no interaction.
Before the exams, Vira had said, "I want you to focus on your studies. I shouldn't be a distraction."
"But you won't be!" Saka tried to explain.
Vira gave him a friendly smack. "You can live without me for a month. You still get to see me at school. Stop sulking and start studying."
Vira was going to feel more miserable than Saka, but he didn't say so.
Saka stood outside Vira's door and rang the bell. He cleared his throat. He was a bit nervous. It was like he was starting again.
The door opened. "Erm... Vira..." he started, but his voice trailed off.
"Look at my handsome grandson! My my! I might just cast my own eye!"
Saka was totally surprised by Atira's greeting.
He stood for a second, and then hugged her tightly. "I didn't expect you! I am so happy to see you!"
"It was a surprise, though. I wanted to be here for my favorite grandchild's graduation ceremony."
"Now he is your favorite?" asked a voice behind her, laced with humor.
Vira stood next to her. He saw Saka but didn't say anything.
"Come in, breakfast is ready. Laika and Roma couldn't make it, since they are on the committee for the ceremony."
Saka excused himself as he walked in. Vira had made his favorite. Grandma Atira wore the brooch he bought her. He felt moved.
A few minutes later, Maw Lava came with his car and picked them all up.
"I will be monopolizing your grandma," he told Vira, who laughed. "Feel free to keep her. She apparently doesn't need me anymore."
Grandma Atira laughed. "Saka, since I am now unwanted by the wicked grandson, won't you protect me and provide me with three meals a day?"
Saka said shyly, "My home is always your home, Grandma Atira."
She kissed him on his forehead affectionately and told Vira, "Now I legally disown you. Ha!"
Everyone laughed.
Atira did not feel like an outsider. She had met Laika and Roma when Vira had wanted to buy Saka his birthday gift. Maw Lava had also invited Professor Arak, with whom they were collaborating on exchange programs, to remove prejudice against Islanders and to create a new generation of open-minded children exposed to lifestyles on both ends.
Saka, as usual, topped the chart. It surprised everyone that the lazy Tobi had come second. Tobi seldom pushed himself, but he wanted good scores to wow the guys at Phupha.
It was in the afternoon when everyone, with their families, had gathered at the auditorium. The teachers sat on the stage. Laika and Roma were the moderators, and they had the entire school in splits with their funny introduction to the seniors who were called to collect their completion certificates.
Mina could not believe that Saka had topped. She felt her world shattering. How was it even possible? But she was in charge of handing out the certificate and medal of honor, she couldn't refuse to hand it out.
Maw Lava then gave a speech as he introduced Atira to the audience.
Atira was effective and impactful. She called upon the students who had been accepted into her universities and requested their juniors to apply to her colleges.
"Dream high, dream big, don't stop dreaming, and don't stop working towards it.
It was almost thirty years ago, my junior and best friend, an engineering professor at that time, decided to throw everything he had to start a school in Mann. He said to me—let me quote him here—"I am not needed here, where the kids can succeed without me; there are a hundred people who can replace me. I need to be where I can contribute to the future of a child, even if it is only one."
With that, he invested everything into the building of this beautiful school. Today, it has three students—Saka, Tobi, and Jay—who have gotten into one of the top-ranked universities globally, and I am not blowing my trumpet here."
The audience laughed. They had been drawn in by her humble attitude. They also realized something about Maw Lava that many didn't know.
"Maw Lava did not stop with just academics. He did everything to pull in an amazing team of teachers, whom I hope you all can support and cheer.
We have with us Professor Arak, a leading mathematician and an academic advisor, who also owns a prestigious chain of schools in Marina. He has offered to support with a six-month exchange program. It means ten students in each class will get the opportunity to study in one of his schools in Marina."
Professor Arak stood up and bowed. Mina cheered. Her father was the best; he was indeed noble and charitable.
"We have his lovely daughter, Maw Mina, who is also an alumna of our college. She has been a brilliant teacher, I have heard, and I hope she continues to do her best. It is not easy to leave your own home and work elsewhere, especially for someone who has been pampered all her life. But she has, which I believe is something all of us must make note of. So, my young Mann-ers, you may be afraid to leave your homes; the outside world may be scary, but if you don't, you will never feel the satisfaction of having tried."
There was a huge round of applause. Atira casually glanced at Vira and winked. Vira smiled. His grandmother had the capability of making anyone toe the line by making it seem like she was praising them. Hopefully, Mina would now start encouraging kids instead of looking down on them just because they were from Mann.
Mina blushed. To be known by Atira was an honor. She was slowly starting to understand her importance in this place. Her father and Saka had been eye-openers. She had volunteered to work one more year, just to see if she could get better, and if she could be the reason a student got into one of the colleges in Marina.
Roma and Laika exchanged glances and winked at each other. They could only hope Mina took this in a sensible way instead of letting get it to her head.
"Maw Laika and Maw Roma, as most of you are aware, are honor students themselves, who did so in Marina before coming back to help their island grow. They have been one among you all, and now, they are here to help you shine. Please support them. I believe that about four students here have received admission to some very good colleges in Marina, thanks to their efforts. Can I have those students stand up?"
Roon and Tiko stood, along with two other children, and bowed before sitting back.
Maw Lava pitched in, "It is the first time in Mann's history to have a 20% placement rate for graduation. Please cheer for them. They have done our island proud."
The auditorium echoed with applause.
Maw Lava continued, "Maw Atira, this was possible only because of the determination of one teacher, who fought hard for his students, spent weekends approaching universities and initiating all collaborations. He introduced practises that was never even there before."
The hall went quiet. The high school students all knew who it was. They were grinning ear to ear, ready to cheer.
Professor Arak interrupted, "Let me have the pleasure of introducing and thanking the next person, with whom I've had the pleasure of closely working with, and with whom I hope I can work for a long time in the future as well. "