The clock finally ticked its way to the most exciting time of the week—3:20 p.m. The school bell rang louder than usual, or maybe it just felt that way because of the thrill pulsing in my veins. Today was Outing Day. No evening study, no library time, no revision, no submissions. Just freedom.
The classroom burst into life. Girls screamed, bags were zipped with urgency, desks scraped as we rushed out to join the already escaping day scholars. For the first time since joining hostel life again, I felt the true joy of a school's closing bell. The kind that makes you want to scream, run barefoot, and taste the air as if it were made of sugar.
As I crossed the corridor and stepped into the entrance near the school reception, I scanned the area with hungry eyes.
But Appa wasn't there.
My smile wavered slightly, and I stood still for a second. Maybe he got stuck in traffic? Maybe he forgot? No, impossible. Appa would never forget. I took a deep breath. I wasn't going to let this small hiccup ruin my excitement.
Then it hit me.
The wardens must be in the auditorium right now, setting up for issuing gate passes. Hostel students couldn't just run off even if our parents came to the gate—we needed a gate pass signed by the warden. Without it, even God couldn't get us past the school gate. I chuckled to myself. Rules like these made this place feel like a jail sometimes.
Of course, they wouldn't start issuing them before class ended. It would take them at least 10–15 minutes to set up desks and sort bay numbers.
I turned on my heel and ran toward the auditorium. Sure enough, as I arrived, I saw a neat arrangement of desks labeled by Bay 1, Bay 2, Bay G-1... and so on. And standing right in front of the Bay G-2 table—my bay—was none other than Appa.
"Appa!" I called out, my voice bubbling with joy as I sprinted to him.
He turned and smiled widely, opening his arms just as I lunged in for a hug.
"How are you, Kanna?" he asked, ruffling my braid gently.
"I'm fine!" I said, hugging him tighter. "Who all came with you? Amma? Santhosh?"
"Just me," he said, smiling mysteriously. "They're all waiting at home. We'll go together, just you and me."
I beamed. "Appa, a road trip with just us? Our first father-daughter solo trip? This is going to be so much fun!"
He laughed. "Okay, okay, stop the excitement for now. Go get your bags from the hostel. I'll finish the formalities and wait at the reception. We'll leave soon."
"I have a surprise for you!" I whispered, grinning.
His eyebrows lifted. "For me? What is it?"
"You'll know in fifteen minutes," I said. "Wait for me in the school reception's waiting room, okay? I'll be quick!"
He chuckled and nodded. "Go, before your warden catches you loitering."
I saluted dramatically, turned, and sprinted back toward the hostel.
The corridor was already full of girls dragging trolleys and duffel bags, some looking sleepy and some wide awake with glee. A few had even changed into home clothes already—leggings and oversized tees replacing the stiff white uniform.
As I reached my room, I opened my Cupboard quickly. Everything was packed the previous night, and I had double-checked the list. I didn't want to waste a single second today. After all, I only had two nights and one and a half days to enjoy being home.
I grabbed my mini trolley bag, packed a few dresses to pack which I had already picked out yesterday. changed into jeans and an oversized t-shirt. made sure my file with the Student Voice digital printout was safe inside, and did one last sweep of the shelves to check if I'd forgotten anything. I didn't pack any books, I know those will be useless. Soon, I was out of the hostel as soon as I came in.
I waved to Jai Harini, who was chatting with someone near the hostel gate.
"Bye da! Have fun at home!" I called out, my heart still fluttering with excitement.
As I made my way toward the main school entrance, I spotted Sastika standing just outside with her parents. She looked like she was trying to explain something to them, probably about the hostel formalities.
"Hey! I'm leaving now. Bye!" I said, jogging toward them.
Sastika turned with a grin. "Da, meet my parents!"
I smiled and joined them. "Hi aunty, hi uncle!"
Her mom gave me a warm smile. "Hi kanna. Where are you from?"
"Erode, aunty. Not too far—maybe 60 kilometers from your place. My appa came to pick me up. He's waiting in the reception room."
"Oh wow, that's quite nearby," her dad said. "Why don't you share your father's number? Or even better—let's go meet him! Who knows, maybe you both can travel together next time."
"Nice idea, uncle! I'll introduce you all. Do you want to come with me now, or shall I bring my dad here?"
"I'll come with you. Anyway, we need to wait for Sastika to bring her bags."
"Perfect! Let's go, then."
We walked through the shaded corridor toward the reception area, where Appa was waiting patiently inside the cool waiting room. The staff had placed a jug of water and some steel tumblers on a small table, and Appa was sipping from one as he scrolled through his phone.
He looked up and smiled as I entered. "You're back early. Got everything?"
"Yes, Appa. And I brought someone with me. This is Sastika's dad. Uncle, meet my appa, Kannan."
They immediately shook hands like long-lost friends.
"Hello, I'm Selva, from Avinashi."
"Pleasure to meet you! I'm Kannan, from Erode. Wow, Avinashi! That's less than an hour from my place."
"I know, right? We're practically neighbours!"
The two men chuckled and quickly settled into an easy rhythm, chatting like they'd known each other forever.
Sastika's mother joined in with a warm smile. "Looks like the kids are planning their own little reunion trips now. Maybe next outing, they can plan the travel together."
"Absolutely," Appa agreed. "We can even coordinate how they'll come back on Sunday. Makes everything easier for us and safer for them."
The two families continued their cheerful exchange, and I stood nearby with a full heart. Something about this connection, these small interactions between parents—it made me feel seen, understood, and somehow even more rooted in this new life.
"Uncle, did you collect the gate pass?" I asked.
"Gate pass? What's that?" Sastika's dad asked, confused.
I turned to both of them. "Hostel students can't leave the school campus without an official gate pass signed by the warden. Even if parents are here, the security won't allow us to exit without it. It's like a mini exit visa," I said, half-joking.
Appa nodded in agreement. "She's right. I just got mine from the Bay G-2 counter. You'll have to show your Visitor ID and sign the sheet."
"Ohh! Thanks, da. I didn't know that," Sastika said.
"No problem! I was clueless about it too."
Soon, Sastika's parents left to collect the gate pass, and she dashed off to the hostel to pack her bag. Appa and I sat together in the waiting room, the soft whir of the fan above providing a steady rhythm to the quiet.
"You're glowing, Nila. Did everything go well today?"
I smiled wide. "Yes, Appa. You know what, I'll show you the magazine once we get home. I sent you the digital link already. But seeing it in person... I want to be there with you when you read it."
"Can't wait, kanna. Amma and Santhosh will be so proud."
"Let's hope they don't make me narrate the whole thing word by word," I giggled.