First day at school

I had been waiting impatiently for this day. I had planned a lot and prepared myself too. My daughter was almost three years old and it was time for her to join a school. Before the Christmas holiday, I started searching for a playschool for her. I took her along with me and she enjoyed these trips. I felt assured that she will settle happily in her new life. I selected a playschool which was in the next block. It is a quaint place under the administration of the local Christian community and I liked the ambience. She was very excited about going to this school, much to my relief.
I went about shopping happily for this special occasion. I got a pink tiffin box and a school bag with the motif of a dog and she liked them.
The day was 4th of January. I woke her up early and got her dressed. She was very happy and putting the bag on her back set out holding the hands of both of her parents.
The school attendant (generally known as atthya here) greeted her at the doorstep and tried to take her inside. Much to our disappointment, she refused to go and started crying. I accompanied her to the classroom and tried to explain to her what exciting things were awaiting her. But everything failed and she clung to me. The teacher asked me to leave immediately so that she can handle her.
I gave her a hug and wished her from the bottom of my heart. Strange emotions flooded me. This was her first step towards a new life. A life which would be different from the one we had created and nurtured for all these years. Now onwards she will have a separate life of her own which will be filled with exciting things like friends, secrets, new games and of course a whole new world of knowledge. She will get entangled in his new life and drift from our world. I hope she enjoys this new life as much as I did my own and still cherish lovingly. I also hope to be a part of her new life and see her grow up into a happy and confident girl.
As I turned my back I saw her looking longingly at me with tears in her eyes. She was calling for me. I stood still on the stairs and listened to her wailing. As I traced back my steps her wailings kept ringing in my ears. At one point I felt like going back. But the mother inside refrained me. I spent the next one hour restlessly in the house thinking about all sorts of queer things. I even expected a phone call from the school asking me to bring her back. But nothing of that sort happened.
After one hour when I entered the school I saw her sitting on a bench with tearful eyes. She came running to me and I took her in my lap. She refused to get down and I had to carry her home. She was a bit shaky and came to her normal self only after reaching home.
Next day she was reluctant to go to school. I had to coax her a lot. She cried a lot but I hardened myself. When I went to get her I found her sitting on the same bench staring at the door. But she was much better and walked on her own with me.
Now she has settled in school. Though she has not made much friends but she enjoys going to school. My little girl is no longer a little girl anymore. She has rhymes to learn and alphabets to practice writing. While returning from school she is usually her chirpy self and talks a lot. She shares tidbits about her school and I enjoy those immensely. I hope she continues with this so that I can witness the shaping of young mind into a matured one and be friends with her for life.