We Never Knew We Would Miss It

There was a time when school felt like the biggest punishment in the world.We complained about everything.

The morning assembly was too long. The uniform was uncomfortable. The teachers gave too much homework. Mondays were horrible. Tests were unfair. The timetable was exhausting. We hated waking up early, hated carrying those heavy bags, hated sitting through lectures when all we wanted was to go home.

And somehow, we spent years wishing for the day when we would finally be free.“Bas school khatam ho jaaye.”We said it so casually.

We had no idea how much we would miss it once it actually did.I think about those ordinary mornings now. The ones I never appreciated because they were ordinary. Getting ready half-asleep, rushing because I was already late, looking for my socks, fighting with my hair, grabbing something to eat before leaving.

Back then, I thought those mornings were boring.Now, I would give anything to experience one of them again.

I miss walking through those school gates without realizing that one day they would become a place I could only visit in memories.I miss hearing the bell.

I miss sitting beside friends and exchanging looks when the teacher said something funny. I miss passing little notes, whispering during class, laughing over absolutely nothing and trying desperately not to get caught.I even miss the things I used to complain about.The homework.The uniforms.The boring assemblies.

The “keep quiet” from teachers.The last-minute studying before an exam.The excitement of hearing, “You have a free period.”Funny how time changes the meaning of things.

A free period used to mean extra time to talk.Now, I would probably spend it just looking around the classroom and wondering how I ever thought I had enough time.

And perhaps what I miss most isn’t even school itself.It’s who I was in school.Life felt smaller then. My biggest problems were exams, friendships, getting scolded by a teacher or wondering whether my parents would allow me to go somewhere with friends.

I didn’t know how complicated growing up would become.I didn’t know that friendships would change, people would leave, responsibilities would increase and everyone would slowly become busy building separate lives.Back then, seeing my friends was automatic.

We didn’t have to make plans weeks in advance.They were simply there.Every day.

We knew what happened in each other’s lives

Funny how we spent our school days wishing they would end, only to grow up and wish we could live just one ordinary day of them again.