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A Win-Win Victory
Posted by: The Mighty Pen on
Mar 25 2008 |
Comments (52)
Even thinking about that day brings goose bumps to my skin.
It was year 1996 and I was giving my Std. X board exams. The school topper Maheshwari, more popularly known as Mahu to her close circle of family and friends called me to check out as to what time I was going to meet her at the bus stop, for we had planned to go together to the venue, St. Anthony’s School in Chembur, the centre allotted to us for our exam.
I informed Mahu that my dad had taken an off from work to drop me to the exam centre and that she should reach the bus stop at 9.15 am, from where we would pick her up. Soon before I could disconnect the call, I happened to tell her, “I was reading through last year’s Science-II paper. There’s a question there, ‘Which genus does the Water Hyacinth belong to?’ I can’t really recall, do you remember having read it in our Science-II text book?”
I could sense that she was flummoxed. After pausing for few seconds, she said, “We are not yet done writing the Science-I paper and you are already preparing for tomorrow’s exam? What’s wrong with you?” she asked me.
“What???” I remember screaming back. “Have you gone nuts? This isn’t a good time to joke, Mahu! We are writing the Science-II paper today, not Science-I,” I said.
Listening to me declare the verdict so confidently, Mahu got into a dilemma herself. It was followed by an outburst that I could hear while I was still on the phone. Strangely, even before confirming who was right, she had accepted that if anyone amongst the two of us were to be wrong; it had to be her and not me.
That boosted my confidence. I checked my time table which confirmed that we were indeed to write our Science-II paper today, and thereby undauntedly headed towards the bus stop to comfort the inconsolable Mahu.
When I reached the bus stop I realised that Mahu was so distraught that she had summoned her mother for help. But in a matter of seconds, I could witness the roles getting reversed. On knowing the truth, Mahu’s mom started crying bitterly while Mahu got on to do the comforting act.
They hesitantly got into the car and I could see that Mahu’s mom was still hysterical. “What are you going to do now?” she reprimanded Mahu. “After goofing up so royally, how are you ever going to top the class now?” Saying so, she slapped Mahu hard on her face.
My dad who was witnessing all this from behind the steering wheel now looked back and said, “Relax. It’s not the end of the world. I don’t understand the exaggerated importance that we attach to these board exams. Please don’t freak out. She’s barely a 15 year old already stooping under the pressure of the much hyped exams and now reeling under this shock. Please have mercy on her.”
After hearing my dad speak, Mahu’s mom tried to bring about some semblance of calm on her face, though I could sense that what she was trying to project on her face was far from what she was truly feeling inside.
We reached the centre. Suddenly what I saw around me shook me out of my senses. My face turned pale with dread. I instantly recognised the front cover of the Science-I textbooks that seemed to be glaring back at me as if making mockery of me. Every student there was deeply immersed reading out of their Science-I textbooks, held well up against their faces.
I realised that not everyone could be wrong, though I secretly wished they were. But it suddenly dawned upon me that it was I who had goofed up and got it all wrong. We had indeed to write the Science-I paper today and not Science-II, like I had confidently let myself believe.
I could see Mahu’s mom’s face immediately filling up with cheer on realising the fact. Mahu on the other hand started clapping in joy. It was my turn now to pull my hair in disgust. My head started reeling under the shock. “I’m not giving the exam,” I told my dad, tears filling in my eyes.
Mahu’s mom did not lose the opportunity. She shot back at my dad with her sharp retort. “I’m so sorry for you, Mr. Nair. Now try telling yourself that it’s not the end of the world.”
“Well it’s really not!” my dad sternly replied back.
“Well, it really isn’t a big deal for your daughter,” she replied back. “She isn’t expected to top the class like Mahu, you see?” the lady spoke with much audacity. One had to have a heart of stone to have said what she said at that moment, and it gave way to the tears that had so far been welling in my eyes now to flow uncontrollably and form stains as they rolled down my cheeks.
My dad ignored her, turned up to me and said, “There’s nothing to worry, baby. Just relax and write the paper like the outcome doesn’t matter to you. We know fully well that you’ve been studying hard all through the year. If you clear your exams, we’ll be happy for you. But even if you don’t, trust me, we’ll be proud that you had the courage to make an attempt. And believe me, either ways; nothing’s going to change for you. Neither your mother’s love for you nor my faith in you and your capabilities. I want you to know that there’s much more to life than just clearing the Std. X board exams.”
“Besides, we have enrolled you into the school, a year earlier than you ought to have joined. So you see it’s a win-win situation for us either ways,” he said trying to bring a smile on my face in that bleak moment. “Give it your best shot darling and remember that you have nothing to lose,” he said.
I went up and not only gave the exam but also went on to secure the highest marks in the Science-I paper, partly because of my rigorous preparation well before the exams and undoubtedly owing to my dad’s assurance that the outcome wasn’t going to change anything for me.
When the results were declared, the look on Mahu’s mom’s face was priceless. It indeed turned out to be a win-win victory for me.
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