The Exams got Over

Those were the days of the year 2010, Vijay had only one exam left of his 10^th Board Examinations. The last exam was scheduled to be on the next day. He had the books and notebooks ahead of him, related to the subject he had exam of. His eyes were on the pages of the books & notebooks, and he was thinking about how to answer what kind of questions, what kind of questions he should answer first, had he read enough to get good marks in the exam, and how his life was going to be after the exam.

He had a little bit of nervousness about the exam and a lot of excitement about the exam getting over. One of the reasons for his excitement was also that the results were going to be announced after around 2 months unlike in the cases of other final exams he had appeared from the beginning of his school days till class- ix, where the results used to get announced within 10 days of the last exam.

The Exams got Over

Finally, Vijay’s exams were over. That time, how good or bad his exam was, how many marks he would get in that exam, were not his priorities unlike the cases of other exams he had appeared for, as the joy of the exams getting over and the long break (around 2 months) was taking over every emotion of his. He didn’t care to discuss the question paper with his friends rather he discussed when and where to play from the next day, where to wander around, which street food to eat, what new things to explore and learn, and other stuff like that.

The next day, he got out of his sleep at 6:00 AM. Then he looked at the clock, “Oh. It’s only 6 ‘ o’clock, I should sleep for some more time as it’s (sleep) been wasted so much during the exams. Now onwards for 2 months, I don’t need to wake up so early.” Then, he slept for some more time, woke up, and went to play cricket with his friends as decided the previous day.

 

After Vijay came home after playing, his father told him, “Son, quickly freshen up and have some food, I have to take you somewhere.”

Vijay quickly freshened up, had the food prepared by his mother, and was ready to go with his father. Then Vijay’s father took him to an institution. Both of them entered the office of the institution. In the office, he started talking about something with a gentleman present there. Vijay had no interest in the talks going on between his father and the gentleman as at that time, he was thinking about the game he had on the ground that day and was planning how to play the next day.

Then, the gentleman gave a form to Vijay’s father. His father started filling up the form. While Vijay’s father was filling up the form, Vijay was busy thinking about other things in his life. After filling up the form,

Vijay’s Father: Vijay, take this form and sign it.

Vijay took the form from his father and signed it. Then, his father asked the gentleman, “when can Vijay join the classes?” The gentleman said, “As early as possible, I would say ‘from tomorrow’.’”

Vijay was shocked to hear the words ‘classes’ and ‘tomorrow’. Before Vijay could think of anything, his father said to the gentleman, “sure sir, he would be here tomorrow.” Vijay was confused, he couldn’t understand what was going on. Then, Vijay and his father came out of the institution. In the way,

Vijay: Papa, do I really have to come here from tomorrow or it’s another lie like the one you tell the doctor, “I would take care from tomorrow, I would start working out from tomorrow.”

Vijay’s Father: No son, you have to come here from tomorrow.

Vijay: But, without knowing my results of the exams which have recently ended, how can I get prepared for the future.

Father: What do you mean by you don’t know about your results? You had said that you have done good in the exams. Have you really done well in your exams?

Vijay: I have done good in the exams but………..

Father (interrupting Vijay): Then, what’s the problem? If I tell you the complete truth you are running behind in the preparation for your future. Many kids are so much better than you, you have to be in their ranks and if possible better than them or the best. You don’t want to be the sleeping rabbit in the race, do you?

Vijay: But, I can also be the slow and steady tortoise and win the race.

Father: No excuses son, it’s compulsory for your survival, even your cousin ‘Chirag bhaiya’ (Elder brother Chirag) is living in a hostel away from his home since class-9 to prepare for his future. At least we are not sending you away from us, be grateful about that.

After hearing those words from his father, he felt like the clouds of his father’s thoughts taking over his thoughts flying in the open sky. He felt like being chained whose key he had to unlock but feared to do the same.