Udeeta Borpujari, Class-VI, Army Public School, Jorhat.
“Annual exams are knocking at the door! The dates have already been declared and it is going to be offline.”
Vamika could not believe her ears. She was very happy as it was the first offline exam that year. At the same time, she was a bit nervous as well. Would she be able to complete the exams on time? Would she be able to sit for three long hours at a stretch? Will her right hand follow the speed of her brain? What if the ink runs out during an exam?
Though she was a student of the sixth standard, she was feeling as if she would be sitting for an exam for the first time ever as she had been only giving online exams that whole year. She only had to select the correct options on her laptop. But she comforted herself by saying, “All my concepts are clear – be it algebraic equations, rectilinear propagation of light, ratio and proportion, etc.” She told herself, “I am getting a bit slower, nowadays, so I have to work on that from tomorrow, then only will I be able to complete the question papers on time.” Then she prayed to God, “Oh God! At least You know that I have never cheated during the exams. So I am sure that You are with me and You will surely help me crack the annual exams.” She finally slept with a smile on her lips.
But, Lopa, one of Vamika’s classmates, reacted in a different way. Her thoughts were contradictory to Vamika’s. Lopa was very unhappy to know that they would have to appear in the annual exams physically. So many thoughts clouded her mind. She thought, “Oh God! Now everybody will get to know the secret behind me scoring 90 per cent marks in all the subjects. The whole year, I appeared in my exams with my books open. Who will solve the maths problems for me now? Who will draw my science diagrams? Who will do the letter writing, story writing and diary entries for me? Please do something. Any miracle, anything and bring the coronavirus back. Let there be a lockdown again.”
After a week or so, COVID-19 cases were detected again and the numbers increased daily. The school authorities cancelled the offline exam and declared that online exams would be conducted. The news broke Vamika’s heart; she had thought that everything had gone back to being normal again, but she consoled herself with tears in her eyes. She said, “Okay, God, I am ready to face any situation. Whether offline or online, I will never cheat and shall complete my education honestly and sincerely.”
On the other hand, Lopa was very happy as God was in her favour. She said, “I knew it, God, You would never disappoint me. Now I can score good marks and I can demand any expensive gift from my parents. Keep helping me always.”
Only time will complete this story… we have to wait until then.
