Some people had asked why such massive difference in how things are done in other colleges and Saint Augustine. Here the competition between the students was brutal. It was even more for scholarship seeking students because they were facing records made by the seniors or some arbitrary cut off value. It was common sight for students to drop out after a semester or two. Those who want solace of scholarship, who try for atleast two years. But near the end, all their efforts would be surviving and completing that year. Who has energy to get top marks?
So the department chose different way to manage things, to reduce burden on student as much as possible. The basic expenses had to be paid in full at the beginning of semester, that would be taken care by the loan. The others, which would amount to millions, who be calculated on at the end of their studies. After deducting scholarship, remaining fees would be converted to a loan. However, based on rating given by the department, the interest amount and time period required to pay would vary. The students would not have to pay interest for the money from the time of joining till the final loan. The was a method of saving the students. Also a method to push them to stay and finish their graduation. A four year gap would save them lots of money. Moreover, longer the duration of stay, better the scholarship. Get more marks, get more credits from the college. Simple rule to understand.
Mrs Briggs started chatting while the computer compiled Atharva's file. This was one of her favourite times, discussing the dreams and steps to take to realise them. "You want to be an entrepreneur or a special assistant? If you want the former, why don't you hold this money as the seed money? If it's latter, I can recommend few places-" She stopped abruptly as she finished reading the compiled file.
Most of the rich brats would choose business administration as their major. So the economics and related departments were well funded and very big. Consequently, there were many smaller degrees, diplomas in those subjects. Generally, if the student was a genius, he would get a double degree, if not then try for a degree and a diploma in related subject.
In Atharva's case, every assumption turned out to be wrong.
Atharva was having existential crisis. His mind decided to torment him and show glimpses of the nightmares he had.
It was the same scholarship department office room. But swarmy fake smiling face of Mr Aleno was facing him. He said, " Poor child! Why did you have to anger Dr Cavanaugh so badly. Now you have a big black mark on your profile. And how could you not take the final exam?Such a great foundation but with out final exams taken, all of it will be considered waste. Now the disciplinary committee is even mulling to withdraw your graduation exam results and push you out. Of all the people, you had to anger Dr Cavanaugh. Tut, Tut. Don't you know he taught many of the faculty here?" Atharva was spent most difficult time and finally managed to give exams in one major. All the works and time, energy spent in other subjects were considered complete waste. He nearly could not get enough credits to pay of the main exams, how could he think of other subjects. And now he was hearing that they may not even give him passing marks, let alone what he had scored. What should he do? He still didn't understand what had happened then. He still couldn't understand why the professor turned so angry and punish him so drastically. He basically gave him a death sentence. Last few days he was getting bullied, abused because he costed his fellow batchmates and classmates too much. Many doors closed automatically when the others found they were in his batch or in his class. If the collateral damage was this bad, how worse would the main damage be? And now, he was being told that he would not even pass. Mr Aleno kept on talking, pouring salt to open wound. Then he said out of magnimity of his heart, he would request disciplinary committee to not to pass harsh sentence, but the maximum he could try was getting a pass certificate for Atharva. Millions of credits in debt and just pass certificate from college and also a big black mark in his profile. The future was beyond bleak.
"Mr Singhvi! Mr Singhvi!" A loud voice pulled him from the nightmare.
Mrs Briggs looked at the glassy eyes, pale and sweaty face. What had happened within the time it took to look at a file. Granted that the file was a tad a big but still...
"Mr Singhvi, are you alright?"
He should be happy. He had given his graduation exams. Now he had money to pay some of his debt. Why was this child in such condition?
Atharva pulled him back to the reality with much difficulty. His clothes clung to him, soaking in sweat. His throat felt swollen. He swallowed twice, thrice and said in the hoarse voice, " My apologies, Mrs Briggs. I suddenly remembered something. I'm alright now. Please continue."
"Do you need some water? Any drinks? Maybe a visit to medbay?" Her care was obvious. Mrs Briggs was sure that he was not 'alright' by any means.
He smiled. The intrinsic reaction would show the basic character. He was right in guessing that Mrs Briggs was a good person. " A glass of water, if I may?" he asked, mainly to pacify her. He had been tormented by these sort of nightmares for past few weeks, sometimes clear sometimes hazy, the only constant being pain and misery.
After watching him sip water like a hawk, Mrs Briggs seated back.
"I have read your file. I am guessing you don't want to be a entrepreneur." She started her opening gambit.
Atharva smiled genuinely. "Oh! How did you come to that conclusion, madam?" He was interested, really interested in knowing the answer. Was it based on experience? Was it based on micro expressions? Or was it something entirely different?