As Arthur stepped into Grade 10, he was met with a new set of challenges. The school rules had changed—now, all boys were required to stay in the hostel, away from their families. The warden was strict, with rules that felt suffocating. Arthur, used to having his gadgets and distractions, now found himself cut off from the world in a way that he wasn't prepared for. He wasn't allowed to use his phone or any other devices before 10 o'clock, and that restriction felt like a heavy weight on his shoulders.
Despite the rules, Arthur still found it difficult to focus. His friends in the hostel weren't the best influence—many of them weren't interested in studying, and Arthur found it hard to stay away from their distractions. He had come so far, but the old habits of avoiding responsibility crept back into his life. The pressure of being away from home, of being surrounded by boys who didn't care about anything other than their own fun, started to affect his focus.
Arthur's grades, which had once been on the rise, began to slip. His teachers, who had started showing him more respect, now started to notice the change in his performance. The warden's rules, combined with the bad influence of his hostel mates, made it harder for Arthur to concentrate on what mattered most. His performance in the 10th grade was nothing like it had been in the previous year.
But amidst all the chaos, there was still Rojma—his constant, the one who never judged him. She had stayed in touch, offering words of encouragement even when Arthur felt like he had no one to turn to. She reminded him that this wasn't the end of his journey, that he could still rise above his circumstances.
Arthur knew that this was a turning point. He could either let the environment defeat him or find a way to turn things around. He wasn't going to let his situation control him again. He had worked too hard to let distractions drag him down.
With Rojma's encouragement and his own determination, Arthur started to distance himself from the distractions in the hostel. He focused on what he had to do, regaining the focus he had once lost. Slowly but surely, he began to get back on track, studying late into the night, prioritizing his education once more.
By the end of the year, Arthur realized that this wasn't just about school—it was about mastering the art of balance. He had learned to adjust to his environment, to rise above the distractions, and to trust in himself again.