Chapter 48 - Exam Day WBJEE

Date: April 20, 2009Time: 7:00 AMLocation: Naskar Household, Dakshin BarasatThe first light of dawn crept through the cracks in the faded curtains, casting thin golden streaks across the small, modest room. Aritra's alarm buzzed softly, though he had been awake long before it rang. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts sharper than the cool morning air. Today was the day—WBJEE Exam Day.The faint aroma of gorom cha (hot tea) and luchi-alur torkari drifted from the kitchen, mingling with the soft sounds of his mother's hurried footsteps. His father was already dressed in his simple white kurta-pajama, adjusting his old wristwatch, a sign of his habit to keep track of time religiously, especially on important days like this."Aritra, uth! Ready hoye ne," (Aritra, get up! Get ready) his mother's voice called from the kitchen.Aritra sat up slowly, stretching his arms before glancing at his neatly folded school uniform—white shirt, grey trousers, and polished black shoes—placed on the chair next to his study table. It felt strange wearing it for the last time, not for school but for an exam that supposedly decided his future. Yet, deep inside, he knew his future was already set—just not in the way everyone around him believed.Time: 8:00 AMLocation: On the Way to Bahuru High SchoolThe streets of Dakshin Barasat bustled with familiar sights—the milkman balancing steel cans on his cycle, shopkeepers rolling up shutters, and small tea stalls already crowded with early risers. But today, the roads near Bahuru High School were different—swarming with anxious students and even more anxious parents.Aritra rode quietly in the back seat of their old Maruti 800, his father gripping the steering wheel with unusual intensity, while his mother sat beside him, holding a small tiffin carrier wrapped in a cotton cloth. The silence in the car was heavy, punctuated only by the occasional honk from passing vehicles.His mother broke the silence. "Joto boro hoye jaa na keno, exam-er age joruri khawa dorkar," (No matter how grown-up you are, eating before an exam is important) she said softly, looking back at him with a warm smile.Aritra managed a faint smile, more to reassure her than himself. "I'm more prepared than you think, Ma," he thought, though he kept that to himself.Time: 9:00 AMLocation: Bahuru High School, WBJEE Exam CenterThe school building loomed ahead, its faded yellow walls blending into the dusty morning haze. The gates were crowded—students clutching admit cards, revising formulas with furrowed brows, and parents standing around in clusters, offering last-minute advice like it was sacred wisdom.Aritra's father parked the BIKE under the shade of a large banyan tree. They stepped out, and the humid April air hit them immediately, mixed with the scent of dust, anticipation, and nervousness.His mother adjusted his shirt collar instinctively, a small habit she never seemed to outgrow. "Bhalo kore lIKHBI, thik ache?" (Write well, okay?)His father patted his shoulder, his usual stern face softening slightly. "Matha thanda rakhish. Jekhane doubt ache, sei question-er upor beshi time noshto korish na." (Keep your mind cool. Don't waste too much time on questions you're doubtful about.)Aritra nodded, his face calm. But deep inside, he wasn't feeling any of the stress his parents thought he should. He had a plan, and he'd execute it flawlessly.As he entered the school gate, he turned back one last time. His mother waved, her eyes filled with silent prayers, while his father simply gave a curt nod. It was a simple gesture, but it stayed with him longer than he expected.Time: 9:30 AMLocation: Exam Hall, Bahuru High SchoolThe exam hall was a scene of quiet chaos. Wooden benches arranged in neat rows, ceiling fans spinning lazily, and windows wide open to let in what little breeze there was. The invigilators moved around with stern expressions, their presence adding to the already tense atmosphere. One of them, an elderly man with thick glasses, paced between the rows, occasionally glaring at students as if daring them to even think about cheating.Aritra found his assigned seat—Row 3, Seat 27. The wooden desk was etched with years of doodles and initials from students who had sat here before him. He placed his pens neatly in a row, his admit card secured under his transparent pencil box.The invigilator began distributing the papers with a robotic efficiency, his voice sharp as he repeated the instructions. "No talking. Keep your eyes on your own paper. Negative marking applies—think before you answer."Aritra glanced at the clock. 9:59 AM. One minute to go. He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. "Just enough to pass. No more, no less," he reminded himself.Time: 10:00 AM — Mathematics Paper Begins (100 Marks)The bell rang, and the room fell into complete silence, save for the faint rustle of papers. Aritra flipped through the question paper calmly. Integration, differential equations, probability—all familiar territories. But he wasn't here to conquer them all. His goal was clear: 110/200 overall, enough to secure a spot at Jadavpur University without attracting unnecessary attention.He solved the first few questions effortlessly, skipping the ones that might tempt him to show off. Every answer was a calculated move, like a chess player sacrificing pieces to secure victory in the long game.Around him, students scribbled furiously, the sound of pens scratching paper filling the room. Some chewed nervously on their pens, others stole quick glances at the invigilators, praying not to be caught in any act of desperation.But Aritra remained calm, his mind sharper than ever.Time: 1:00 PM — Break TimeThe final bell for the first session rang. Students sighed in relief, stretching their cramped fingers and backs. Aritra gathered hispapers and placed them neatly in front of him. He glanced around at the others—some were rubbing their eyes in exhaustion, while others eagerly flipped through their notes, hoping for a quick review before the second session began. But Aritra was already moving on in his mind.As he stood up to stretch, he could see his parents waiting outside the hall, positioned just under the banyan tree. His mother stood with the tiffin carrier in hand, a small smile on her face, her eyes never leaving him. She had clearly been waiting for this moment—the first opportunity to offer him some comfort after the first session.Aritra walked toward them, his pace steady. His father gave him a quick nod of approval, a silent acknowledgment of the calm he carried with him. But it was his mother who immediately took his hand and pressed the tiffin carrier into his palm."Aritra, khana khabis?" (Aritra, will you eat?) she asked with a concerned look, though her voice was gentle."I'm fine, Ma," he replied, giving her a reassuring smile. The truth was, he wasn't particularly hungry. But the gesture—her consistent care—felt like a ritual he would never outgrow.His mother persisted, though. "Ekto khete ne. Valo lagbe, porer part er jonno energy lagbe to." (Eat something. You'll feel better. You'll need energy for the next part.)Aritra took a few bites of the luchi and alur torkari, the soft, warm bread breaking apart as he chewed. Despite the pressure of the exam, the food tasted like home—comforting, familiar, grounding him in the moment.As he chewed, he caught sight of his classmates—Rimi Saha, Anirban Roy, and the others—walking past in small groups. They were talking animatedly, but Rimi didn't even glance in his direction. She was still with Anirban, the same arrogant boy from before, who was now boasting loudly about how easily he had solved the entire exam."100/100, no doubt," Anirban was saying loudly, making sure the others heard him. Rimi, standing beside him, nodded along, laughing lightly. But Aritra knew the truth. He remembered his past life all too clearly—Anirban had been one of those who failed miserably because of reckless guesses and poor decision-making. His real score had been a pitiful 3/200, thanks to the heavy negative marking in the WBJEE exam.Aritra felt a small smirk tug at his lips as he watched the false confidence of Anirban's boasting. But the smirk quickly faded. It wasn't worth the effort to get caught up in such trivialities. He wasn't the same person he had been."Let him be," Aritra thought. "I've already made my decisions. I'm not going to waste my energy on proving myself."Time: 2:00 PMLocation: Exam Hall, Bahuru High SchoolThe second session began with the usual routine—papers were handed out, the invigilators read the same instructions as they did before, and Aritra took his seat again. But this time, the tension in the air was palpable. It wasn't just the students who were anxious; the invigilators seemed even more vigilant now, pacing more swiftly between the rows, their eyes scanning each student like hawks. The afternoon heat was settling in, and it felt almost suffocating.Aritra opened the Physics and Chemistry paper and quickly scanned the questions. Physics was always his strong suit, and Chemistry—while tricky—had always been manageable for him. But today, it was different. He didn't feel the rush to get every answer perfect. In fact, he deliberately skipped a few questions that he could have easily answered, knowing that every wrong attempt would cost him valuable marks.He finished the Chemistry section first, followed by Physics, ensuring that he chose only the questions that would guarantee him just enough marks to cross his target. As he marked his answers, he couldn't help but glance around the room once more.The other students, some sweating, some frantically scribbling, were all caught up in the storm of the exam. But Aritra remained an island of calm, his approach methodical and precise.After a while, he caught sight of Rimi in the front row again, her gaze fixed on her paper, occasionally glancing nervously at the invigilators who walked past. For a brief second, their eyes met across the room. Aritra couldn't quite read the expression on her face, but it was clear she had no interest in acknowledging him. She was too absorbed in her own world, and for once, Aritra was content with that.Time: 5:00 PMLocation: Bahuru High SchoolAs the final bell rang, signaling the end of the exam, the tension in the room began to release like steam from a pressure cooker. Aritra placed his pen down, took a final glance at his paper, and handed it over to the invigilator. The rest of the students rushed out of the room, some with relief, others with lingering doubts. Aritra, however, walked slowly, feeling a strange calm wash over him.The exam was over, and now, the next phase of his life awaited him—one that was already unfolding, piece by piece. He wasn't like the others who felt the need to prove themselves with perfect scores. No, he was playing the long game.As he stepped out of the exam hall, he looked towards the school gates. His parents were already waiting outside under the shade of the banyan tree. His mother was fussing over the tiffin carrier, ensuring everything was packed neatly, while his father stood at a distance, arms crossed, offering a silent nod of approval.Rimi was still with Anirban by the gates, the two of them animatedly discussing the exam results as if they were already certain of their success. Aritra didn't even glance their way. Instead, he walked past them without a second thought."I've already scored the future I want," he thought, leaving the school grounds behind him. "The exam was never my test."