The Hell Games (Kalki Chronicles)

Taste of Success

There are only two ways of getting on in the world - by one's own industry or by the stupidity of others (Jean de la Bruyere). Our exams prove the same. Once again Samaira appeared for the Delhi preliminary exam. However, this time, her stupidity prevailed over her hard work. She made silly mistakes in the paper. Her paper wasn't good.

Morose and dejected, Samaira returned to Kolkata after few months of hardships in Delhi. She took all the lectures allotted to her in the TIME Institute but did not allow the sadness to take much of her. She did not let her studies get affected by her bad performance.

Months passed and she taught in all the branch offices of TIME Institute in Kolkata. With time, TIME had made her an expert in the subject of logical reasoning.

Once a student asked her to solve a question relating to puzzle which seemed difficult on the offing. The student said -

"Mam, this problem based question of puzzle was given to us in the exam conducted by TIME yesterday. However, I found it difficult to solve it speedily. Can you solve the problem for me?"

"Okay, give me the question", replied Samaira. She looks at the question and gives the answer.

"Here, this is the solution to the problem".

"Mam, how did you solve this question in less than a minute".

"It is simple. Just try this trick", she replied. Whenever you find such a big and complex question, the answer to such a question is always simple. Your answer lies in the question itself. Secondly, never think before you solve the question. Just begin writing. Your answer will be in place soon".

"Mam, you have very good suggestions. Do you have any more of it for our exams?"

"Yes. I do have more suggestions. I will share all the tricks of how to tackle difficult questions in the exam in the class tomorrow. Please be present".

'Thank you Mam.." replied the student.

"Welcome", she replied courteously.

Alternatively, she undertook some work related to test series from Aim Law Institute which would help her increase her expertise in her craft. In this way, she tackled the biggest problem of her life, that is, financial irregularities.

On the personal front, she would listen to her parents' comments on her repeated failures. She had to fight her demons every now and then. Her subconscious mind housed the biggest demon of worst moments of rejections, failures, accidents, mishaps and bizarre incidents of black magic.

She lived those moments again and again through her parents and relatives. They could never let the matter subside. The worst addition to everything was her recurrent nightmares. Her dreams were tormenting and caused her immense stress and tensions. During the phase, she could never have a peaceful sleep. It was a tiring routine for her. She couldn't tackle so much work which caused her more strife than ever. She was overburdened at times leading to unhealthy work routines like staying awake till late at night.

At night, Samaira slept on the folding bed kept on the raised floor of the platform in the drawing room that led to four rooms inside the flat.

"Why don't you shift inside the room and sleep with your siblings", asked Rita

"No, I like the fresh air here. There are lots of windows and a scenic serene beauty outside the window, of the main road surrounded by trees that I love to look more often. I like here, Mom.

"Are you okay with the sleep? Isn't your health getting affected?

" My sleep is little disturbing. I think it has everything to do with my bed. It is a very thin and small folding bed suitable for one person. Don't worry, Mom. I will do something about it". She ignores the conversation and gets back to work.