Last days

Chapter 3

The exam supervisor gives me a bunch of question papers, I take one and pass it behind. It's chemistry. the only subject in which I can get a good score. After I chatted with Ananya yesterday, I skipped reading and revision. I knew about almost every element in every group of the periodic table.

I look at the first question, What is the hybridisation of carbon labelled in the molecule below? strange, the first question is from organic chemistry. I moved forward, Write the correct IUPAC name of the molecule below. I read all the remaining questions. Fuck! I screamed in my head. I did not prepare for organic chemistry, I skipped it for later. I manage to answer questions I know sure answers to. In the end, I did my ritual of calculating the total marks worth of questions I attempted. It was 75. I had a record at school, I never scored less than 90 in chemistry. I was horrible at physics (worst 59) and mathematics (worst 57). That stellar record I was so proud of was about to be broken.

After the test, Krish came to me beaming with joy. "So, How did the master of chemistry do today?"

"I read the wrong topics yesterday, I am a fool," I said.

"Why ? what happened?" I explained to him and he burst into laughter.

"So basically, Ananya texted and that started a domino effect and here you are my friend. You lost the bet."

"We are yet to get the scores, don't get ahead of yourself." I reminded him.

Our school is one of the oldest schools in Mumbai, Its architecture is indo-gothic, Ananya told me once. One of the cool things about my school is that They have a REALLY big library, open to the students and general public. Krish wanted to do some math problems, lately, he has gotten pretty serious about his studies. Which is good, I can't believe for a moment that this guy who used to play cricket all day is focusing on his studies. He almost inspires me, I suddenly remember the day I got the results of my 11th grade.

My father was not particularly happy, "70%? Awara ho chuka hai ye ladka (this boy has gone out of hands). I told him to take commerce, but no Nawabzaada (prince) wants to study chemistry. If he fails in boards, I am telling you Sunita (My mom) I will send him to Chandigarh at my brother's shop."

Just thinking of it makes my heart beat faster. "Yo mate!" Krish snaps me back into reality. "Raju (the peon) is calling you."

***

Sister Angela (the principal) is 50 years old, she knows me since I was 10, when I joined this school. I have been called to the principal's office three times during the last six years. First: when I was awarded first prize in a district-level table tennis competition. Second: When I broke the window of her office (it's still broken) while playing cricket. Third: after my tremendous 10th results. "You know why are you here Rishabh?" she asks.

She is sitting behind a large dark wood desk, filled with papers, files and one giant globe. She is in her nun outfit and wears her old glasses and looks at me for an answer.

"I did not break any windows, Ma'am," I said.

"Shut up! This is a serious matter!" She smacked his hand on her desk, "For the last two years your grades have been in constant decline. The boards are less than two months away. Are you serious about your future or not?" I kept my head down for the whole lecture. "I am giving you two weeks If you don't get serious. I will have to call your parents."

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Hii everyone! Sister Angella is really scary 💀️, despite her chubby-innocent face❤️.