In a world full of people with ambitions, goals and different career choices, Fiza felt like an alien.
She exhaled audibly.
Piyushi looked up in surprise. "What is so depressing?"
"Life," Fiza answered.
"Oh," Piyushi went back to her work.
"What are you doing?" Fiza scooted over.
Piyushi showed the two copies on the table. "Copying."
"What?"
"Notes."
"Why?"
"Was absent."
Piyushi continued her work as Fiza stared on.
After a substantial amount of time, Piyushi sat up straight and inhaled deeply.
"Done with the work?" Fiza asked.
"I wish."
"Why don't you get it xeroxed?"
Piyushi looked at her blankly. "Eh?"
"Xerox? Then you don't have to copy it. You were absent for at least five classes, each of three to four hours." She sighed, "Get it xeroxed."
"Huh, why did I not think of that before?"
Fiza frowned, "Sarcasm?
Piyushi shook her head, "Self-criticism. I can't believe I am a scholar with this intelligence.
"Don't criticize yourself." Fiza consoled, "We are all on the same boat."
"Why? What was your act of stupidity?"
"I came out of the house the other day, and after walking for a while, I realized I was taking the wrong route. Then I made a U-turn and took the path I thought was right."
"But it was the opposite," Piyushi concluded.
"Yeah, but that's not all. I went home to ask my mother which road to take."
Piyushi chuckled, "What did Aunty say?"
"She was not surprised. She calmly handed me ten rupees and asked me to take a rickshaw."
"She is so done with you."
"No kidding."
"What has PhD done to us?"
"Destroyed the few remaining well-functioning brain cells."
"Oh, you had brain cells to be destroyed? Mine got sizzled long back."
Fiza snickered, "So, going to get it xeroxed?"
Piyushi stared at the copy and then said slowly, "Or...I can just click pictures of it."
"Ah, right, right." Fiza nodded.
"Right, why did I not think of that before?"
"Self-Criticism again?"
"No, self-judgment."
"Add my full-fledged judgment too," Fiza said and laughed as Piyushi glared back at her.
YOU ARE READING
Daily life of a PhD scholar
HumorThe series is about four scholars of unique attributes--Fiza, the introverted overthinker, Somlata, the depressed rebel, Piyushi, the cool-headed social butterfly, and Jia, the hyper-active extrovert. Four of them come from different backgrounds and...
