The Unattended Letter

Odd One Out

This cover is from someone special. I don't need to say anything else.

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That night and two nights after, I was still not opening my bedroom windows, nor was I visiting my very own balcony. 

I am sitting on my couch eating popcorn and thinking random things when suddenly my phone starts ringing. 

Dhaani, you have a call, Dhaani. Dhaani you have a call..... 

I pick it up without even glancing at the display. 

"Are you alive or dead?", a female voice questioned me from the other side. 

"Don't know", I answer back. 

"Dead. Now pick up your corpse and drag it here", the voice was commanding enough to bring me out of my reverie. 

"What do you want Tanu?", I ask her irritated. 

"Come in here, there's a test. You can't skip today.", Tanu says. 

"What? Test? But we never have tests", I ask furrowing my eyebrows getting up. 

"Yes. But today there is. So come on fast. I'll keep your place. Bye.", Tanu disconnects the phone. 

I call her again. 

"Now what?", Tanu asks clearly pissed off. 

"Which subject tuitions are you in?", I ask her meekly. 

"IDT. What else? It's Saturday evening stupid, you don't have any other class now", she replies as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 

"Don't judge. I have five classes ok. I keep forgetting the schedules", I answer in my defence. 

"Okay. Now come fast. I'll be in room 5", she disconnects again. 

I rush to get my bag and my shoes. I didn't need to change as I'm always ready in formal clothes out of habit. I run down the stairs, not even bothering to spare a look at the lift. Out on the streets I find a rickshaw and get onto it in haste.  

Reaching the tuition I try to enter room 5 but I'm not allowed to, seeing I'm already 10mins late. I'm pushed inside room 8 which appears deserted. 

"Wow! Now I need to sit alone and give the test? Nobody else is late for class? Why did I even bother coming?", I mutter to my own self out of irritation. 

"Sshhh", a male voice sounds from somewhere near the front. 

I look intently to see a guy sitting at the corner of the big classroom wearing a black shirt, his head down like he is intently doing something. 

"Dhaani. Grab a seat. Start your test, you won't be given any extra time", the co-ordinator comes out of thin air and hands me out the question paper. 

I take it and go take the seat behind that guy. I start with the test. Sometime later a muffling sound comes from the guy sitting in front. Within seconds he bangs his hand on the wooden desk making a loud noise. He then starts blabbering to himself. From his voice I can make out he is discussing the answers with his own self and starts to write it down. 

Around two minutes later he is speaking out the answers loud and clear. Maybe he forgot I too am sitting in that same room. 

"Want me to copy it down straight?", I ask unable to hold myself anymore. Sure, I may find the question paper a bit difficult but I won't blindly copy down every word he is mumbling, what if he is uttering wrong answers?