Decision Dilemma

Rashmi has been an exceptional student, topping her class every time for past 11 years. Blessed with an exceptional IQ, she would grasp any concept in a blink and barely needed a revision.

A favorite of every school teacher and a sure shot contender to top the State board exams, she was treated no less than a star by everyone. Of course there were students jealous of her, but then what is stardom without a bunch of distractors.

Now 12th grade exams are not an ordinary routine tests. The result decides as to which professional course the student will be able to choose and where she could do it. Top the exams and you are assured of best college, best course and effectively the best life thereafter. Score less and you are doomed forever.

At least that is what the perception is; amongst students, educators and most importantly parents as well. There is also lot of emotional importance attached with these exams with the entire society from Ministers, Administrators, Social Organisations, Media to citizens taking keen interest in felicitating the high scorers from their region.

So obviously the pressure and incentive to succeed are extra ordinary and every child is pushed by their parents to exceed their expectations.

And so Rashmi worked hard for day and night, studying like never before to reach the ultimate goal of her schooling life - top the state at any cost. She'd study for nothing less than 15 hours every day, with a clear timetable of not just what to study but also what to eat and when to sleep. Attending school, extra classes, private tuition, weekly tests, correspondence tests, online tests and what not. Literally she left no stone unturned in preparing for the final battle.

And so the exam season arrived.

As is the trend, before written tests begin students are first tested with Practical Exams. Rashmi had three practicals of Physics, Chemistry and Electronics.

Now nowhere are practicals taken seriously and its not unusual for the External Examiner to go for a cup of tea with fellow Internals as the students complete their experiments and write down the results.

So Rashmi, like any other student has never focused on experimental learning. She was never good with the things when it came to working with her hands, not just brain. Even as a child she preferred solving puzzles over hands on building kits.

So, Physics and Chemistry practicals went on perfectly well with the Examiner just signing the mark sheet prepared by the host school. Obviously, Rashmi had the highest score in both exams.

But the Examiner for Electronics refused to have 'a cup of tea' and insisted on seeing every student perform their task.

Rashmi found herself sweating and fumbling as the clock ticked. She began cursing herself for not paying attention towards the practicals. But then her inner voice insisted she could not afford time for the practicals, who cared about it anyways, except that stupid boy Rahil.

Rahil was standing next to Rashmi, busy completing his task of running through series of diodes and making a bridge rectifier. He was one of those rare students who loved practicals and experiments to an extent that they could spend whole day in the lab, if permitted. 

However, the Teachers, who themselves preferred books over equipment, always shooed him away whenever he came with some idea to experiment with. Rahil never understood why he was being treated this way, but Teachers feared his queries would expose their lack of practical knowledge.

Actually, Rahil grew up seeing his father, who ran a electronic appliances repair shop, toying with various mechanical and electronics components like gears, motors, diode, IC, etc. So he was quite adept at working hands on and also enjoyed experimenting with different components.

His home, in fact is filled with various gadgets like a clap switch to turn lights ON, a gravity operated Fan that would run without motor & battery, a solar powered night lamp, an automatic water level controlled for overhead water tank and many more. Some of these were built with his father's help, but most were his own creation. He even sold many of his devices to his neighbors.

But he was an average student when it came to studies. Never scoring above 65% in aggregate, he hated Maths like anything. He never understood the need of learning calculus and probability. For him, they were not required in real life. But he was amongst top three when it came to electronics, as it was easy to relate the concepts practically.

Just 20 minutes were left to complete the allotted experiments and Rashmi was literally shivering. She was sobbing when Rahil noticed tears in her eyes and immediately understood the situation.

He dropped his compass on the floor, hinted Rashmi to bend over and then exchanged the place with her. 

Now Rashmi was standing in disbelief next to a completed Bridge Rectifier, which worked like heaven even as Rahil busied himself in completing Rashmi's task of making a smoke detector.

Just 5 minutes were left when Rahil tested the circuit. It didn't work. 

Rashmi, feeling guilty, wondered if she should ask Rahil to exchange the place again. But she didn't. Thoughts of her failing the exam, of disappointment on her parents faces,  of students making fun of her and millions of other things crossed through her and she could not utter a word.

Finally the bell rang and the Examiner began questioning every student.

Rashmi, being always good at theory, answered his every question to his satisfaction. He checked her rectifier which built to perfection. Neat soldering, correct color coding, perfect wire lengths and such a fine finish that it looked better than the purchased apparatus in the lab.

He checked Rahil's smoke detector, which did work fine but lacked the aesthetic appeal of Rashmi's rectifier and scolded him for such a shabby work. He asked many questions, which Rahil answered appropriately but not with the command and flamboyance that Rashmi carried.

Two weeks later, it was the final paper of Mathematics. The paper was unusually tough, with more focus on calculus and many were struggling to solve. But Rashmi kicked one question after another with such an ease that it appeared a child's play.

Sitting before her, Rahil struggled to solve beyond two questions that totaled a mere 24 marks. He needed at least 16 more to reach the passing line, but he just could not find a problem he could solve.

Now Rahil wasn't great at studies all right and it wasn't like he had never failed till now. His parents didn't expect him of becoming a Doctor or an Engineer, but they did imagine him of holding a graduate degree, doesn't matter if its B.Sc, B.Com or B.A. 

It mattered for them, because no one from their family studied beyond Class X. So when Rahil cleared Class X with 62% (i.e First Class), his father gave a big party to the mohalla they lived in and had announced that his son would surely go to college and earn a degree.

Rahil remembered the proud face of his Father and collapsed at the thought of failing his expectations. He knew if he failed this time, he won't have courage to face that monster of mathematics again. Not finding any way to escape, he rested his head on the desk and just prayed. 

Right then, Rashmi asked for a supplement and noticed Rahil laying down. She knew of his fear with Mathematics and realized the paper must be too tough for him.

Remembering Rahil's help during practicals she felt compelled to help him. After all if he hadn't help her that day, she might have already lost the battle before even it began. She owed him and it was payback time.

But she just cross checked of the implications that might come with. If the invigilator catches her cheating, she'd be removed from exam hall and might have to appear again for the exam next time. Associated with that was the biggest fear of facing her parents wrath and everyone who'd be calling her cheater. 

She had a wonderful exam till now attempting extra questions in every single paper. She sensed a fair chance of fulfilling her dreams and securing the best stream in topmost college, but all could go in vain if she were to commit a single mistake here.

Rahil doesn't have much at stake anyways, she thought. Its not like he wants to do engineering or medical and his parents could not afford it anyways. 

So why risk a big step when all he'll be doing is enroll in a B.Sc course and run his father's shop. 

Hear heart wanted to help, but the mind argued not to.

Torn into pieces by her own thoughts, she asked for a glass of water.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

What do you think would Rashmi do?

What would you have done if in her place?

Where do you think the two of them would be after next 10 years?

Do you think learning should be governed by fear of failure?

Do you think the system treats every child equally?

Do you think cheating is bad?

Ask some children (under 10 years) on the possible ending.

Script and Share your own climax of the story.