Facing The Unexpected

Ironically, the time after giving JEE Advanced 2018 wasn’t exactly a period I look back on with pride.

I walked out of that exam hall completely unaware of what was coming. I still remember Maa’s hopeful face as she asked, “Kemon holo?” (How was the exam?).

With a confident smile, I replied, “Under 500 e eshe porte parte” (Might just land under 500).

Maybe part of that happiness was just relief—the battle felt like it was over, and I could finally go home, reinstall Clash of Clans, and focus on my clan instead of calculus.

But fate, it seemed, had its own plans.

The next morning, Rajat called. "Bhai, Answer key aagaya, kitne ban rahe?" (How much are you getting?) Half-asleep, I brushed him off, “Tu check kar, mujhe sone de” But you know how it goes—as soon as you hear "Answer key aagaya” sleep is gone.

I hastily woke up, downloaded the Resonance answer key, and started matching answers from memory.

"172…that’s it?” I rechecked, then checked again. Every question I was so sure about had gone wrong. An entire comprehension on Error Analysis—wrong!

There’s a saying: Exams always go well; it’s only the results that disappoint. And that day, I truly felt like I’d fallen victim to those words.

The world suddenly felt distant, like I was hearing everything through a fog. The previous year, selection had closed at 180 marks, and here I was, staring at a score of 172.

Baba was sitting nearby, reading the newspaper, when I murmured softly, “Hobe na IIT…”