CHAPTER 5

Cotton college,

"Sneha did you get your practical copy signed from Shruti madam" Poonam, my best buddy in college asked me. She was the only creature in the entire college with whom I shared everything, even about my intimacy with Rishi. She used to help in every part, from my personal issues to my academics. My experience in cotton was not as sound as my school. I'd to miss classes due to my gymnastic tournaments. Teachers were not that happy about my regular absence in the classes. Yet I never bothered all these and kept on missing my classes as a result I was always left behind with piles of practical to be completed. Rishi wrote my practical, yet I was late and professors didn't check my copy.

"No, I am afraid she'll not correct mine, and yours?" I replied.

"Almost done, only have two practical to be checked"

"Are you going to the staff room now?"

"No, madam is not there, I'll sign it by myself " and she gave a smile.

"Do one thing give me your copy I'm very good at coping signs." Another friend answered from behind. I didn't have any other option apart from that, so I gave my copy to him. May be that was the initiation of a worst moment for me at cotton.

Next day we'd our practical exam. I submitted my copy and sat on the exam hall. I was relaxed that my practicals too were signed and now I dnt have to be afraid. After few moments I noticed Shruti ma'am coming towards us. She said " I checked everybody's copy and found that someone had copied my signature. Reveal yourself , or I'll tell your name aloud."

I started shivering, couldn't write anything. I blamed myself of what I did yesterday but now its too late. Shruti madam came towards me " is that you Sneha". I couldn't look up , but now I'd decided to admit the truth , "yes madam , its me". That's it they got the main culprit and got the liberty to shout whatever they wanted. I wrote my practicals and left the hall. I was sure that I had worsened my image now, may be I'll fail in the exam too.

"how was your exam baby" I got an message from Rishi. But I didn't reply. I wanted to vent out my anger on someone and therefore Rishi became the victim. I messed up with him too, blocked his number .

.............................................….

After few months

"She is my son, not daughter, I want her to be an IAS. She is all rounder , she is a gymnastic player, a poet, a dancer and good at studies too she got 91% in HS." My dad said to one of his colleagues lifting his chest up. That day, I got my result of Bsc 1st year and it was too poor as compared to my HS. I got only 42% , I was the last in the class. I didnt have the courage to confront this to my family.

"arey beta, what was your result, did you check it" mummy shouted from the kitchen.

"yes, I got 60 %" I lied and went to my room. I was upset but I'd guessed my result before.

"baby , how was your result" Rishi asked me. Rishi too had a blind faith on me. According to him too I was an all rounder.

"Not good, I got 42%" I broke in tears in his arms.

"its ok , I used to got 33% or even failed sometime, did your parents say anything" he said still holding me in his arms.

"no I lied to them, for the first time I lied to them"

"its ok , do one thing, study hard from today, try to score more so that you can compensate in your final result." He said trying to encourage me. May be that was the only way left for me. I studied hard and scored 75% in my 2nd year examination. By that time my impression too was some what improved.