It felt so good!
The fact that I successfully managed to dodge Arjun and also that I would pass Pathology internals. One Brownie point for Nina. I congratulated myself.
Now all I have to worry about was passing Microbiology internals. I took my microbiology notes from the table and adjusted the pillow on my bed. I might as well not waste any time and start revising.
I liked microbiology and I was confident I would pass the exam. If only Dr. Murthy let me rewrite Pharmacology exam.
Dr. Murthy! Oh no. I checked my watch!
I was supposed to see him at lunchtime that meant before he went for his lunch. I didn’t want to get in to trouble for being late, not when I was already in trouble for handing in an empty answer sheet.
I quickly closed the door. I didn’t bother to waste my time to lock the door. Anyway Aparna and Shylaja should be back in a few minutes. I ran all the way back to the Pharmacology dept.
A part of me wanted divine intervention, anything that would save me from the trouble I was in.
‘You made your bed, now you must lie on it’ Sensible one spoke
Who said that? I wondered
Oh Charles Dickens! I wanted to give myself another brownie point for remembering whose quote was that. I would have, if I didn’t notice who was waiting at the dept lobby.
pada pedichu panthalathu chennapol
pantham koluthi pada panthalathu
!
(sorry, don’t know how to translate)
“Where were you?” Arjun asked
“Huh? What are you doing here?” I asked
We both stared at each other.
“He wanted to see both of us together” Arjun pointed to Dr’ Murthy’s door
“Who?” I wasn’t sure what exactly was Arjun trying to say
“Dr. Murthy” Arjun spoke and I noticed he was frowning
I thought of telling him that you use more facial muscles to frown than when you smile. He was surely going to have plenty of wrinkles by the time he finished medicine.
“Come, let us go” Arjun spoke.
Arjun knocked at the door and I heard Dr.Murthy saying
“Come in”
“Wait” I held Arjun’s hand to prevent him from opening the door. I needed answers
“Why does he want to see both of us?” I asked
“How do I know?” Arjun sounded irritated
I let go his hands when I realized what I have done.
We both walked in.
“Good afternoon sir” Arjun greeted him
“Good afternoon sir” I didn’t want to get in to trouble for not greeting the professor.
He looked at both of us, and then took some papers from the side of the desk.
“You are Arjun right?” he asked Arjun
“Yes sir”
“And you are Nina?”
“Yes sir” I whispered. I was so stressed that I could hardly speak.
“You know I have been teaching pharmacology for well over 15 years and I never once had a student hand in an empty answer sheet. This time I have not one, but two students who got the total sum score of zero.”
” And madam” Dr. Murthy was looking at me.” you have been scoring above 90% for all the class exams and what happened this time?”
“Sir, that is” I was stammering. I suddenly didn’t know what to say.
“Sir, she just came back that morning from Dubai” Arjun spoke on my behalf.
Dr. Murthy turned his head towards Arjun.
I knew where this was going. I knew Dr.Murthy would ask Arjun “did I ask you to talk?”
I stared at Arjun, hoping he can read my eyes and understand that he needs to shut up. Instead of understanding my instructions, He smiled lovingly when he saw me staring.
Dr. Murthy was looking at both of us. I knew it was time I said goodbye to all my future PG entrance exam aspirations. Dr. Murthy was surely going to blacklist both of us.
“And sir, why did you not write the exam? Did you go to Dubai as well?”
“No sir. I didn’t go to Dubai sir” Arjun answered
“Then?” Dr. Murthy asked
“Sir, that is because” It was Arjun’s turn to stammer. He turned his head to look at me.
I looked down quickly. ‘No, No, I am not going to bail you out. You can answer the question yourself.’ I told myself
“How long has this been going on?” Dr. Murthy asked
“What sir?”
“Both of you” Dr.Murthy pointed his finger and moved it back and forth.
Both of us didn’t answer.
“Does your parents know?”
“Yes sir” Arjun mumbled
“They are ok with you both, you know what I am asking, No?”
I knew what Dr. Murthy was asking.
From our names, Dr. Murthy would have known that Arjun is a Hindu and I am a Christian. National integration was something that depended mostly on religious acceptance.
“Yes sir.” Arjun replied
“Hmm” Dr. Murthy mumbled
“So what should I do with your marks?” Dr. Murthy asked
I wasn’t sure what Dr. Murthy had in mind. If he was going to ask me to get the answer sheet singed by Amma, then it was ok. I have been signing on Amma’s behalf from the beginning! If he were going to ask me to meet the Princy, then that would be a big problem.
I looked at Dr.Murthy with a pleading eye. Please sir, ask me to get my parent’s signature. It was much easier than meeting the devil!.
“Tell you what, I won’t use the marks from this exam for the internals. But you must promise me that both of you will work hard and write the next internals in December well. Do you understand that?”
“Yes sir” We both replied
“And also, both of you need to understand that, It is nice to be in love, but your studies come first. Do you understand that?”
“Yes sir” We both replied
I felt as though someone had taken the whole lot of weight that was on my shoulder. I felt I could almost float. Only thing that was missing was a pair of wings!
“Thank you sir” Arjun spoke
“Thank you sir” I didn’t want to be the ungrateful one
Dr.Murthy nodded his head.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *