"Damn it..." A whisper yell left out of my mouth when I read the message on my mobile.
"The test is scheduled for tomorrow. The syllabus is first three units. Kindly prepare well and it will not be postponed to the next date. All the best."
"The presentation of your review paper is scheduled for tomorrow in the tutorial class of 2 hours, so be prepared and tomorrow is the first and last date to present, unable to do so will lead to zero marks in performance. All the best."
"The submission of your report is due by tomorrow so kindly start working on that. All the best."
"All the best? All the best." A stressful laugh echoed through the walls of my hostel room as I threw my bag on the chair and plopped myself on the bed. Heavy breathing, stress and tension seeping into the body, I had no strength to work on any of these assignments. Never thought that college life would be so...so stressful. Either, life on social media is way too beautiful or...they are not telling the truth behind it. My other classmates, in their colleges are enjoying, attending parties, fests, singing, dancing and what not, and here I am, following the routine of corporate job, 9-5 tiring classes, working like a robot. Even if I had the thought of joining any of the organization, it would be so tiring that I will not be able to spend the time in my studies.
"Aagghh...why did I even choose this university? I just want to melt away from this world. I want to run away...run...run so..sooo...far away that nobody can find me me...without leaving any trace. Everything right now is going so wrong. I don't want do anything I just want to have a nap. I am sleep deprived, I am hungry, I am....I am tired." I tossed around and closed my eyes. A dark void and a voice in my mind, eyes fluttering, as if trying not sleep because if I did, it would be a very high chance that I would wake straight in the morning.
Groaning and irritated, I got up from my bed and stomping my feet grabbed my everyday clothes, slipping into my clothes and freshening up, I had a bit of motivation to study. Pulling my hair up in the bun and grabbing the study table, I opened my laptop, side by side my register and pen and started working on my deadlines.
I was the final year student of Computer Application, after my studies either I was dependent on the placement or if not placement then I had to wait for 3 more months to apply for the job of teacher. I always had a one dream…. only-one, that to make my parents proud. I was an average student from the starting, I always scored in between 75-80%. If I'd study harder, then could make it up to the top as well but I never did. I was always a last-minute person. "IF TOMORROW IS NOT A DUE DATE, THEN TODAY IS NOT A DO DATE" has been my principle since principle was such a thing. My parents never ever did pressurize me to study, nor I was too bad to score bad marks. They always were happy with the marks I was obtaining, but the time I did join this university, my marks were exceptionally good. I was now holding 8.5 CGPA in my final year that was a very good score according to parents.
I still remembered the day when I first told them about my CGPA in my university, they were all smiles and that was the day when I thought that I had somewhat achieved, what my parents wanted. So now, not studying feels like shattering their hopes on me. My relatives were so keen on making me illiterate by saying things like "I had the habit of cramming things, I fight all the time, I cannot score good marks." These marks are tight slap on their faces; these marks are the proof to not to mess with me again. Their pea size brain is still fixed on the fact that the person who scores more is way smarter than the person who scores less marks, they are still fixed on the fact that the person whose colour is fair is automatically more beautiful than the dark one 'BLOODY RACIST'. I hate them…I hate them to the point that I have irritation whenever I see their faces, hear their voices. They become so….so protective of their children, that no one should speak against them and then they have the fucking audacity.....audacity to speak ill to the other children; to top it that, they speak it in front of their own parents only.
So why won't I have the motivation to study. This was enough, when I remembered these things, when I remember that what they done and spoke to my parents, my blood boils and I straight away start to study.
Although I was a last minute person who somehow managed to score good marks, I was called the TOPPER of the class even though I was not. I always...always had denied the rumours of me being topper but it was useless and...baseless too.
Today was the last day of the session and about 1 week from now we had our final exams. Now was some time to relax so why not spend it in the badminton?
It was not bad idea. Playing Badminton had been my daily routine. Not even a single day I missed my game.....For fun....or for training, it was on my to-do list.
Just like each and every day....I packed my bag and jumpingly reached my destination. Changing my clothes to shorts , comfortable t-shirt, tying my hair in a bun and tying my laces tight enough so that while dancing to hit the shots..... hitting....while trying to hit shots, my shoe won't find its way to hit the shot on someone else's face.
And the practice begun....I was good enough to hit smashes, back hand, front hand shots, reaching places where shuttle will land and hitting them before it hit the ground, I was enjoying it.....while on the other hand there was a person sitting grumbling...because some idiot friend of his has dragged him to join him or company him to his practice session against his WILL.
While sulking and grumbling his eyes found its way to the very next girl who was dripping in sweat, breathless, dancing and jumping here and there to hit the shots. His eyes were fixated on her, not moving an inch, his gaze was going back and forth between her and her techniques to hit the shuttle.
My both hands was in the air with a proudful victory grin on my face. Well, it was my 3rd consecutive win and why not celebrate with the expressions only. I was good at giving the expressions. And starting with my 4th match, I hydrated myself while wiping my sweat off and pushing strands off my face which was clinging onto my face. I placed myself on the right corner of the court just an inch away from the service line and....there goes the shuttle.
On the other this man's grumbling was now gone for around 15 minutes and in the mean time he was standing in front of the pole of the net, to her right and to his luck opponent of Anaira hit the shot to the end of the right side of the pole and to hit the shot Anaira came running from the either side, her racket sweeps in the air, hand stretched out completely with legs stretched enough to hit the shot with her eyes following the shuttle when it interrupted her and to her surprise there was a person standing there. It was too late to realise, she was ready to hit the person right on his face but fortunately it didn't hit the person....but the pole instead.
"WOAAHH.....I MISSED IT...." A tone of disappointment for herself and concern for person as she spoke.
"I am sorry....I hope I didn't hit you."
"I'm absolutely fine....thanks to your reflexes....I'm standing here completely fine and in one piece, but it broke your racket."
"Aagh, nevermind, the list of broken badminton goes...."
"Oh, makes me feel bad...."
"It's okay.....was my favourite one." She mumbled under her breath.
They both exchanged soft smiles when thunder came running from the other court to them.
"You are a cheater....."
"No, you are a cheater...."
"It is not a rule..."
"It is...if only you had paid attention in the badminton classes...."
"Mind your tongue and tone.... I definitely know the rules and you are the one who's wrong...."
"Ohh....says the one who plays aggressively and even do the cheating?"
It was alot to handle. "STOP THAT" the deep voice echoed while making both of them quite with seeking the attention of whole crowd.
"I'm sorry, you may continue doing your work." He apologized while burning holes in both the persons who were fighting like there life depends on it.
"Care to explain what happened?" Anaira and Dhiren both spoke at the same time while sharing glances.
Maitrey cum Anaira's friend took the initiative. "While serving, racket must not hit shuttle higher than the waist....is not a fault....right"
"IT IS A DAMN FAULT. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Ankit said while his voice raised higher. "It is not a fault...." Dhiren said while his face was completely relaxed and arms folded in front of his chest.
In this chaos, one was listening and expression of disappointment on her face. These kids…
"It is a fault....." 4 words....just 4 words were enough to catch there attention. It definitely offended the opponent party and the one who was in favour jumped like he won the war.
"It's not a fault...."
"It IS a fault...."
One's Voice was extremely calm while the other one was completely furious....like how could you stand against him.
"You and Ankit definitely need to learn the basic rules...." Dhiren and Maitrey teamed up against them proudly.
"And to your surprise, says the one who is absolutely wrong ACTUALLY..." Anaira and Ankit teamed up to defend them and for about 10 minutes the chaos was created, when finally in conclusion, they concluded that they will take the help of Internet.
'TOP MOST FAULTS OF BADMINTON avoid doing them:
• WHILE SERVING, SERVER SHOULD ALWAYS SERVE LOWER FROM THE WAIST.'
The very first point was enough to make there face pale. "FAULT? OR SHOULD LEARN RULES FIRST? OR CHEATER? WHO SHOULD LEARN THE RULES FIRST ? WE OR THESE TWO DUMMY'S." Ankit sarcastically commented.
"BASIC RULES GUYS, YOU SHOULD KNOW BASIC RULES BEFORE PLAYING." Anaira said and the favour team laughed loudly.
Silence interrupted and wave of embarrassment came up to against team.....as an offer came up. "A match, it will cost."
"What?"
"Dev must be wondering on how to bribe me...not to tell anyone about this incident....And for bribe I will take one match."
"Between who?" Says Dhiren while giving him bombastic side eye for calling him by his nickname.
"Anaira and Dev..."
Says Maitrey excitedly.....