Chapter 14: Part I June 13, 2008

Life’s schedule got changed after this disaster. Finally, there was a place for sincerity now. I avoided going to school to save myself from daily insults courtesy Sadhvi ma’am and Sinha Sir. The pressure of studies from the IIT coaching side was on the high and I’d started to study quite seriously again.

Everything was dull and boring. Meanwhile, it was Palak’s birthday. But she refused to celebrate it.

There was something about Palak, I’d still to got to understand. Although she used to look quite normal and charming, but there was a deep pain in her eyes. Something was unrevealed and untold. I’d never tried to ask her about this may be because I thought she would never like me getting too personal.

3 months had passed by and the results of 2nd Terminal Exams were declared. Finally, I managed to clear all my subjects with a considerable percentage. This time I’d just passed chemistry. But the tension was still not over.

I was struggling through my IIT-JEE studies. There is a special thing about these IIT preparations. One doesn’t know how much he has to study. One big question always haunts his mind: How much is enough??????

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THE QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Today it was the most feared final practical examination of chemistry. It included one activity, viva and qualitative analysis.

Now, for those who are lucky enough to be ignorant of this term, I tell you: Qualitative analysis is an activity in which one has given a sample of unknown salt. After performing several chemical experiments and reactions he has to predict its name.

Although there are some short-cuts and hacks to this damn difficult and boring procedure but they aren’t applicable to every sample.

One by one we took our packets containing sample and reached our places. We were divided into groups of 4. Unfortunately, Palak was not in my group this time. Fortunately, her group stood just next to ours.

Time started, and we opened our packets. Just like most of us, I had got a white coloured powder. I looked towards Palak and to my surprise, her salt was brown coloured. No one in our class had ever studied or practised about brown coloured salts. So, Palak was in real trouble.

Since, there were only 2 hours, so I decided to concentrate on my task only. I performed several preliminary experiments with my salt: heated it, cooled it and did everything I knew about this fucking thing, but nothing worked.

“Hey Himanshu……please help me?”, Palak whispered cautiously. She had moved from her place to mine and was looking really worried. I felt an inside thrust to help her, but I couldn’t. I had to perform well at least in chemistry.

“Ok…wait…let me finish mine.”, I howled. She silently departed.

Finally, I had figured out my salt. It was Zinc Carbonate. I checked my watch. It was still 30 minutes left. Now, I could comfortably write my observations in examination copy.

I took a deep breath to relax and look around. Palak was still standing idle. Her face was like crying.

“Should I help her?”

“But I know nothing about this damn brown salt?”

“No..no….I’ve still got to write my experiment.”

“Ohh…how selfish of me…she’s in trouble and I am thinking of mine??”

A million thoughts came across my mind. It was like ‘Heart’ Vs. ‘Brain’. Finally, as expected from a boy, heart won.

{rest continued in Part 2 of Chapter 14}

PS — I guess this was the most technical chapter of the whole story. Lolz…

PS — Going to Mumbai for IIT-JEE counseling.

PS — Sorry to mention it again but I hate rains.

PS — Exception: When you are with a girl, its the best season.

PS — Reso-Felicitation Party tomorrow. Hurrayyy…

PS — Song of the Day: All the things she said (Tatu)

PS — Adios.