I was waiting in the bus bay.
It was my first exam as a scribe assisting the students in taking their intermediate pre-finals. Commuting all way by bus, I finally reached Sai Junior College for visually challenged. I was informed that as the students dictate, we pen down. I met my other friend scribes and we were eagerly waiting.
We entered the classroom and sat in benches randomly. I struck the conversation with the boy to whom I was assisting by introducing myself. He received me warmly and spoke about himself,family background,life in the college. Due to some weakness in eyes, his vision blurred at the age of 10. He said he will be a software engineer though he isn't aware of how a computer looks like!
Our conversation ended as the teacher entered. Answer scripts and question papers were distributed. It was Economics paper.She read aloud the question paper herself.
I then, turned to the boy.
Me: Which section are you comfortable to start with?
Boy : No reply
Thinking that he hadn't followed, I repeated the questions for him.
Me: Which section? Essay, short, very short?
Boy: No reply
Time was running.
Me: Fast, which section?
Boy: ...
I was dumbstruck! It was clear.He knows not a single answer.
I didn't know what to do. Turned to my friends.Everyone exchanged 'what-do-we-do-now?' looks.
I silently looked at the question paper lying in front of me.
It was understood.
An epidemic outbreak of discussion followed from then.
Be it fiscal deficit and price elasticity, supply curve and subsidies to gross domestic product, tax exemptions and BPL to micro and macro economics, debentures and inflation, economic indicators and monetary policies to why demand curve has negative slope..we squeezed. We squeezed every drop of knowledge.
Thanks to my engineering studies.We had 'Accounts and Economics' as part of our course study, the previous year.It did help.
We scribes were so engrossed that the room vibrated with a kind of tension and melancholy faded finally!
The bell rang and we submitted the answer scripts.
Before leaving, the boy took my mobile number.Gathered outside, we decided to prepare from next time.
Walking home, I was thinking. Besides what happened, the very purpose of their having formal education is their window to the world outside. Our conversation bolstered my opinion.
Two weeks later, he put me a call.
"Akka, I got 56 for 100" in a joyous tone.
I replied," I am happy for you, Aditya!"
