A SCENE IN THE EXAMINATION

HALL
By Mrunal Shethiya
It was with a feeling of excitement that I went
to the college which was my centre for the SSC
examination. SSC examination considered very
important for a student and so my father also
accompanied me to the centre. This was my
very first experience of facing a public
examination.
The examination was scheduled to start at 11
am. But we reached the centre at 9-30 a.m., for
I was a bit nervous and wanted to locate my
seat. The gate of the college building was
locked. I had to wait by the roadside. There
were many other candidates waiting outside
the college compound. When I saw that they
were also jittery like me. I began to feel a little
relieved. At 10 a.m. the watchman opened the
gate and we rushed in to read the instructions
on the notice-board. A list had been displayed
showing the floor and the classroom of the
candidates. I shoved my way through the crowd
and scanned the list for my number. On
account of my nervousness | could not find my
number, but my father could find it within a
few minutes, I was relieved.
For the next half an hour or so I sat in the
corner of the compound under a tree and
rapidly glanced through my notes. As I raised
my head and looked around. I saw that almost
all the students were engrossed in the last
minute revision. At 10-45 went the first bell and
we entered our respective examination halls.
The parents wished their children success, gave
some last minute instructions las parents
usually do), waved their hands and left.
The invigilator was already there. He instructed
us to keep aside all our books and notebooks.
He snatched away the books and notebooks of
a few examinees who were busy going through
them till the last minute. Then he distributed
the answer books to us, and asked us to fill up
the details on the front page. And then all the
students raised a subdued shout as the
question papers began to be distributed.
The examination started at 11 a.m. I began to
perspire as the question paper was handed
over to me. For a minute or two my mind blank
and I felt I would not be able to write anything.
But as I glanced through the question paper,
my confidence returned and my hope revived.
Now I began to feel that the questions were
very easy and that I would be able to do full
justice to all of them. I straightaway started
writing. I was writing my paper furiously till 11-
30 when I heard the whisper of the boy sitting
next to me. He was asking me to put my answer
book closer to him. I ignored him. On the third
occasion, he stretched out his hand and
snatched my written supplement towards him.
Within a moment the invigilator was right by
my side. “Do you want to get into trouble?” he
asked me. I told him the truth. He admonished
my neighbour and only after that did the latter
leave me alone. The rest of the examination
passed. Smoothly.
I completed writing all answers at 1-45 and tied
up all the answer sheets. Then I hurriedly went
through the answers to revise them. At 1-50
there was the warning bell and the invigilator
Instructed all the candidates to tie up their
supplements. He moved round and helped
students to tie up the supplements. As the final
bell rang at 2 p.m. the invigilator Instructed all
the candidates to stop writing. Then he went
round and collected the answer books. As I
handed over my answer book I was beaming
with delight because I had performed very well.