Chapter 2: The Exam That Held My Fate

...Date: 24/05/2027...

...Day: Sunday...

There are some dates that burn themselves into your memory — not because they were loud, but because your soul held its breath for them.

24th May 2027 was that date for Tanuja.

She had waited for this day with a desperation she couldn’t even put into words. It wasn’t just a date. It wasn’t just an exam. It was everything.

Two years of sacrifices, self-doubt, silence, and strength had brought her here.

And today… today she was scared.

But she was also smiling.

There was a strange calm in her heart — the kind that doesn’t come from knowing the future, but from accepting that this day would come, and she was finally facing it.

NEET.

Three hours. One paper. One chance to change everything.

And yet, that wasn’t the only reason her heart was thudding like distant thunder.

This exam — this journey — wasn’t just about college, or career, or rank.

This was her path to him.

Her soulmate.

She hadn’t met him yet.

Not really.

But in the silent corners of her dreams, in the late-night whispers of her heart, she knew he existed. Somewhere out there, someone was meant to collide with her soul — and this exam was a bridge she had to cross to get to him.

And she would.

Her board exams had ended just a few weeks ago, rushed and tense. She’d barely had time to exhale before she had to plunge right back into revision for NEET.

There were moments she thought she would break. That it was all too much.

But she didn’t.

She never really had the luxury to fall apart.

Because girls like Tanuja?

They don't get second chances. They build their futures from scratch, with trembling fingers and hopeful hearts.

The morning sun streamed through the window, casting gold on her skin as she got ready. Her clothes was simple (lower t shirt), her glasses slightly fogged from the heat, her eyes — tired, but shining.

Her papa was waiting by the door, keys in hand. He had seen her journey — every late night, every failed test, every tear hidden behind her books.

He didn’t say much. Just looked at her with that soft, quiet pride only fathers know how to wear.

As she sat in the passenger seat, Tanuja stared out of the window. The streets felt slower today. The world felt heavier.

Or maybe it was her breathing.

Thirty minutes later.

The car stopped in front of the examination center. Her hands felt cold.

The building looked ordinary, almost boring — just bricks and paint and silence.

But for Tanuja, it looked like a battlefield.

She stepped out. Her bag slung over her shoulder, admit card in her hand, and a storm in her chest.

She saw a few familiar faces — 2 or 3 classmates from her school or coaching, their eyes scanning the crowd nervously, their parents fussing quietly beside them.

She gave them a soft nod, a half-smile — that quiet bond of “we’re all in this together.”

But inside?

She wasn’t with them.

She was in her own story. A girl standing at the edge of everything she had ever wanted — and feared.

“Will I make it?”

“What if I don’t?”

“What if this is just the beginning?”

And then, another voice whispered softly in her heart:

“What if you’re exactly where you’re meant to be?”

As the gates opened, and she was led inside, she turned back one last time. Her papa was still there, standing beside the car, watching her.

He didn’t wave.

But she felt it — the silent support. The love that didn’t need words.

She took a deep breath.

And walked in.

The examination hall was cold. The chairs were lined up in rows like little islands of isolation. Invigilators moved slowly, their voices monotone.

She sat down.

Placed her admit card. Her pen.

Her heartbeat.

The question paper was handed to her.

She stared at it — eyes scanning the code, the name, the barcode.

This is it.

Two years. One moment.

The bell rang.

And just like that, the world narrowed to four options per question, and the sound of her breathing.

But somewhere in the back of her mind, beyond the pages, beyond the logic, beyond the physics and biology… was him.

She didn’t know his name.

Didn’t know where he lived.

Didn’t even know if he believed in love the way she did.

But she knew — with the kind of certainty you don’t explain to people — that this paper, this exam, this struggle…

It would bring her closer to him.

Because love stories don’t always begin with eye contact and butterflies.

Sometimes, they begin in exam halls.

With tired eyes. And silent hope.

And a girl brave enough to chase her future — not just for herself, but for the love she hasn’t met yet.

She came out of the examination hall, she looked around and then came near the gate, she saw that her father was still there, tears came to her eyes, her father did not ask anything, and they came home.

...----------------...

...Next day...

Her friend call her and asked about her exam,

She replied :

Tanuja: Hi

Avni: How are you?

Tanuja: I'm good, what about you?

Avni: I'm good, How was your exam?

Tanuja: Did it go better than expected you tell me?

...The phone turns off...

She saw that her phone was switched off

Maybe it was not charged Tanuja said.

Her mother came to her room and asked, how did your exam go? Tanuja said, whatever happens, the result will tell you, I don't want to talk about it.

...Tanuja's board results came out a few days ago. This was much better than his expectations. She got 89.56%,and she was happy with this....

...****************...

It was the first morning of June, she woke up and open her phone. She was shocked, there was 50+ call on her phone and 1000 messages from a random number. She taught that it can be a prank from any friend of her, so she ignored all that things and went to take a bath.

She was having breakfast while watching the news when suddenly news came, and she started crying.

...Aaj ki taja khabar......

...Kai sutro ke madhyam se ye pata chal rha ki haal me hi huye NEET ke exam ki copies me hua ghotala, khoj abhi bhi jari hai, Sarkar iska hal kaise nikale gi, aaiye puchte hai hamare sahyogi se......

All the people in the house gathered and were shocked to hear the news. They calmed Tanuja down and assured her that she should not worry and everything will be fine.

But Tanuja was still crying, then he gets a call from a friend.....

...Tanuja, tumne news suni, kya hoga tanuja, kahi hamari bhi copy usme hui toh, tanuja bolo, Tanuja kya hoga, Tanuja please kuch bolo...Tanuja..Tanuja.....

...Phone cuts...

...****************...

...the phone rang again...

Tanuja: Ha bolo

Avni: Tune news dekha?

Tanuja: Ha dekha

Avni: Kya hoga ab

Tanuja: pata nhi

Avni: Agr usme hamari answersheet bhi hui toh ?

Tanuja: Hui toh? Government pata laga rhi hai, lekin dar toh lag hi rha hai na... Mai kya kah skti hu..

Avni: Jyoti se baat ki?

Tanuja: Nhi

Avni: Mai baat karti hu ruko..

...-----------...

Tanuja opens her phone and starts looking at the messages from that unknown person. The call also came from the same number, she started reading the messages.

......................

Unknown:

Hi

Hello

Listen

News dekha

Hello

Tanuja please listen

Hello

Please news dekho..............

......................

......................

...----------------...

She replied

Kaun?

After 1 min.

Unknown :

Tumhara shubchintak

Tanuja : Name?

Unknown: Nam me kya rakha hai mohtarma?

Tanuja: mujhe kaise jante ho?

Unknown: Bs janta hu..

Tanuja: Mai tumhe janti hu?

Unknown: Ha shyd

Tanuja: Kab se?

Unknown: I think 4 .5 years

Tanuja: accha toh mere hi class ke ho

Unknown: kah skte hai

Tanuja: Aree bhai nam toh bata do

Unknown: Are bhai bol diya 😭

Tanuja: Nam nhi bataoge bhaiyaa toh bhaiyaa hi bolugi 😏

Unknown: isse aacha toh tum kuch or hi kah deti.

Tanuja: Nam batao urna me block kar dungi, or kyu kiya call mujhe?

Unknown: Aapse baat karne ka man tha to koi topic chahiye tha, aaj NEET ka news suna toh socha puch lu..

Tanuja: Accha toh mere jale par namak chirakne aaye ho, dekho apne career pr dhyan do school me lakshya padhaya jata tha bhul gye kya apne lakshya ki tarf jao yaha na aao..

Unknown: are yr mera lakshya hi aap ho toh or kispe dhyan de skta hu mai 😌

Unknown: Or batao NEET ki news dekh kr kya reaction hua?

Tanuja: Dekho tum jahe jo bhi ho nam batao urna me block kar de rahi

Unknown: kardo block vaise bhi har ladka apni pasandida aurat se hi block hota hai

Tanuja: 🫡

...----------------...

Tanuja block him, deleted his number..

Then a voice came from outside the outside of her room

...Lunch is ready to come and eat...

I don't feel like it, you guys eat it, I will eat it later.q1

Tanuja kept the phone aside and fell asleep worrying about NEET.

She woke up again in the evening, she had a slight fever, her mother also placed a cloth on her head. She got up and took medicine.

his sister took him out for a stroll,They enjoyed and went for some shopping, she was happy but sad as well.

When they come home it becomes very late, Tanuja comes home and goes to sleep.

...****************...

...Next day...

Everyone was gathered in Tanuja's room with a surprise.

Tanuja got up and everyone said let's go and watch the news first.She went to the room where the TV was on and saw the news. She became very happy and started laughing.

The result comes out after a few weeks. Due to good results, she gets admission in a government college and her friend also gets admission in the same college.

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