I almost flunked the eighth standard #GoodLuck

It has been over 15 years since this happened and luck has helped me sail through many other situations before and after that, but this one stands out. I was around 12 years old in the eighth standard around this time and was hospitalized for good four months and had to skip the complete second term including the examinations. Being an average student, it turned out that I needed, let’s say around 400 marks in total from six subjects out of a total of 600 (in other words, 80 marks in each subject on average). After a failed attempt to convince the teachers and the principal for giving passing marks in the second term, I was certain that I would have no choice but to repeat the eighth standard and was shattered. 

While I was studying very hard for getting the required 400 marks, I knew it deep down that I won’t be able to make it. There came a point when I was thinking about skipping the exams altogether. It was only after my mother convinced me that not giving the exam would mean losing a battle even before even it started. The exams went as expected and the result was expected to be out in a period of 20 days. 

The holidays went fine as we paid off a ritual visit to my nani’s place for 10 days and was back in Delhi five days before the result day. While I knew what the result would have for me, my parents were trying their level best to keep me positive and happy.

As luck would have it, four days before the result was supposed to be out, fire broke out in the night in the school building. Perhaps because of an electric short-circuit, the bright school building turned into the darkest shade of black in a matter of a few hours. It was announced next day afternoon that all the exam papers and results were destroyed in the fire and all the students would be promoted to the next class with passing marks (barring the students who did not appear for more than one exam!). 

While I was jumping with joy hearing this, I also realized the importance of scoring good marks.

@PawanChabra