My first view, as I opened my eyes, was the sun rays with their brilliance mellowed by my curtains. What a beautiful morning... if only it weren't today. A strange feeling of tranquility enveloped me for a second but even then my brain could barely keep up.

Today was the d-day! The day of the entrance examination.

I leaped from my bed and glanced at the clock; it read seven o'clock. I can't believe this! Why did I sleep in? I felt my heart miss a beat. How did I allow myself to doze off to that extent in the morning? I can usually get up much earlier than that, but here I was already an hour late for everything and I hadn't reviewed for the tenth time! There was almost panic within me.

"Avantika! Come for breakfast, it is ready," My father called from downstairs.

Breakfast? I don't have time for breakfast! I've to revise one last time!

I quickly got out of my blanket. Come on, Avantika, focus! You can't afford to get distracted now. My thoughts were racing dangerously. There was a great outline of everything that I needed to do—get up, get my notes, and go through my stationery for the last time. I should have been more organized; why didn't I plan better? But now it seems some of the plan was working earlier, but now I was way behind schedule.

Nonetheless, I was aware that I cannot spend any more time. I need to get it together. As a result, I decided to take a shower. The cold, refreshing water woke me up entirely, so when I finished, not only was my entire body dry, but the ends of my hair were still wet. No time for that; just get dressed! I rushed into my clothes as black pants and a white t-shirt were what I always wore for my examinations. I tied my hair up with a high ponytail and slipped on my most-loved wristwatch. This watch has seen me through so much; it better bring me luck today. Picking my bag, which was already filled with my clipboard, reorganized notes, and a set of different pens and pencils, I took a deep breath to calm down. You can do this, just focus on the exam.

Before leaving, I stood in front of the small shrine in our living room, palms pressed together. "Please, God, just let me do my best today." It was a ritual of mine, to pray before anything important.

The aroma of lightly cooking bread wafted upstairs. As usual, my mom had canned a sandwich in case I came back for lunch. This image was comforting even if she tended not to, whether it sparked concern for something or someone. She always thinks ahead; it's comforting even if she tends not to show it—whether it sparks concern for something or someone.

"Thank you Mom," I said, sucking in a piece of bread while on the run towards the opening doors. I hope I can make her proud today.

My father had already made his presence felt standing and wearing out dear car keys which he intended to hand to me as he dropped me out. "Are you jittery?" he smiled encouragingly while I got into the passenger's seat.

Though I feared recognition, my stomach told me. "Just a little," I said embarrassedly and quickly turned my gaze outside where the bustle of the streets amplified the world inside my head. Why do I feel so nervous? I've prepared, but it's still so daunting.

He laughed warmly. "Don't worry too much, kiddo. You are prepared for this and I am convinced that you will give it everything that you have." His voice held that calm certainty only my father could offer. He always knows what to say. "Remember, it is okay to make mistakes as long as you put in the effort... that is all they expect, nothing more, nothing less."

I shifted my gaze to him and smiled, feeling somehow relaxed now. "Thank you, Dad." I needed to hear that.

As our car drove to Blackthorn Academy, I was anxious since my heart seemed to get louder with every beat. What if I mess up? I couldn't help but feel the presence of the vast campus. As it was a Saturday, it was quieter than usual. The deserted grassland was almost scary, yet they also suggested the possibility of something very thrilling—a future, a challenge.

"Good luck, Vani," my dad said before I got out. His eyes were so full of affection, I could feel the trust he had in me. I can't let him down. My heart felt lighter when I realized that even though so many things could have gone wrong, if I believed in myself, I could make it through this mission.

I exhaled deeply, nodding my head. Let's show this to myself that I have what it takes.

Once my dad left, I focused my attention on the imposing Blackthorn Academy entrance. I had seen the gate from the outside but this time, taking the first step through the gate seemed like a triumph. The gates were in front of me, tall, and made of iron with twisting intricate designs, which made me feel as though I was transported to another world when I walked through them.

Ascending the stone path, the main structure came into view—it was humongous and the walls were red bricks embedded with cream-white beams on the ceiling. The pillars that held the structure up appeared so tall that they reminded me of redwood tree trunks. This place is massive. The entrance was right in front, as though it were a portal to another side of the world. This was the place—the one that would determine everything.

I walked in, and the room was full of students already. Some were composed and collected, while some had their apprehensions on them, like some ill-fitting attire. I couldn't help but feel the people's eyes were on me as I walked in—though it was probably just paranoia making me think that.

There was a small room in the faraway location of the hall with a wide window, and in that room there was a middle-aged woman who had placed her glasses at the edge of her nose. The woman was very beautiful in a way that women look in a shampoo commercial.

"Name?" she asked briskly, not even looking up as she flipped through a stack of papers.

"Avantika. Avantika Khanna," I replied, trying to sound confident. My voice came out steady enough, at least.

She handed me a small card. "Your admit card. Your room is the last one down the hallway. The exam starts at 10:00 AM sharp. If you need to use the restroom, do it now. You can only take your clipboard, pencil and a black pen into the hall." Her words were sharp, and she barely glanced at me. Is she always this serious?

I nodded, clutching the admit card like it was my golden ticket. Clipboard, pencil, and a black pen. Got it.

I took a deep breath. The real test was about to begin, and I could feel the weight of it settling on my shoulders. But I was here. I had made it through the gates, into the building, and now I just had to focus on one thing—giving it my best shot.

As I was getting myself ready for the exam, a familiar voice cut through the pre-exam tension. "Hey, Avantika! Prepared to be beaten again?" Abhimanyu's voice carried his trademark cocky tone. Of course he'd show up now. He was dressed to impress, his fitted pants and crisply ironed white shirt showcasing his athletic build. A few giggles from nearby girls made it clear that he was attracting attention.

"You bet," I scoffed back, trying to hide a smile.

"Come on, I'll let you come second this time," he said, teasing me.

"Speak for yourself, Noodles! Second place is not on the table when I am involved," I retorted, feeling competitive.

He dramatically cleared his throat and said, "Not this time. Ahem - Ahem, I've come prepared and the first position belongs to me today, Mickey."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a small, confident smile. "We'll see about that."

The first alarm rang, signaling the commence of the exam. We all moved to our designated exam halls, and I walked by myself to the far end of the building, where the last hall awaited. Stepping inside, I was greeted by a space as enormous as an auditorium. Every chair and desk was placed upright and and in a perfect manner organized into equally spaced rows and columns. I made myself comfortable in the very first row - slightly next to the desk of the invigilator, as I always preferred that spot. No need to scream to ask for additional sheets from the opposite end of the room. 

With the accustomed speed I arranged my belongings and inhaled deeply. I was seated in a hall, where students from different schools occupied the rest of the chairs, and I understood why there was a stiff competition to secure a seat in Blackthorn Academy. I sensed the gravity of the occasion, yet concentrated on not allowing my excitement to get the best of me.

The exam was about to begin, and I was ready to face whatever hardships lay ahead. This exam felt monumental, like a door to my future, and I knew I had to give it my all.

The second bell went off which meant it was time to begin the examination and an energizing focus filled the room. There were already clean sheets laid out on our desks. I opened the question paper and looked through the contents. A sigh of relief escaped me upon realizing the substance of the papers before me was one I had previously encountered. Thank goodness! I've prepared for this. I can do this. A grin, fueled with self assurance, decorated my face, as I evaluated the progress of the examination so far.

I started writing the answers down, the noises of my pen on the paper fusing with those of many others and the general ambiance in the hall. It was so easy for me to go from one question to another in my head. The air in the packed hall was buzzing with concentration. The invigilator walked quietly around the room, the only sound that pierced the intense focus was the rustle of papers every so often.

As I approached the last portion of the answer sheet, I could not resist taking one last look at the question paper to see if there was any portion that I had overlooked. The voice of the invigilator cut through the silence, "there are twenty more minutes left," making me get out of the zoning state but with a quick and collected manner. I can't believe how fast this is going. I need to finish strong! I automatically turned my eyes to my wristwatch. The last question was to draw and name a human heart which was still postponed and one last reasoning question was starving for completion. I raised my hand for the third time, clutching the edge of the desk as the invigilator came closer. He gave me a fresh sheet with a nod and I went back to my work. With accuracy, I drew the picture of the human heart and tattooed each of its parts in writing without any shakiness.

"Ten minutes remaining!" - the invigilator declared, his tone calm yet authoritative. I swear the ticker inside the classroom started tickling even louder than my heartbeat. I can do this. Just a little more time. It was as if my heart found that twenty seconds was all I needed to put the final and maybe the crispest dot possible to the last answer. I stapled up the answer sheets, and instinctively smiled upon completing my exam and month-long preparation.

"TIME," the invigilator announced and that voicing marked the conclusion of our exam. The last bang rang the bell system and the atmosphere changed from serious concentration to a wild commotion. A few minutes later, students became active as they began sharing their opinions and corrections. I packed my belongings, submitted my paper to the invigilator, and walked out of the class.

I came into the crowd of students, and sensed the sadness in between the calm and tense mood of the individuals. While Some faces showed relief, others were marked with worry. The feeling was one of a more thrill that had undertones of fear, in appreciation of the importance of the day.

I inhaled deeply, enjoying the atmosphere. The examination was complete, however most or all the students quickly felt the tension of waiting for the results to come in and this added yet another thrill to the day.

***

The scorching sun this bright afternoon was a pleasant departure from the enclosed cold atmosphere of the examination room when I finally walked out in relief. Finally, I'm free! That exam felt endless. The football field was just ahead and several shadows were elegantly sprawled on the well-maintained green grass. Out of the blue, a football rolled towards me and as I bent down to pick it up a guy came running to get his football. He had black football shorts, and nothing else on his torso. His well-defined abs and muscular body seem to be highlighted under the rays of the sun, every angle and edge of his body almost looks like a sculpture. 

"Sorry about that!" he called out as he drew closer, his voice unmistakably familiar.

"Avantika! Hey!" he remarked, genuinely pleased. "What a surprise! How come you are here? Were you here for the paper?"

I blinked, surprised by his abrupt appearance. "I was. I'm just about to leave," I said in an effort to sound casual. Keep it cool, Avantika.

"Wait—what are you doing here?" I inquired, only to realize a moment too late how that sounded. Smooth move, genius.

He chuckled lightly, a mellifluous passive tone that I was starting to associate with him. "I go here."

"Right. I mean, I—" I stuttered, feeling the heat in my cheeks may be traceable even to my ears. Why am I so flustered?

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Don't worry, I know what you meant," Aarav said with a warm smile. "So how about your performance? Will I get to see you officially?"

"I think it went well," I said, struggling to keep my tone even in the face of mounting embarrassment. I hope I didn't sound too unsure.

"Of course, just like your recommendations, so will your exam be a walk in the park," he assured me with his sincere beaming smile that calmed me down. Okay, maybe I can handle this conversation.

While we were talking, I sensed someone's gaze fixed on me. Accordingly, I turned and found Abhimanyu staring at us from a distance with a vague expression on his face. Why is he watching? He instantly diverted his gaze and blended back into the crowd. I attempted to catch his eye, but he was already gone.

"Are you looking for someone in particular?" Aarav's voice brought me back to the conversation.

"No, I was just looking for my dad. He was supposed to pick me up after the exam," I replied with a slight fib.

"I can give you a ride back home if you wish. Besides, I have finished my game," Aarav said in a considerate tone.

"Thanks for the offer, that's really sweet of you, but I think I should stay by the gate. My dad should be there at any moment," I pointed out. "But of course, it was nice meeting you again." I hope this doesn't come off as rude.

Aarav nodded his head slightly and said, "Likewise, Avantika."

As I exited through the gate, I saw Abhimanyu busy on his phone. "Hey!" I greeted him from behind, trying to sound cheerful. He always seems so absorbed in that screen.

He didn't turn around. I tried again, this time with a playful tone, "So, are you sure you don't want the second spot this time too?" I giggled to myself. Just a little teasing never hurt anyone, right?

"Who was that guy?" Abhimanyu's voice was sharp, and it took me by surprise.

"Who's who?" I asked, confused. Did I miss something? Is he referring to—

"Don't act like you don't know, Vani," he said, sounding irritated.

Still puzzled, I replied, "But I don't know how to act."

Abhimanyu sighed heavily, a sound I found annoyingly familiar. "Really, Vani?"

"What do you mean?" I frowned, waiting for an explanation. What's with the sudden change of emotion?

"Forget it," he said with a heavy sigh. I could sense his frustration, but I wasn't quite sure why. This is so typical of him. Classic Manyu.

As we headed toward the car, my father pulled up to us. Abhimanyu hurriedly ducked into the backseat, trying to hide his face from me.

I could not resist the urge to make fun of him. "Is it because you were little jelly?"

There was no doubt that the mood was much better as we drove off. Abhimanyu was concentrating on trying not to look at me, which made me want to laugh even more. This is too good to pass up!

My dad and I shared a knowing look as I pulled his legs slightly more. The journey home was filled with easy laughter and playful teasings. The sky was already painted with warmer tones, which made the ride feel like a perfect end to a day full of stress and hard work. Maybe this day wasn't so bad after all.

A u t h o r's   N o t e

I hope you enjoy this brand-new edition of the chapter! After the epic brevity of the previous one, I've generously extended this one to make up for it. Happy reading, My lovely blueberries! :)

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