Whenever there is decision to be made among two different choices, one of the most common ways is to toss a coin. From mathematics classes to cricket matches, the coin reaches places. And it really can turn disastrous when you lose a toss…..
For the Want of a Thursday!!!
Well, it all happened towards the end of our third semester. So we were a class of 90, divided into three batches of 30 each for the three labs – data structures (DS), file structures (FS) and basic electronics (BE). We had our labs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. My name starting with the letter ‘A’, I was in the first batch. And we followed the schedule – DS on Wednesday afternoons, FS on Thursday afternoons and BE on Friday mornings. So we were the ones who were supposed to complete the weird yet meaningful DS assignments of out teacher first (or else get thrown out of the lab). FS on the next day was not a relief either (I don’t want to mention the complexities involved – would require too many technical terms). The only solace was that we had BE on Friday which lasted only an hour or so – and we could start our weekend on Friday 11 am itself.
The first batch was destined for hardships – but the worst one came right at the fag end. When during our lab exams, the Thursday turned out to be a holiday…….
The Odd Numbers Fight it Out!!!
The second batch had BE on Thursday and hence, it had nothing to worry as the teacher was too lenient. But the first and the third batches were caught in the crossfire of holidays. The teacher gave us two options – the Thursday exams be conducted either on Wednesday or on Friday. Wednesday would mean we had DS and FS on Wednesday with the third batch having BE and DS. Friday would mean we had BE and FS on Friday with the third batch having FS and DS. Now no one wanted to have both DS and FS on the same day – it would almost torturous!
So the teacher decides to go for a coin toss….
The “Jishnu Effect”!!!
So the representatives from both of the batches were called. I chose Badarudheen and Jishnu. I wondered if it was the right decision, but later I was glad I chose Jishnu….
So a guy from the third batch tosses the coin – we call and lose. Then Jishnu claims that coins can be manipulated to get the desired result. Of course, the teacher wasn’t one to believe just like that. He handed the coin to him and asked him to bring heads. Then Jishnu was on course – heads, heads, heads and heads. So the teacher had no option but to cal an M.Tech student (he refused to toss the coin – I wonder why). But then – it turned out to be inconsequential as we lost it anyways.
But it was worth calling Jishnu for the dramatic effect leading to the climax.
9 am to 9 pm – The Life of a “Lab Rat”!!!
So it was – DS on Wednesday morning 10 am and FS on Wednesday afternoon 4 pm. And it was a disastrous outing in the air conditioned lab….
So the teacher asked us to come to the lab at 9:30 am, but we were there by 9 – guess we are used to being early to exams. But he himself turns up at quarter past ten. And by the time we got our questions, it was past 11 o’clock. And he asked us to wrap it by 1:30 pm. Hardly two and a half hours!!! Well, it wasn’t that bad – I at least managed to get the output. And then we were off to lunch and a couple of hours to prepare for the next exam.
The second exam started on time, but after the timely start everything went downhill. No point in mentioning the standard or the questions. Somehow, most of us were able to finish it within the stipulated time of 7 pm. But alas! We couldn’t leave until the teacher came and checked – and he comes at 8:30 pm! And we were allowed to leave only at 9. Those two hours – stranded in an air conditioned room – kept me wishing I had worn a sweater or a jacket (it was quite cold at that time of the night). More importantly, we had to have dinner at 9:30! That was the worst of all. Only one thought remained in our minds after that – it was finally over and we have a holiday the next day to pull ourselves together!!!
Once in a lifetime mis-opportunity!!!
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