There are only two ways of getting on in the world – by one’s industry or by the stupidity of others (Jean de la Bruyere). Our exams prove the same. Once again, Aastha appears for the Delhi preliminary exam. However, this time, her stupidity prevailed over her hard work. She made silly mistakes on the paper.
Morose and dejected, Aastha returns to Kolkata after a few months of hardships in Delhi. She gives lectures at the TIME Institute but does not allow the sadness to take much of her.
Months passed, and she taught in all the branch offices of TIME Institute in Kolkata. With time, she had become an expert n the subject of logical reasoning.
Once a student requested her to solve a question on puzzles relating to questions on logical reasoning that seemed difficult on the offing. The student said –
“Mam, I have incurred a problem in the exam conducted by TIME Institute yesterday. Can you solve the problem for me?”
“Okay, give me the question,” replied Aastha. She looks at the question and answers it.
“Here is your solution to the problem”.
“Thank You, Mam,’ replied the student. He further inquired – “How did you solve this question in less than a minute”.
“It is simple,” she replied. “Try this trick. Whenever you find such a big and complex question, the answer is always simple. Your answer lies in the question itself. Secondly, never think before you solve the question. Just begin writing. Your answer will be in place soon”.
“Mam, you have excellent suggestions. Do you have any more of it for our exams?”
“Yes. I have more suggestions. I will share more tricks in the class tomorrow. Please be present”.
“Thank you, Mam….” replied the student.
“Welcome,” she replied courteously.
Alternatively, she undertook some work related to test series from Aim Law Institute that would help her gain expertise in her craft. This way, she partially solved the problems of her financial irregularities.
On the personal front, Aastha had to fight her demons now and then. Her subconscious mind housed the demons of rejections, failures, accidents, mishaps, and bizarre incidents of black magic.
She lived those moments again through her parents and relatives, who passed comments on her constant failures. They could never let the matter subside. The worst addition to everything was her recurrent nightmares. Her dreams were tormenting and caused her immense stress and tension. During this phase, she could never have a peaceful sleep. It was a tiring routine for her. She couldn’t tackle so much work, which caused her more strife. It would overburden her with work, leading to unhealthy work routines like staying awake at night.
At night, Aastha slept on the folding bed kept on the raised floor of the platform in the drawing-room that led to four rooms inside the flat.
“Why don’t you shift inside the room and sleep with your siblings?”, asked Rita
“No, I like the fresh air here. There are lots of windows and a scenic serene beauty outside the window of the main road surrounded by trees that I love to look at more often. I like here, Mom.
“Are you okay with the sleep? Isn’t your health getting affected?
” My sleep is a little disturbing. I think it has everything to do with my bed. It is a small folding bed. Don’t worry, Mom. I will do something about it.” She ignores the conversation and gets back to work. At around 3 am, Aastha cries while sleeping and wakes up shouting for peace. She becomes restless and cannot control her tears.
“I cannot breathe. Why am I looking at my past events at a fast-forward pace? – The accident… my uncle’s words, his harassment, his devilish laughter, etc. Please save me from all this, God. I cannot see myself in such a terrible condition. Why me? I need some respite from my pain”.
“Whoa? Where am I? She looks at the surroundings and then searches for a napkin to wipe off her tears.
She spent many mornings and nights like this.
The results of the exam, the Delhi Judicial Service Exam (prelims) added to her trauma. She failed in her second attempt to clear the judicial services exam while the results of the first one were pending litigation. Her only hope was the result of the first one, which was under review by a committee appointed by the Court.
Once Kishan approaches Aastha with a suggestion, “Why don’t you apply for West Bengal Judicial Service Exam? Now that you are staying in Kolkata, why don’t you give an exam for your home state?”
He looked at her. She looked disheartened.
“Don’t worry, Kid. All will be fine. It eventually has to be fine.
Aastha appeared for the West Bengal Judicial Service Exam. Simultaneously, she prepared test series for students of Aim Law Institute who were also appearing for the West Bengal judicial service exam. To her amazement, she cleared the paper with good marks. The results were excellent. This time, the State government took a massive number of students for the next stage. Aastha was happy to be one of them. However, this was not her mission. She wanted to become a judge of the lower courts of Delhi and marry Parth.
There was no news about Parth. After a long period of absence from social media, Parth posted some of his pictures on Facebook. He accepted Aastha’s friend request, and they exchanged pictures. He was now a friend to her.
In the meantime, Sebastian Sir offers a contract to Aastha for setting up a branch office of his institute at Kolkata, to which she readily agreed. Her visit to Delhi gets postponed because of the West Bengal Judicial Service (Mains) examination. She deferred everything until the completion of her exams. Her preparation was thorough, and she took some help from the Aim Law Institute. The Institute sends her some notes and preparatory material for her help. Harlyn also shows enthusiasm in the matter.
In April, Aastha cleared the West Bengal judicial service exam (mains) and appeared for the interview. However, there was no news about the pending litigation of Delhi mains. One morning, her father saw something useful in the newspaper. It was her name.
“Here… Look at this. Aastha. Your name has come in the newspaper (The Telegraph)”, he said excitedly.
“Yes, Dad. I can see my name at number 60. There are 62 students selected after the final interview in the WBJS Exam”.
“Congratulations. I will tell everyone and bring some sweets while you inform all your friends about your selection. Don’t forget to inform the Aim Law Institute. They have been very helpful”.
“I will let the news sink in first. I will then inform the Institute”.
“And I will keep this newspaper with me,” said Kishan gleefully
“Sure, Dad”.
After some time during the day, Aastha calls up the Institute and speaks to Akash Sir to give him the news. She begins – “Sir, my name has come in the newspaper. I have cleared the West Bengal Judicial Services (interview). He replies – “Wow. Congratulations. The Institute is very proud of you. Kindly send me a copy of the newspaper. So, when are you joining them?”
“Sir, they have asked the candidates to wait for the call letter. It might take a long time”.
“Oh yes. It will take some six months. During this time, you can take some lectures at our institute. You are needed by us also,” he laughed.
So, should I schedule your lectures?”
“Yes Sir. I am coming to Delhi to sign the papers for opening a branch office of your Institute in Kolkata”.
“I know and I am sure you can take up several tasks simultaneously. I know you by now”.
“Thank you, Sir, and give my regards to Sebastian Sir”.
Till that time, Aastha fills her appetite with some classes at the TIME Institute.
At the Institute, she begins her lecture by explaining the concepts and asking the students to solve some questions from the pamphlets given to them. In one of her classes, she encountered very unusual occurrences, one after another.
On Sunday, 12th February 2017, Aastha took three classes back to back in the branch office near her home on Park Street. The students were busy solving the questions silently when she hears some voices in the background. At first, she thought it was her delusion. While supervising the test, she heard some peculiar statements being made from across the wall. She heard –
“Aastha can never become a mother. She is a whore, a piece of shit. She can never marry. After the game, we will soon have some respite from her”.
The voices grew louder as if someone was speaking to her over the phone. She asked the students if they heard something. They denied having heard anything. She left her class for some time, only to check the classroom next door to find if there was anybody. She found that there was nobody in the class.
Bewildered and anxious, Aastha left the room for another class, after which her concentration levels dropped drastically. She felt like running away from the class midway. She could hear the same statements being repeated next to her ear. After her next class, she stopped hearing the voices. However, while moving through the passageway, she could hear some murmuring with some skirmishes and blemishes against her. She left the Institute hoping everything will be fine. She took a leave from the TIME Institute.
On 13th March 2017, Aastha received her schedule for taking some classes at the Aim Law Institute. During Holi, she stayed at home with her family. Her health deteriorated. The next day, she was happy to take a train journey to New Delhi. On her way to Delhi, the journey was unusual. She heard the same voices repeating the same things repeatedly. Ignoring the disturbances wasn’t easy for her. The journey was wholly tiring and cumbersome. After long hours of journey, she reached New Delhi Railway Station. This time, she was even more willing to meet everyone in the Institute, for she had cleared one of the most prestigious exams and was on her way to becoming a judge. It filled her with pride. She was all ready to embrace success now, rather than just have a taste of it.