Class 12th (F)

Allow me to walk you through a day in class 12th F. Students are expected to report after every other class from the coaching is dispersed. Class 12th F shares its schedule with no other batch, so the rusted iron entry gates are closed shut way before their session begins. That, however, is not their greatest concern. They consider themselves lucky if they don't have to struggle studying in candle-lit rooms due to power outages. 

After you jump past the iron gate, you will have to climb a flight of slippery stairs till you reach the third floor. Towards your right will be a dimly illuminated hallway. Keep walking and the last classroom should be your 12th F. Careful, silence your phone before you enter. These students tolerate no distractions. If you wait for someone to answer the door, you might probably wait there forever. These students' ears are receptive to nothing beyond their syllabus- not even a knock at the door. 

Once you are in, you realize what I meant when I said power outage is a severe issue around here. You can barely see students past the first two rows. You introduce yourself- or try to- when you are stopped short by loud arguments. Students are debating over the correct answer for a decade-old question once asked in an exam. You wonder why they aren't verifying their answers from the "previous year papers" guide. You briefly part your lips to make the suggestion when they are startled by your presence. A moment of silence, then they all speak together. 

"I'm Khushi Patel, I scored 92% - two short for MIT Engineering"
"Yash Pradhan here, 95% Math and 84% English - missed Ivy by one subject"

"Anish Deshpande, 96% in boards but failed JEE Adv, couldn't get into IIT"

As the introductions go on, you are led to believe that you walked into the repeaters' batch. 

You almost ask the class when they have to appear for their second attempt when you recall the disturbing headline you read while sipping your morning tea. You vividly remember a mention of ten students of grade 12 who harmed themselves over a second attempt exam gone poorly. 

Your chain of thought and obvious confusion is interrupted by ten new students walking into the classroom. You don't have to squint your eyes to see them, as the fluorescent lights in the room- which you now recognize as a hall- light up all at once. Students are seated till as far as your vision goes. Khushi Patel and her friends shift a row behind, on benches marked '22 . The ten new students occupy vacant seats in row '23. A gasp leaves you as you note how the rows go up to '95 and beyond. 

You need to hold the table nearby for support as you see the red bracelets on each of the students' wrists differently. You now stop to wonder- at what point exactly, did you as a part of the society get so used to reading mark sheets for suicide notes, for news headlines, that you continued to sip your morning tea without raising a brow and scrolling away- much like how you just did.