April 10, 2004

“You can start your paper. No extra time would be given,” this was said and everyone maintained silence.

Yasmeen was sitting in a big hall of a small building with many other children her age. The atmosphere was very tense. The only voice heard were students scribbling on papers. And the tip, top, tip, top of the shoes of the invigilator. In this entire quiet environment Yasmeen was busy in filling sheets and sheets with the ink of her pen. “I know this.” She kept on saying as she attempted each question quite confidently. She was writing at a great pace with the invigilator announcing the left-over time every five minutes. Yasmeen was quiet sure of getting the highest marks in her matriculation and pass with flying colours as expected by her parents.

“Psst! Psst!” a voice interrupted Yasmeen. “What was this?” thought Yasmeen as she moved her head to the right with her brown, silky, long hair moving to and fro with her movements.

“Can you please tell me the answer of question number three?” whispered Sana, her classmate who was sitting on the seat to her right.

“You mean cheating,” Yasmeen managed to say.

“Oh! Come on don’t be sacred,” said Sana.

“But...” before Yasmeen could speak another word Sana snatched her paper.

“Hey! Both of you girls. Stand up. Now!” cried the invigilator. Yasmeen and Sana obeyed. Yasmeen was shaking from head to toe. The invigilator took their papers and asked them to go outside the hall in case they disturbed the rest of the students. Yasmeen knew this was the end, but still she managed to walk outside. Both the girls were standing outside resting against the wall.

“If only he would listen to me, I could explain everything,” thought Yasmeen, sobbing. She could explain that she was not the one who cheated, but now she was helpless.

The invigilator arrived with several more teachers who questioned the girls one by one. Yasmeen told the truth, but Sana made her own story as she knew that she was responsible for what happened.

With both the stories different from one another the teachers decided to expel them. New rules were introduced in Matriculation exams and teachers had to follow the rules. Yasmeen’s parents were called and she was expelled from the examinations.

Yasmeen was sitting in her room after her parents’ scolding when she realized that it really was the end. Without thinking for another second she gulped sleeping pills. A few hours later Yasmeen’s parents found her in her room with her pale face and her long hair lying over her body. She was gone... forever.

She failed in acquiring good grades and was not able to fulfil her dream of becoming a lawyer. She was innocent, but a single lie told by Sana destroyed her life and she could not bear this so she left this world.

This was not bravery, but it actually happened two years back when two students committed suicide after failing in their matriculation exams.

This is not how we should behave towards our difficulties. Suicide is interference in God’s decisions and a very cowardly act. I wish life would treat everyone kindly and everyone would be happy and satisfied.

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