Untold Story Part - 3

I am back again with a story after long long time and this time I will not be putting any disclaimer as well, so go ahead if you want to read this post. Do look for other parts if you disliked this post so as to hate more.

After writing the first line I realized that I have loosed my story writing capability and above it - loosed the normal writing capability. I guess this is the side effect of being a front-office lead where you mostly have to talk non-stop with some technical jargon to convince everyone involved in discussion. Whatever, let me try again. This is about another mischievous act of mine back in college, basically story where I was screwed.

Time Period : February/March 2004(4th Semester);  

Subject : Genetics;  

Lecturer : XYZ (Ma'am); 

College : Wasted Institute of Technology;

Branch : Don't ask me, I think it was some technology which as one of my professor said - "This will go for its natural death in next 2 year". And Irony is - that professor is dean of that school  now and is still taking student for this technology since 7 year now. I was in the first batch.(In India as well)

So here it goes -

I think I was never serious about my life not then, not now and probably not in future as well. So was the case with my engineering period as well. Whole engineering life I spent saying that I am non-bio student and worked mostly on programming and mathematics subject which were remotely connected with my branch. And still it beats me how I passed in bio based subjects with not much of study, no cheating and not so good image in teacher's eyes. I guess story writing capability and page filling capability in bio subjects ensured that I pass my engineering with good grades.

Genetics was a major subject for semester with 4 (max) credits so as per the school's rule and schedule it had 5-6 classes in the week. And I loved this subject more than any other subject and always looked forward for this subject - not because I was very keen on learning the genetics concept or I was planning to take that as my major study area at some later point in my life. I loved that class because it almost always got canceled because of instructor's unavailability and we were getting free period for that.  1 hours of free period just before the lunch break or after lunch break ensured that we were away from the books for 2 hours. Which gave ample time to go back to hostel or roam around in campus or laze in the class itself. But good thing always have some bad part as well. I never picked up anything in the subject (as if I would have had done something if I the classes would have had gone normally) but yeah Lecturer did missed the fact that, nothing can be done for me and let this guy be like this only. 

And like every good time comes to an end so was the semester and to complete the course lecturer started taking all the classes and finished the course. And as per the rule for 40% marks we had internal exams/10% for class participation and 50% for external paper (which too was kinda internal only but with too much  of hype). Worst part was 10% class participation marks - for which other lecturers gave some common assignment to submit and on submitting everyone was getting anywhere between 6-10 marks based on number of pages and the image of participant in lecturer's view. And being a non-bio student I always needed them badly. Yeah I was a non-bio even after studying 18 bio based subject  out of 36 subject in first 2 years. And for that matter was non-bio while taking my degree as well.

Assignment always amused me though while in college because like a hidden agenda everyone knew that participants are going to copy without checking the content from some master copy (prepared by some serious student)  reducing the number of lines, omitting paragraph to reduce the effort. So instead they could have asked everyone to bring a xerox copy instead of copying it manually and give whatever marks they wanted to give.  I think this amused the Genetics lecturer as well, so instead of asking for an copied/xerox assignment she asked us to go for real class participation ensuring that the course is covered through this class participant and presentations.

Standing on dais and giving some serious talk was always a nightmare for me and that too on bio based topic? That was a cruel punishment I could have had got but when 6-8 marks are on stake had to take that as well. Anyways the D-day came, I was tensed because - first, I had to go on dais to present something and second, I totally did not had idea what the topic actually meant. Good for start. Named were called in alphabetical order sadly my number came quick. I missed one important point - the presentation has a minimum time limit of 8-10 minutes and had to had 5-6 slides.

My Turn - I think all my enemies as well as friends were waiting for my turn only, because this was their moment to punish me. Because as soon as my turn came a huge noise started like some great thing is about to begin. Indeed it was great. I had 5-6 slides, I had distributed 2-3 dummy questions already for which I knew the answers and had given those chits to my friend so that they can ask me during the question round.

Me : Hello Friends ( Total time : 5 seconds)

Me : First Slide -> Content - Topic Name is XYZ and presenter is of course me (Total Time : 10 seconds)

(Noise, Laughter, Noise)

Me : Second Slide -> Content - Some diagram with marking. [Strangely the class became serious thinking that I am talking some serious content, and few started taking down as notes as well. Hehe. For which I told I will give this slides to you so no need to take down the notes] (Total Time : 20-30 seconds)

Me : Third Slide -> Content - Topic Name and 2 liner definition (Total Time : 15 Seconds)

Me : Fourth Slide -> Content - Any Questions?

Lecturer :  (got the real shock and told) Its hardly 1 minutes through your presentation with no major content, topic itself is a question. What question anyone can ask? (Huge round of applaud, laughter, noise)

(Three hands suddenly shoot up in class on last bench)

Me : (Smiles)Yes Ma'am, there are the questions.

(Huge round of noise and laughter in class)

Lecturer : Silence!!!

(No noise but giggling can still be heard)

My Savior-1 : (Once the noise was down he raised his hand for questions and then stands and smiles with the chit hiding in his hand) You explained in slide-2 about the diagram, could you please explain it again.

(Laughter and then more laughter as other knew about the scheme)

Me : (Back to slide-2 on projector) Ok, see this is the diagram. And this is due to this particular behavior (One liner answer). Next question.

(Applauds, laughter, noise)

My Saviour -2 : (And here he went over board, was laughing while asking question with the chit open in his hands) Anand, in the third slide you gave the definition, could you explain that again?

(Laughter, Noise, Laughter)

And before I could say anything, all hell broke loose. Lecturer saw this 

Lecturer : What is this? Ok enough of playing around, we are done with your presentation. (Class suddenly became silent)

(Total Drama of question answer - 1 minute)

Me : (Atlast!!! though sensed the lecturer anger) ok - so this is the last slide. Slide-5 -> Content : Thank you. [last nail in the coffin, all hell broke out again, huge round of laughter, this time from lecturer as well] (Total Time - 5 seconds)

Total presentation time - between 2 to 2.5 minutes

Unfortunately, to lecturers surprise and fortunately for me- all back-bencher and couple of more people gave similar kind of presentation, with few more lines than my slides, but more or less same. Guess assignment copy effect came here as well. But at least this ensure that everyone of us will get at least below average marks (4-5). 

Later in the week, my friend who had good image with lecturer came to me and told I got 0 marks because I started this drama. To get marks I had to write the assignment on my own and had to submit it. I think that was the only assignment which for which I prepared a master copy, but again the content was worked by my Savior-2 whose over enthusiasm made me do this. And in spite of all this I did got A in that subject, which was a magic. :D

P.S : - Do not go for grammar and spellings, I know it sucks and nor going for grammar or spell check as well. Flow as well might not be good like previous part as writing after long time.