This update is dedicated to everyone whose name starts with letter "V"
...

"P.o.s.t. post. B.o.x. box. Post box." I read it aloud and the professor gaped.

"If you take enough time to read just a word I wonder how long it will take to complete a sentence, a paragraph, a page, a book. When will you finish all these books?"

I looked at the tower of books almost reaching my chin from the ground level.

Ah! It's so difficult to study.

Why did I even start with this? It's draining all my energy. The professor is so strict with his timings and I have to be in the class by 10 in the morning. Who does that?

It's been a week already and I am always feeling drowsy looking at the countless characters printed on every page of a book.

"Argh! I already finished first chapter. When will I become a doctor?" I questioned him.

He chuckled. "Sweety, these are elementary books. First, complete these and then we can move to secondary books."

I ruffled my hair getting mad. I was about to lash out on him for stressing me but stopped as my eyes fell upon Manik who was passing by the living room to his office.

I pretended to hold the textbook closer to my face and tucked my hair behind my ears. I peeked from the top of the book to look at Manik.

He winked at me as soon as our eyes met.

I immediately buried my face into the text book with shyness. Ah! Manik. Ah!

"Are you done drooling?" My dream land was broken by this professor.

"Slow down, Manik is here." I whispered.

"Oh? Are you feeling embarrassed that your grades are crap and your boyfriend might hear you?" He said loudly and I grit my teeth in anger.

Dude! I am doing all this to be closer to Manik. If he tries to make me look dumb infront of Manik I will kill this professor for sure. Pinky promise with right hand.

I stayed calm till Manik went inside his office and stood up glaring at the professor. "What's your problem? I am your responsibility and you have to make sure that I will become a doctor. And since it's the weekend I deserve a break. You can't use all of my lifetime for these black water on paper reading session."

It's been one week since I spent time with my Manik. If you count sleeping on the either side of the pillow border, we did nothing else. All thanks to this professor who is eating all my time.

"Ofcourse, this is a basic math test. Answer these 10 questions then you can go for the day."

I clapped with happiness. "Let's finish it."

I took the paper and sat down with my pen. This paper had ten questions and each one carried one point. If there is anything about exams we have to think twice, thrice and till the timer goes off.

If you know the answer instantly it means there is maximum chance of it getting wrong. Erase it and think again till you are ready to pull all the hair of your head.

It took me five hours and two snack break to complete the test.

All this while the Professor was chatting with Cabir who had a stern expression on his face.

Well, what's new here anyways!

Professor facepalmed himself as soon as he saw my answer paper. It took him only one minute to correct my five hours efforts.

"Even a 5 year old can answer this paper but you are worse than them. Is anything going in your brain or is that part empty?" He said throwing the answer paper on my face.

I picked the paper to my eye level to check what's wrong and how much I scored. I scored 1/10.

"How?" I was shocked.

"How what? How did you even score 1 point or how did you get 9 wrong answers?" He taunted me.

"All my answers are correct. How did you mark them wrong?" I questioned with confidence putting the paper on his table.

"For a second I thought I was wrong seeing your confidence in your answers. Well let's review your answers, shall we?" He adjusted his eye glasses on his nose and read my answers aloud. "First and only question you got correct is one+one=two."

"That's an easy question, professor. You should have given me something my level."

Duh!

"Ofcourse, your level is on the way. Two + two = Twenty Two. Three+Three= Thirty Three." He read the other answers and I stood normally not understanding how this could be marked wrong.

"Now give me your explanation on how these answers are wrong." I said crossing my arms over my torso.

"Look at your audacity to question a professor from top university even after giving wrong answers. Two plus two is four, Dammit! I thought to give you an easy paper and let you rest for the day. But No, you have to overthink and bring two digit answers here." He paused. "I did not teach you about two digit numbers this week, then why on earth did you write them."

"I wanted to prove that I am a smart student and give intelligent answers. I didn't want to leave it blank just because you haven't taught me two digit maths." I explained.

"Really? Then why did you right One plus one as two? Why didn't you use your intelligent answer to this question as well?" He said shoving the paper on my face.

"Because that's the right answer. One plus one is two. There is no Eleventy One to write." I yelled in stress.

He stared at me with his mouth open for a few minutes without moving an inch. "Tell me the truth, you kidnapped me to give me a slow death right. I did something to you and now you are taking your revenge. I understood everything. I will not be seeing the mainland in my life."

"Why are you saying all that Professor? It's just a few more days, I will become a doctor and you can go to the mainland."

As soon as I finished my words he poured the hot coffee on his head. "I am going insane and I need a break. Class dismissed."

He went out of the living room with coffee still dripping on his face.

I looked at the answer sheet with a pout. 1/10. It's too much. With this rate I will be having grey hairs when I get to marry Manik.

What should I do?

An evil grin appeared on my face with a brilliant idea forming in my mind. I took the same pen professor used to correct my answer sheet and changed the score from 1/10 to 10/10 by adding a zero next to it.

Now who will stop me from getting married to Manik?

I hopped towards the office room where Manik was sitting. I gave a bright smile as our eyes met and showed him my answer sheet.

"Look I got ten out of ten points in my test. I am now a doctor and you have to marry me."

Ah! I can't bear that professor's torture and I can't study more. It's better if I find my way like this.

Manik looked at my answer sheet and chuckled. He kept the answer sheet on the table and signalled me with his fingers to sit on his lap. I happily hopped towards him and sat on his lap while putting my legs on the right side of his body.

"These things doesn't matter to me, Nandini." He said tucking my hair behind my ears and kissing my forehead. "We can stop these classes if you find them stressful. You can continue them when you feel like."

Continue again? Hell no!

"I need not continue Manik. I am already a doctor as I passed this test with full marks. Let's send that Professor back to mainland and lets get married." I said with a strong hope that Manik agrees to marry me.

He must not have any reason to say no as I am now a doctor who has tent out of ten points in the test. Please Manik. Please.

"I am not going to the mainland till you finish atleast your elementary level education." I heard the professor's voice.

Argh! Why can't he just go away and let me live in peace with my Manik for atleast one minute?

"Don't listen to him, Manik. I finished all my education levels and now I am doctor. We can print the certificate in one hour and finish everything." I said cupping Manik's face so that he would not look at anyone except me.

"Doctor in one week?" Professor laughed as he walked inside the room. "Boss, she couldn't even pass the first lesson of elementary maths. I have to stay here for minimum twenty years to make her a doctor."

It was this moment I wished Cabir would be on my side. I instantly looked for him and spotted him walking towards the office. I joined both of my hands together and silently prayed to save me from this professor.

Cabir rolled his eyes and walked inside the room and glared at the professor who instantly stopped speaking.

"Boss, all checks are done. We need your final approval on the directory." Cabir made an excuse and Manik who was speaking on his mobile walked out of the room leaving us trio alone. "What were you saying, physio?"

Professor gulped seeing Cabir advancing towards him. "She is of no improvement and needs to study more. She couldn't even do basic maths..."

His complaints were on halt when Cabir kept his palm next to professor head on the wall. "Are you so eager to die in my hands? If the Princess doesn't improve I will crush your skull with my bare hands. Just because we are paying you triple of your salary doesn't mean you would lag your stay here. Do your work and get out."

Professor shook his head negatively. "I am telling the truth. It would take decades to make her a doctor."

Cabir paid no heed to his words. "Next time look where you are walking and whom you are speaking with. It's not your mainland where you could step anywhere, it's our Empire and we have rules here. Never try to cross your limits. Got it?"

Their faces were getting close and Raghav began panting. "Yes, Daddy."

They stared at each other's faces.

"Daddy? Is Cabir your father? But you look older than Cabir." I questioned with confusion.

They immediately parted a few feet away from each other and Cabir's ears turned red. He glared at the Professor, "Watch your words. I am warning you." Saying that he walked away leaving a flustered professor and a confused student.

"Professor? I am still waiting for an answer." I questioned him once again and he rubbed his face with both his palms.

"Do not. I mean do not question anything happening between Cabir and me. Your entire concentration must be only on your studies and nothing more. Since, you are having a break today and tomorrow, I want you to write all the one digit numbers in words 100 times. Submit it on Monday." He said as he walked out of the room.

"Yah! That's not how a break time works.  I can not do all that in my weekend and call it a break just because you are on leave." I yelled at his retreating figure. "Let me spend my time with Manik."

I collapsed on the chair and facepalmed for taking this stupid idea of becoming a doctor or getting smart. I should have tried more times to pester Manik till he gave up instead of this idea.

Ah! I am struck with these papers and I want to run away leaving everything.

...

How is the update?

Did you ever change the marks on your test before showing it to your parents?

Something big is going to happen in the next update. Guess what?