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Whenever there was a collective decision to be made, the class turned to Nandini. People
laughed the loudest when she was around. Everyone tried to get her attention. All this

made Anitha very envious of Nandini. But she would console herself saying, ‘I am the
topper of the class and she comes second. That makes me better than her.’

Thus Anitha doused the flames of jealousy that ate at her heart. Every day she repeated
those words many times to herself. Every time she saw Nandini receive a smile, every time
she saw Nandini sacrifice her free time to help someone else, she kept going over those
words.

Most students dreaded the examinations. But not Anitha. The exams were a great joy
for her. She loved to see all her classmates struggle with their subjects while she relaxed.

Anitha had the knack of writing tests well. She took it as an opportunity to show off her
talents. But she never helped anyone else.

‘Anitha, could you teach me this sum?’

‘No. I am too busy,’ would be her curt reply. ‘It’s easy any way. Why don’t you learn it
yourself?’

‘Anitha, this essay is too difficult. Could you help me?’

‘Another time,’ would be her reply. Do you think Just a Minute!
Anitha’s attitude
‘Anitha, where on the map is England?’ will change?

‘Silly, find it yourself.’

But when the same people approached Nandini, she took extra effort to help them out.

Anitha couldn’t understand Nandini’s behaviour. ‘Why do you want to teach these idiots?
You should spend the time studying yourself. Who knows, you could even narrow the gap
between us.’

‘I guess, I can’t change myself,’ Nandini smiled back.

Anitha’s big day arrived in a few weeks. The examination schedule was announced and
the first exam was English.

‘All the best, Anitha!’ her father wished her on the morning of the exam. ‘I am going out

for a walk. The driver will take you by car.’

Anitha got into the car and reached the school early. The students trooped into the
examination hall when the bell rang, their faces looking worried.

‘Stupid people! Why do they get so nervous for an English exam?’ Anitha thought as she
sat down at her desk. Then she looked around for Nandini. She was nowhere to be seen.
‘Mad girl,’ she muttered to herself, ‘why can’t she come in time for the exam?’

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