The Rise and Fall of a Topper by Tinku Medhi
Illustration: Kausal realizing he missed his exam.
Kausal had always been the brightest student in his school. He was the undisputed topper, excelling in every subject, every competition, and every sport. Teachers admired him, and students envied him. But when he moved to an English-medium junior college, everything changed.
The language barrier shook his confidence. He was no longer at the front of the class, no longer the first to raise his hand in competitions. But soon, he found solace in something else—a smartphone. At first, he used it to improve his English, but soon, online games became an escape.
Initially, his performance dipped only slightly. He still secured the third position in class 11, and though people were surprised, Kausal believed he had things under control. Over time, however, his addiction grew. He started lying to his parents, sneaking in gaming sessions even before exams. His once disciplined routine crumbled, replaced by late-night battles in virtual worlds.
As board exams approached, reality hit him. His previous performances had not been up to his standards. Determined to redeem himself, he vowed to give his best in the final exams. He studied hard, but old habits die hard—he continued playing games, convinced he could balance both.
After completing five subjects, only one exam remained. He had 11 days to prepare. One evening, while traveling home in a taxi with friends, they casually checked the schedule online. “March 7th, afternoon,” someone said. Without verifying, Kausal accepted it as fact.
On the day of the exam, he studied till morning, feeling fully prepared. As he got ready to leave, he noticed something odd—none of his friends had called. When he reached the bus stand, no one was there. Confused, he called them, but their phones were switched off. A strange uneasiness settled in his chest. He quickly checked the timetable online.
His breath caught. His hands trembled. The letters on the screen blurred as realization struck—his exam had been scheduled in the morning, not the afternoon. He had missed it.
Panic surged through him like a storm. He had been so overconfident, so blinded by distractions, that he had misread the schedule. He sprinted toward his school, desperate for a miracle, but the sight of students leaving the exam hall crushed his last hope. It was over.
Defeated, he wandered aimlessly, his mind replaying his mistakes like a broken record. His parents’ trust, his teachers’ pride, his own reputation—he had shattered it all. His so-called friends, who had been part of his downfall, hadn’t even bothered to check on him.
For the first time, he understood the cost of negligence. Success was not just about talent— it required discipline, responsibility, and awareness. His downfall was his own doing, and only he could change his path.
As he sat on a bench near his school, watching students celebrate the end of exams, a deep realization sank in. He could either let this failure define him or learn from it. With determination burning in his heart, Kausal made a silent promise—this would be his turning point.
Illustration: Kausal winning a competition before his downfall.
Moral
Overconfidence and distractions can lead to downfall. No matter how capable you are, negligence and addiction can ruin your hard-earned success. Always verify important information yourself and prioritize what truly matters. And above all, learn from your mistakes and rise stronger.
"I hope this story resonated with you. Because yes, this isn’t just any story—it’s my story. I lived through this, and it taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. If you take away anything from this, let it be this: never let distractions and overconfidence steal your hard-earned success. Thank you for reading, and I hope you learned something valuable. Until next time, take care and stay focused!"
TINKU MEDHI,
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