I had exams coming up in a month and I was not prepared for them. Unfortunately, I had become part of a friend circle that did not believe in studying, homework or classes - we spent most of our time sitting in the college canteen, bunking classes to go for movies or simply gossiping over multiple cups of tea.
When the exams were barely 3 days away, it sort of hit me - what will my parents say when I fail my paper, that too the one I had planned to do my majors in? I started feverishly opening my books, but of course, there seemed to be a mountain of things to read, and I could barely make head or tail of it.
Woebegone, I called up one of the boys in our group and explained the predicament. He snorted, "Are you seriously planning to <em>study</em>?" "<em>What else?</em>" I asked incredulously. <em>"Well, I have better plans. I have managed to get my hands on the question paper! Want it? We'll easily pass and with good marks, if we know what exactly to stufy,"</em> he guffawed.
I couldn't say no. Cheating to pass was a shortcut, albeit a wrong one. But it would spare me from facing my parents later on. However, as luck would have it, my 'friend' was eventually caught by the headmaster... and he let out all our names as well, who were privy to the act. As a result of which, we were asked to repeat an entire year, as a punishment for our actions.
Here goes the saying: <em>Shortcut is </em><u><em>always</em></u><em> the wrong cut.</em>
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