Published on May 14, 2026

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The exam that never ends

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date May 14, 2026

The exam that never ends

I jolted up from my bed, sweat trickling down my forehead. A sudden realization hit me, I have my

science final today, and I don’t feel prepared even though I studied well! I got ready as usual and

went downstairs to get breakfast. After finishing my studying-while-eating ritual, I left for school, my

lucky keychain jingling.

I reached school and checked the timetable. ‘Physics final is from 9am-12pm’! I dashed into the room

where I have to take the final and saw everyone settled in, I checked my watch and I was EXACTLY on

time. I took a deep breath, found a seat, and was given my paper.

All went well, and by 10:30 am, I finished my paper. I looked at my watch again after zoning out.

10:32 -no-10:33, but I noticed that the minute hand of the watch wobbled a bit, unusual for my

brand-new watch, but I paid no attention to that incident, because the bell rang, 1 hour and 27

minutes early… When I was about to raise my hand to ask the teacher why, the lights flickered.

POOF! In an instant I was standing at the door again. I checked the time, it was 9am on the dot. But

that couldn’t have been possible! That would have to mean that time looped somehow! “Maybe that

was just a dream or something” I told myself.

I sat down as the exam started. I looked at the question paper, and it was the same. I looked around,

the same girl was nervously biting her nails, the same boy running his hand through his hair

repeatedly, while another girl tapping her foot. I put in the same answers, and I finished at the same

time, exactly 10:33, the lights flickered again and I found myself standing outside.

I sat down once again and noticed that the questions were different this time, before it was just

questions like, “solve this”, or “define this concept”. But this time it was questions like “Why do you

need to be the best?”, and “What happens if you aren’t?”. The new questions pierced through my

heart because I knew the correct answers, but they didn’t feel true to me deep down. I wrote down

my achievements and how my ‘amazing’ company pushes me to get better, when it was far from the

truth, assuming that they might use this for our college applications.

I thought this was a prank, so, on the fourth loop I stepped outside the classroom, took a walk and

came to class later. Sadly, everyone looked to be doing the same things as before. I stared around the

room, still finding nothing. I got my paper and noticed the questions were phrased similarly to the

previous one.

This time I wrote the truth:Why do you need to be the best? Because of societies expectations to outdo everyone in academics,

but I play an important part in this, reinforcing their behaviour, but how I impact people is what

matters.

What happens if you aren’t? I feel like a failure, even though my humanity or my ability to do good in

other things can’t be measured through grades.

I wrote about the times I helped others learn. About choosing helping over winning. About realizing

value doesn’t come from being ahead, but from pulling someone else forward.

The bell rang at the right time, 12 pm.

The exam ended.

This time, everyone stood up, and I realized my worth was not attached to my grades but my actions,

finally!

 

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note

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date May 14, 2026

Note

I used to live in a happy family with my mother (Sumitra) and my father (Anand). the day

everything changed I was 12 now I am 15. it’s been three years I have been handling this

situation now I have reached the last limits of enduring their fight their .it was all my fault . I

shouldn’t have taken my dad’s phone that day. I should have listened to him.

Three years before ……

My bus was late so I took my dad’s phone to call the driver he was resisting constantly but

ignored him. So, my mom came between us took his phone and saw the chats with

someone after which she immediately started crying and shouting at my dad. my dad

shouted for 30 secs and left for the office and returned next morning leaving my mom

devasted .that afternoon my dad cried to maa and assured her he will not cheat on her

again that time I came to knew about my father’s dishonesty but my mother was not

satisfied with his assurance because of society she didn’t take any step and just gave my

father silent treatment she just used give him his lunch that was the only interaction

between them . after 6 months of that my used to came late night .my father worried so he

kept check on her and found she was indulge in gambling for short term happiness which

was missing in her life .they started quarreling almost every week then every day about silly

things mom taunting dad for his betrayal and dad replying back my condemning her for

gambling this was their daily routine for next six months. I was literally fed up this routine it

affected my grades as I always thought when it would come to an end I was not able to

focus on my studies ,my sleep , on anything it was tough but this was not enough I was

teased in my class with a random boy I talked only 2 mins three months ago I complained of

course teacher can’t help with that.it was almost 1 year of their fighting my grandmother

came to live with us she also started taunting my mom and me condemning us whole day

was her business .finally my mom told everything to my granny (to her mother).she just

gave her one advice “not to divorce my kid ,society won’t accept you” it was tough for her

to feel relax she started showing her anger on me .she started losing money now she

stopped my necessities to cover up the loss. On my 14th birthday my dad brought a another

woman on the celebration being intimate with her in front of my mom she just called off

party and announced divorce on the spot. she packed our bags and took me to a hotel. Dad

didn’t bother a little .my mom found a house on rent we went there. I started going to

school again .my dad came to my school to manipulate me against my mom and was

convincing me for living with him I was so pissed off because I loved my mom the most and I

know my father will take my custody he is that powerful.

So to end this debate I am going to take my life this will reduce my mom’s burden of my

expenses and my I will not be there my father will lose this debate. I am writing this note to

free my mom from criminal charges I hope this would be enough . bye.

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THE LAST DAY

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date May 14, 2026

THE LAST DAY

The world as we knew it had come to an end.

There was a huge blow of dust that smacked into my face, in the middle of a dry field. The

war zone. I held my rival’s collar in the air as I removed the knife from his back and tossed

him onto the uneven, fallow ground. There was a grunt of pain, and even though I couldn’t

see with the dust in my eye, I knew it was my enemy’s. After so many years of friendship

and fighting, I felt he deserved a few last words.

“If only you had joined me from the start, we would’ve made a marvellous team, and all this

would’ve never happened.

” I gestured out to the large extent of a deserted field filled with

bodies of dead soldiers.

“I- I-

” He stammered as blood reached his lips and he was coughing.

I continued to speak.

“Look around you. There’s nothing you can do or save now. This is what you get for the pain

you caused me. I took everything from you just like you took everything from me! The

villain never wins right? Well, it seems you’ve failed this time.

”

I could only see red now and my eyes burned, but even in his final moments, I couldn’t give

him the satisfaction of seeing me distressed.

“You thought you could be the hero?”

“For- for a while,

” He finally wheezed out,

“For a while, I thought you could be”

.

It seemed as though he put all his energy into saying those 8 words, because now, he was

dead.

The hero was dead. And I felt no remorse. There was a certain calm in the air.

I had won. My breath slowed down in relief.

It would all be worth it.

I looked around the war zone, the sweltering heat blazed down on all the destruction I had

caused. All for what? I remembered the reason why I fought and started to run, to find her.

I reached the cave after what seemed like forever. The dust in my eye was replaced with

sweat, running down my forehead. There was no one in the cave. Panic ensued as I looked

around in search of my daughter. My only living kin. A decision was made for her safety that

she would stay here, as I finished things off in the final stage of the battle.

Horror overcame me at the thought that I might lose her. I ran around in a frantic state.

The sun remained hot and the soldiers remained dead. I spent the whole day looking, until

finally I came upon a stream. When I reached close to it, the stream appeared red. Blood

red. Looking at the source of the stream, I rushed to my daughter. I kept her in my embrace

as the sun set, ending the last day of my life. Her midriff bled as I wept on her injuries, in

hope of them healing from my tears of guilt and regret. Her eyes were open and they

wouldn’t close, as if she knew her death was untimely. There were scars on my body from

the years of fighting but no scar cut deeper than this. I fought till the end of mankind,abused by power, all for her. Now, nothing else mattered except for the lifeless child I held

in my arms. Thousands of soldiers had died in my hands, but my daughter is the only one I

am accountable for. Humanity has fallen, yet I cry only for one death. None of this was

required for our safety. I pursued immorality for my victory.

And yet, I was never the villain until now. I finally realised what I had done.

The world as I knew it, had come to an end.

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Boy

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date May 14, 2026

Boy

“Only the dead have seen the end of war.”

– George Santayana

It looked as if he were just moving into the flat. It was empty and free of furniture. In

reality, he was leaving. There were several cardboard boxes placed precariously on a table,

and in front of it stood Boy. Yes, he was commonly accepted as ‘Boy’

, as no one bothered to

remember his origin, or remember him at all. The only people who did visit his house

everyday were the locals, who had come just to tell him and all his neighbours to make a

move, followed by everyone’s confusion. He was a fresh-water-sailor in living alone and

this was the first time that his life, or his country, had thrown such a calamity upon him, so

expected as if an act of god.He had moved into a room shack, and now it had half a room and a large pile of bricks. A

truly agonizing moment every hour, where the people of power and official word, fought

for revenge like a game. The same guns which the poor thought as fortune and rare metal,

were the regular household utensils for these people. Of course there were the people who

weren’t involved in the turmoil, and didn’t want to be part, but as we know – whatever the

uppers do, the lower ones will be part of it, at any cost. More than 80% of the population at

the time, consisted of the peasants. Two months into the conflict, this was reduced to 30%.

But this didn’t matter, because yet with some of the poor alive currently, no difference was

made in the perspective of the people who steered the world. I didn’t blame them. No one

did. A country which fights first, has to be fought back at, during war, regardless of the

setbacks and killings. The satisfaction of the people meant everything.

This is where the story of Boy comes in. But the difference was that he was seven, and had

no idea about what a war was due to uneducation, but exactly knew how it felt. That day

was his last day to evacuate, as the mk80 bomb series was being tested there. The military

had chosen this area as perfect for this for the preparation of war, as the life meter showed

the number ‘0’

. No human life and no animal life (which they had ended in the previous

testing). Of course there was Boy and a couple of his neighbours, but they didn’t count as

their death wouldn’t leave a mark. Boy had no coherent plans. A half baked plan after

another. It wasn’t until midnight, when he was on his move. He passed the abandoned and

barren land where he had been living for all his life, and was very sad. But he didn’t really

have a choice. He walked over several broken bricks and tiles, and came across several

markings. He heard the sound of thunder. The blasting fire of the gigantic jets flying

towards his direction! It was too late, and he started to run. He was deafened by the sound

and eventually fell hard to the ground, tripping on a wire. He didn’t have any energy to get

himself back up. There was pitch black everywhere and soon the world collapsed around

him.

Back at the National Army centre, the reports were good! All of the newly launched mk80

bombs were working perfectly fine and people were clapping. It was even in the news that

day and you probably went through it, proudly. Their country had finally reached the

position of strong army, and that’s all that matters.

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Perfect

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date May 14, 2026

Perfect

There was a café on the beachside. He was fixated on the water.

“Ohh? You’ve never met anymore more beautiful?”

He hesitated, “Nope.”

“That hitch says otherwise.”

“Okay there was one girl…

”

“Talking about another girl on a date? How cruel.”

“C’mon Bella, you brought it up!”

“I’m kidding dummy!”

She took a sip.

“Why orange juice?”

“Yeah, anything wrong with it? Or did that ‘one girl’ do

something more hardcore?”

Her words irritated him.

“Ignoring the fruitphobic tendencies…tell me ‘bout her.”

“About who?”

“About that ‘one girl’”

What would he even tell her? No. The better question was how

much would she even understand?

“I met her on a beach just like this one…” And she was

beautiful.Her dark hair had flown in the wind, her green eyes called to

him in a sweet lullaby.

That girl, oh she was perfect.

He turned his head to see Bella but she wasn’t there anymore

There was someone sitting on it though, swinging her legs. He

had look down to see her pout. She looked exactly like Bella.

“You promised coffee!”

“Coffee? You’re just a kid.”

“C’monnnn!”

“Absolutely not.”

She winced, then her face lit up, probably with an idea he would

hate, “I’ll tell mama..”

“What?”

“I’ll tell her!”

“You’ll tell what to your mama?”

“That you were talking about ‘that girl’ again.”

“WH-! Ugh! Fine!”

Some battles are simply unsurmountable. He plopped the cup on

the table.

“This is low caffeine!”

“Deal with it.”

“Ughhh! Fine..It’s still coffee I guess. Thanks.”She took fast, hasty sips, “You were saying?”

“What now?”

“about that girl…”

“That girl…”

He had met her at the most tumultuous time of his life. And she

was here. On a beach like this one, carefree and enjoying her

days.

Their eyes had met briefly and it was electric. The way she

smiled, her hair that threatened to cover her beautiful face.

She really was perfect.

Then with a click of a glass his attention was once again

diverted. It was annoying, obviously. He had to scold that little

girl or-

“You were saying?”

A young woman sat in front of him.

She was swirling a glass of wine.

“Geez, what are you teaching her now?” A familiar voice called

out to him, “Talking about nonsense again, you never grow out

of it.”

It was Bella. Her face was different though, she looked…older.

He reached for the mug on the table to divert himself, but

stopped at the sight. There was a ring on his finger, and his

hands…

They were wrinkled. His entire face was.“And look here when I’m talking to you! Won’t you even

apologize?”

He finally met her eyes, “Sorry ‘bout that.” Were his only

words.

Silence.

The haughtiness evaporated.

A calamity took hold of her. There was a long pause followed by

a choke, then the tears didn’t stop.

“You finally paid attention to me…

”

He froze.

He wasn’t prepared for this.

The second he talked to her, and this happens.

He didn’t plan on making sweet talk; besides, the young woman

was already embracing Bella.

He stood up and rushed out of there.

They would handle it themselves.

He ran to the beach. The winds blowing like it had on that day.

The sun kissing his face like it had lit hers.Yet, there was no one there.

All except a single woman. She had dark hair that flowed in the

wind and green eyes that still called out to him like a lullaby.

She turned to him, flaunting her summer dress and sticking her

tongue out.

She had not a single imperfection on her face. Not a single

wrinkle.

She looked exactly the same as she had on that day.

She was perfect.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it?

She was still perfect.

Too perfect.

For she wasn’t real in the first place.