3rd Mid-semester. I can never forget the day i gave my microbiology practical without even studying . Well to be true, i didn't even study for the exam. The day before the exam, i was wandering here and there with some notes. I had no idea what to study and how to study. Those photocopied notes that i had.. i didn't understand any thing. The exam was at 8 am in the morning, and me, completely unprepared went to face it with no knowledge of Microbiology.
First few questions confused me so much that i had to peep into my friend's paper. He was sitting in front of me. The problem with us, i mean those who wear extra eyes is that it is never too easy to focus sharply on what other is writing. I was trying too hard to stretch my neck and he was trying hard to bend his back so that i can see something. I was busy with what he was writing when some one far away shouted out "hey u there..." . I pretended not to see him and not to notice him, but then he said "the guy on the last bench wearing black t-shirt". I could no longer avoid him. I was warmly welcomed to the first row... and given a privilege to sit where only Professors are allowed. It was difficult for me to write the answers, my brain was hurting more than my hands.
Some how ...don't know how how... i gave that exam, with nothing in my head, but i still kept my cool.
BUT It was not over. The next thing i had was Micro Viva and practical. I was so bright in micro, i had no idea. It was my grand viva, and i was told to hold a Culture plate. I was asked various questions like, "why do we use sheep blood, and why not a cat's blood" and "what is agar made of and what is the % we use" and blah blah blah ... and i could answer none of them. The Professor felt pity on me and asked, " were you too busy in PULSE?". I answered " Yes madam, i was so busy, i didn't get time to study."
It was not over yet. The next thing was microbiology practical. My friend said that this is the time where we will have to put some organism under the microscope and see if it is alive or dead. I was so curious to know how we should be doing it. We all moved towards the practical hall and all of us got our respective micro-org cultures in its small zoo. We also received a test tube with some liquid, i had no idea what it was for.
Everyone started to do GRAM stain, or what they called it inside the practical hall.I did exactly as my friend next to me was doing. He told me one thing. " if you don't know, do as i do." So, i was just following his instructions.
some of my practical i did, he did some of them and some none of us could do. I never had enjoyed any exam more than that. I felt i was like those cool students in middle school days, staying in back bench and dreaming about their world. .. it was so awesome.
Now was the time for the viva of the practical . One weird b**ch came to question me. She was really nice in the beginning. She used words like "bachae" (child) ... and "batao" (tell)..and other mind pleasing words. Her first question was simple. She asked, " what did u see ? "
I had the freedom of speech. I said, " i see lot of bacteria under the microscope. Some of them are blue while some of them are red in colour. Some of them are colour less." With a constipated look, she then asked me " in the same field ?" With a proud smile i said, " yes madam."
She asked me to show bacteria motility and i said, "And in the next microscope i can also see a large bacteria." I showed her something , a size 1000000 times bigger than the biggest bacteria in the world. It was just an air bubble which i assumed it to be a bacteria. In fact i was rly excited after seeing it. I started believing it to be a bacteria. I could see the nucleus and the cytoplasm and everything that a bacteria wants.. But kash!!
She left me with a depressed mood and said to the Senior Resident, " i can't do with this kid, please take over."
The S.R came towards me and asked me questions like he was interrogating me. "Name some bacteria which are motile?" .. " what is gram positive bacteria?"..." Some bacteria which are oxidase Positive? "...and some other million questions for which all i could say was "nothing ". I answered to one of his question though;
" when will a non-motile organism appear motile?" i replied, " when there is change in light sir, the organism will appear motile." When the answer didn't please him i added, " when there is an earthquake sir."
Believe me, at one point of time in your life, you will regret not studying . you will regret not taking things seriously. You will certainly regret being so stupid showing both gram +ve and Negative org from the same culture in the same field under the microscope. You know the worst of all in Microbiology?? ' Not knowing how to perform a gram stain, and not knowing what is the difference between gram positive and negative"
After some days , i got the marks. I figured out i did quite well. I was the lowest in the class with 3.0/10 in practical and 2.6/10 in Theory.
I have no regrets now. I would have missed this moment if i had studied so well for that exam. I am glad i have this experience which no one else in my batch has. I am always proud to be me. :)
