The Examination Fever
Leaked Dreams
“The Examination Fever. Leaked Dreams” by Denzil Jayasinghe is a short story about a group of schoolboys in Sri Lanka in 1970 who are preparing for their all-important island examinations. Facing immense pressure from their families and a pervasive atmosphere of anxiety, the boys are tempted by rumours of leaked exam papers. They pool their money and resources to obtain these papers, believing they have found a shortcut to success. However, their plan backfires when the leaked papers prove to be fake, forcing them to confront the consequences of their actions and the importance of genuine effort. The story highlights the pressures of academic expectations, the allure of shortcuts, and the ultimate value of integrity and hard work.
November’s chill had barely settled over the school, yet the air was electric with anxiety. Fathers, their faces stern with expectation, issued firm reminders: “This is it, son — the all-island examination. Your cricket matches and football games can wait. But this… this cannot.” As a result, boys who had grown complacent, hiding behind friends, were rounded up and marched back to their rooms, their noses pressed to the grindstone.
At school, almost every senior student seemed overwhelmed by the thought of the impending examinations. It had been weeks since anyone had seen a smile, and worry etched itself on every face.
Every spare moment was consumed by study as if cramming a lifetime of knowledge into the last few fleeting weeks could somehow guarantee success. Some, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it all, had already thrown in the towel, resigning themselves to failure. But others toiled on, driven by a desperate hope that somehow, someway, they would emerge victorious. The once-peaceful halls now thrummed with the quiet intensity of a hundred individual struggles, each boy wrestling with his own doubts and fears as the examination loomed, an unyielding spectre on the horizon.
The countdown had begun, with only two weeks separating them from the exams. But it wasn’t just the looming deadlines that had their hearts racing; rumours of leaked papers set the entire school abuzz. Whispers spread like wildfire: “Papers are out… papers are out…” This glimmer of hope felt like a lifeline for those who had lagged.
Among the adventurous ones — those who had prioritised sports over studies and those cowering under the weight of their fathers’ expectations — the leaked papers represented a tempting opportunity. “Let’s buy them,” they whispered, their eyes gleaming with desperation and mischief. However, the price tag was steep, and the amounts quoted by shadowy traders were far beyond the reach of even the wealthiest among them.
So, they hatched a plan, pooling their money, resources, and contacts, scouring the black market for leads, determined to track down the elusive papers. It was a long shot, a gamble born of fear and adrenaline, but it seemed worth the risk for those teetering on the edge. They embarked on a clandestine quest, navigating the hidden corners of the market in search of the coveted papers that could make all the difference.
The teachers eventually caught wind of the situation, but the whole thing spiralled out of their control. The boys who pooled their money and found rogue traders of leaked examination papers discovered innovative ways to exploit the system. They found safe houses to gather, hired questionable tuition masters to help them with difficult questions, and studied together. Bribing these willing tutors became an expensive affair.
Meanwhile, the government’s education department issued radio bulletins stating that no papers had been leaked, vouching for the department’s integrity. It was a farce that everyone knew to be false. However, the boys felt they had an easy escape route. They planned to focus on higher studies, hoping to avoid the yelling from their anxious parents and the disapproving stares from their grandparents. Gradually, smiles replaced their worried faces as they put all their efforts into studying together, cutting back on street roaming, movie-watching, and sports. Their parents were surprised to see how confident their boys were becoming.
When the exams finally came, everyone was ready with their stock answers after all those cramming sessions. But to their surprise, the examination questions were different. The boys realised the rogue traders had duped them, and their anxiety returned. Frustration and disappointment washed over them as they grappled with the consequences of their earlier decisions.
As the reality of their situation set in, the boys’ initial confidence began to fade. They had let their desperation get the better of them, and now they faced the fallout. They had wasted time and resources on the leaked papers, and their preparation was lacking.
Fortunately, something changed. The government acknowledged that the papers had indeed been leaked and announced that the previously held exams were null and void, to be repeated in a few months. A wave of relief washed over the boys, mixed with apprehension about facing the exams again.
In the intervening months, the boys refocused on their studies with renewed determination. Their earlier efforts to study the leaked papers had helped, but they knew they needed to do more. They reduced their sports and leisure activities, channelling their energy into revision and preparation. Their parents were amazed to see how diligently their boys worked, often late into the night, fuelled by a newfound sense of purpose.
Three months later, the education department scheduled the mathematics, chemistry, and physics exams again. Armed police officers secured the government printing press where the exam papers were produced, ensuring no leaks this time.
When the exam day arrived, the boys, now better prepared, performed satisfactorily, though not exceptionally well. As they walked out of the exam hall, they shared quiet smiles, relieved that their hard work had paid off.
“We did it,” one of them said, exhaling deeply. “We did it.”
Their parents and grandparents beamed with pride, relieved that the ordeal was over. The boys had learned a valuable lesson about perseverance and the importance of honest effort, and they knew this experience would stay with them for a long time.
