Marooned with a computer in Noida?

Yep, that was the experience giving the BITSAT-2006.. driving for 1 hr 15 mins, and then sitting in a desolate, barren locality for another 1 1/2 hrs in vaporizing temperatures with two stupid fat books to revise and then staring at a computer screen for 3 hours as it wags a fat finger at you, while shooting questions.

First thing I found as I walked into the centre was that we were required to bring a proof of identity along. It was apparently mentioned in some instruction-sheet which was apparently something that was supposed to be read by all of us. I was mumbling something about me not seeing anything written about instruction sheets anywhere and therefore clearly not being mentioned anywhere, when he pointed at a line in my admit card which said: "You should print the detailed instructions and read it carefully before appearing in the online test".. I sort of tried to slink away in embarrasment from him into the centre when he generously gave me a form which said: "I have brought my admit card, and did not bring my identification papers due to >Insert some stupid reason here<. Please allow me to enter." I grinned to myself as I walked in, wondering if he liked my face and long hair and became large hearted, when I noticed that nearly everyone I saw carried similar sheets. Moral of the story: Everyone's dumb. Don't worry. And the guys at BITS know that. Smart guys.

Anyway, their software was very well designed, and the center was, for a change, well maintained. For once, I worked on a computer system for 3 hours without it (*trumpets ring*) crashing or hanging. That too on a Windows machine. Test was good, I think I'll make it inside the cut-off lists. Only complaint is that it doesn't allow you to uncheck an answer once clicked. C'mon, everyone knows that HTML has provided for a RESET option almost since it was created. It has even hard-wired into its core functions. God knows why they never thought of putting one in this test. I think I got 3 questions wrong because of that.. attempted them and then remembered that I could not remove them (I could change it though, not remove, but that forces you to attempt a question that you're not sure of entirely). And therefore negative marks. I can see no reason why they can't put it; it's my paper and I can do whatever I want with it right?

Not end of story if you wanted to escape. Then I stomped out angry with myself at poor performance etc etc, and then found that I had been abandoned in God-knows-where in Noida by my family who were supposed to pick me up and go off to dinner at someone's house nearby in Noida. For nearly 1/2 an hour I patrolled the gates and yet no sight of anyone. I think even the guard there had gone home by then.. maybe he thought that since I was doing such a good job patrolling that it would be a shame to ask me to leave. (Note: My exam was from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm). Finally these guys turned up, I had really spicy food which is still hurting my oesophagus, and writing this post wondering what the heck's wrong with my speakers.

(Image by Steph Lehman)