Is it because of what we call “Kaheen nazar na lag jaaye” that studious students do not reveal their study strategies, or are they really too smart to attain the top position without studying hard? Yes! I am talking about the common attribute of whom we call “toppers”. Accost a topper and inquire him or her regarding the exam preparation, and you will get the following answers in return: “Iss dafa tou Allah hi khair kare!” (May God bestow His mercy this time!) “Qasam se aik lafz nahi parha gaya!” (I swear I couldn’t study a word!) Anyhow, you may ignore these statements, surmising they are true, move on and attempt your exam. But wait for the result day, and that very student who was uttering the aforementioned statements would turn out to be the securer of the top position. Not that he or she would show surprise, evince gladness or thank God on the success, but would again very unexpectedly and calmly say: “Acha waqai? Mein ne top kia? Pata nahi kaise! Parha tou tha nahi!” (Really? Did I top? I wonder how that happened, since I did not study.) All of this that I said might sound funny or interesting, but underneath there are some unfortunate facts. There is hidden some sort of complex game played by fate. And I have never been able to understand this game that fate plays of granting excellence to the ones who, according to what they themselves say, do not deserve it since they did not study hard for it or to the ones who repeatedly give this notion that they do not need those marks or the top position, because neither one finds any sign of happiness on their faces, nor does one see them uttering words of gratefulness. To be pitied at that time are actually those students who had studied hard, who were observed working hard, who had burnt midnight oil for passing the examination or who had planned celebrations and Salahs of thankfulness in case of a good result, but are unable to achieve a good score. Fate is found snatching academic excellence away from them who desired it badly and giving it to those who, as they say, never needed it. This is a question of which I have never been able to find an answer. This is a question that always puts me into a quizzical situation and makes me pity the hardworking students, and makes me involuntarily hate those “toppers” who say: “Mein ne tou parha hi nahi tha. Kaise top karlia?” (I didn’t even study! How come I topped?)