At 1:10 p. m the Chief Guest arrived and with the lighting of the lamp I and the other partic.i.p.ants stepped into the auditorium. The team was divided into 3 parts: Group A consisting of candidates from grade 5 to 8 , Group B consisting of candidates from grade 9-12 and finally my group C consisting of 1st to 3rd year college candidates. It was a 2 hour exam. The topic was "Peace".

The topic was definitely difficult to crack. It can mean anything. It can also be interpretted in many interesting ways. One step wrong and everything finished. But I came with a simple idea may be. I couldn't think much. I could feel the temptation the pencils, colours and the brush brought to me. I drew a Globe and with small figures inside the globe outline depicted the beauty of humans holding hands. And the animals together with them, the trees. And above the globe outline I drew two doves both on each sides holding a banner with their beak written peace on it. I drew olive branch decorating the bannner. After the outline was drawn the most difficult part arrived. The colouring one. Too much ill.u.s.tration usually hampers my drawing as I have not perfected my technique since Grade 9..

Somehow I managed to colour.After finis.h.i.+ng the colouring it somehow looked decent. But no confidence to win the compet.i.tion.

I still had 10 minutes left. I left my painting to dry. By that time I was observing others. Their ideas were really vivid. Their drawing was exceptionally beautiful. Their credit was that their colouring skill was superb. I was observing them. Actually the best part of these compet.i.tion is that you get to learn new fresh techniques. The partic.i.p.ants give their all unlike if you try to learn from them during casual days. I was trying to grip my lack of experience. Finally the time got over. Although I wasn't satisfied, I was really happy to attend such a compet.i.tion. It taught me a lot. I came back home. Hunger was. .h.i.tting me. Mom gave me my lunch. It was already late to have lunch so I ate less otherwise the dinner would be marred.

The date of the results would be on 30th January. Almost 1 month later. That was another thing I need to remember apart from my postponed exam.