"A boon that granted us powers, but was only bond to earth!"

Her answer somehow answered everything about his question. Still, there was something in the people surrounding them that wasn't getting satisfied.

On a certain planet in the nights, in the universe. In that dark room there were around 30 to 50 people sitting in a circular manner. And in the midst of them, there were two parties. An old man with dark wrinkled skin, who's hair had turned pale and a lady looking to be in her twenties, both of them were looking at each other while sitting at the centre in the relaxed lotus position, under the natural spotlight which was coming down straight from a big hole in the ceiling of that room. The foundations of it were looking glassy and were dark in colour, like obsidian. But they were only visible by the little light they were bouncing off. While between them a Shastrartha or also called a debate of knowledge and wisdom was going on.

"What it means to be alive?" The woman asked, as it was her turn at that moment.

"Looking for fulfilment by doing the things we don't like doing." The old man answered. "It's the hypocrisy of being a human. The hypocrisy of being alive. As the one who hates dirt the most has to deal with it the most, we also do the things we don't like. We eat, not because we like to, but because there's a craving that we wish to end. Even in this debate, you're not attending it because you are enjoying getting answers from me or enjoying asking me the questions but because there's a wish of defeating me. Maybe you wish to prove yourself superior too? Everyone either lives while thinking of the future or the past, can also be said living in the future or past, is what it means being alive."

"Shadu!! Shadu!!" Everyone started praising him by raising their hands as they found his answers intriguing. But that woman sitting opposite to him seemed a bit confused.

She asked, "Please, can you elaborate, and how is living in the present different from that?" 

"Living in the present means to come out of that illusion first. It means, actually being aware of the things that are happening, things that you're doing. It means knowing the truth, moksha. Kind of, it is the same as death. Now, my turn." He then asked, "Do you think a life like that is possible? I mean, living completely in the present?"

"Aa-mn… I don't think it's possible. Because even while seeing, there's a very minner manner of time that our brain takes to process the photons into imagery. So, we are only able to see the past through our eyes. Those who don't see it, live dreaming the future." She thought for a second then said, "My turn, what is truth? Or moksha?"

"Truth is… everything. At the same time it's nothing too. Getting awareness of that truth is moksha. It is something invariable. Something that'll be there even when there'll be nothing. And it also coexists with everything. Something that'll never change." He asked in his turn, "A human with an aura of a demon, but the doings of a god. What would you call him?"

This time, the woman fell silent. She didn't have an answer to that. The question in itself was paradoxical and so she was clueless. After realising that she said, "I don't have an answer to that. I accept my defeat."

"Actually I don't have an answer to that either." Her eyes widened in shock as she heard that. "It was a question I just wanted to know the answer to. I apologise for asking a question like that. And about this debate, I think we can consider it a draw?"

She understood the situation and was relieved. But her curiosity was still intrigued about that question. She said with interest, "Hmmm… I don't mind having a draw. It's a pleasure to stand equal to you. But that question, the concept's thought provoking. Where did you get it from? Do you really think such a person even exists? Or, have you met such a person?"

He also understood the reason behind that. It was the same as his, when for the first time he had met him. A little smile emerged on his face. He looked happy as he remembered his old days, "I had only met him once, in my younger days. It was very long ago in Nathin Hain. When seen, his actions always had a dark evil and demonic aura. He would just kill anyone while having an arrogant smile, without caring who that person was, while reasoning a wish triggered. Surprisingly, though the darkest, he also shined the brightest I had ever seen. His actions always seemed legit when I thought over them, always in the favour of right. Like a god in disguise of a demon or light wearing darkness, but whenever I asked him, he only said he was a human, a selfish human. By many, he was called D'liar but he had other names too. Most of the people believe he's not alive anymore because he hasn't been seen since then. I am not sure about it either. But he was said to have come from Heaven's rival, you may also know it as Earth."

***

Earth,

8th April 220,

Morning Monday,

Alvish and Reada were sitting on the same seats that they were sitting on, on their first day together in the school. Everything was going as it was supposed to, while their class teacher, Mr Targil, was taking attendance. But today for some reason he had a big box on his table.

After done with attendance Mr Targil said while sitting on his chair, "Okay everyone, today I'm going to take a surprise test. So, get ready."

"Sir, that's really surprising!" Reada said from the back of the class. 

"Yes, that is why it's called a surprise test, Readarex!" He replied. "Now, come forward and put your phone in this box, you can take it back after the test. Everyone else too."

One by one they all went and submitted their smartphones, Reada too.

Mr Targil then stood up and started opening a saved file on the ZeadaR's screen, which contained the questions for the test. Although some of the students were confident that they would score well, like: Rem and Alvish, there were some other kids too that didn't want to attend it. Though they couldn't do anything about it.

"Okay solve these in the next thirty minutes!" He said as he turned around.

There were seven questions in total, being displayed on the board. The first two of which were the small ones but the other 5 were big. They were of the type that solving only two of them would eat up your time, if you don't know the correct method of solving them. 

"But that's so low." Shin suddenly said after hearing that. She was also sitting on the same seat as that day.

"Yes, I agree, I don't think these people will be able to solve them in this much time." Reada also said, from one line behind.

"If that's the reason then just write whatever you can," for some reason after hearing him say that, Mr Targil smiled. "or I am suggesting you an offer. Just surrender and don't take a part in the test. But of course you'll get zero marks for that and it'll be shown to your parents!"

"No, that's so cruel!" Shin, including some other kids, resisted but for an unknown reason Reada's eyes sparkled.

"Sir, can we really do that?" Suddenly Reada raised his hand and asked. 

"Yes, why? Do you wish to? Readarex?"

"Yes, if it's really possible."

"I was kind of expecting that out of you. Well, what can I do? If you're giving up without even trying, on your own. Proving your stupidity. Okay then, you can be on your seat during the test." His smile widened. "For others, take some sheets from any of your notebooks and solve these in the given time while including your name and roll number at the top of the paper."

A reverse timer of 30 minutes started at the top right corner of the board after that.

Everyone did as Mr Targil had told them, even though some of them didn't want to. Alvish, too, was giving her test. But for some reason Reada was continuously staring at her.

"Hey, why are you staring at me like that, it's uncomfortable!" Alvish whispered, looking at Reada. 

"Oh really? Then try guessing, why?" Reada also whispered back, but his voice was a bit seductive. He was looking at her with his posture leaning forward, being supported against his hand which was on his desk on its elbow. 

Alvish sensed that he was gazing at her, somewhere around her upper body. 

"You are looking at my breasts. Creep!" She said while covering her chest.

His face turned really disappointed, "Come on, Alvish. My time's not that cheap!"

"Then what? You're an ass guy?" 

"I'm serious. I would rather throw my eyes in acid than look at you."

"Then why are you looking at me like that? Look, I am already running out of time and I still have got equations to solve!"

"It'll be worthless, if you submit them like this." 

"What do you mean?"

"That you've been doing them wrong, your solutions."

"What, really?"

Mr Targil wasn't really paying attention to the class as an invigilator, while sitting in the front and was looking at the pages of a book on his table, through his glasses. So, they two weren't really getting in any kind of danger.

Reada then took out a notebook from his bag and showed the correct way of solving the problem to Alvish.

"Aa- yes, I can see them now. But it would be cheating. Don't you think so?"

"Alvish, you really think that?" Reada asked in surprise after hearing that.

"Yes, it ain't fair, and so I won't do it!"

"Ms justice, really? Okay, tell me then, what is an exam for?" Reada asked.

She was confused but also a little interested. So, she decided to give him an answer without worrying about time this time, "Aa- to test, how much knowledge do you have?"

"Yes, but doesn't mean you have to stop learning during that test."

"Again, come to the point please. It's hard to understand your words sometimes?"

"What I mean is that even if a student doesn't know something before an exam, if he or she manages to learn it during that exam then using that knowledge in that exam should be fine at the end. Don't you think? As long as it's not a copy paste but actually understanding the concept for life time."

His words were a little unclear to her but she still decided to ponder over them. After some moments she realised that he was actually saying the right thing.

"Aaa… yes, now that I think about it, you're actually right. Since the main premise of an exam is to check how much a student has learnt, it doesn't set a time limit that you can only use the knowledge you have learnt before. So, why stop learning even during that test, especially when it gives you the golden opportunity of realising the things you don't know?" She said while looking at him, "But I also don't understand, why are you helping me? I don't see any benefits that you'll get?"

"Because I can't stand idiocy!"

"If that's the case then why didn't you help me that day yourself, about my shade, but actually take me to Flame?"

"Because my pride also challenges me, for how much I can endure!" Reada said while running his fingers through his hair.

Alvish started looking at him surprisingly after he, this time also, shamelessly accepted that. It was beyond her expectations. But then she realised how he was only wasting her time.

"Look Reada. I really appreciate your help. But I don't think I have much room on my papar, so I don't think I'll be able to correct my mistakes and write the right solutions now, maybe the ones I haven't solved yet are possible. Also, I don't have much time now, so I think we should stop talking for the moment."

"Oh come on, Alvish. Just tear out another page and start over. Don't submit these ones, nobody's gonna find out. There's enough time left."

She looked at him in shock, again. But then she tore out a page and did as she was told.

Soon the given time for the test ended. Hopefully, Alvish was done by then so it wasn't a problem anymore. Mr Targil then collected all the papers and said that he would give the results the next day.

The next day,

"Y'all might have wondered why I was so carefree yesterday? Well, let me tell you, that's my style. You see, there was once an exam I had attended. I'll not tell you the name of that exam but there was a thing, special, that I had noticed while attending. They didn't have any invigilators there. I am not sure if they still do it like that but it is still called to be one of the hardest exams to pass." Mr Targil said while proudly standing in front of the class. For some reason there was Alvish too, beside him. He had called her there after the attendance, without giving any reasons so she was also cluelessly standing there with her arms behind, listening to him. "They do used to check for cheat notes before letting anyone enter the exam hall and would warn you about expulsion if you're caught cheating. But inside they used to just leave you alone with the other attendants. At that time I found it very odd for such a renowned exam. So, when I got the chance after I was done with it, I asked one of the examiners about it. She said they had high tech surveillance cameras for that. It was still not satisfying to me. Because there are many tricks to avoid being caught by a camera, it's better to have at least one invigilator in each hall. But what she told me when I asked her completely surprised me. She said first of all, they use much higher technology than what's publically available and if someone still manages to pull those tricks off even after all this, then they already deserve passing. She told me they do it intentionally, to provoke the urge to anyhow find the answers after finding the questions tough."

She started getting more and more anxious after hearing that as she doubted if she knew what he was talking about.

"I had realised that day, that there's a certain type of confidence that they look for. You see, those who know exactly what they are doing infuse their confidence into their work. It's just like an artist's stroke. And like that it can be felt too.

"Remember!" Suddenly he called and Rem stood up from his front row seat and went ahead to the front of the class, standing beside Alvish. "I spent yesterday checking all your test papers. I was kind of looking for that confidence too. I admit the questions were tough but I think the time was enough, unlike most of you had believed. Because even after all that, these two have managed to get the full score! Give them a big hand!!"