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A Dilemma
Prateek Nanda
2019A3PS0295P
Aadhya could not stay in her tuition any longer. She had attended the music class earlier, a bit
of arithmetic, and was now learning about various animals. She would have to bear with them
till the teacher said, “Now, you may all go home, put back your things into your bags.”
Aadhya was impatient and had become restless. She asked her friend beside her, “Is it five
now?”
“I don’t know”, she replied.
“Is it seven?”
“No,” her friend replied, “Because it is dark out there at six.”
“Do you think it is five?”
“I guess yes.”
“I should go immediately. My father will return home anytime. He has asked me to be ready
by five. He is taking me to watch a movie this evening. I ought to go home.” She threw down
her equipment and ran up straight to the teacher. “Madam, I think I should go home.”
“Why, Aadhya?”
“Because it is five o’clock now.”
“Who told you it was five?”
“Rita.”
“It is not five now. Do you see the clock there? Tell me what time it is. I had taught you to
know the time from the clock a few days back.” Aadhya stood staring at the clock in the
room, counted the figures laboriously and declared, “It is eight o'clock.” The teacher called
the other students in the class and asked, “Who will tell me the time from that clock?”Most of
them agreed with Aadhya and said it was eight o'clock, till the teacher said, “You are only
looking at the longer hand. See the short one, where is it? ”
“Three and a half.”
“So what is the time?”
“Three and a half.”
“It is three forty, understand? Now immediately get back to your seats quietly.” Aadhya came
back to the teacher in about ten minutes and asked, “Is the time five o’clock, Madam because
I have to be ready at five? Else my father will be very angry and shout at me. He asked me to
return home early.”
“When?”
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