The classroom was buzzing with activity, but Chinmay didn't stop. He walked past familiar faces, past the admin desk, past the announcements board filled with "test series dates" and "rankers' photos." His feet moved on instinct.
His heart? That was a different story.
Each step toward the mentor's cabin felt heavier than the last. The knot in his stomach tightened. His palms were sweaty. The weight of yesterday's confession still lingered on his chest.
He reached the door.
Took a breath.
Knocked.
"Come in," said the voice inside.
Chinmay entered.
The mentor was on a call. He looked up, gave a small nod, then ended the call quickly.
"Chinmay. Long time."
The tone was polite — not sarcastic, not cold. Just… honest.
Chinmay nodded. Didn't sit.
"Can I talk to you for a few minutes?"
"Of course. Sit."
He did.
And then the silence sat too.
Chinmay opened his mouth, closed it again. Fumbled with the edge of his bag.
Finally, he began.
"Sir… I need help. I haven't been studying. For months. I told myself I would restart. Again and again. But I didn't. I kept falling behind. I kept pretending. And now… I'm buried under it."
The mentor didn't blink. Didn't rush to speak. Just leaned back and listened.
Chinmay continued.
"I told my parents yesterday. I told them everything. I don't even know if I deserve another chance, but… I want to do something about this. I'm just… lost."
The mentor took a moment. Then leaned forward, elbows on the desk.
"Okay. First of all — thank you for not bullshitting. That alone puts you ahead of 80% of students in your situation."
Chinmay managed a faint smile.
"Now I'll be blunt. You shouldn't stay in the JEE batch.""
He opened a drawer and pulled out a set of printed schedules.
"You're not the only one who's struggled this year, Chinmay. Some fall early. Some fall late. But a fall is a fall. You're lucky you've woken up before it's too late."
He slid a CET batch plan in front of him.
"This decision isn't just about a batch, Chinmay. It's about shifting your focus — from JEE to CET. Look, Chinmay. CET isn't easy. But compared to JEE — it's easier. It's more manageable. The syllabus overlaps a lot. The depth isn't as extreme. The exam format is speed-based. Time-based. If you start now, you're not behind. You're on time. Most students seriously start around this phase."
Chinmay nodded silently, soaking it in.
"Your base is better than most who'll be starting with you. If you revise smartly, practice with a tight schedule, and let go of the shame — you'll cover it. You still have time to get a damn good percentile."
Chinmay was quiet, eyes fixed on the paper.
The mentor watched him closely.
"This is not you 'giving up' on JEE. This is you choosing a fight that matches your current state. You're not quitting a dream. You're adapting."
Chinmay looked up. His throat was tight again — but this time, from relief.
"I'll need to talk to my parents."
"Yes. And don't half-tell them. Be honest, like you were with me. They might take time. They might get emotional. But if you're serious about this — they'll see it."
Chinmay stood up.
"Thank you, sir. Really."
The mentor smiled — just a little.
"This isn't the end, Chinmay. This might actually be the first smart move you've made all year."
That night at home, the air was thick again — but not with lies this time. With truth.
He sat across from his parents. The same dining table where they'd once quietly believed his daily lies. This time, he came clean.
Again.
He explained what the mentor had said. The batch. The plan. The timeline. The possibility.
His mother was the first to speak.
"Will you really do it this time, beta? Not pretend?"
"Yes, Mom," he said, not trying to sound confident — just honest. "I'm done pretending."
His father didn't speak for a long time.
Then finally:
"Then treat this seriously. No distractions. No hiding. If we support you again… we expect you to stand."
Chinmay nodded.
And for the first time in a long time — meant it.
He sat on his bed later, looking at the blank white ceiling above.
Tomorrow, the transfer would be official.
New batch. New schedule. New start.
And maybe… a new Chinmay.
The fear hadn't left. But the fog had started to thin.
For the first time in months, he wasn't drowning.
He was still in deep water.
But now… he was swimming.
To be continued in Chapter 22: The Reset