Veena

Maya: Shit, shit!!!, Praveen aced the calculus midterm. In fact he A plused it. I am super pissed.

Prakriti: calm down Maya. You aced it as well.

Maya: you don’t understand Prakriti, this means his semester GPA is already close to mine. I didn’t think he would be so close.

Prakriti: it’s not a big deal, we still have finals! It’s not like the end of the world. Stop being a drama queen.

Maya: Drama Queen is who I am Prakriti. You deal with it. Damn, you University gods. I was thinking of taking it easy for the finals because he was behind me but now, I have to be top game again. When can I rest?

Prakriti: Maybe if you shifted your priorities a little, it would help. After all you don’t have to be first in class all the time. Doesn’t it get boring?

Maya: For you maybe and the rest of the losers in class. Being first is like my god given right!

Prakriti(rolls eyes): did you just call me a loser? Whatever you are thinking is all in your head. You know what they say in my philosophy class – “ don’t believe everything you think”

Maya: Maybe I should drop calculus and try philosophy instead(sarcasm). Yeah, I can take it easy then.

Prakriti: hey, remember I am your friend but I don’t have to tolerate your snipping and putting me down. Be better Maya. I just want you to see it isn’t as serious as you think it is.

Maya(breathes in and out three times): aaaahhh, okay. I am sorry Prakriti, I wasn’t being very nice. I just have to reorganize my schedule a bit and prepare for the finals. It should be fine. Yes, just fine. I am Maya the first placer always after all.

Prakriti: I am glad you apologized but are still missing the point. I give up. Do what you want.

Veena enters the study room where Prakriti and Maya are sitting.

Veena: Hey Maya, heard you aced the test. I did too.

Maya: What?! I barely saw you study, how did you ace it :/?

Prakriti: OOOOh Maya. You are terrible.

Veena: it’s ok Prakriti, yeah I didn’t study much but the test had the exact same patterns of problems as the quiz and homework so it was easy-peasy. Don’t tell me you toiled hard for the midterm learning everything? Smirk laugh.

Prakriti: Veena you are just as bad as Maya.

Maya: Veena, I appreciate the candor but you are not fooling anyone. You scores were mere luck is all.

Veena: I am just super talented and don’t need to struggle like you Maya.

Maya: Don’t you know talent without working hard leads you nowhere. But hey, I guess nowhere is where you want to head.

Veena: Nowhere is liberating. You have unknown number of possibilities. Anyway, I got to go “somewhere”. Keep slugging away Maya. Heard you weren’t the first in class this time. Tee hee.

Maya: Grr

Veena: Lets see how far down the list you will be in the finals. As you know, we are in university with thousand of students, not in school anymore Maya. Good luck with the top rank achiever dream as yours. One day maybe you will realize there is more to life than being first at everything.

Maya: Thanks for the word of advice Veena. But I won’t have a problem retaining my top spot for the semester.

Veena, leaves.

Prakriti: wow, you two sure know how to raise up the heat in here. Just chill Maya. You will be okay.

Maya: whatever!

Prakriti: I can’t stand your angst, let me out of here. See you later Maya.