Exam Preparation hit by World Cup

Every year, the month of March is testing time for the students, but this year it's a clash of the titans - the world cup vs the final exams. No wonder an overwhelming majority of the students are afraid of their strike rate in the exams, while the Indian cricketers are not sure how they will face in their final exam in the Caribbean. The question faced by the students in most homes is: Books or TV set? It's a life-and-death situation really for the young ones. If you have any doubt about cricket being a religion in India, just give a thought to this perilous conflict playing in every home across every street in the nook and corner of the country.

But some of the diehard fans are planning their preparation in a way that will give them a sneak peak at some of the India games at least. Ankur, Class X student of MES Kishore Kendra School says he will "try to study most of the portions before 7 pm and take a break from 7 to 8 pm and will sleep late so that "I can watch the ending stage of the match." But will his parents agree? Well, Mum is the word!

But Ashutosh, of St Johns School, also studying in 10th Standard, has decided that studies come first, and cricket can wait. "I am interested only in how our team plays," he says and adds that his mother would keep him updated with the scores at regular intervals. A little bit of both doesn't hurt, does it?

For both of them, the clear favorite is Dhoni, the Dasher, whose very name brings a smile on their face.

For Bharka of St Charles School, doing well is extremely important. "My tenth standard marks card will be my own world cup certificate," she says. She says she will try to finish most of her preparation before the match begins (at around 8.30 pm).

Another heart broken cricket fan Tia who is studying in Vidya Sagar School is torn apart between her exams and the world cp." Since I stay in a joint family, all my family members would be having fun watching the match while my younger brother and me will be locked up in a room. I feel like crying because I won't be able to see Ganguly and Dhoni play. However, I have decided not to watch any match, as I don't want to repent later in my life. My cousins have promised me to update me with the scores on regular intervals." Her younger brother Aakash studying in the 6th Std is also a hardcore cricket fan. His exams are starting next week. He says he will catch the highlights after his exams are over. "I love cricket. Dhoni and Zaheer Khan are my favourite cricketers. I really want India to win the world Cup. They played very well against Netherlands," he says.