Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Hi friends, some moments in life hit so hard, they change your direction forever. For me, it was one single question in an entrance exam. A question that shattered my college dreams but also taught me the biggest lesson of my life.
Story of that One Question: Turning Point of My Life
- The Excitement of the First Attempt
It was my first time going to PGI Chandigarh for the entrance exam. I was super excited. We booked an entire coach in the Shatabdi train from Delhi. All friends were coming. We had snacks, music systems — full-on picnic mode. I was even the head of the group!
We gave the exam the next morning. Everyone came out saying the same thing, “The Exam was good.” Who says their exam was bad, right? PGI used to declare results the same day, and by night, the results were out.
- The Shock of the Result
Saturday night, I checked my result.
Rank: 8848, Total students appeared: 8848
I was last. It was a shock. I returned to the hostel. Six of my friends had already booked tickets for counselling, they didn’t even know their ranks yet. Turns out, they were Rank 4, 8, 12, 17, 18….They just knew they would make it. I felt left behind.
- The Second Attempt
Next time, I will stay with the seniors. This time, I was quiet. No excitement. I stayed on the floor while my senior slept on the bed. In the morning, he asked me casually, “What are you studying?” I said, “Sir, you’ve already studied for 1.5 years, you know everything!”
We were on different wavelengths. He was calm. Focused. He went to give the exam while I was still lost in the vibe of the city.
- The Turning Point: Something had to change
After the exam, a friend took me for lunch. I ordered Dal Makhani, paneer, salad… But my friend and senior were discussing exam questions at the table. I didn’t even know what they were talking about. I was shocked to know those were questions from today’s paper.
That guy got Rank 2 in PGI. And me? Rank 4000. I realised — this won’t work. Something had to change.
- Back to PGI – This Time with Fire
This time, I studied hard for 4–6 months. I went again to PGI and stayed with my senior Tarun sir. I didn’t sleep on the bed that was now the bed of a topper. I slept on the floor.
When he woke up, I was already studying. This time, I didn’t look at Chandigarh’s beauty. I was only focused on my books, on my questions. Before the exam, he looked at me, smiled and said: “Stick to time. The last question is also important.” That stuck with me.
- The One Question That Shattered Everything
I gave the exam. After it ended, my senior was waiting at the gate. He asked, “What was the last question?” I said, “Tenderness at the base of the anatomical snuff box.” He asked, “What was the first option?” “Scaphoid,” I replied. I had already submitted my paper.
He looked at me and said, “Did you read the other options?” I said, “No, sir. What else can it be? It’s always scaphoid!” He quietly said, “It was scaphoid, trapezium, and base of first metacarpal. It’s written in Gray’s Anatomy.” I said, “Who reads Grey’s?”
He looked at me… with tears in his eyes. Then said: “You’ll understand tonight. My rank was once 91. The seat got over at 89. I never qualified again.”
That hit me hard. That one question. That one miss. That one moment. It could change everything.
The Real Lesson
That night, I understood that this exam isn’t just about knowledge. It’s about attention. It’s about discipline. It’s about not missing the moment.
When you have time, opportunity, support, and brains, don’t waste them. There are no guarantees in life. But one thing is sure — regret hurts more than failure.
Don’t Miss Your Moment
After 30 years, if someone asks you: “What do you regret?” Make sure your answer is: “Nothing.” You had the chance. You had the time. You had everything. Don’t miss it.
There will be others who worked harder than you. Who slept on the floor? Who fought for every second. They will compete with you. And if you haven’t prepared, life will be unfair.
You will lose. I don’t want that for you.
Final Words
In life, there are only two talents:
- Hard work
- Discipline
Not intelligence. Not speed. Not luck. If you have these two, the universe will work for you. And even God will rewrite your destiny.
So work hard. Focus. And when the last question comes, don’t miss it. Because that one question can either shatter your dream or make it.
All the very best.
– Dr. Apurv Mehra
