Floppy Disks and Last-Minute Risks: Code Confessions

New brooms sweep clean, they say. That certainly held true for me. With newfound love and finally shedding my dreaded stag status as a perpetually single guy in the college campus, I became so engrossed in my newfound romance, spending most of my time in the gardens and secret hideouts of the fellow lovebirds. One day, I was lying with my head in my girlfriend’s lap, gazing up at the beautiful blue sky and enjoying the romantic moment, when she interrupted.

“Don’t you have an assignment submission and viva today?”

I sprang up as if hit by a thousand-volt shock.

“Oh shit! I totally forgot about it! What time is it?” I practically lunged for her wristwatch.

“It’s 2:30 pm,” she replied.

“Come with me,” I urged, pulling her along as I bolted from the garden.

“But where are we going?” she asked.

“To submit my assignment!”

“Um, do you even have the assignment ready?”

“No, but I’ll quickly copy the program from someone,” I said as we hurried to my hostel.

While she waited outside, I looked around frantically and spotted my batchmate Mukul running to the instructor’s chamber for the submission.

 “Have you completed the assignment yet?” I panted, catching up to him.

“Yes, I have. I’m going to submit it now. I’m in a rush,” he replied, shoving past me.

“Wait a second! Let me copy your assignment. I haven’t finished mine yet!” I pleaded.

“No way! The instructor will find out and we’ll both get a zero!” he protested.

“Come on, buddy. He won’t even notice. There are hundreds of submissions! Can’t you help a brother out?” I practically begged.

He paused, looked at me from head to toe, and after a moment of hesitation, handed me his floppy disk.

“Make it quick and make sure you don’t mess up, or we’re both busted!” he warned.

“I love you, man! You’re a lifesaver!” I exclaimed, elated.

I quickly copied the assignment and, moments later, my girlfriend and I were standing outside the instructor’s office. I asked her to wait as I went in with the floppy disk.

“Are you here to submit your assignment?” the instructor asked.

“Yes, Sir. Here it is,” I replied, handing over the disk.

“Alright, take a seat,” he said.

He inserted the floppy into the computer and began to review the code, line by line. A few seconds later, he looked up at me and said, “Alright, explain the code to me.”

With fake confidence, I started reading the code aloud, coming up with impromptu explanations as if I were a seasoned programmer. But then, like a deer in headlights, I froze when I stumbled upon a cryptic segment. Those few seconds of hesitation were enough for the instructor to realize something was off.

“Did you copy this assignment?” he asked.

I knew I was caught and there was no way out except to admit the truth.

“Yes, Sir, I did,” I confessed, bracing myself for the inevitable.

To my surprise, he was so amused by my admission that his expression softened.

“Okay. I know many people have copied this assignment, but did you at least try to understand what you copied before coming to me?” he asked.

I was thoroughly embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t get a chance to,” I admitted, feeling like a fraud.

His sarcasm cut through the air like a knife. “Oh really? Were you busy building an airplane?“

I was speechless. At this point, all I wanted was to bury my head into the sand and disappear.

“I’m sorry, Sir. But will you give me a zero for this assignment for copying it?” I asked anxiously.

“No, I won’t. I may award you a 20 for at least putting in the effort to copy it!” His sarcasm was in full swing. I wasn’t sure if he was serious or just playing a mind game with me, like a cat toying with a mouse before the kill.

To my surprise, it was for real. He did award me a 20, and that was enough to put a wide smile on my face. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to get some marks for doing practically nothing!

“Thank you, Sir. Can I go now?” I asked, eager to escape.

“Yes, you can.”

As soon as he nodded, I sprinted out of his office. Sanchita was waiting outside and saw me coming with a smile on my face, which, of course, surprised her since she was expecting a disaster.

“How was it?” she asked.

“He’s not giving me a zero! I’ll get a C!” I replied proudly.

We headed to our usual hideaway, hands locked together, swinging them in the air like we’d just won the lottery.