The semester was in full swing, and Reena found herself paired with Anisha, a confident and outspoken classmate, for their group project.
The task was to prepare a detailed business proposal, a project that carried significant weight in their final assessment.
One afternoon, the two of them sat in the college's IT lab, brainstorming ideas.
While Reena earnestly jotted down notes, Anisha leaned back in her chair, scrolling through her phone.
“Look, Reena,” Anisha said suddenly, breaking the silence. “Why are we breaking our heads over this?
I found this amazing project online. It’s perfect—we can just download it, tweak a few things, and submit it as ours.”
Reena looked up, surprised. “But… that’s plagiarism. We’re supposed to do our own work, not copy someone else’s.”
Anisha rolled her eyes. “Come on, everyone does it. No one’s going to cross-check. Why waste time on something that’s already been done?”
Reena frowned, her tone firm. “It’s not just about getting marks. It’s about integrity. If we cheat now, what’s stopping us from cutting corners in everything else? We won’t learn anything by taking shortcuts.”
Their conversation grew more intense, with Reena standing her ground despite Anisha’s dismissive attitude.
Unbeknownst to them, Raghu happened to be passing by the IT lab.
Hearing the heated discussion, he stopped in his tracks and lingered outside the door, listening intently.
Reena’s voice carried through. “I’m not going to be a part of something dishonest. If you want to download a project, go ahead, but I’ll work on my own and submit it separately.”
Anisha sighed dramatically. “Fine, suit yourself. Let’s see if your ‘ethics’ get you anywhere.”
As Anisha stormed out, Raghu entered the lab, surprising Reena. She looked up, startled to see him.
“You heard that, didn’t you?” she asked, her expression a mix of embarrassment and defiance.
“Couldn’t help it,” Raghu said with a small smile. “I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose, though.”
Reena sighed. “I just… I don’t get how people can take the easy way out and not feel bad about it. Isn’t college supposed to teach us to be better?”
Raghu studied her for a moment, impressed by her conviction.
“You’re right. It’s rare to find someone who values honesty over convenience. It’s not easy to stand up like that, especially as a fresher.”
Reena blinked, surprised by his words. “Thanks, but it’s just what I believe in.”
Raghu nodded, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. Her values reminded him of why he had returned to college despite his own setbacks.
Seeing Reena’s determination inspired him to help her navigate the challenges of college life.
“If you need help with the project, let me know,” Raghu offered casually. “I’m not a pro, but I’ve done a few of those in my time.”
Reena hesitated before smiling slightly. “I’ll think about it.”
As she turned back to her work, Raghu walked away, his mind churning.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that Reena’s strong moral compass would make her stand out, both positively and negatively, in the complex world of college life.
And for reasons he couldn’t yet explain, he felt a growing urge to support her journey, even from the sidelines.
Reena, meanwhile, resolved to complete the project on her own, determined to prove that integrity and hard work could still lead to success, even in an environment where shortcuts often seemed more rewarding.
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