The Revolt of the Numbers

There was a familiar atmosphere of tension in the classroom.

- Dr Ritu Jain

Some students sat in eager anticipation, while others looked anxious. Their test papers were being evaluated by their teacher, Miss Madhu. She picked up an answer paper from the stack and called out to the concerned student.

"So, few marks?" she said in a disappointed tone, as she handed the paper to him.

"Your marks are even worse this time. Don't you study at all?" she scolded another student. Everyone was unaware that the numbers on the papers had been quietly observing what was going on.

"If we are the ones to be blamed, why are the poor students getting scolded? We have to become better," they told each other.

When Miss Madhu started checking the next paper, the number 6 jumped onto it from another paper. Miss Madhu pushed the 6 away and replaced it with 2. Just then, the number 9 leaped onto the next sheet of paper, but Miss Madhu chased it off and wrote 1 in its place.

"Miss Madhu wants to write these low marks, and yet she blames us by calling us 'bad numbers'. Why is that?" The numbers found this puzzling.

The next paper belonged to Neeti.

"Out of 50, you have only scored 23, Neeti. When will you start scoring better marks?" Miss Madhu said sternly, handing her answer paper to Neeti.

Neeti took the paper and went back to her seat. She sat there, staring at her marks. Her mother had clearly told her that she was expecting her to get at least 30 marks in this test. A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped on the paper.

This made the number 23 on the paper very sad.

"Don't cry Neeti, tell me what's on your mind," the 2 from 23 asked her.

"I'm wondering why Miss Madhu doesn't give me more marks. If she had to give 2 and 3, she could have just written 32 instead of 23," Neeti replied.

"What difference does it make?" the number 3 asked in surprise.