BIT-TU - By Yegeshweriy Arumugam

Written By: Yegeshweriy Arumugam

Category: Flash Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the intriguing world of flash fiction, Yegeshweriy Arumugam, writing as BIT-TU, introduces us to "BIT-TU"-a vivid narrative exploring the complexities of school life and exam pressures. This piece, submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, captures the essence of youthful camaraderie and the underlying tensions that surface in academic settings. Through carefully crafted scenes, Arumugam paints a picture of friendship, stress, and the inevitable choices faced by students.

About the Work

"BIT-TU" intricately weaves a tapestry of emotions through its depiction of carefree chaos and the tense silence of an exam room. With a keen eye for detail, Yegeshweriy Arumugam captures the atmosphere of a classroom, illustrating the inner turmoil of students facing academic challenges. The narrative unfolds with a rhythm that mirrors the heartbeat of youthful anxiety, exploring themes of friendship, peer pressure, and the moral dilemmas encountered in school settings.

BIT-TU

Original Submission by Yegeshweriy Arumugam

BIT-TU

SCENE 1: CAREFREE CHAOS BEFORE THE STORM

Four friends huddle around the last two benches, their laughter echoing as they toss paper balls and joke without a care in the world.

"Yellam oorum engalukku sontha ooru nge,

Yaanai yode serthu naange naalu peru nge…”

They clap in rhythm, jumping and dancing around their bench like it's their stage.

Hari (singing loudly and pointing at Kishore):

"Yellam oorum engalukku sontha ooru nge,

Yaanai yode serthu naange naalu peru nge…”

“Especially this one la… our class yaanai!”

He pats Kishore's belly while laughing. The other two chuckle even Divya smiles nervously but Kishore freezes for a moment.

Kishore (trying to laugh along, but voice breaks slightly):

“Haha... yeah la….”

He gives a forced grin and lowers his head. A flicker of pain shows in his eyes. He turns away to grab his pen, hiding the hurt. Divya notices. Her smile fades as she lightly nudges Hari.

Divya (softly but firmly):

“Ithulam rombe overe. Ipdilam pannethe Hari.”

Hari (shrugs, unfazed):

“Eh relax. Joke tha lar. Ithu onnum puthusu ille. Avenuku palagiruchu.”

Ravi (quietly):

“Ithu joke ille macha but insult. Body shaming pandriya da body soda?”

Hari:

“Adey, avene summa irukan, neenge rendu peru yenda ipdi?

Poi aduthe exam ku padingela, chumma joke lam perusa pesikithu”

Kishore as he stares out the window, watching the clouds drift—his face now thoughtful and distant. The laughter continues behind him, but he's no longer in it.

SCENE 2: THE EXAM BEGINS

The classroom bell rings. The laughter fades. Everyone scrambles to their seats in a hurry. The playful chaos now melts into tense silence. Footsteps echo down the corridor the teacher is arriving, papers in hand.

The exam begins.

Hari (murmuring):

“Kadevuley, ungele nambitha iruken. Epdiyachum enna matthum kapathu pa…”

He opens the exam paper slowly, cautiously like he’s defusing a bomb. He freezes. His eyes widen. He blinks. Once. Twice. The letters seem to swirl on the page.

Hari :

“Mudichi vithainge, Bhai! Ennathu ithulam? Paper eh silap ah kuduthuthangela? Onnume puriye mathuthu? Was I even in the same class?”

He looks around in desperation. Beside him, Divya is already deep in writing, head down, focused. So are the others. Pens scratching, pages flipping.

Hari :

“Enna ivainge kuneje thale nimirame eluthurange? Was I even in the same class? Sonnamutha pocha?”

Hari’s pen remains untouched. His breathing gets heavier. A drop of sweat rolls down his forehead. He swallows hard. As he stares blankly at the paper, a soft hum escapes his lips.

Hari (softly, almost whispering to himself):

“Onnum puriyala… solla theriyala…”

His voice trembles, matching the sad, low beats in his head. The classroom noise fades into the background. Hari sits in a silent storm of self-doubt, disconnected from the world around him.

The contrast between his soft humming and the whirlwind in his mind creates a hauntingly bittersweet moment. Surrounded by a sea of focused classmates and the steady scratch of fast-moving pens, Hari feels completely alone.

SCENE 3: DESPERATE TIMES

Hari glances over at Divya, eyes pleading. She notices him. Their eyes lock for a brief second. She looks conflicted but doesn’t stop writing.

Hari (mouthing silently):

“Theivame please… just question 1… only the first one…”

Divya hesitates, biting her lip. She looks at the clock, time is running fast. The invigilator stirs in his seat and casts a brief glance their way.

Hari grips his pen tighter. His leg shakes beneath the desk. The tick of the clock grows louder in his head. He’s running out of time and hope.

Then, in a low voice, barely a whisper, almost like a subconscious hum, he begins to sing softly, under his breath:

Hari (softly singing):

“Nee yeppo pulle… solle pore…”

The background hum of the classroom fades. The world around him blurs into silence, leaving only his voice and the weight of the moment. The desperation in the lyrics reflects Hari’s growing panic.

The contrast between the quiet, heartfelt melody and the tense atmosphere around him paints a bittersweet picture — a boy lost in desperation, clinging to the hope of a single answer.

SCENE 4: THE RISK

Divya, noticing Hari’s growing panic and the sweat trickling down his temple, finally gives in. She takes a deep breath, then subtly pulls a tiny piece of paper from her pencil case.

Beneath the desk, she scribbles out short answers, shielding her hand from the teacher’s view. Once done, she flicks the folded paper toward Hari.

It lands softly near his foot. Hari snatches it up like a drowning man grabbing a rope.

Hari (whispers to himself, relieved):

"Sollithaley…ave answer eh… finally..."

The line echoes in his head “Sollithaley…” like the lyrics in the song, a sigh of hope in a storm of confusion.

He immediately begins copying but his hand trembles.

Hari (whispering anxiously):

“Wait… ithu enthe question answer nu terileye? Is this for question 2 or 3?”

He gestures helplessly at his paper. Divya sighs and subtly points at the question on his sheet, her expression showing both guilt and worry. Hari nods quickly and continues writing.

SCENE 5: CAUGHT RED-HANDED

Hari is completely immersed in copying the answers from the tiny paper. His expression slowly shifts from panic to relief as his pen races across the page. Just then, he senses something…

A shadow falls over his paper.

Hari pauses. His eyes starting from the bottom edge of the teacher’s pants slowly trail upward. He meets eyes with the teacher, staring straight at him.

The “Soi Soi” beat drops hard in the background as the perfect match to Hari’s rising heartbeat. The teacher doesn't say a word at first. Then, a loud slam on his table.

Teacher (firmly):

“Hari. Stand up.”

Hari’s hand goes limp. The tiny paper slips from his fingers and flutters to the floor. Gasps echo in the classroom. Divya turns sharply in panic but the teacher’s eyes are locked only on Hari.

Teacher (sternly, with disappointment):

“You know what this means.”

He confiscates his paper and signals him toward the door.

Hari stands, frozen in humiliation, eyes on the ground.

“Soi Soi” continues, matching his slow walk out every step weighed down by guilt, shame, and regret.

SCENE 6: THE REVENGE

As Hari walks out of the classroom, his head hanging low, the door quietly closes behind him. The classroom falls silent, the weight of the moment hanging in the air.

Kishore smirks to himself, the sweet taste of victory already on his lips. His eyes glint with satisfaction, and he taps his fingers rhythmically on his desk, the beat of “Aiyayo… Aananthamey…” slipping softly from his lips. His voice, smooth and almost innocent, contrasts sharply with the victorious gleam in his eyes.

Kishore (softly singing):

“Aiyayo Aananthamey…Nenjukule Aarambame…”

The silence stretches, the only sound Kishore’s faint humming, as he leans back in his chair, completely at ease.

Ravi, sitting behind him, glances over at Kishore. An eyebrow is raised slightly as he watches the smirk and the relaxed posture. His own lips curl into a faint, knowing smile, but he says nothing, his gaze lingering for just a moment before returning to his paper.

The teacher, stern and composed, scans the room, his gaze sharp as he speaks:

Teacher (stern, scanning the room):

“Let’s get back to the test, everyone. No more distractions.”

The students quickly return to their papers, but the atmosphere feels heavier now, charged with an unspoken tension. Kishore, however, remains calm, eyes half-lidded, completely unfazed. He glances at his paper, still humming under his breath, the subtle smirk still playing on his lips.

Hey students! Don’t Ctrl+C on exams or assignments – your future isn’t a Ctrl+V job!

Body shaming and copying in your exams are injurious to your future.

✍ Written by

Yegeshweriy Arumugam Servai @ A-Gesh Servai

a-gesh_servai

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in literature. It invites writers worldwide to showcase their unique narratives and poetic expressions. The competition aims to foster creativity, offering participants a stage to share their stories with a global audience. This annual event brings together emerging and established writers, contributing to a rich tapestry of contemporary literature.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Yegeshweriy Arumugam for sharing "BIT-TU" with us for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your insightful portrayal of school life and the pressures faced by students resonates deeply, offering readers a glimpse into the intricate dynamics of friendship and academic challenges. Your participation enriches the literary landscape, and we look forward to your future contributions.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.