From Helper to Science Genius

“31st July 2000”

A terrible day. A tsunami hit the city, tragically ending thousands of lives. Among the victims were Dr. Gagan Joshi and Meera Joshi. It was a great loss to the world of science to lose them at such a young age. The radio announced the news while little Vigyanika lay on her hospital bed.

“15 years later”

The death of my parents left me completely shattered. The only picture I have of them is printed in a newspaper titled “The Biggest Tsunami in History.” People come to hospitals occasionally, but I spent my entire childhood there, working as a child helper. People used to look at me with pity, but now I had proved myself by standing in front of the biggest science institute for advanced chemistry, the “Gravel Institute of Chemical Sciences,” with an amazing scholarship.

A confident Vigyanika chuckled to herself as she stood before the towering glass buildings of GICS. Having never seen anything beyond the old government hospital where she worked, she was amazed by the enormous glass towers.

She stepped towards the gate, only to realise that it would not open. She asked one of her classmates for help. The girl laughed and said, “You have never heard of a fingerprint lock? Just press your finger on the machine. Even my house has one.”

Vigyanika thanked her and entered the building.

“Will I be able to adjust here?” she wondered.

She entered the building, searching for her classroom. There were five towers, each consisting of seven floors. Spread across a huge area, the campus felt like a maze. She thought she would need a guide just to understand the university buildings.

On the way, she saw pictures of famous scientists and their contributions. Among them were her parents. For a moment, she almost broke down in tears, but she controlled herself and told herself to move on from the past.

After a lot of searching and confusion, she finally reached her classroom.

At the hospital, Vigyanika had always been considered exceptionally smart for her age. However, after arriving at GICS, she felt herself below average. . Fedorche already held an honours degree in Solute and Solvents. Almost all the students came from scientific family backgrounds with generations of knowledge in the field.

“How will I compete with them?” Vigyanika thought.

The teacher started explaining the History of Chemistry, something Vigyanika had never studied as a separate subject before. To her surprise, the other students already knew a lot about it. Hands were raised again and again, especially by Freta Tonjon, whose parents were professors at the same university.

“Ma’am, is the answer 1948?” Freta asked excitedly.

Soon, Vigyanika was asked a question herself. She did not know the answer and was scolded harshly.

“How did you even end up with a scholarship?” Professor Manor asked coldly.

Most of the class laughed, except Ada Arora and Mariette Stephen.

The others had achieved far more success than her at that age. For Vigyanika, simply entering the college itself was a dream.

Soon, she became good friends with Ada and Mariette. Ada, known as the Queen of Psychology, was emotionally intelligent and energetic. Mariette was quiet and wise. She too was a scholarship student who was still trying to adjust to the college life. Not surprised Mariette was a genius in equations. There were tests on equations held daily and it would be difficult to remember if Mariette had ever loosen a mark. The college was far more difficult than Vigyanika had expected. Ada and Mariette helped her with History of Chemistry, while Vigyanika helped Mariette with practical subjects. Vigyanika studied late into the night just to understand the concepts. The labs were highly advanced. The only struggle faced by Vigyanika was how to use them . Fedorche laughed again “I hope so you need someone to hold your hand like you needed in the gate itself Ms. Vigyanika Joshi.” Fedorche was more of an overconfident student rather than brilliant. Her best friend Willa Toms used to add her dialogues “Nice to see you have got friends just like you Ada and Mariette. Go ahead! Let’s see where you go.” Ms Honey noticed this and gave a detention to both Willa and Fedorche of 25 marks each in their practicals. She just told them to solve 5 equations which Mariette could do effortlessly. They never teased them again. All the three were proud of themselves. Especially Mariette Steven.

There were five main subjects: Psychology, Medicinal Chemistry, Solute and Solvents, Equations, and History of Chemistry. Medicinal Chemistry was considered the toughest because of its formula-making practicals and advanced concepts.

Her greatest support was her friends, Ada and Mariette.

Soon, a medicine-making campaign was organised. Vigyanika did not just participate — she created one of the finest medicines the institute had ever seen. Ada and Mariette struggled to mix the components properly, while Vigyanika worked with complete focus.

The teachers were deeply impressed. She was selected for the prestigious Medicinal Chemistry Club. Even students from scientific family backgrounds were shocked by her talent.

“Did she create that formula herself?” Fedorche Narol whispered in disbelief.

“I never expected her to do something this amazing,” Pablo Goran added.

Everyone was astonished by her achievement. Vigyanika became the youngest member of the Medicinal Chemistry Club.

For the first time since entering GICS, she finally felt relief.

While everyone else returned home during vacations, Vigyanika stayed behind in the college library. Her friends had become her family. Many times, Ada and Mariette stayed during the holidays just to keep her company, pretending they simply wanted to explore the campus.

Soon, Vigyanika became one of the most talented medicinal chemistry students in the university. The libraries that once felt overwhelming had now become her world. Students began calling her “The Bookworm” of the university.

Only a few months earlier, some students had mocked her as “just a scholarship girl who did not belong there.” Now, professors used her as an example for others.

Along with her studies, Vigyanika spent her days creating formulas in the laboratory. Ada was clumsy but cheerful and always lightened everyone’s mood with jokes after long lectures. Mariette, on the other hand, was calm, thoughtful, and famous for her beautiful calligraphy in project work.

The annual competition between GICS and the Sodium Institute of Chemical Sciences for Formula Making in Medicine was approaching. Vigyanika spent days and nights preparing formulas. Ada and Mariette were terrible at formula-making, so they could offer little help.

Ada laughed and said, “Vigyanika, I really do not understand how you spend nights doing something this boring. I could never do it. I prefer Psychology and talking to people.”

Mariette ignored Ada’s complaint and said, “You will win. That is my best wish for you. Go to the library and read Secrets of Medicinal Chemistry. It may help.”

Vigyanika thanked both of them.

Finally, on 4th June 2016, the competition began.

It was a difficult battle. SICS used advanced materials that the GICS team had never even heard of before. However, because of Vigyanika’s immense talent and hard work, GICS once again won the Formula Making Award, continuing their proud legacy.

After the competition, Vigyanika was interviewed. She was asked how she had become so skilled in the most difficult branch of chemistry at such a young age.

She smiled and replied,

“The word ‘Vigyanika’ means the owner of science… and I have owned it.”

The audience burst into applause.

By Saanvi Shankar

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