'People say that the life of a CA student during articleship is quite hectic.'
'I disagree. The truth is,'
'a CA student during articleship'
'has no life to begin with.'
'Lately, my schedule has been'
'attending morning classes at 7 am.'
'Reporting to the office at 11 am.'
'Attending classes again at 7 pm.'
'Then, at 11 pm, I start studying for the upcoming Group 2 exams.'
'And life goes on in a loop.'
'The date of the exam keeps getting closer,'
'pressure keeps mounting'
'and the time I get to study keeps decreasing constantly.'
Archie!
-Where to? -I attend classes on Audit at 7 pm.
What about GTK Industries' audit?
-You may leave after the meeting. -Sir, my exams are around the corner.
I have already missed the last three classes.
I can't afford it.
I have been a CA student. I know classes are important.
But this audit is crucial.
We need to close it in two weeks.
We should also pay a factory visit.
In this situation, we cannot afford any mess-up.
Only because of your attending classes,
what if we miss the deadline for the audit?
Who will be responsible?
I hope you are responsible enough to make the right decision.
Sir.
Chetan, did the class end soon?
Well, it had started early.
Sir had dropped a message in the group.
Didn't you check?
Come on, Archie.
Because of my office, I missed the first 30 minutes.
Even after coming to the class, I couldn't hear anything.
'I think our respective bosses have sworn'
'that soon after hiring a student as an article,'
'they will become that student's biggest enemy.'
'Neither will they give us time to study'
'nor to attend classes.'
'Nor will they allow us to bitch about them in our thoughts.'
'I just hate articleship.'
Hello, sir.
-Hi! -Hello.
Please come.
-Water? -No. Thank you.
Stay Focused. Stay Positive. Never Give Up.
So Niraj.
Please sit.
I've come to the 'Niraj Only Zone' for the first time.
Let me explore it.
Okay.
May I?
Of course, you can. Please.
Not bad, Niraj.
I read somewhere that a messy room leads to a messy mind. So...
Hey. I had given you this novel.
Yes. On my birthday.
Well, a bigger gift awaited me inside the novel.
The letter.
You read the letter
but the brand-new condition of the novel indicates you never read it.
Well, actually, it so happened...
No. It's okay. I should have known.
Apart from CA books, Niraj Goyal doesn't read anything.
No, I will read it now.
No. I'll keep it with me.
Why did I gift you a romantic novel?
Okay.
Well,
your calculator.
-Kavya. -Niraj.
Don't be stubborn this time.
Keep it.
Niraj, if you think a lot about the past,
it hampers the present and the future.
I think our present is going good.
Kavya, do you remember what you said
when you gave me this calculator for the first time?
Keep it. It's lucky for you.
But, actually, for every exam that I used this calculator,
I cleared it on my first attempt.
Ever since I returned it to you...
All right then, take it with you while making your next attempt.
You will clear it for sure.
I anyway have high chances of clearing it this time.
Why?
It's because you are with me.
That's why.
Hmm.
Shall we study?
Yes.
Come on.
-Chetan. -Yes.
Sir covered a lot of topics.
Of course, he will.
Only 36 days are left for the exam.
He knows that the sooner he completes the portions,
the sooner we can start our revision.
-Revision? -Yes.
I hardly get time to study.
What do you do all day?
Articleship.
Archie, do you know that, in the second group, we mostly have theory papers?
The more the theory, the more to remember.
And more the number of revisions required.
That means you will need more time.
You should have started by now.
I get no time from work.
From when did articles start getting time to study?
The institute knew it.
That's why they have given students the right to go on study leave.
-You should make use of it. -Yes.
From when have you taken a study leave?
I never needed it.
I have a dummy.
Chetan, this is wrong.
What if you get caught?
We shall see what to do then.
For now, I know that I do not want to do articleship.
With a calm mind, I want to attend classes, not go to the office.
I want to make class notes,
not some notes to accounts of some random company.
I want to secure a high rank on the exam
and bag a fat package from a good company.
I don't want to do an internship that
offers a paltry 5000 rupees as a stipend.
You will have to learn this once you become a CA.
But the point is, I will become a CA.
Pal, sir has announced a mock test again.
I wonder why he does it again and again.
None of the questions from it appear in the exam.
No, perhaps, they do.
Appearing for mock tests increases the concentration in exams.
That is important.
-I shall leave now. -Where to?
It's a break. The classes will resume.
I'll catch up. You can help me later.
-Okay. Take care. -So should you, brother.
The exam you are about to appear for is way more tougher.
-Go now! -All the best!
Thank you.
Hi!
Hi. Are you done with the classes?
Yes. I mean... Almost.
What happened? Why are you so nervous?
Nervous? No.
Really? When was the last time you bunked a class?
Well... It was long back.
Shall we?
Sir, I wanted your DSC.
Thank you.
Sir, I wanted to talk about my study leave.
-I think I need approximately... -Archie, did you make this?
Yes, sir.
Please explain what you have made.
Sir, we are about to start an audit of GTK. So, I made a contract for the same.
Engagement Letter.
It is called Engagement Letter.
What purpose is this made for?
It is made so that, during the audit,
if there is any misunderstanding with the client, we can avoid it.
It includes scope of the audit, management responsibility,
auditor's responsibility, applicable framework,
and reference of any report to be issued.
On such an important document, you wrote the client's name wrongly.
Not GTK Industrials, it's GTK Industries.
Fix it and get it back.
Before going to the factory for the audit, do study all this.
Know what you are doing. Otherwise, don't do it.
Especially on GTK Industries.
Archie. Shall we talk?
Had you gone to ask for leave or extra work?
That is the problem.
Whenever I go to him with some personal work,
he assigns me some urgent official work.
I don't know how to talk to him.
You are overthinking.
Do you know what's the advantage of working in a small firm?
You get leaves with sheer ease.
Just talk to sir once.
Ask for leaves, bravely. Not timidly.
It's your right.
-Yes. Click it. -Kavya, please.
Niraj, please.
-Sir, please. -Hang on. Kavya, listen.
-Please. -You know that I am...
But one picture is not a big deal. Please.
-Hey, it's awkward. -Yes, sir. Just one picture. Madam.
Hey.
Hey! I like it. Please. Just one photo.
Only for madam.
Well...
You disappointed her.
-Go on. -Yes.
Thank you, sir. Actually, camera phones have eaten into our business.
-Come on. Click the photo. -Yes.
Sir, get closer to her.
Yes, madam. Get close to him.
Sir, if you could smile a little,
you will look good in the photo.
Smile a bit, sir. Little...
Smile.
A bit. Little smile.
Very nice! Got it!
I'll get you the printout in two minutes.
-In two minutes... -Done?
I'll be right back.
Thank you.
-Happy? -Yes. Very much.
I am warning you.
In future, you have to get many pictures clicked.
Be prepared. I won't let you back out.
What happened?
What did you say? In future...
Yes. So?
Kavya, are you dreaming of a future with me?
Yes.
Aren't you?
Of course. I do.
But I didn't know you were dreaming of it.
Niraj, this CA and CS chapter in our lives
went on for too long.
But after this, a new chapter will start.
All I know is that I see you with me, in it.
Kavya.
Rs. 150.
Ah. Thank you.
-Rs. 150? -Yes, sir.
Rs. 150 for one photo. You people are fleecing us.
Forget that, sir.
Look at the photo. You'll pay me more for it.
-Here. Rs. 150. -It's beautiful.
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, sir.
-Shall we? -Show it to me.
Why? You don't like it.
-Hey! Show it to me. I, too, am in the photo. -No.
Yes.
Sir, I have made changes to the letter.
Keep it.
Sir, my exams are approaching.
So, I wanted to talk about leave.
Yes. How many days of leave do you want?
From the next week.
Okay. Drop a mail.
Sure, sir. Thank you.
Archie.
Acknowledge in the mail that you understand
these leaves will be counted in the 180 days leaves
allotted by the CA institute.
I am sorry, sir.
Don't you know this?
That is why I was confused as to how you can ask for so many days of leave.
See, Archie. The thing is...
As per the rules of the Institute, an article, in his tenure of 3 years,
can take a maximum leave of 180 days.
So, you have to ration it out.
For example, imagine.
This pile of coins is your 180 days of leaves.
This includes your CA final leaves also.
In order to prepare for your CA final, you'd need at least
five months of leaves.
That means 150 days.
Let's keep them aside.
For the next two years and three months,
you have just 30 days of leaves left with you.
And you are demanding for 44 days' leave.
Where will you get the extra 14 days from?
Here. From the leaves kept for your CA final's preparation.
Not just that,
you will have your B.Com exams.
You will go to your home town, Nashik.
And God forbid, if you have to appear for Group 2 once again...
You have to ration leaves from this pile.
This is too less for the CA final.
And as a CA, Archie, take my advice.
Save as many leaves as you possibly can.
You know the case of Bhumik?
He has his CA final in November.
And he has exhausted almost all of his leaves.
Do you think 20 days' leave is enough for him to prepare for the CA final?
Archie, I will sanction the leaves
but only as per the rules.
So what if this is a small firm?
We will follow the rules.
Think about it.
The moment I feel that I have understood this course,
an unexpected twist hits me.
Is this CA or Game Of Thrones?
GOT was still better. It came to an end after seven years.
If this continues with me, forget about seven years.
I can never become a CA in my life.
Nothing like that, Archie.
The articleship will come to an end in three years.
Maybe after that, you can clear the inter.
Good one.
-No, I mean... -Hey.
Don't worry, Archie.
A unique kind of insincerity is needed to fail the exam.
I have it but you don't.
Really? Then tell me something.
How will I cover Group 2 in just one month?
Also, the factory visits will start soon.
How will I manage everything?
Simple. Take a dummy.
Right?
I thought you were her best friend.
Of course. I am.
If you are, then why give her the worst advice?
Archie, the fact is, there is no such thing as enough time.
There is just a deadline.
CAs, during the season, in order to meet this deadline, sacrifice
their lunchtime, family time and their sleep.
If you want to pass the exam, you need to do the same.
Wherever you get time, you should be studying.
Study while eating.
Study while travelling.
If you get a little time at the office, you should study.
In fact, instead of sitting here and cribbing, you should be...
Studying. Studying.
Archie. Studying.
-Studying. -Oh yes. Sit.
Come on, Archie! We need to study!
Come on. Don't waste her time.
Study, Archie. Come on.
See you, Archie. Study.
Asset numbers are in this list.
They are here physically also.
Look at them and pick the audit.
Check all these. Okay?
Done revising chapter 2?
'It's on.'
Archie, are you done with the work?
These files are done. These are remaining.
Okay.
This has all the invoices in it.
Amounts of new assets should match this. Okay?
Bhumik, can you please handle this for 10 minutes?
Archie, if I have...
Guys. Any problem?
No, sir.
Get those files.
We have a revision class. At least don't miss this.
So slow. Shall we complete chapter 3 together?
Yes, sure.
Sir.
Did Bhumik check this?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Today, we shall sit for a review at 6 pm.
Sir, I have a class at 6 pm.
That's okay. You do miss classes during the audit season.
Sir, this is a revision class. I can't afford to miss this.
I can give the paperwork to Bhumik.
And what will you learn from that?
Archie, a CA's job is not complete until the audit report is signed.
And it becomes your professional responsibility
to stick and follow through until it is done.
But as a CA student, sir,
it is also my responsibility to attend the coaching class, right?
Please understand, sir...
Archie, I understand where you are coming from.
But as I said earlier,
since the work is important, you need to push...
How much should I push, sir?
My studies are already being pushed aside because of articleship.
And, honestly, sir, work will never end.
A new file with a new deadline hits the desk.
Or there is some mess up that needs attention on an urgent basis.
Sir, I am not an employee. I am an article.
Along with working, I also need to study.
CA is the only course
wherein the student himself wants to study,
attend classes and do revision
but is unable to, because articleship doesn't give him time for all that!
That is why we fail.
Not because we don't study
but because we are not given the time to study.
Sir, talking of rules, there is also a rule
that says an article should work 45 hours a week.
But we, articles, work for 60 to 70 hours a week, without letting out a sigh
because we know that it is you people who will
validate the completion of our articleship.
If you don't do that, we cannot become a CA.
So, sir, I have to put my foot down
because I must attend coaching classes in order to pass the exam
and for that, you need to allow me to leave.
That's it!
Archie, I think you need a break.
Take two days off.
And don't worry. I won't deduct it from your leave of 180 days. Okay?
I will go on a long vacation after the exams.
Don't laugh. I am serious.
Studies are driving me crazy.
I was about to miss the submission date of the exam form.
Thankfully, it occurred to me at the last minute.
One second. What's the last date to submit the exam form?
What? The last date was yesterday.
Didn't you submit the form?
Relax. It happens.
Studies get so hectic that we can hardly remember what day it is.
How will you remember the deadline?
Pay the late fees. It will be done. Okay?
I'll submit it tomorrow morning.
-Sure. Do it. -Kavya!
-Hi! -Hi, Sister.
Do you know where Niraj is? He is not answering calls.
He must be in the library. Shall I send him?
No. I am getting late.
Just give these notes to him. Okay?
-Okay. -See you later. Bye.
Hi!
What happened?
Ramesh gave this.
Yes, it's mine.
And this as well.
You are here before me. Amazing!
Chetan, can I have your boss' number? He allows a dummy.
Now, we are talking.
I told you already. Taking a dummy won't make you dumb.
I'll message you.
And please give me your notes also.
-Good evening. -Good evening.
Please sit.
Amazing! The class has shown up in full strength.
Is anyone yet to come?
-No, sir. -No, sir.
-Shall we start? -Yes, sir.
All right.
-Today will be a revision class. -Yes, sir.
So, you people will speak more than I do.
So, let's start standard-wise. Okay?
-Yes, sir. -Please be loud.
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
Yes. What is SA210?
Sir.
Yes, Chetan.
Agreeing the terms of audit engagement.
How is it actually done?
-We make a contract... -Contract?
Do we call it a contract?
What is it called?
-Engagement letter. -Engagement letter.
Yes. Engagement letter.
Now, tell me.
Which para of the standard states the pre-conditions of the audit?
Deafening silence?
You don't have to memorise all para numbers, except for the important ones.
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
What yes, sir? Say it.
Which para of the standard states pre-conditions of the audit?
Para 6.
Sir, it's Para 6.
Okay.
What is an engagement letter?
Sir, an engagement letter is given
to the client before the audit starts.
-So that... -During the audit,
if there is any misunderstanding with the client...
We can show it to them.
It includes scope of audit...
Management responsibility, auditor's responsibility...
Applicable framework and reference of...
Any report to be issued.
Okay.
I haven't covered that part as yet.
Let's assume.
The terms of audit engagement are already there in the law,
so, is it necessary for the auditor to make a letter in written format?
No, sir.
Then?
We can include a clause wherein the management says
that it understands its responsibility.
Please sit.
This knowledge
can't be acquired in classes.
It comes from experience and exposure.
That is why we tell you to undergo articleship.
Opting for a dummy will make you dumb.
Good, Archie.
So, is 210 clear now?
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
-Engagement letter? -Yes, sir.
All right. Now, go to page number 42.
Listen. Can I get your boss' number to apply for articleship?
Sure.
Kavya.
My preparation is complete. It's just that I was...
Distracted?
Kavya, it is just a mock test. It doesn't mean I am...
I understand.
But I don't want either of us to fail and we blame the other for it.
Why would we do that?
You don't know that.
After failing, a person thinks about the mistake that caused it.
I don't want to be that mistake of yours.
Kavya.
Niraj, CA has been your dream.
It is your aim to turn it into reality.
Don't let it go because of us.
It's a matter of a few days.
After that, we have a lifetime together.
Till then, you focus on your studies
and I'll focus on mine.
Now, we shall catch up only after your exams.
Okay?
'We knew that in order to become a CA,'
'one needs to be hard-working, dedicated and patient.'
'But we didn't know that we'd have to make so many sacrifices.'
'That we will have to distance ourselves from our dear ones.'
'And that we'll have to sacrifice our ego.'
I am really sorry, sir.
Archie, you don't need to apologise.
However, you need to understand.
Soon after becoming a CA, you will wield immense power.
And it is my responsibility to make sure
that you are trained enough to know how to use it well.
But just remember that I am not your enemy.
I am your first professional mentor.
'It is still true that in the three years of articles hip,'
'a CA student doesn't have a life.'
'But now, I have understood that these three years actually build his life.'
Hello, sir.
Hello, Archie. Where are you?
Come to the office right now!
There is a problem with GTK...
We need to fix this as soon as possible. Wherever you are, come here.
-What did you do? -I have no clue.
Did sir tell you anything?
All he said was to send you to the cabin when you get here.
Archie!
Ritesh's cabin.
Is she the one who had checked the fixed assets?
Yes, sir.
Congratulations.
You fucked up.