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The end of the board exams should have brought relief, but instead, it left everyone feeling more uncertain than ever.
Rather than celebrating, they found themselves weighed down by the looming pressure of decisions. Parents, who had previously been focused on exams, were now shifting their attention to future plans.
Conversations at home had stopped being about rest and had become laser-focused on career choices and school options.
For days, the group's chat, Spilling the Tea, had gone quiet as each friend grappled with their thoughts. Finally, one evening, Kiara broke the silence, unable to hold it in any longer.
Spilling the Tea
"Is anyone else drowning in talks about schools and careers? My parents won't stop," Kiara vented with exasperation.
"Same here," Ayush replied, sounding just as tired. "They're all about me getting into NDA now. It's like one exam finishes, and another begins."
"Dude, you're telling me," Tanmay groaned. "My parents want me to focus on PCM and coding, which I'm cool with, but it's like they've already signed me up for every academy in town!"
Neha chimed in, "Haha, relatable. My mom keeps showing me NEET study schedules, and I'm just like, 'Can I breathe for a second first?'"
Ansh added, "It's the same here. NEET is literally the only thing we talk about at home now."
"We're all in the same boat, I guess," Sanya remarked with a sigh. "My parents are excited about Shri Akantalaya, but they don't get why I want to be a designer. They keep bringing up 'safe' careers like medicine it's the only thing that matters."
"Same. My parents have finally accepted that I'm serious about music," Aadhit explained thoughtfully, "but they're still a little unsure. They're coming around, though."
Maya's message popped up next. "Wow, at least they're coming around. Mine are still struggling with the idea of me becoming a journalist. It's like they don't get that writing can actually be a real career."
Ajay's text followed. "Welcome to the club. My dad is convinced business is the only path worth taking. I'm all set to join Pineschool in Surat, but honestly, part of me wishes I could stay with you guys."
The chat became a flood of agreement, each of them echoing the same sentiment.
The pressure to succeed and make the "right" choices was suffocating. Even though they supported one another, the reality of their diverging paths was beginning to set in.
"We need to meet up before everyone starts heading off to different schools," Ayush suggested, his message carrying a sense of urgency. "One last hangout, for old times' sake."
