Part 3 -:
The next day at school, Anna tried to shake off the sadness from her parents' reaction the night before. She plastered a smile on her face, telling herself she was fine. As she met up with her friends—Janu, Ram, Veda, Krish, and Prit 💖—they all fell into their usual rhythm, talking and laughing, filling the hallway with joy and energy 🎉. But amid the laughter, Prit suddenly looked at Anna with a concerned expression and asked, “Are you okay, Ann? You look… a little down.” Anna’s heart skipped a beat as she quickly replied, “No, I’m fine,” though her voice felt tight. Prit didn’t seem convinced and asked, “You sure?”
At that, Anna felt her eyes start to fill up with tears 😞. She forced herself to hold them back, replying, “Yeah, I’m fine,” in a shaky tone. Janu and Veda noticed this, sharing a glance before they gently pulled Anna aside, away from the others. In private, they asked her what was wrong, and Anna finally let herself be honest, pouring out all the hurt and disappointment she’d been carrying since last night 💔. She talked about how her parents didn’t appreciate her hard work, how their words made her feel small, and how she wondered if anything she did would ever be enough.
Janu and Veda listened quietly, each giving her a reassuring smile and gentle pats on her back. They spoke comforting words, telling her how proud they were of her, and reminded her that she was incredible just the way she was 🌻. By the time they finished, Anna felt a warm glow inside, her spirits lifting. She thanked them, feeling grateful to have such supportive friends, and returned to the group, a brighter smile on her face.
Just as she rejoined, Prit looked over, grinned, and said, “There she is! That’s my girl, back to normal!” 😄 Anna’s heart gave an unexpected flutter, and she felt her cheeks grow warm as she blushed, unable to control the smile spreading across her face 😊. What did he mean by that? she wondered. She felt a strange mixture of happiness and confusion, and for the rest of the day, she found herself glancing his way, wondering if he’d noticed her reaction.
That night, lying in bed, Anna’s mind swirled with thoughts of the day. She felt a blend of emotions: she was sad about her parents’ words, but the way her friends had rallied around her made her feel stronger 🌈. And then there was Prit. His smile, his words, and the way he seemed to look out for her had left her with a feeling she didn’t quite understand. She thought about how much her friends meant to her and realized just how much she would miss them if they couldn’t stay together after this year.
After all, this was their last year of primary school, and her parents were already talking about moving again 🌍. Anna felt a pang of worry that they’d end up in another country, and she wouldn’t be able to continue high school with the friends who had become her second family 💔. But for now, all she could do was cherish every moment she had with them, especially with someone as special as Prit.
