Shadow of Her Story

Chapter-17 The Unspoken Disappointment

The exam season was behind her, and life was slowly returning to a sense of normalcy. Ananya had given her best, and the weight of the exams had lifted off her shoulders. But now, another challenge awaited her: the dreaded Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM). This meant one thing—her results.

It was a crisp morning when Ananya's parents decided to attend the meeting at school. Ananya, however, could hardly contain the anxiety bubbling within her. While she had felt confident after the exams, now that the results were close, her nerves began to surface. The thought of her parents seeing her marks—especially in subjects like Economics and Political Science—was enough to make her stomach churn.

POV (Ananya's Thoughts):
What if I didn't do well? What if they're disappointed? I tried so hard, but what if it wasn't enough?

Her heart raced as they sat in the meeting room, waiting for her turn. She could hear her classmates' parents chatting nearby, but Ananya's focus was on the clock, each minute feeling like an eternity. When her turn finally came, she walked with her parents into the teacher's office, trying to keep a brave face. But the moment she saw her papers on the table, she knew.

POV (Ananya's Thoughts):
Please let the marks be okay. Please, let me have done better this time.

The teacher began by going over Ananya's marks. When they reached Economics and Political Science, Ananya's heart sank.

Teacher:
"Ananya, you did well in English, Psychology, and Physical Education. But, for Economics and Political Science, your marks are below what we expected from you. I'm sure you can improve with a bit more focus."

Ananya's eyes welled up with tears. She had tried her best, but the results didn't reflect the effort she had put in. She felt an overwhelming sense of frustration and disappointment. Her parents, though supportive, didn't know what to say. They had hoped for better results, too.

POV (Ananya's Thoughts):
I feel like I've failed them. I should have done better. Why couldn't I understand those subjects like I understood others?

Ananya fought to hold back her tears as they left the meeting. But as soon as they were outside the school gates, she couldn't keep it in any longer. She broke down in front of her parents, the weight of her disappointment and self-doubt consuming her.

Her mother held her close, comforting her with words that barely reached her ears. Her father, though quiet, rubbed her back gently.

Ananya's Mother:
"It's okay, Ananya. It's just one result. You've always done your best, and that's what matters the most."

But despite her mother's words, Ananya couldn't shake off the feeling of failure. She had always been a high achiever, and this setback stung more than she cared to admit.

POV (Ananya's Thoughts):
I feel like I've let everyone down. I don't want to disappoint anyone, especially not my family. But I can't change it now. All I can do is move forward.

Her parents reassured her that it wasn't the end of the world, and there would be other opportunities to improve. They reminded her that her worth wasn't defined by numbers or results. But in that moment, Ananya couldn't help but wonder—would she ever live up to the expectations she had set for herself?

As she walked home, tears still glistening in her eyes, Ananya realized that while failure was painful, it was also part of life. She would pick herself up, learn from this, and face whatever came next. After all, this was just one chapter in her story, and she still had so much more to write.

To be continued......