The evening air carried the scent of old textbooks and fresh ink as Anim sat at her study table, staring at the mountain of notes before her. The pressure of exams weighed heavily on her chest, making it difficult to breathe. The constant reminders from teachers, parents, and even friends about the importance of board exams felt like an invisible chain around her neck.
She looked at the clock---11:57 PM. Just three more minutes before another day would begin, bringing her closer to the day she feared the most. She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping to escape into sleep, but her mind was restless. The expectations placed upon her weren't just about grades; they were about proving something---to herself, to her family, to the world.
That night, Anim found herself in a strange yet familiar place---a dream world, where everything felt lighter, where laughter wasn't drowned by responsibilities, and where she wasn't just a student preparing for exams. The sky was painted in shades of lavender and blue, and in front of her stood a door---a glowing, mysterious gateway.
As she walked through, she entered a world where her dreams were reality. The stress of exams didn't exist, and she was free to be herself. She danced under the moonlight, feeling the weight lift off her shoulders. But a voice in the distance called her back.
Anim's eyes snapped open. The alarm screamed at her, reminding her that the dream was over. The pressure returned, heavier than before. At school, Ayera, her best friend, noticed her exhaustion.
"You okay?" Ayera asked, nudging Anim gently.
"Yeah," Anim forced a smile. But the truth was, she felt like she was drowning.
Ayera wasn't convinced. "Let's take a break today. Just one evening. We'll go for ice cream or something. You need to breathe."
Anim hesitated. Could she afford to take a break? The thought itself felt like a crime. But somewhere deep inside, she longed to escape, even if just for a while.
That evening, Anim found herself sitting on the rooftop with Ayera, a melting cone of chocolate ice cream in hand. The sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, and for the first time in weeks, she felt something close to peace.
"You don't always have to be perfect," Ayera said, breaking the silence. "It's okay to feel lost."
Anim sighed. "I just… I don't want to disappoint anyone."
"You won't," Ayera assured her. "But you have to take care of yourself too."
As Anim looked at the stars beginning to peek through the sky, she realized something---maybe the weight she carried wasn't just from others' expectations but also her own. And maybe, just maybe, she could learn to let go, even if just a little.
That night, Anim had the same dream. The glowing door stood before her again. But this time, instead of stepping through, she turned away. She didn't need an escape. She needed to find balance between her dreams and her reality.
And for the first time, she believed she could.
Days passed, and Anim found herself in a whirlwind of emotions. There were moments of laughter with Ayera, stolen seconds of joy in the middle of chaos. But there were also moments of frustration---silent tears shed over an unsolved math problem, the ache in her chest when she felt she wasn't doing enough.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting study session, Anim broke down. She had been trying so hard to hold everything together, to balance expectations with self-care, but it felt like she was failing at both. Her mother found her curled up in bed, her textbook abandoned on the floor.
"What's wrong, Anim?" her mother asked softly.
Anim wiped her tears quickly. "Nothing. Just tired."
Her mother sat beside her and ran a gentle hand through her hair. "You don't have to carry everything alone. It's okay to be tired. It's okay to rest."
For the first time in a long while, Anim let herself be vulnerable. She talked about the pressure, the fear, the guilt of taking breaks. Her mother listened, truly listened, and when she spoke, her words were warm like a hug. "You are more than just your grades, Anim. You are enough, just as you are."
That night, as Anim drifted into sleep, she dreamt of the glowing door again. This time, it wasn't calling her to escape--it stood as a reminder that she had the strength to face whatever was on the other side. And with that thought, she smiled, ready to embrace both the laughter and the tears that made her who she was.
Anim woke to sunlight streaming through her curtains, warm and soft. The air felt different---lighter somehow, as if her heart had finally unclenched. She stretched, feeling a quiet strength inside her. Today didn't feel like a burden waiting to happen. It felt like a day she could shape.
She walked into the kitchen, the smell of tea and cardamom filling the air. Her mother greeted her with a smile. "Morning, sweetheart. How do you feel?"
Anim paused for a moment, then answered honestly. "Better. Not perfect, but better."
Her phone buzzed with a message from Ayera: Study break in the park today? You in? Anim stared at the text, her lips curling into a small smile. She realized she didn't have to choose between being a good student and being a human being. She could have both.
After breakfast, she packed her books---not all of them, just enough---and left for the park. The day ahead still had its challenges, but Anim felt ready. She had learned that strength didn't mean never crying, never feeling afraid. Strength was waking up after the tears and choosing to try again.
As she stepped out into the morning sun, she felt it: hope, quiet but steady, like a heartbeat.