For seven days and seven nights, Meera worked on her painting.
She painted a girl standing on a rooftop, stretching her hand toward the sky. But instead of stars, the sky was filled with colors—pink dreams, blue courage, golden hope.
The title of her painting was:
"I Will Paint My Own Sky."
When she submitted it, her hands were shaking.
Weeks passed.
Every day felt longer than the last.
Then one afternoon, the principal called her to the office.
"Meera," he said, smiling widely,
"You didn't just win."
"You got first place in the entire country."
Her world stopped.
She had done it.
The rooftop girl had painted her sky.