Currently, Pakhi was trying to find something to do during her holidays. But everything around her felt boring. She had no one to spend time with, so she lost herself in the pages of romantic and teen fiction written by her favorite authors. She also found herself thinking a lot about her career.
Unlike the stereotypical girls from sexist jokes and memes who get depressed for scoring 99 instead of 100, she just hoped for 80 percent. She knew her parents were strict and loved to taunt her over every mark lost. Still, she worked hard. She had passed her exam with great difficulty-and maybe that was why she was always treated so harshly.
The day before her result, Pakhi cried silently in her room. She was nervous beyond words, but her parents never missed a chance to belittle her. Thinking she was asleep, they stood just outside her door, talking about her future. But strict parents raise the best actors-and so, Pakhi pretended to sleep.
"She's nervous now?" her mother scoffed. "We told her the entire year to study. Did she listen? I'm just thinking about what we'll tell the relatives. How are we supposed to show our faces?"
Her father grunted. "Why are you wasting your words on this burden? She'll just disappoint us again, like always. I'm being practical-she's turning nineteen soon. Let's just get her married to a rich man or a government officer. Then we can relax and be free."
Pakhi lay still, biting her lip, trying to hold back her tears. At that moment, she was more worried about making her parents happy than her actual result.
---
Result Day
The girl cried alone in the bathroom, refusing to let the sadness show on her face. She wore her usual fake smile like a mask. But little did she know, her life was about to change.
When she checked the results, her heart almost stopped-90%. The girl had topped her class.
Her parents couldn't believe it. They checked the results again and again, even called the teachers to confirm. And once it was confirmed, they were elated.
"For the first time in our lives," her father said proudly, "you made us truly happy."
"But let this not be the last time," her mother added sharply.
"Huh?" Her father looked at her, confused.
"You shouldn't be too excited about this success," her mother said. "Remember, this is just the beginning. Don't be too happy."
"Oh my God," her father sighed. "Why are you being like this? She's not going to lose her focus, inshallah. Right, my dear?"
"Of course, Dad. Inshallah," Pakhi replied with a bright smile, just to keep them happy.
She felt joy-not just because of her results, but because, for once, her parents were proud of her. Even her relatives called with blessings and congratulations. Yet deep down, the girl was still tense. She wondered how she'd manage among the rich students at
AILD Veldor University.
Only 5 students were admitted with a scholarship each year, and this time, it was her. She would be one of the only 5 middle-class students there. Guess what her marks are very low compared to other 4.
She worried about how she would look next to them and all the rich classmates. Her appearance felt so plain, so low-class. She always wore two braids with a wolf cut in the front. Her skin tanned easily like more of the brown shade in the summer, and went dry like a yellow shade skin in the winter. She didn't use makeup because of money issues but she likes to watch makeup videos that she can't follow. She wore modest clothes as for her strict parents . And she needs to avoid heels-once, as at a relative's wedding, she got shoe bites so painful because of wearing heels she realized heels weren't meant for someone as sensitive as Pakhi. Her girly girl heart got shattered. The girl can't do her favorite things like her dreams for her situation. Her wish is at least one day she can dress herself like a rich pretty girly girl full of fashion and makeup.
When the girl was younger, she dreamed of being like the beautiful girls in movies-the ones who were always loved and adored by their hero. But reality had other plans. Even her relatives made her insecure about her tanned caramel skin.
She wanted to change her appearance to fit in. So, one day, she asked her mother.
"I was thinking," she said hesitantly, "maybe I could change my hairstyle a little? Just to look a bit better for university."
Her mother looked up, shocked. "What?! You want to change your appearance now? I am really sorry but you know our financial condition . Your father is already stressed after paying your first month's fees-even with the scholarship. Please try to understand."
"I understand," Pakhi said softly. "But... At least my hairstyle?"
"This one isn't that bad," her mother replied quickly. "Listen, you're going to university to study, not for fashion. Inshallah, you'll make friends there. Just like in school."
She stayed quiet. Her mother always thought she had a wonderful school life, full of laughter and fun. But she didn't know the truth.
So, the girl accepted it. She would walk into AILD Veldor University with her two oily braids and wolf cut, her tanned skin with dark circles and pimples, and the same modest, slightly torn clothes she'd need to repeat for weeks. Deep down, she believed no boy would ever look at her-not with this appearance.
But who would tell her she didn't need a boy and a man would come to claim her ?
Let's see if our simple, average-looking girl can survive and shine in the world of AILD Veldor University, surrounded by luxury, wealth, and dreams.