Ananya

The buzzing of my phone woke me earlier than usual. Groggily, I reached for it, squinting at the bright screen. My eyes skimmed over the message, still adjusting to the light, but as the words sank in, my heart started racing.

"Congratulations! You have been selected as the Project Coordinator at Aurum Dynamics. Please join us in two weeks."

I sat up in bed, staring at the screen in disbelief. It was real. Aurum Dynamics, one of the most prestigious companies in the city, had chosen me. All the nervousness from the interview, the endless doubts, the sleepless nights-they had been worth it.

My excitement bubbled over, and before I could think twice, I bolted out of my room, shouting at the top of my lungs, "Mom! Dad! Isha!"

The hurried sound of footsteps followed my call. My mom appeared first, her face laced with concern. "What happened, beta? Are you okay?"

I barely waited for her to finish before blurting out, "I got the job! Aurum Dynamics selected me!"

For a second, the room was silent, and then Dad broke into a wide smile. "That's incredible, Anu!" he said, pulling me into a tight hug.

Mom's face lit up, and she joined the embrace. "I'm so proud of you! I knew you'd make it. Look at my girl, working in such a big company now!"

Isha, still in her pajamas, came bounding into the room. "Oh my God, Di, this is huge! You're officially the coolest sister ever!"

I couldn't stop laughing as she hugged me tightly. "I was already the coolest sister," I teased.

The happiness in their voices filled me with warmth, a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time. For once, I didn't feel like I was letting them down.

They all laughed, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn't just enough-I was more than enough. Their pride and happiness were genuine, and for a moment, the doubts that often plagued me felt distant.

---

Later that morning, still brimming with joy, I knew I had to tell Pooja. She was the one person who had believed in me even when I doubted myself the most.

I dialed her number, grinning as I heard her sleepy voice on the other end.

"Anu? Why are you calling so early?" she mumbled.

"Because I have news! Meet me at Café Mocha in an hour," I said, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.

"Wow, someone's excited. Fine, I'll be there. You owe me coffee for dragging me out of bed this early," she replied, laughing.

"Deal," I said before hanging up.

I got dressed quickly, choosing a casual but cheerful outfit that reflected my mood-a yellow blouse and a pair of comfortable jeans. After saying goodbye to my parents, I stepped out of the house, catching a taxi to the café.

---

As the taxi moved through the city streets, my excitement began to fade, replaced by a familiar heaviness in my chest.

Sunday was approaching, and with it, the Malhotras' visit.

The thought of meeting their younger son, Arjun, filled me with anxiety. I barely knew anything about him except his name and that he was "accomplished," as my parents had proudly mentioned. I felt like I was walking into the unknown, and it scared me.

I had agreed to this meeting because I didn't want to disappoint my parents again. Over the years, I'd seen the subtle ways their words reflected their unspoken disappointments-comments about how I wasn't as confident or successful as others. They always laughed it off as a joke, but their words stayed with me, echoing in my mind during quiet moments.

I gazed out of the window, the city blurring past. To everyone else, I was cheerful, carefree Ananya. The one who always had a smile on her face, always ready with a joke or a kind word. But that wasn't the full picture. The real me-the one filled with doubts, fears, and insecurities-was a side no one saw.

I've learned to mask my feelings, to smile and pretend nothing hurts. It's easier to let people believe I'm cheerful and carefree than to show them the cracks beneath. Even Pooja, my best friend, doesn't know everything. I don't want to burden her with my pain-it feels too small, too insignificant to matter.

And yet, on days like this, the weight feels unbearable. Would Arjun see through me? Could I even share my real self with him if this marriage happened?

The thought scared me. No one had ever chosen me first-not even most of my friends. I was always the backup plan, the afterthought. Except for Pooja. She treated me like I mattered. But even with her, I couldn't share .

She was my best friend, my constant, and the only one who made me feel like a priority. But I didn't share my deepest pain with her. I couldn't. It felt too small, too insignificant to burden her with. People would think I was overreacting, and the last thing I wanted was for someone to pity me.

I sighed, forcing myself to shake off the thoughts. Today wasn't the day for this. Today was about celebrating.

---

When I arrived at Café Mocha, I spotted Pooja instantly. She was sitting by the window, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, scrolling through her phone.

The moment she saw me, she grinned. "Okay, what's the big news? Spill it!"

"I got the job!" I said, practically bouncing as I slid into the seat across from her.

Her eyes widened, and then she let out a squeal that turned a few heads. "Oh my God, Anu, that's amazing! You're officially a corporate queen!"

I laughed as she reached across the table to grab my hands. "I'm so proud of you! You've worked so hard for this."

We ordered our favorite drinks-hot chocolate for me and a caramel latte for her-along with a plate of pastries to celebrate. For the next hour, we talked, laughed, and reminisced about all the times I had doubted myself.

"You remember when you thought you bombed the interview?" Pooja said, smirking.

"Don't remind me," I groaned, but I couldn't help laughing. "I was sure they were going to reject me after I blanked on that question about team management."

"Well, clearly, they saw how awesome you are," she said, raising her cup in a mock toast. "To Ananya Kapoor, the future CEO of Aurum Dynamics!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I said, rolling my eyes but smiling.

We spent another hour at the café, joking about everything from our college days to the overly enthusiastic waiter who kept refilling our water glasses. At one point, we got into a mock debate about whether chocolate croissants were better than plain ones, drawing amused looks from the other patrons.

By the time we finished, my sides hurt from laughing.

---

As we stepped outside, Pooja turned to me, her expression softening. "Anu, are you okay about Sunday?"

I hesitated, looking down at the pavement. "I don't know. I'm nervous. What if I can't... be myself with him? What if he doesn't like me?"

I sighed, "I don't know if I can do this, Pooja. What if I can't... open up to him? What if I'm too much, or not enough?"

"Hey," she said, grabbing my shoulders and forcing me to look at her. "You're amazing, okay? If he doesn't see that, then he's blind. And whatever happens, I'll support you. You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."

Her words brought a lump to my throat, but I swallowed it down, forcing a smile. "Thanks, Pooja. You always know what to say."

"That's because I'm awesome," she said, grinning. "Now, go home and relax. You deserve it."

As I watched her walk away, I felt a little lighter. Sunday still loomed ahead, but for now, I chose to focus on the happiness of today. I had achieved something I never thought I could, and that was worth celebrating.

For now, I could let myself be proud.

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