The room remained silent long after everyone had read their questions.

Mrs. Sharma looked at them gently.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

No one moved.

Then, unexpectedly, Reyansh stood up.

He unfolded his chit once more.

"Who are you trying so hard to impress?"

He took a deep breath.

"I don't think I'm trying to impress anyone anymore."

The others looked at him.

"I'm trying not to disappoint them."

His voice was steady, but his hands weren't.

"Everyone thinks being the topper is easy. It isn't. Every exam feels like I'm defending a title I never asked for. If I score 98, people ask where the other two marks went. If I come second just once... I'm scared they'll stop believing I'm good enough."

The room was completely still.

For the first time, they weren't looking at the school's topper.

They were looking at a seventeen-year-old who was tired of carrying expectations.

Mrs. Sharma didn't interrupt.

Neither did anyone else.

Sometimes, the bravest thing a person can do...

is admit they're not as strong as everyone thinks.