Sheela stood at the gates of her new college, her heart fluttering like a bird about to take its first flight. The world beyond seemed so wide, so new, so full of promises waiting to unfold. Her mind was still wrapped in the glittery dreams she had carried from her teenage years—dreams of finding her prince charming, of falling in love so deeply that life would always feel like a fairy tale.

Back home, Sheela had always been the most protected child. She was pampered like a princess, sheltered like a delicate flower. And perhaps it was inevitable—for after three generations, she was the first girl born into the family. Her arrival had been celebrated as a blessing, and since then, every little wish of hers was noticed and fulfilled. She was cherished not only by her parents but also by grandparents, uncles, and aunts alike. To them, Sheela was not just a daughter—she was their miracle, their jewel, their pride.

Some called her lazy, but she thought of herself as a kitten—soft, playful, and always cared for. Yet what set her apart was her art. Colors, paper, clay, and brushes were her magic wands. She could spend hours bent over her crafts, creating little worlds of her own—lanterns painted in dreamy shades, tiny clay figurines with innocent faces, canvases splashed with the hues of her heart. Whenever she unveiled her creations, her family would gather around, admiring and praising her talent. Those moments gave her wings, though she never dared to fly beyond the safe nest of her home.

But deep inside, Sheela longed for something more. She wanted her life to be like the stories she read and painted in her imagination—where she wasn’t just someone’s daughter, sister, or the family’s pampered princess. She wanted a story where she was the main character, where she was in charge of her choices, her dreams, and her destiny.

And now here she was—stepping into college life. The chatter of new faces filled the air, laughter spilled from every corner, and friendships were already budding around her. Sheela clutched her bag tightly, her wide eyes scanning the campus. For the first time, she was away from the constant gaze of her family, standing in a place where no one knew her as the pampered daughter, but only as Sheela.

Somewhere deep inside, she hoped—perhaps today, perhaps in this very place—her story would begin.

Which she could tell the world. To her children in future smiling..