The HSC exams were over, but the tension remained. The months of late-night studies, hurriedly copied class notes, and occasional doubt-filled moments had all led to this point. For many students in Maharashtra, the goal was clear, engineering through PCM or medicine through PCB. For me, it had been a balancing act of hard work and resourcefulness, with tuition only for mathematics in the final stretch. The summer break that followed was meant to be restful, but instead, it was marked by anticipation. Then came the mid-July morning when the results finally arrived. In those days, before instant digital access, newspapers held the key to our futures. I rushed to my neighbor’s house to borrow their copy, scanning the tiny printed names and numbers, searching for mine. I had passed. Relief flooded over me, but it was quickly replaced by a quiet apprehension. PCM and PCB scores, 82.6%. Not bad, but not enough to guaran...