Madeeha Farooq
She was known for her extroverted nature, a girl whose smile never faded, whether in joy or sorrow. Friends, family, and even strangers felt lighter after meeting her. Her cheerfulness was a balm for unhappy souls. She loved this part of herself too. Yet, beneath the laughter, she doubted her worth. She never allowed herself to believe she could be someone’s closest friend.
Her smiles hid the truth. Alone in her room, she cried silently, only to step out again with the cheerful mask the world expected.
The Silent Struggles
Academics were never her strength. Many doubted her ability to pass her board exams. Some dismissed her entirely. She proved them wrong, scoring well and believing in herself.
Later came the real test: NEET, the competitive medical entrance exam. She tried, but failed. Still, she gained something more lasting than a rank — sincere friends who stood by her. The four eventually moved to different places for their studies, but the bond remained strong.
From Happy Girl to Sad Girl
The same girl who was once underestimated became an inspiration. Yet the once-happy girl suddenly grew sad, and people began to notice.
“Why?” they asked, puzzled by the change. She brushed them off with forced laughter: “Nothing happened, I’m okay.” When pressed, she snapped, “You’re the problem. Stop asking me. I said I’m okay.”
To many, she appeared rude. Few understood that perhaps the absence of her close friends weighed on her, or that she feared sharing her struggles with her parents. Her silence became another burden.
The Lonely Phase
Isolation followed. She withdrew, turning into the opposite of her extroverted self. She convinced herself that people would never accept her, no matter what she did.
Self-doubt grew. Each morning she dreaded facing the world — not because she disliked people, but because she disliked the person she had become.
Her colleagues noticed the change and urged her to care for herself. But her answer was always the same: “I’m good. Nothing is wrong with me.”
The Hidden Strength
She forgot that she had once been a source of hope for others. She forgot that she still had the power to rebuild, to shine again, and to inspire.
The journey from extrovert to introvert, from cheerful to withdrawn, shows the quiet battles many fight behind a smile. It is a reminder that sometimes, those who bring happiness to others carry their own unseen weight — and that asking for help is not weakness, but strength.
(About the Author
The author is a B.Sc. Nursing student in her 6th semester at Kular College of Nursing, Ludhiana. She has been a disciple of renowned writer Aubaid Akhoon, whose guidance has shaped her writing journey.
