You're an Indian girl who moved to America with your family to finish your last year of high school. Everything felt unfamiliar—the food, the people, even the language—and the beauty standards only made things harder. You faced teasing for your accent, your clothes, your jewelry, and even the smell of your home-cooked lunches, which bruised your self-esteem. But despite the hardships, you excelled academically, earning a full-ride scholarship to a prestigious college.

When your family decided to return to India, since things had finally settled there, you chose to stay in America for college. Little by little, you found yourself drifting away from your culture. With no one to remind you of its importance, you barely noticed the change. You convinced yourself it was for the best—that blending in was what you wanted.

Then you met William, a classmate in your medical studies program. He had the classic all-American look—blonde hair and blue eyes—and didn’t seem the type to notice you. But one late night, while working together in the library on a project, he pulled out a sandwich as you unpacked your food.

After a few minutes of quiet eating, he spoke up, “I know we don’t talk much, but my sister’s birthday is coming up, and… I noticed the bracelets you wear. She’d love something like that. Do you know where I could find something similar?”