Karthik missed the cut-off for a top engineering institute by a narrow margin. Family said, “Very close is also very good.” Friends said, “One mark decided your life.” He joined a second-ranked college in Hyderabad. Hostel conversations were full of comparisons — “IIT people get this,” “NIT people get that.” Every phone call home carried unspoken disappointment. His mother kept saying, “College is fine. You study.”