The unasked question

My exam results came out today, and they were nowhere near what I had hoped. I spent the afternoon preparing excuses for my parents. When I finally told Amma. She asked whether I had eaten lunch. I started at her, confused. She repeated the question, then brought me a plate of curd rice. She didn't pretend my marks were wounderful or tell me not to worry. She simply sat beside me while I ate. I felt my shoulders relax for the first time all day. I had expected love to arrive as reassurance. Instead, it arrived as lunch, and somehow that was enough.