Just Google It… Or Maybe Not - Part 11

 The problem today…

Was back.

Not a small one.
Not a funny one.
Not something she could ignore.

Riya stared at her laptop screen.

Her manager’s email was open.

“Riya, can you present your work in tomorrow’s meeting?”

Tomorrow.

Her heart started racing.

Presentation.
Speaking.
People.
Judgment.

All her past disasters flashed—

  • The glass door
  • The “good morning” moment
  • The broken Excel sheet
  • The awkward dinner

She closed her eyes.

“…Not again.”

Her hand slowly reached for her phone.

Paused.

This moment felt familiar.

Too familiar.

Every problem.

Every time.

Same solution.

Search. Follow. Fail. Repeat.

She stared at the screen.

“…Just Google it.”

The words felt automatic.

Comforting.

Easy.

Her phone unlocked.

Search bar open.

She typed:

“How to give a confident presentation at work”

Results appeared instantly.

Perfect steps.

Clear advice.

Just like always.

She stared at them.

Longer this time.

Then slowly…

She locked her phone.

“…Wait.”

Silence.

“This is not new,” she whispered.

“I’ve done this before.”

She leaned back.

Thinking.

Not overthinking.

Just… thinking.

“What actually worked till now?”

Not the steps.

Not the tips.

Not the “instant fixes.”

But—

  • Showing up
  • Trying anyway
  • Being awkward… but real

She smiled slightly.

“…Okay.”

The Next Day

Riya stood outside the meeting room.

Same place.

Same fear.

But something felt… different.

Her phone was in her hand.

She looked at it.

“…Last chance,” she said.

She could still search.

Still prepare the “perfect way.”

Still follow steps.

She smiled.

Then put the phone back in her bag.

“No.”

The Presentation

She walked in.

Heart racing.

Hands slightly cold.

Her manager nodded.

“Ready?”

Riya took a deep breath.

“…I’ll try.”

Not “Yes.”
Not “Of course.”
Not “I’m confident.”

Just—

👉 “I’ll try.”

She stood in front.

Opened her laptop.

Looked at everyone.

For a second—

Her mind went blank.

Old panic knocked.

But this time—

She didn’t fight it.

“…Okay,” she whispered softly.

“Stay.”

She smiled.

Small. Real.

“Hi,” she began.

Pause.

“Good morning.”

She stopped.

Blink.

“…Okay, this time it is morning,” she added.

A few people smiled.

Soft laughter.

Not mocking.

Just… human.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

She continued.

Not perfectly.

Not smoothly.

She forgot one point.

Paused in between.

Said “um” a few times.

But she didn’t stop.

Didn’t run.

Didn’t panic.

She just… continued.

And somehow—

That was enough.

After

The meeting ended.

Her manager nodded.

“Good effort, Riya.”

Not “perfect.”
Not “excellent.”

But not “what did you do?” either.

Riya smiled.

“…I’ll take it.”

The Real Ending

She walked out.

Sat down.

Slowly took out her phone.

Unlocked it.

Paused.

Then typed—

Search:
“Did I do okay today”

She stared at it.

Then laughed.

“…I don’t think Google can answer that.”

She deleted the search.

Locked her phone.

And for the first time—

She didn’t need an answer.

Because she already knew.

Not perfect.

Not amazing.

But better.

And that was enough.

Final Thought

Riya leaned back.

Closed her eyes.

No big transformation.

No sudden success.

Just small changes.

Quiet growth.

And one simple shift—

👉 From “Google will fix my life”
👉 To “I’ll figure it out… and maybe Google can help sometimes”

She smiled.

“Just Google it,” she whispered.

Then added softly—

“…or maybe not.”

And this time—

That choice felt entirely hers.

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