I stared at my phone, trying not to cry. Over a meme. Yes, a meme.

It was just a dog staring out a window with the caption: “Me, realizing childhood is over and all that’s left is responsibilities.”

And BOOM—instant existential crisis.

Sanya snatched my phone. “Bro, why do you look like you just failed math?”

Kabir peeked over her shoulder. “Wait… are you crying over a meme?” He cackled. “Next, you’ll be sobbing at a cat video.”

I groaned. “I don’t know, okay? My emotions are all over the place. One second I’m laughing, next second, I feel like I’m in a sad Bollywood flashback scene.”

Sanya smirked. “Aarav, welcome to the club. It’s called being a teenager.”

I slumped over the table. “But why does this happen? I was fine, and then bam—emotional mess!”

Why do my emotions change so fast? 

Sanya, our resident know-it-all, answered first. “Hormones, sleep, stress—take your pick. Your brain is like a WiFi signal right now—super unstable.”

Kabir added, “Also, have you ever thought about how much you scroll? One minute you’re watching a funny reel, next minute, sad music + emotional dog video = instant breakdown.”

I sighed. “Okay, but is this normal?”

Sanya shrugged. “Yeah, kinda. We all go through it. Some days, everything feels fine. Other days, you spill water and suddenly feel like life has no meaning.”

She wasn’t wrong. Last week, I got sad because my fries fell on the floor. I didn’t even like those fries.

Social media, memes & emotional rollercoasters 

Kabir waved his phone. “Bro, I swear social media messes with our brains. I saw the same meme yesterday and laughed. Today? Existential crisis.”

He had a point. My mood depended on whatever random post I saw first in the morning. Happy dog video? Great day. Depressing quote with a rainy background? Instant sadness.

Sanya added, “Doomscrolling makes it worse. You go online for one funny meme, and suddenly, you’re watching a documentary about the meaning of life.”

When in doubt, ask an adult (who actually gets it) 

Somehow, I ended up in Neeti Ma’am’s office. (Fine, Sanya dragged me there.)

She smiled. “So, Aarav, what’s up?”

“Uh… memes make me cry?” I said.

She chuckled. “Happens more than you think. Feeling more emotional lately?”

I nodded. “Yeah, and it’s annoying. One second I’m vibing, next second I’m questioning my whole life.”

She leaned back. “That’s pretty common. Your brain is still developing, so emotions hit harder. Plus, things like stress, sleep, and what you see online can amplify feelings.”

Kabir was right.  It’s like my phone decides my mood for the day.” 

“So what do I do when I feel like this?” I asked.

“Try grounding yourself,” she said. “Take a deep breath, step away from your screen, or even write down what triggered the emotion. Sometimes, just understanding why you feel a certain way helps.”

I sighed. “So, I just have to deal with this emotional rollercoaster?”

“Not exactly,” she said. “But knowing how to manage it will make things easier.”

Back at the Canteen

I sat back down with my friends, feeling… lighter. “Okay, so apparently, I’m not broken. Just a teenager.”

Sanya smirked. “Told you.”

Kabir grinned. “Sooo… you gonna cry if I show you this baby penguin video?”

I glared. “Shut up.”

They both burst out laughing. And honestly? This time, I laughed too.

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