In the rapidly evolving world of education, the role of societal expectations on schoolgirls remains a subject of profound importance. The perception that we have made substantial progress in gender equality is a half-truth that overlooks the deeply ingrained cultural, societal, and economic challenges many young girls in India still face today. As I set out to write this book, "Shadows of Expectation: The Unseen Struggles of School Girls in Modern India," my primary aim was to shed light on these often-overlooked narratives-the real, raw stories of girls across different regions of India who, despite the modern age, continue to battle the invisible chains of tradition, expectation, and societal pressure.