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Going

Naina's POV-

I was standing in the middle of my room and looking at the entire room with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. I am going to leave this roomβ€”not only this room but also this house and this countryβ€”for my dreams.

I don't know why I was feeling like today was my last day in this room.

"Nainaaaa, jana hai ki nahi, airport jane ke liye late hu raha hai, Ma shouted.

('Naina, whether you want to go or not, it is getting late to go to the airport.)

'Hann, Maa bas 5 min me aai. (Yeah, Mom, I am coming in just 5 minutes.)

"Thik hai, Jaldi aa room dekhte dekhte so na jaye kahi," Maa said.

(Okay, come soon; don't fall asleep while looking at the room, Mom said.

I just rolled my eyes and went to my small temple, which I made with my own hands.

standing in front of the temple with my hands in the namaste position and closing my eyes.

(Indian people do namaste positions in front of the temple, god, or to say someone hello.)

"Hey god, I am going to start my journey in a new country, where I will meet new people and learn about new cultures; everything is new to me. Where I will face lots of problems, just give me that much strength so that I cannot only face the problem but solve it too."

"Also, always protect my maa and papa. I know they are not showing it on their faces, but I can see they are sad. But I have to go; otherwise, how will I complete my promise? So for that, I need to go."

"Naina" this time; Maa and Papa both call me at the same time.

Coming! I shout from my room.

I quickly took the little idol of Ganesh Ji into my hands. After looking at the last time I was in the room, I stepped out of the room.

I came to the hall, and I saw all my friends, family, and relatives waiting for me. When they saw that I finally came down, they all came to me and hugged me one by one and gave me wishes.

Let's go; we're getting late, Papa said.

After saying bye to everyone, I sat in the car.

When the car started, all my friends and family waved their hands and said bye, Niu. They all called me Niu, short for Naina. I kept looking outside until the house disappeared from my sight. I don't know why I feel like this is my last time seeing this house, and I will never come back to this house.

Forget it and just enjoy your journey, I scolded myself.


Now I am standing at the airport, facing my parents, who are still pretending like they are okay.

You know what? Looking at them like this hurts more because now they are hurting themselves more by hiding their emotions.

"Me jaa rahi hu." (I am going.)

both hummed

"Just Hmm or Kuch Nahi kehna. Arey jab me 15 min ki Duri pe Kahi Jati hu, tho use hi pe app Kitna kehti hu?. phone sath me rakhna, kisi se mat baat karna, ye mat karna wo mat karna, or ab me apse itna dur ja rahi hu tho kuch bi nhi bol rahi hu," I asked.

Just, hmm, you don't want to say anything more. Hey, when I go somewhere 15 minutes away, how much do you say about that? Keep the phone with you; don't talk to anyone; don't do this; don't do that. And now, when I am going so far away from you, you're saying nothing.

After listening to me, Maa immediately hugged me and started crying. I hugged her back.

And Maa started telling me to be careful when I get there, call and inform us, have food on time, etc.

Papa said nothing in this entire conversation; otherwise, Papa would scold Ma by saying, "You're just thinking too much. Our daughter is smart and strong. She knows how to take care of herself."

But now he is silent, which is enough to tell me that he is controlling himself because he knows if he says a single word, he will start crying, and his tears will hurt me so much.

Well, a father's tears hurt more than a mother's because a mother cries over your little things. But Father never shows his emotion because of the rules of society that boys don't cry. What a bullshit! I want to find out who made these rules and beat him until he regrets why he made them. What that person thought was that boys don't have emotion; they can't be hurt. Well, I think I should stop now. I don't have time to think about these things now.

I went to Papa and hugged him, waiting for him to hug me back. After some time, I felt two shaking hands on my back. I rested my head on his shoulder; no words were shared, and he said, "Take care of yourself." I can feel how much strength he used to say these words.

After getting the blessing from both of them, tell them to take care of themselves. I grab my bags, head to the counter, and do all my processing of the ticket. Now I am sitting in my seat and thinking about my future. With this, I closed my eyes, and immediately sleep took over.


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