Dawn Of My Life Saraswatichandra Ch 2 (6)

Prologue

Sometimes, life takes unexpected twists and has a 360 degrees revolution. It is no more same. Everything changes – for good or bad, time has to decide it.

I sighed, as I noticed the happiness in my family's eyes. I gave in to their pleas after constant nagging for about two months. Yet, I couldn't gather my heart to accept this decision – this decision of leaving home. The decision of flying to the opposite end of the world, far away from Bapu's love and Amma's affectionate shouts. I would miss them all. At the same time, I couldn't able to disappoint Bapu; the sole reason for me to accept this, half-heartedly.

Laxminandan Vyas is Bapu's childhood friend, who left for Alaska just after I was born. He had called Bapu and asked him to send me to his place, as he wants me to have my further studies. I was not interested to follow the career path so far from my family. But Bapu was adamant to follow Uncle's words. He valued the man.

So I was standing in the middle of the family, as we bid our final goodbyes for two long years. I knew, I wouldn't be able to meet them in this span. These two years from my life, I was going to spend with Laxmi Uncle and his family.

"Push your thoughts aside now," Bapu said ever so lightly as I hugged him, "I want you to have successful life."

I nodded in his chest, controlling a sob. I was not much into crying or letting my emotions out clearly. Now, I would be strong, I said to myself and pulled back from him. "Have your medicines on time, Bapu," I said, glaring at him, "don't even try to dare skipping them."

Bapu hated the taste of his medicines and would always find one or the other reason to skip them. It was me who could manage he took them on time. With me leaving home, I was worried for him. Not sure about it, I requested all the members in the family to bring it to my notice if ever Bapu tried his tricks. He would take, I know, as I had blackmailed them all that I would fly back home.

I heard the final call for the flight and sighed. It was time to leave. It was time to start a fresh life, according to them. Without having second thoughts, I bid my final goodbye and turned my back to them, dragging myself away from them as soon as possible. I was not strong enough to leave them in such a way. Staying for one more second would only increase my difficulty to leave.

I never travelled alone in my 21 years of life. It was not that I was afraid to travel alone, but as pampered as I was, I was never allowed to go alone to anywhere. I would have my sister or a kid at least. But this trip, it was a first. I was traveling around the world, from a small village in Gujarat to Alaska, North America.

My life had a turn and now, it was a first for many firsts.

"Take care, Kumud," I heard Bapu shout after me while I turned to look him over my shoulder as I waited for the security to check my tickets and other formalities, "call me as soon as you reached there."

I nodded, not sure whether they noticed it. The formalities were a buzz as I couldn't think about anything else but my life.

After a while, I sat in my seat and stared out of the window. The attendant enlightened the procedure and the required precautions to be taken in emergency. I wasn't interested in having a note on them. I had heard the same 100 times over phone from Uncle. I shut my eyes, trying to figure how the family would be. I hate to stay with them. I didn't want to be a burden on them. My first agenda was to convince them and stay back in the university dorm, at any cost.

Whatever the outcome might be; this trip, more or less forced one, would change my life. And I really hope that the change would be for good…

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