Chapter 4: Emotional Goodbye to Delhi

After a month and a half, it was finally time for me to leave for college.

IIT Bombay.

The thing I had dreamt about for years was finally happening.

And honestly?

I wasn't ready.

My mom, like every typical Indian mother, had been giving me advice for weeks.

Weeks.

I am not exaggerating.

Every single day there was a new life lesson.

And today, being the final day, she had somehow become even more unstoppable.

"Beta, achhe se khana khana."

(Eat properly.)

"Apni health pe dhyaan dena."

(Take care of your health.)

"Padhai achhe se karna."

(Study well.)

"And if somebody bullies you, tell me."

I looked at her.

"Tell you?"

Haan.

(Yes)

"Main unki haddiyan tod dungi."

(I'll break their bones.)

"Mommmmm."

I couldn't help laughing.

"Mummy, main chhoti bacchi nahi hoon."

(Mom, I'm not a little kid anymore.)

I tried saying it in a cute voice.

Unfortunately, it came out sounding weird.

Acting cute doesn't really work once you're eighteen.

Sadly.

Sometimes I genuinely wish I could become a kid again.

Life seemed much easier back then.

Then came my dad.

Or should I say-

Vikram Singh.

The man who rarely showed emotions.

Seriously.

My father was the definition of composed.

Most of the time he looked so calm and nonchalant that I wondered whether he was secretly an emotionless robot.

But today...

Today was different.

For the first time, I could actually see tears in his eyes.

And honestly?

That scared me more than anything.

Was this really my dad?

The same man who never panicked.

Never cried.

Never lost his composure.

Before I could overthink it further, he pulled me into a hug.

A proper hug.

And then he quietly said,

"Take care of yourself there."

"Apni sangat ka dhyaan rakhna."

(Choose your company carefully.)

"Apne friend circle ko dekhna."

(Pay attention to the people around you.)

"Galat aadatein mat seekhna."

(Don't pick up bad habits.)

I simply nodded.

Because for some reason, speaking felt impossible.

The truth was-

I was very close to my mom.

But I was equally close to my dad too.

It's hard to explain.

Some bonds don't really need words.

Then came Mahi.

My annoying.

Dramatic.

K-pop-obsessed sister.

She handed me a small card.

A handmade card.

"Mahi..."

For once she wasn't being her usual chaotic self.

She looked happy for me.

But also sad.

Then, naturally, she ruined the emotional moment.

"Didi, mujhe apne doston se milwana."

(Sister, introduce me to your friends.)

"Sure."

Then she leaned closer and whispered,

"Thode handsome seniors se bhi milwa dena."

(And introduce me to some handsome seniors too.)

Immediately, I understood.

Of course.

Why was I even surprised?

"Accha theek hai."

(Fine.)

The grin that appeared on her face was terrifying.

God help the poor seniors.

Soon it was time to leave.

The reality that I had been avoiding for weeks suddenly hit me.

I was actually leaving Delhi.

Leaving my room.

Leaving my family.

Leaving everything familiar.

The car ride to Delhi Airport felt unusually quiet.

I sat looking out of the window.

The roads.

The buildings.

The places I had visited countless times.

Everything seemed different today.

For eighteen years, Delhi had been my home.

And now I was saying goodbye.

By the time we reached the airport terminal, I had somehow convinced myself not to cry.

Success rate?

Questionable.

I checked my luggage.

Checked my ticket.

Checked everything three more times because apparently anxiety had become my personality now.

My flight was scheduled for 10:00 AM.

It was 9:50.

Just enough time for me to start panicking.

As boarding was announced, I hugged my family one last time.

Mom was crying.

Dad was trying not to cry.

Mahi was pretending not to cry.

And I was trying not to become a fountain in public.

After somehow surviving the goodbye, I headed towards the boarding gate.

I didn't look back.

Because if I had, I probably would've run back home.

Soon I was inside the aircraft.

Well.

Here goes nothing.

Thankfully, I had managed to get a window seat.

34A.

Not bad.

I settled into my seat and tried making myself comfortable.

Keyword:

Tried.

Because there was one tiny problem.

I hate flying.

Actually, hate is an understatement.

I'm terrified of flights.

Not just turbulence.

The ear pain.

Oh my God.

The ear pain.

Every single flight feels like somebody decided my ears needed their own personal torture session.

Thankfully, I had packed chewing gums, headphones, snacks, and basically every survival tool known to mankind.

Still.

My nervousness wasn't going anywhere.

As the aircraft slowly began moving toward the runway, I gripped my armrest.

Tightly.

Very tightly.

The person next to me probably thought I was preparing for battle.

Maybe I was.

The engines roared.

The plane picked up speed.

And suddenly-

Delhi began disappearing beneath the clouds.

I looked outside the window and smiled.

"IIT Bombay..."

I whispered.

"Please be worth it."

Then I took a deep breath.

And silently wished myself the best.

Mujhe bas zinda wahan pahunch jaana hai.

(I just need to reach there alive.)

Baby steps.

After all, a completely new chapter of my life was waiting for me. ❤️✈️📖

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