HIS OBSESSION-𝟏𝟖+

CHAPTER:03

( I'm rewriting this story and adding new scenes)

Naina's POV

I stood in the centre of my room, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips as tears blurred my vision. This room wasn't just four walls—it was my childhood, my laughter, my late-night dreams, and the safest place I had ever known.

And today, I was leaving it all behind.

Not just this room. Not just this house. Not even just this city. I was leaving my country.

It isn't easy to pack twenty-one years of life into two bags in two short days. How do you fold your memories, your secrets, your identity into a suitcase? I kept reminding myself—this is for my dreams. This is for the promise I made.

Still... a part of me wanted to cancel everything, curl into this bed, and never let go.

But no. Dreams don't wait. To achieve them, I must walk away.

They say:

"Kuch paane ke liye kuch khona padhta hai."

(To gain something, you must lose something.)

And today, I was losing everything, everything was safe.

I don't know why, but a strange heaviness filled me—as if today really was my last day in this room.

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"Nainaaa! Jana hai ki nahi? Airport jane ke liye late ho raha hai!" Maa's voice cut through my thoughts.

('Naina! Are you coming or not? We're getting late for the airport!')

"Haan Maa, bas 5 minutes."
(Yes Mom, just 5 minutes.)

"Thik hai, jaldi aaja. Kahin room dekhte-dekhte so mat jana."
(Okay, come quickly. Don't fall asleep staring at your room.)

I let out a soft laugh, rolling my eyes. Typical Maa.

My gaze shifted toward my little temple in the corner. I had built it with my own hands—every flower carving, every diya placed with love. Slowly, I walked to it and stood with folded hands, closing my eyes.

"Hey God," I whispered, "I'm going to start a journey in a new land... everything will be strange—new people, new culture, new challenges. Please give me strength, not just to face problems, but to solve them.

And please... protect Maa and Papa. They're hiding it well, but I can see their sadness. I don't want them to suffer when I'm gone. But I must go, otherwise, I'll never fulfill my promise."

My throat tightened. Just then—

"Naina!" This time, both Maa and Papa called together.

"I'm coming!" I called back, quickly picking up the small idol of Ganesh Ji and pressing it to my heart.

With one last look at the room that held my entire childhood, I stepped out.

The hall was crowded. My friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, all stood waiting for me. The moment I appeared, they surrounded me—hugging me, blessing me, teasing me.

"Don't forget us after becoming a big woman in New York!" one of my cousins laughed, pinching my cheek.

"Arrey, uske liye toh pehle return ticket bhi le aati," another teased.
(She should've bought a return ticket too, just in case.)

Their laughter only made my chest heavier. I forced a smile, hugging them all.

"Let's go. We're getting late," Papa's voice came, firm but low.