Dons of Punjab: Fluke of Reality✔️

chapter 3

Prabhneet Kaur

Today, I woke up with a strange feeling in my heart. Something was telling me to check my email, as if something important was waiting for me. My hands trembled with excitement as I grabbed my phone from my nightstand and quickly logged in. My eyes scanned through the inbox, heart racing with every email I passed. And then, I saw it.

There it was—an email from the school in England. My breath hitched. My fingers hovered over the screen, afraid to click. What if it was bad news? What if all my hard work had gone to waste? Taking a deep breath, I whispered a little prayer.

"Please, Waheguru, let this be good news."

Closing my eyes for a second, I gathered my courage and tapped the email open. My eyes darted across the words, my heart pounding louder with every line I read. And then, I saw it—the words that made my breath hitch in my throat.

Congratulations! You have been accepted into the program!

For a moment, I just stared, unable to believe it was real. Then, before I knew it, a scream burst from my lips.

"I GOT IN!" I shouted, jumping up from my bed, my heart bursting with excitement. "I GOT IN! I'M GOING TO ENGLAND!"

The overwhelming joy filled every inch of my body. I had worked so hard for this, spent countless nights studying, sacrificing sleep, fun, and so many social outings. All of it had led to this moment. It was real. I had made it.

Without thinking, I bolted out of my room, nearly tripping over my own feet as I rushed down the stairs. My heart was racing, my excitement overflowing. As I reached the bottom, a delicious smell hit my nose, pulling me toward the kitchen.

Inside, my sister Jashan was busy at the stove, stirring a pot of soup. The sound of sizzling filled the air, mixing with the clinking of utensils. The warm aroma of spices wrapped around me like a comforting hug. But the peaceful scene was disrupted by a tiny whirlwind of energy.

My little nephew was on the floor, causing absolute chaos. His tiny hands threw bits of food around, his giggles echoing through the kitchen. Jashan, looking both amused and exasperated, tried her best to keep him under control.

"Harbir!" she groaned, dodging a flying piece of roti. "If you don't stop, I'm going to put you in timeout!"

Harbir just laughed, his tiny eyes twinkling with mischief.

I grinned but couldn't hold my excitement any longer.

"I GOT THE EMAIL!" I blurted out, bouncing on my feet.

Jashan turned, her spoon still in her hand. "Wait, wait—WHAT DID IT SAY?"

Before I could answer, Aman walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "What's with all the screaming?"

"I GOT IN!" I practically jumped up and down. "I'M SPENDING THE YEAR IN ENGLAND!"

For a second, there was silence. And then—

"OH MY GOD!" Jashan shrieked, dropping her spoon with a clatter. She rushed toward me, wrapping me in a tight hug. "I'm SO PROUD OF YOU!"

Aman's sleepy expression disappeared instantly. His eyes widened, and then a huge grin spread across his face. "Wait—what?! You actually got in?!"

"Yes! I did it! I got the acceptance email just now!"

"Buggi, that's amazing!" he cheered, pulling me into a hug. "You worked so hard for this! You deserve it!"

Before I knew it, my whole family was in the kitchen, celebrating with me. Jashan cupped my face in her hands, her eyes shining with pride. "You've made us so proud," she whispered before kissing my forehead.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I looked around at my family, my heart swelling with gratitude. "I couldn't have done it without you guys," I admitted. "You've all been my biggest support."

My sisters showered me with love, hugging me, kissing my forehead, and laughing in excitement. In that moment, I felt like the luckiest person in the world. Despite everything—despite the struggles, the late nights, and the sacrifices—it had all been worth it.

I wiped my tears and looked up at them with a determined smile. "This is just the beginning. I promise to make you all even prouder."

Aman slung an arm around my shoulder and smirked. "We never doubted you for a second. But don't forget—now you owe us a huge celebration!"

I laughed, my heart light and full. "Done! We're celebrating tonight!"

The kitchen filled with laughter and joy, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly unstoppable. This was my moment, and I was ready for whatever came next.

Aman stood there, taking in the joy on my face. He grinned, shaking his head in disbelief. "I knew it! I knew you'd get in! Buggi, you worked so hard for this!" He stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug, lifting me slightly off the ground. "I'm so proud of you, yaar."

Jashan didi wiped her eyes and smiled warmly. "This calls for a celebration!" She turned to my other sister, who was still holding onto me, grinning ear to ear. "We have to make something special tonight. Maybe gulab jamun? Or your favorite—paneer tikka?"

"Oye, oye! Before we plan food, let me breathe!" I laughed, still overwhelmed by everything. I pulled away slightly and looked at Aman. "You have no idea how nervous I was to check that email. My hands were literally shaking."

"I can imagine," Aman said, his eyes filled with warmth. "I bet you stared at it for at least five minutes before opening it."

I let out a small laugh. "More like ten. I even said a prayer."

Jashan didi placed her hands on my shoulders, looking at me with so much pride. "And it was all worth it. England! Can you believe it? This is going to be a life-changing experience!"

"I know!" I exclaimed, feeling the excitement bubbling inside me again. "I can't wait to see everything—London, the universities, the culture! And the program... it's exactly what I wanted. I still can't believe it's happening."

Just then, my mischievous nephew, who had been happily playing with his food, clapped his tiny hands together. "Masi happy?" he asked in his little voice.

I crouched down to his level and ruffled his hair. "Yes, Masi is very, very happy."

He giggled and reached his arms up for a hug. I scooped him into my arms, holding him close. This moment, surrounded by my family and my best friend, felt perfect.

Aman leaned against the kitchen counter, watching me. "So, when do you leave?"

The question made my stomach flutter. "In two months," I answered softly.

There was a brief silence before Jashan didi clapped her hands together. "That means we have two months to spoil you before you go!"

Aman, however, looked a little different now—still smiling, but there was something else in his eyes. "Two months is going to fly by," he said quietly.

I gave him a small nudge. "Don't look so sad. It's not like I'm leaving forever. I'll come back, and we'll talk all the time. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Good. Because I don't know what I'd do without you constantly annoying me."

I smirked. "Exactly. You'd be bored out of your mind."

Jashan didi looked between the two of us and then clapped her hands again. "Enough talking! We have a celebration to plan!"

As she and my other sister began bustling around the kitchen, discussing what to cook, I stole one more glance at Aman. He gave me a small, knowing smile.

Everything was changing, but at this moment, with my family and my best friend by my side, I knew one thing for sure—I was ready for this new chapter of my life.