Shadows Of Darjeeling

Chapter 1

Amira's POV

When I woke up this morning, my eyes were dry from crying all night. My pillow was damp, the edges of the fabric clinging to the tears I'd let fall without really knowing why. It's not like I didn't expect it. In a week, I'm leaving everything behind—my family, my friends, my school. Darjeeling. A new life. A new start. At least that's what my father says.But it doesn't feel like a new start. It feels like a loss.I wish I could just tell him I don't want to go. I wish I could tell him I'm fine right here. I have everything I need. But my father, Ibrahim Khan, doesn't listen to my wishes anymore. He's made up his mind, and that's that. So now, here I am, counting down the days, knowing I'll have to pack my life into a suitcase and leave. There's no arguing with him, no convincing him otherwise. He's always been about what's best for me, but sometimes I feel like his version of "best" is more about shaping me into the perfect daughter he wants, rather than letting me be the person I truly am.I shook myself out of bed, feeling the weight of the day ahead of me already pressing down on my shoulders. I made my way to the bathroom, letting the warm water from the shower wash away the remnants of last night's tears. But it didn't do much. The truth was still there, and the uncertainty of what was to come loomed large in my mind.When I got dressed, I didn't even think twice about my outfit. It's always about looking perfect, even when I don't feel it. I chose something simple but stylish—jeans and a blouse, my hair neatly tied up in a ponytail. Just the way I've been taught. Just the way people expect me to look.I headed downstairs, and the moment I stepped into the dining room, I saw my family gathered around the table, eating breakfast and chatting like everything was normal. My mom, Aisha, and my elder sister Yumna, who was busy with plans to head to Sydney for her studies. They looked so happy, so at ease, and it only made my stomach twist more. I wanted to stay with them. I wanted to stay in this moment, in this life, but that wasn't going to happen."Amira, have your food and then you can go. It's 10 AM, so take your time," my mom called out to me with her usual warmth.I hesitated at the door. Normally, I would have sat with them, joined in the chatter, but today, I just couldn't. The idea of sitting there, pretending everything was fine, made me feel sick to my stomach."I'm not hungry, Mom," I said, my voice soft but distant. "I'll grab something later. Maybe for lunch or dinner."My mom gave me a look, the kind that said she knew something was off but didn't push it. She opened her mouth to say something more, but I didn't give her the chance. I turned on my heel and left the room, barely catching the sound of her voice behind me.I grabbed a taxi as quickly as I could, barely feeling the cool morning air as I got into the backseat. I didn't even notice the scenery as we drove through the city. My thoughts were consumed with Darjeeling. A new life. A new school. New people. Would I fit in? Would they like me?When the car finally stopped, I saw Rhea waiting outside the shopping center, her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. Rhea had always been the one to keep me grounded, the one who saw through all the nonsense and expected nothing but the real me. I was thankful for her today, even though the knot in my stomach wouldn't loosen."You're twenty minutes late, Amira Khan," Rhea said, her voice playful but with an edge of frustration."I know, Rhea. I know," I said quickly, almost apologetic. "Sorry, I overslept."Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't matter now. Let's go. We're already late, and we need to shop. We have so little time left, and I'm not going to let you leave without us having one last adventure together."I smiled at her, though it felt more like a reflex than anything genuine. Rhea was right. We didn't have much time left, and I needed to make the most of what I had with her.We walked into the mall, the bright lights and the noise of people all around us, but I could barely focus. I tried to enjoy the shopping, I tried to laugh at the jokes Rhea made, but all I could think about was how soon I would be gone, how soon Darjeeling would swallow me whole, and I'd be left trying to figure out how to survive in a world that felt like it was too far from everything I knew.Rhea was still talking as she pulled me toward a clothing rack, holding up dresses and asking me which one I liked best. But all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat, echoing in my chest, reminding me that this was the beginning of the end.One week. One week before everything changed. One week before I was someone else in a place I didn't know.And I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.