Shadows Of Darjeeling

Chapter 4

Amiras POV

The weekend of the Christmas season was in full swing when I boarded my overnight flight, the bustling airport filled with people eager to reunite with loved ones. The excitement in the air was palpable, with families hugging, exchanging gifts, and rushing to catch their flights. It was a time of celebration, of togetherness, but I couldn't help feeling like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. My heart ached with the weight of what I was leaving behind.I had arrived at the airport early, with my bags in tow, but the hours seemed to stretch on endlessly. The lines at the check-in counters were long, and my legs ached from standing, but I tried to stay focused, reminding myself that this was the beginning of something new. As I waited by my gate, I noticed the crowd. While the terminal was packed with holiday travelers, my flight to Darjeeling seemed to attract only a few—mostly older individuals who were likely returning home to spend the holidays in their quiet, familiar places. The contrast between their calm and my sense of nervous anticipation only added to the weight I already carried.After what felt like an eternity, the announcement for boarding finally came. I grabbed my two carry-on bags and stood up, the tension in my chest tightening as I joined the short line. The boarding process was quick—there weren't many passengers, which made the whole experience feel eerily quiet. I made my way down the jet bridge and into the plane, the cool metal of the aisle armrests cold against my skin. As I settled into my seat, I found that I couldn't escape the flood of emotions that surged within me.I looked out of the plane window, watching the night sky stretch out before me. The city lights below seemed so small, a reminder of everything I was leaving behind. It wasn't just the city I was saying goodbye to; it was the life I had known. My childhood, the familiarity of school, the laughter of my friends, the comfort of my family—everything felt distant now. I was stepping into an unknown future, and the reality of that hit me harder than I had expected. Tears began to gather in my eyes, and before I could stop them, they fell. The weight of the decision, the uncertainty of what awaited me in Darjeeling, the thought of how different my life was going to be—it all overwhelmed me. The flight attendant, who had been passing through the aisle, stopped when she noticed. Without a word, she offered me a tissue, her kind gaze silently acknowledging what I was going through. I wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself, but the quiet sorrow lingered.As the plane ascended, the sound of the engines filled the cabin, and the world below became a blur of lights fading into the distance. The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, informing us that we would reach our destination by 4:30 AM. I glanced at my watch—3:00 AM. It was going to be a long flight, with hours to reflect on everything I was leaving behind.I pulled out my phone, texting my mother to let her know I had boarded safely, but then, almost instinctively, I turned it off. I didn't want to see any more messages from my family. I didn't want to hear the disappointment or the guilt in their words. I had made my choice, and it was too late to change it.The only person in my family who truly understood me, who could make me laugh and brighten even my darkest days, was my sister, Yumna. I missed her more than I could put into words. Even as I left the city, I knew she would be the hardest part of all. We had grown up together, shared everything—our hopes, our fears, our dreams for the future. And now, I was leaving her behind. The thought of her absence in my life felt like an aching void I wasn't sure how to fill.As the minutes passed, I found my mind wandering to the life I had built in Delhi—my school, the friends who had become more like family, the familiar faces of teachers who had watched me grow. I thought about the schoolyard, the late nights spent studying, the laughter of my classmates. I thought about the crushes I had, the friendships that had shaped me, the adventures I had experienced. Every corner of this city held a memory, a piece of who I had been. Now, all of that was fading behind me, replaced by uncertainty.The plane began to level off, and I watched as the lights of the city below became smaller and smaller. Soon, there would be nothing but the dark expanse of the sky. I closed my eyes, trying to find peace in the stillness, but the sadness continued to press down on me. I was leaving behind the only life I knew, and the future I was heading toward felt uncertain, unfamiliar, and far away from everything that had made me who I was.Somehow, despite all the tears, I drifted off to sleep. It wasn't the restful slumber I had hoped for—it was more of a daze, my mind too tired from the emotional strain to stay awake. But it was sleep, and for the first time in what felt like days, I let go of the tension, even if just for a few hours.As the night wore on and the plane sailed through the skies toward my new life, I tried to hold on to the memories I was leaving behind, to the people I loved, and to the part of me that would always be connected to the life I had known. The future might be unknown, but I couldn't help but wonder what would await me in Darjeeling. Would it be the fresh start I needed, or would it be another chapter filled with loneliness and longing?For now, all I could do was wait—wait for the morning to arrive, for the plane to land, and for me to step into the next phase of my life.