As I leave mam's room and come out in the balcony, I take a deep breath and notice that I'm still smiling. After several attempts I finally give up, I just can't wipe this smile off my face. "How the hell did I get so lucky?", I ask myself. Continuing to talk to myself, "London. FREAKIN LONDON. Of all the places, London." Soon I realise why the word sounds familiar, my sister!! She live in London. How could I forget?? Oh god, I'll meet her after three, no, I try to recall the last time she was here, five years. And the smile on my face only gets bigger.
When I reach my room I call muma (mom). Somehow I already know how happy they'll be after hearing this news. And since my sister also lives in London I don't think they'll have any problem with me going so far away. To tell you the truth, I am a bit intimidated by the idea of traveling alone to London, but I know this is important for me and I'll learn so much from this experience. Besides, not many people get such awesome opportunities in life and since I've got it, I gotta make the best of it.
As expected mum and dad are quite happy and they're coming to Mumbai on Monday to see me off. In case I forgot to mention, I live in the university hostel. Our house is in the small town of Jammu and I've come to Mumbai for my post grad this year only.
As I tell my best friend Sonav about it, she let's out a squeak and then hugs me, congratulating me and reminding me to bring back an English boyfriend, lol. I don't tell anyone else about this. I don't have many friends, I mean i talk to everyone in our class but I won't call anyone my friend, besides Sonav. I'm a very shy, nervous & private person and it takes a lot of time for me to be friends with someone and also I dont want to create a scene. I mean if everyone gets to know about it, they'll come up to me and try to be extra sweet and I'm not in the mood for faking a smile for them when I know most of them don't even like me.
Anyways, I remind myself that before leaving I have my exam on Monday. Its already Saturday and I have just one day left to study. But its hard to concentrate. I keep thinking about English countryside, Statan Univ. and this and that.
Sunday passes by quickly, studying Ted Hughes and Maya Angelou. Somehow I also manage to pack my suitcase.
After finishing my exam around 2pm, I go to Mrs Sheta's room to bid goodbye. She's my favorite teacher in the entire Univ. She's always so polite,kind and generous with her students that I doubt if anyone dislikes her. She wishes me good luck and of course, reminds me study hard.
It's 5pm. I'm trying to pack everything. Cross checking everything.
"Annanya", I hear my mum's voice. She enters my room and gives my a big hug followed by a even bigger hug from my dad.
" Are you sure you wanna go? I mean, it's absolutely fine if you don't wanna go all alone", my dad says.
I can tell that behind their big, genuine smiles, there's genuine worry.
"I'm sure dad. I mean how can i pass such an amazing opportunity. Don't worry I'll be fine and besides, Anaya (my elder sister) is also there", I tell him, trying to reassure them.
"But where will you stay? What will you eat? How will you..
Before mum can complete her sentence, I hug her and again tell them not to worry. "everything will be arranged by the univ. We'll stay in the univ dorms and moreover I won't be alone, there will be students from different countries, all as unfamiliar with the culture as me", I remind them while at the same time reassuring myself as well.
We have dinner together at this famous shack inside university campus, " Gossip Shack". As we enjoy our paranthas (Indian stuffed bread), muma realises how I won't be able to have Indian food when I go to London. Well, its a big deal for us Indians. Somehow I manage to convince her that I'll visit Anaya every month so I can enjoy my paranthas there :D
After dinner, mum and dad leave for their hotel and I go back to my room in the hostel. They tell me they'll pick me up at nine in the morning.
In my room, all alone, I just can't get myself to sleep. I keep thinking about Staten University, wondering how different will everything be, contemplating if when I come back to Mumbai I'll be happy or sad. Somehow, I fall asleep while thinking all this .
My alarm rings up at 7 am. I put it on snooze and suddenly it hits me, I'm leaving today and I jump up in my bed. After taking bath its already 8:30. By the time I have breakfast, mum and dad are here. We put my suitcase in the car and head off to the airport.
As we get closer to the airport I can tell that mum is getting anxious. After going through security check, I hug mum and dad and again try to assure them that I'll be fine. I promise to call them as soon as I get there. And before I can say anything, we hear the final announcement and I head towards the plane, trying hard to hold back my tears while waving goodbye to mum and dad.
