People I Don't Know

I received a call

I packed my bag last night and I was just sitting on my bed looking at my room for the last time, memorising few memories and then I heard my dad calling out my name.

"Neeeeel!" he called my name with a soft tone and entered my room. I started glaring at him because I exactly know what he's going to say.

"Let's go! We are getting late." he said "Your grandparents are waiting for you downstairs, come on!" he continued and picked up my luggage and left my room.

I followed him, I kept my phone in my pocket and breathed heavily. I don't want to leave them but I have to.

I went down, my grandma and grandpa are waiting for me, as soon as I went down my grandma hugged me tight and I looked at my grandpa, he's so sad and I know he's gonna miss me badly. I smiled at him and hugged him, he patted my shoulder and gave me a peck on my cheek.

Then my grandma gave me a package and told me to give it to Amber and said, "convey our regards."
I nodded and smiled at her, she's really sweet.

********

My dad was driving the car, my heart is so heavy if I open my mouth now I would definitely burst out and cry. So I stayed silent just looking at the road and thinking about that call.

My life was perfect, okay not perfect but at least the way I planned.

10 days ago I received a call, saying that my mom was hospitalised and her condition was serious. As I'm her daughter they informed me with a call. I haven't met my mom since she left dad and married someone else, sometimes she used to call but I would say it was very rare.

This call left me in a confusion and I started having a train of thoughts in my head, obviously bad imaginations. Should I have to go to the hospital and visit my mom, as I couldn't decide what to do, I decided to call dad and ask him what he wants me to do.

Before I called my dad, my phone started ringing again and it was good news this time.

He said, I don't even know who was that but he said "She's fine now, nothing to worry and I'm really sorry for troubling you."

"It's okay," I said and without any other word, he cut the line.

*****

After a week when I was sitting on our couch and eating my sandwich dad came to me, he smiled at me and I smiled at him weirdly because I know he has something to say and sat next to me.

"What is it, Dad?" I raised a question.

He said " Why don't you visit your mother?" sharply.

"They said she's fi..." before I had completed my sentence he started saying "You should spend some time at your mom's place."

I looked at him astonished and he continued saying "There are so many good colleges in Austin."

"Whaaaat???" I widened my eyes and asked him "Are you telling me to complete my college staying at mom's place??"

"Are you kidding??" I asked him with disbelieve.

"Yes!! Actually, your mother called me two days ago and said she wants to spend some time with you in these tough days," he said and started patting my shoulder as I sat with a pathetic face.

It was s not like these are going to be her last days but maybe she just wants to see me, we never spend time together. As I started thinking about what to do, my dad started talking again.

"You should go, Neel. Your mother never asked anything from us. You knew it, right? Just think about the positives but please don't let her down." he said very smoothly.

My dad still respecting a woman who left him and wants to do good for her, he's definitely a gentleman.

"I'll think about it" I sighed.

I went to my room and laid down on my bed. Dad was right, she never asked anything from us, she never tried to separate me from dad, this is the only thing she asked us, maybe I should go.

But how can I leave dad, grandpa and grandma and stay somewhere else? Dad didn't marry anyone after she left, and my grandparents were always there for me, how can I leave them? Is it really necessary to go and study there? I can visit her and stay at her place for a couple of weeks and come back but why do I have to go there and join a college?

As dad said I started thinking about positives, lot of people leave their families for good studies, what's the big deal? Everybody is doing this. Yes, it will be a change, I'll meet new people, make new friends.

And after a long session of thinking and overthinking, I finally decided to go to Austin Texas where she's actually living with her husband and children. The only problem was I don't know them, to be honest, I don't even know much about my mother.

******

As my dad stopped the car I realised we are at the airport and it's time to leave.

"You will adjust, Don't worry my girl." He assured.

I said bye and hugged my dad, I controlled my tears and started walking away.

As I started moving forward dad shouted, "Call me when you reach."
I nodded without turning back.

******
I reached Austin Texas,

They sent someone to pick me up, I followed him to a fancy black car. I don't know much about cars but it looked soo good.

He helped me with my luggage and said "Get in the car miss."

He's so polite, I just nodded and stepped inside the car. It was a half an hour drive, we slowly entered a street with huge buildings so far from each other.

He stopped the car before a house and my mind screamed "Noooo Wayyy!!"

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