A Miracle is worth it

The unconscious Travel

Ever woke up in the middle of a flight Turbulence when the only last thing you remember is sleeping at home? Not to confuse you, but I am actually panicking. The last thing I remember is sleeping in my room after having a huge argument with my parents and now I wake up in the middle of a flight turbulence with all unknown faces around me. Am I hallucinating? Is this a dream? Or a prank? My panicking thoughts were interrupted by the announcement that the turbulence is over and I immediately get up from my seat which is right next to some teenage boy, around my age, he looked up at me with concern and said, "Hey, it's okay, it's settled now. You slept well?" This guy spoke to me so casually like he knew me and I can swear on my life I had never seen his face. I sit down and face him, he had a genuine look of concern in his eyes and I wondered why, I asked him "I am sorry, have we met before ? How do you know me? Where is this flight headed?" You need to calm down girl, you are scaring me." He interrupted my frantic questioning but I needed to know the answers. I saw the flight entertainment screen and searched for journey details. Fuck! I was traveling to India!. All of this was so confusing and this guy just pulled out his hand in front of me and said "We had already introduced ourselves before departure but I guess you appeared really upset back then, so here you go, Rishi here!"
I shook his hand awkwardly knowing I had made a complete fool out of myself, "Maya Arora" Well, you told me your name as Moni before and I happen to have a really good memory. You seemed really upset in the waiting area back at the airport and you were screaming on a call, which I believe was to your parents and you told them you were leaving them forever." My entire world just shook right there and my mind racing with million thoughts at the same time. Moni? Leaving my parents? What on earth and why don't I remember anything? I tried to look calm because the look on Rishi's face was concern and fright at the same time. "Well, I don't tell people my real name unless I get to know them." "Oh, so are you some big hotshot or something?" He started laughing and I tried to supress a smile. We were arriving on Mumbai Airport and I was worried, where will I go? And what about my luggage? I had no clue. But then I remembered a few weird instances that have been taking place with me these few months, I find myself in unknown situations, having no idea about them. Last week I had woken up to see myself at the edge of my balcony railing at the 59th floor and believe it or not, I don't know how I had gotten there. These past few months, I don't remember how I have gotten myself into tricky situations and I am just trying to put on a brave front whereas I feel maybe I am turning mad and I am just too scared.

When everybody started to grab their luggage, I stood up too but I had no idea about my stuff and then Rishi handed me a backpack which I recognized was similar to what I have at home. "Don't you want your bag? Sleepyhead" I grabbed my bag and was shocked to see how neatly it was packed with all my essentials. I took out my phone and while passing through the immigration, switched it on and it almost rang immediately. It was from my grandfather, he said he got a call from me a few hours ago saying I wanted to live with my grandparents and he had to come to receive me at the airport. I reached the baggage counter, according to the boarding pass, it showed I had three bags,  I recognized them easily.  Those were huge suitcases and it again shocked me how could I have not remembered packing them.

I met my grandfather and he eyed my luggage and said, "It's true what you said over the call then, you did come back with everything." I didn't know how my parents were going to react and what will happen to my education, everything appeared to be a huge mess. I waved goodbye to Rishi and we exchanged numbers. The moment I reached my grandmother's place, she was overwhelmed to see me. I looked too tired to interact, so she asked me to get rest for the day.

The next day my grandmother walked in and asked me what could have happened for me to take such a drastic decision. What could I tell her? I didn't know how all of this turned out and I was more scared to face my parents wrath.

Two days before all this happened I had been admitted to the hospital for overdose of paracetamol. I didn't know what had happened but when I woke up in the hospital bed, my mother was screaming of what a burden I am to them and how cowardly of me to end my life through overconsumption of paracetamol.  I couldn't believe what I heard, I had committed suicide and I hadn't even remembered doing it. This was the first time I had seen my father cry but he didn't say anything. Things were tough at home, more than usual after my discharge but I don't understand how all of that could lead to my current situation.

My phone started ringing and it was from my dad. I answered while terror was gripping my body. "Maya, I hope you understand the decision you have made, you could have made the best career here in Canada and we paid for the best college but I want to respect your decision. Your mother is very disappointed that you are staying with your grandparents, they are old and you being there is going to add up to their responsibility. I had almost lost you the other day, if you staying in Mumbai means you are going to be alive, be it that way. Look for any hostel to live, a college and I will support you financially." I couldn't believe what I just heard, was that really my father speaking? I burst out into tears and I heard my mom take over the call on the other end, "Don't think that you have got yourself freedom to do whatever you want. You are and always will be in our control. Don't forget you are still in MY parent's house. I will have my eyes on you because wherever you go, you become a burden."

Later on as I was searching for colleges, I realized I had come in mid term and hence I had to wait for another 3 months to get admission. I couldn't stay at home all day, so I started searching for a job but I wasn't a graduate and it wasn't going to be easy. I decided to contact the only other person I knew in India, Rishi. I called him up and he seemed quite surprised.

"Maya, is it really you?"
"Yes, actually I wanted to ask you something."
"Well, for starters how is asking how are you?"
"Oh yea, How are you Rishi?"
"Fine, since you called me and you?" I rolled my eyes at this guy's cheeky behavior.
"I was looking for a job for sometime actually but I have just completed high school."
"Oh so you are not planning to study further?"
"The admissions don't open till next 3 months."
"Well, you have called at the perfect timing, the company that I work in, has a vacancy and we need someone with good language skills as it is a customer service platform. You could be just the person, drop in for an interview tommorow. I will text you the details."
"I can't believe this Rishi, are you being serious?!"

We spoke for a bit and I had never been so excited my entire life. I had an interview tommorow and I would be doing something on my own. This feeling was a sense of freedom and a smile creeped upto my face. I hadn't smiled like this for so long. This feeling never arised even when I had topped my finals in High School nor even when I won the school Football championship. I had been controlled all my life and maybe I don't know how life has turned out to be but all it matters to me now is that I am happy.

Do you think such a drastic change will prove to be useful to Maya? New place, new people, what can be the price of this newly found freedom? Doesn't everything come for a price? It's life afterall.

End of chapter 2

Hope you all liked it, I increased the length as compared to the first chapter. You can drop your suggestions, reviews, questions through the comments. Don't forget to vote and share! ❤