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Chapter 3 : Hi(gh) School

I never really had a concrete confirmation of "being loved" from my parents and in no way, they are to be blamed for this since both of them were busy building a good life for me. I achieved that love, encouragement and the feeling of being loved and being special from a bunch of my favorite people in the hostel. It deeply saddened me to leave those people who by now had become more than a family to me.
Bidding goodbye to all of it brought tears to my eyes. Promising each other to always be in touch, we left the premises. The entire journey I didn't speak much, just answered the questions asked by Mom and Dad. I was listening to music most of the time.

Once we reached home, my luggage was taken to my room. Must say that mom and dad had taken a lot of pain to keep it clean and beautiful to the core. The peace enveloped in the aura attracted my soul after a long time. I heard Mom asking me to freshen up and have lunch with them. She told me she had prepared all my favorite savories. The dishes that I loved to eat, I felt so content eating them. After staying at home for a week or so, I realized how much having a place to call home and having a family means. The food makes you nostalgic, going to pee and poop in your own bathroom is another feeling, and it feels even more homely when people at home act totally normal and never let you feel that you have been staying away from home.

From the moment I had arrived, not even for a second did anyone let me feel that I was back after a long time. I noticed the difference in food. However, the proportions had increased, and there was something special every day. I was being loved and pampered so much. Being in my teens, I had developed a different understanding of life. I felt I had grown up, so fast

I understood very well that parents are the only people who will stay by your side no matter what and I truly vouch for this fact from my own experience. After having stayed away from home for some years, I no longer take them for granted. After a few days, Dad left for his duty in the other town and Mom got busy with her job again. The feeling of loneliness enveloped me again. In the past few days, Mom and dad did all that they could to get me into the best school with a subject of my own choice and luckily, I got an admission.

I waited eagerly for my school to start. Meanwhile, Mom and I would go out every evening to buy all the necessities required for my new school starting from my school uniform to bag, shoes, books and some dresses of my choice. I was thrilled to get new things every day because this was something I had never experienced during all these years.

The new school sure had beautiful architecture, but it still couldn't be compared to Saint Joseph. It had lesser co-curricular activities and more academics, which meant studying more and having less fun.
My day began with orientations of different subjects and subject teachers. It took a week or so to adjust to the new environment which seemed boring. I also met a few newcomers who were struggling to settle in the new school just like me, and fortunately, I also shared classes with some of them. Meanwhile, music and reading books became my favorite friends. I so longed to go back to the hostel again. I missed everything there, and I couldn't stop comparing both.

One fine weekend, I was informed that I would be attending a family function and my mom made it particular for me to wear an ethnic dress since it was a family friend's function. Now that was a task for me because I wasn't so used to wearing ethnic outfits before. I tried convincing her in the best possible way, but instead, she refused and insisted me to buy an attire of my choice.

I hated the sight of those bling fabrics, but after a great search I managed to get one in baby pink color with shimmery buttons and printed dupatta. The following evening was hectic since I had to get myself into that attire, but once I wore the dress my parents couldn't stop admiring me. It was twice that my mom checked the kala tikka that she applied on my head and I think 2x times more than that when she said: "nazar na lage." *Indian moms be like*