"How are you beta?", she asked me and I muted the call as I stifled a sob. I had kept all my emotions pent up and now they shot back together at the first sound of my mother. Homesickness was back in full swing. I wiped my eyes with my sleeves and calmed my breath.
"I'm good ma I really miss you."
"Didn't you say you might block me if I called you too often?"
I laughed at her joke.
"How are you all?", I asked.
"We're good. My summer break started. Finally I get some time off teaching. Your father's still trying to remove all the cobwebs - Get off now! You'll fall.", she shouted.
I smiled.
"Your brother's college begins from tomorrow. He's already started coding for fun. I'm glad both my kids are doing what they love.", I could hear the pride in her voice. Honestly I was glad to have such supportive parents who had celebrated everything with me - right from coming 5th out of the 6 students running, to every small intra-school race to national championships - they'd made me get off my ass and practice when I won't. Not many parents would do that. Heck my culture demanded you to get into engineering or work your ass of for medical. Every other profession was not considered a profession here. And yet my parents had been happier than me when I got into USAT.
"I know that you told me you'd be able to call only on Sundays but then I didn't know I was going to miss you this much. Can I talk your college into changing this to twice a week at least? I'm pretty good at persuasion, ask your father."
"Tisha, is it?", I heard my father and a moment later he spoke into the phone, "How's my athlete?", he asked with pride.
"He called and told all of his friends that his daughter was going to become a professional athlete.", my mom spoke into the speaker.
"I'm good guys. The week was really hectic but I'm enjoying every bit of it.", I smiled.
"Of course you are. Are you having all your meals on time?", my dad asked.
"Yes, dad. My roommate won't let me out of the room for the morning training without something to eat.", I said.
"TISHA!", my brother screamed into the phone from far away.
"I heard your college starts tomorrow.", I said to him.
"Yeah, got a flight in the evening. Mumbai awaits baby!", he said, "How's your college going?"
"Eventful." I said, considering I broke my back, drank myself to oblivion but I kept that to myself.
"And stay with good girls okay, don't go alone anywhere, and don't get friendly with guys.", my mom said claiming the phone back.
"Mom.", I said, "I'm an adult now, I can handle myself.", I said. Ironic, considering last night, a small voice inside my head whispered but I shushed it.
"Okay guys, got to go.", I said as I saw Snigdha's tenth missed call. I know they said the Academy's location was secure but i knew Snigdha would find it if I didn't answer her call right now.
"Snigdha!", I all but shouted in the phone.
"Tisha!", she shouted back. "Guys she picked up!", she called out.
"Tisha.", the whole gang shouted.
"Damn, I actually missed you idiots.", I said.
"Tell us everything.", Mimansa said.
"Did you guys ever drink?", I asked.
"No.", they responded.
"Good, I said. "Don't."
"What!", they laughed, "How was bad was it?"
"My mouth tastes shit, my throat's sore and I broke my back the other day. What's up with you guys?", I asked.
"Did you just say you broke your back like saying you went to the gym? What did the Academy do to you, Tisha?", Samir said.
"Professional hazard. Tell me about your colleges. Where are you heading off to?", I asked them.
"Delhi University, all of us except Kartik. This gentleman is off to NIT.", Mimansa said.
"Wow, congratulations, people.", I said proud of them all.
"It's all going to change isn't it?", I asked, sighing.
"It is.", Samir nodded, "We're going to branch out into different fields different cities but the gang will remain, I promise.", he said and the the gang nodded.
"And Tisha I don't want to hear you breaking anything again. How are you going to serve your country and make your gang proud with a broken back?", Anushka scolded.
I laughed and nodded - "Aye, aye captain."
"So when's the college starting?", I asked walking back to the hostel.
"August first week.", Samir said, "We'll be taking a cab to Delhi next Monday."
"Looks like you and I are the only stray wolves.", Kartik said and I pouted.
" You're going to have so much fun. I mean Delhi is the capital - there's a national workshop or seminar happening every week.", I said.
"And parties and clubs too.", Anushka said.
" Yeah well that too.", I said.
"I'm worried about my lungs. After living in Dehradun all my life, I'm afraid to breathe in the Delhi air if you can it that.", Samir said.
"Oh don't be such a spoilsport. And this is coming from a guy who's already joined every food club in Delhi.", Snigdha told and we all laughed.
" But seriously college guys. I mean four months ago we were fooling around in the school canteen and next week we're headed off to a new city. Any tips for college life, Tisha?, Anushka asked.
"Make friends, lots of them. Travel places, experiment with everything. Heck go for salsa auditions even if you've never danced in your life. College is the place to start new, to be whoever you want.", I said.
"Gotcha. So tell us about your college?", Snigdha said.
"I've started waking up at 4.", I said proudly.
" PM?", Karik laughed.
"AM mister. I have training at 5.", I said.
" You never reached school in time and it started at 8:40. And now you're telling ne you wake up at 4!", Snigdha said.
"See, I told you I'd make you all proud.", I smirked.
" The Academy did change you Tisha.", Samir nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, college does that to you, mine even more.", I whispered looking around.
They all huffed. We lived the idea of going to college. But we also knew what we were leaving behind and home was always a hard place to say goodbye to.
"We'll all call you from Delhi next week well except Kartik of course we'll connect him on conference from Jaipur.", Mimansa said.
"Guys do you realize what this means? Let's just add one member to the group from east India and then we'll cover all if India.", Kartik joked and we laughed.
"Happy college you guys.", I said.
" You too.", they said and I hung the call.
A huge weight had lifted off my chest. Talking to these people who were my home felt good. But there was something more I was missing. I was missing the city - its air, its rain.
YOU ARE READING
Agent 024
AdventureThis is book 1 one the Agent 024 series. "Let him go and we can work this out.", I heard Irrfan speak. He was trying to negotiate Gaurav's release. I tried opening the door but it wouldn't budge. Of course, the kidnapper would have been careful eno...
