She kept on walking, each step slower than the previous. She had bought new sandals, a dress- kurta and jeans, a bag, a lipstick and visited a prominent stylist in the city, which wasn't a usual activity, to get the perfect hair done. The red sand laid like a carpet in the Bangalore outskirts wasn't a source of friction or deterrence that slowed her, but became a steady reminder of her distance away from home, and the life ahead which on one hand scared her, while on the other confused her by dropping all kinds of thoughts and wonderment through her brain.
Her parents, both of them, had accompanied her, being her first time away from home. Her brother a smart, dashing young lad in his early twenties had accompanied his younger sister. Most girls of her age, apparently, had come alone carrying the heavy luggage on their shoulders but she, maybe, was the only girl whose parents had spent both time and money, which was not an easy or a meager price by any means, for they had their work and business to take care back home, and accompanied her. Such was the love and affection within the family, immeasurable by all empirical equations, where logic lost its meaning and rationality its existence.
Expected and finally witnessed, she cried, her mother did too and incredibly, father followed the ritual on their departure. She waved, as was seen when all three sat in the cab, bid adieu to her; her hand wouldn't rise to reciprocate the intensity with which the parents did. The vigor and energy it seemed, was lost in emotions of the damned heart where a feeling of longing and emptiness swept her belly. The eyelids wouldn't blink; she absorbed the sight of car vrooming away, leaving a trail of red dust, with her standing there with tear pooled eyes, filled with dreams galore; she turned, gathered enough courage stepped ahead and headed towards the hostel gate towards a future of possibilities -boundless.
Her parents, both of them, had accompanied her, being her first time away from home. Her brother a smart, dashing young lad in his early twenties had accompanied his younger sister. Most girls of her age, apparently, had come alone carrying the heavy luggage on their shoulders but she, maybe, was the only girl whose parents had spent both time and money, which was not an easy or a meager price by any means, for they had their work and business to take care back home, and accompanied her. Such was the love and affection within the family, immeasurable by all empirical equations, where logic lost its meaning and rationality its existence.
Expected and finally witnessed, she cried, her mother did too and incredibly, father followed the ritual on their departure. She waved, as was seen when all three sat in the cab, bid adieu to her; her hand wouldn't rise to reciprocate the intensity with which the parents did. The vigor and energy it seemed, was lost in emotions of the damned heart where a feeling of longing and emptiness swept her belly. The eyelids wouldn't blink; she absorbed the sight of car vrooming away, leaving a trail of red dust, with her standing there with tear pooled eyes, filled with dreams galore; she turned, gathered enough courage stepped ahead and headed towards the hostel gate towards a future of possibilities -boundless.
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