chapter 29

Rishabh landed at the airport an hour ago, and the exhaustion from the long flight weighed heavily on him. It had been years since he’d last set foot in his home country, and yet everything outside the cab window looked so familiar. After leaving the airport, he hailed a taxi, placing his small luggage in the trunk before sliding into the back seat. He leaned his head back, trying to ease the tension in his shoulders. The soft hum of music from the radio filled the cab, and slowly, as his eyelids grew heavy, Rishabh fell into an exhausted slumber.In his sleep, his mind began to wander, taking him back to a different time—a time when life was filled with hope and joy. It was like watching a movie of his life unfold in front of him.He remembered the moment he found out about the scholarship to study in the United States. It hadn’t been easy. Nothing had ever come easy for Rishabh. Born into a modest family, he had always known the value of hard work. His parents were schoolteachers, deeply respected in the small town, but they didn’t have much in terms of wealth. What they had was a home full of love and encouragement. His father had instilled in him the importance of education from a young age, and his mother, though strict, always nurtured his dreams.Rishabh had worked tirelessly for years. Every night, long after the rest of his family had gone to bed, he would stay up, poring over his books. He burned the midnight oil for years, giving up holidays, weekends, and even his social life. His father often found him asleep at his desk in the early hours of the morning and would silently cover him with a blanket, a proud smile on his face. For Rishabh, the scholarship wasn’t just about studying abroad—it was about proving himself, about securing a better future for his family.When the letter finally arrived, confirming his acceptance and the full scholarship, Rishabh had been in disbelief. He reread the letter multiple times, his hands shaking. His dreams had finally come true. He remembered the moment he ran downstairs, letter in hand, shouting for his parents. His mother had rushed out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron, and his father, with his reading glasses perched on his nose, had looked up from the newspaper. They could see the excitement in his eyes even before he spoke.“I got it,” Rishabh had said, breathless. “I got the scholarship.”For a moment, there was stunned silence, and then his mother had let out a loud cry of joy, rushing forward to hug him tightly. His father, usually composed and reserved, had broken into a wide grin, pride radiating from him. Even Shriya, his younger sister, had jumped up and down, clapping her hands in excitement.That night, their modest home had been filled with celebration. Relatives and neighbors poured in to congratulate Rishabh. His father had gone to the market to buy sweets, something they didn’t often do, and his mother had cooked an elaborate meal. The house was filled with laughter, with hugs, with the sound of clinking glasses as they toasted to his future. Rishabh remembered looking around at his family, feeling a deep sense of gratitude and love. His success wasn’t just his—it was theirs.After the initial excitement died down, the preparations began. His parents were meticulous, making sure Rishabh had everything he could possibly need for his time abroad. His mother spent hours knitting warm sweaters for him, despite his protests that he could buy new clothes in the US. She wanted him to carry a piece of home with him. His father helped him organize important documents, making sure everything was in order for the journey ahead. Shriya, his mischievous younger sister, had her own way of contributing—by teasing him endlessly about how he’d have to learn how to cook for himself now.In the days leading up to his departure, the house was a whirlwind of activity. His mother insisted on packing five bags for him, stuffing them with food, clothes, and little keepsakes, though in the end, they had to narrow it down to three. His father kept giving him advice—small nuggets of wisdom about life, about independence, about staying grounded no matter where he went. Rishabh listened intently, knowing that these words would stay with him, especially when he was alone in a foreign land.Finally, the day of departure arrived. It was bittersweet. His parents were proud, but there was sadness in their eyes. At the airport, his mother hugged him tightly, her tears soaking his shirt, while his father clapped him on the back, trying to stay strong. Shriya stood to the side, biting her lip, her eyes shining with unshed tears.“You take care of yourself, Rishabh,” his father said, his voice thick with emotion. “Make us proud.”“I will, Dad,” Rishabh promised, his throat tight. He had never seen his father look so vulnerable.