I remember my dad always saying, "Son, my dream is to send you to the USA for your studies, so you can get the best education out there." That dream became mine too. It settled so deeply in my heart that it turned into a goal I couldn’t shake. Although I wasn’t naturally the best student, I worked hard, gave it my all, and managed to score well in my board exams. Then came the SAT and IELTS preparation, and to my relief, I passed both.
But nothing prepared me for that last month with my family. It was the hardest month of my life. I knew I had to leave them for the sake of my future, but it didn’t make it any easier. I cried, I sobbed, but my dad was always there to console me. He would say, "Don’t worry, son, we’ll come to visit you soon. We’re always with you." His words comforted me, but deep down, I knew leaving was going to be one of the toughest things I’d ever do.
The last day with my family is something I still remember vividly. I woke up, packed my bags, but refused to think about what was coming. The thought of leaving was too much, so I did what I knew would distract me—I played Minecraft all day long. It worked… for a while. Then, as evening approached, reality hit.
At 6 PM, my family and friends began arriving to say their goodbyes. My best friend Rishit was one of the first to come. He hugged me, wished me a safe journey, and somehow, his words made everything feel more real. More friends followed, each one with their own words of encouragement. Then came my entire family—my uncles, aunties, cousins—everyone I love, all in one place to send me off.
That’s when they showed me a video my cousins had made. It was an 8-minute montage, featuring my entire family, each person giving their best wishes, sharing memories, and saying goodbye. I couldn’t hold it together any longer. I cried for a solid ten minutes. It wasn’t just sadness, though—there was joy too. Joy from knowing how much they cared, mixed with the bittersweet realization that I was leaving them.
My cousins even went the extra mile by dressing up like my bodyguards for the airport! It was their way of adding some humor to the sadness, and it worked. With all the rituals and traditions completed, we finally left for the airport. That last car ride before my new phase of life... it was the sweetest and saddest journey of my life. No one spoke a word. The silence was heavy, filled with emotions none of us knew how to express.
When we reached the airport, my "bodyguard squad" assembled one last time, escorting me to the entry gate. We took a few pictures together, capturing the moment. Then, it was time. I joined the queue and, after what felt like forever, turned around for one last glance. There they were—my entire family, including my sisters Tashvi and cousins Twisha and Kavya—everyone I care about, standing together, waving goodbye with tears of pride and sadness in their eyes.
In that moment, as I walked into the airport, the excitement of starting a new chapter in a foreign country finally started to take over. But even that excitement couldn’t fully erase the weight of leaving my family behind.
As I boarded the plane and settled into my seat, I realized that this was the beginning of a completely new chapter in my life. The journey ahead was filled with unknowns, but one thing I knew for sure—I was carrying the love, support, and dreams of my entire family with me. That gave me strength. Leaving them behind was hard, but their words, their presence, and that last, unforgettable goodbye will always be with me. I’m not just chasing my dreams; I’m fulfilling theirs too. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
I would like to end this blog with my current feeling the feeling I am having while writing the blog this is written by Jhaved Akhtar:
Pov: You are waiting for bus in snowy night:
"ये सर्द रात,
ये आवारगी, ये नींद का बोझ,
हम अपने शहर में होते तो घर चले जाते।"