Miles Apart

Living an independent life away from the people around had always captured the mind of the little one. Having no limits or boundaries was all that was aspired. Somehow everything done away and apart was like an adventure and adventure was the new black so living alone had to be the top most priority.

So right after 12th class, going to the hostel away from the city was on the top of the to do list. Finally after all the pleadings and the arguments, the bags were zipped, shoes were laced and the little conqueror was finally on her way to the new life. A life too gloomy and shimmery for attraction but too dark and deep to see through.

So as planned things started well, everything was in place, working perfectly. All the little adventures like independent decisions, rooms, wardrobes, choice, friends, everything looked perfect, looked like it couldn’t get better than this.

Months passed by like it was a cake walk.
But then as says the rule of nature, reality must come in play so it did.

Gradually everything was not like it was in the beginning, things started falling apart, things got uncovered and the real side of the fascinating independent life was now standing right in front of her staring her right into the eyes.

The decisions made earlier now lacked the assurance, the friendships broke, rooms were messier but life was more than messy, the wardrobe cried for the mother’s choice….

The little one might not have given up but she would have finally realised that there was a difference btw the actual independent life and the pseudo shimmery life of the hostels.

Because now the hostel was a cage, the desires to free life were chained and the sky which was once a home to her dreams was now a dark blanket. Now the craving for a hug from the mother was far beyond the craving of completing the to do list, her heart for the first time was eager to go home and not on a tour… things had changed…

Now sitting on the window with legs hung outside, hands holding the railing and hair flying and the eyes gazing the moon and the mountains, the little one had finally realised, that there’s no home away from home….

-Nivedita Singh.