The alarm shrieked, piercing the silence. 'Can you just stop?' I groggily pleaded, grabbing a pillow to cover my ear. Sleep deprivation fogged my brain, and I blindly slapped at the alarm clock. Miraculously, I managed to turn it off and sank back into blissful slumber.
Thirty minutes later, panic jolted me awake. 'Oh God, I'm late! I'm fucking late for my first day!' I sprang out of bed, my heart racing. 'Why didn't the alarm ring?' I questioned myself.
My subconscious taunted me, 'You turned off the alarm and slept again, genius.' Self-loathing washed over me. Why was I so careless? Oh God help me...
Rushing to the shower, I tried to shake off the lingering sleep. Water cascaded down, reviving me slightly. 'Okay, think. What's the plan?' I coached myself. 'Get dressed, grab coffee, and sprint to Weave Wonder. Hopefully, they won't notice I'm late.
As I stepped out of the shower, the mirror fogged up, reflecting my anxious expression. I rubbed the mist away, revealing a face etched with worry lines. My first day at Weave Wonder loomed ahead, and my stomach twisted into knots. The weight of independence bore down on me; no family members to rely on, no comforting homemade breakfasts. I was alone in this foreign city, responsible for every mundane task. The thought of scrambling eggs and brewing coffee, usually a calming ritual, now felt overwhelming. Homesickness crept in, and I missed the warmth of my family's presence. Mom's reassuring smile, Dad's encouraging words, and my brother's' chaotic laughter - all seemed a world away. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the longing. "You got this, Khushi," I whispered, forcing a confident smile onto my face.
I wrapped myself in a towel, the softness a fleeting comfort. My eyes wandered to the family photo on my dresser, and a pang struck my chest. Mom's cooking, Dad's stories, and my dumb brother's' teasing - the memories flooded me. I sighed, letting the towel drop, and began to hastily dress. My hands moved on autopilot, while my mind replayed the countless 'first-day' advice from family and friends.
*Two weeks ago...*
I clutched my phone, the email from Weave Wonder still glowing on the screen. My heart swelled with excitement and nervousness. I'm so happy, i can't explain it in words. My dream is finally coming true.I took a deep breath and walked into the living room, where my family was gathered.
"Mom, Dad, I need to tell you something," I began, my voice trembling.
My mom looked up from her knitting, concern etched on her face. "What is it, beta?"
"I got the email from Weave Wonder," I announced, trying to contain my grin. "They want me to join as a senior fashion designer."
My brother cheered, but Mom's expression turned serious. "Khushi, beta, you know what this means? You'll have to leave India in just a week." Please don't start to cry now mom, if you cry than I'll not be able to control myself. I know it'll be hard but I want to do this.
Dad's brow furrowed. "Are you sure you're ready for this? Manchester is far, and we'll miss you terribly." My father won't show but he's internally crying, I know.
I nodded, conviction firming my voice. "I have to do this, Papa. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'll make you proud, I promise."
Mom's eyes welled up, but she smiled. "We're already proud of you, beta. We just want you to be happy."
Dad placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "We'll support you, no matter what. But promise us you'll stay safe and take care of yourself."
I hugged them tightly, feeling a mix of emotions: excitement, gratitude, and a hint of sadness. I'll miss this so much.
"I promise, Papa. I'll make this worth it." I'll make you proud.
My younger brother chimed in, teasing me about becoming a "foreign-returned" designer. Laughter filled the room, but beneath it, I sensed a tinge of melancholy. We all knew our lives were about to change.
