A new beginning

"Wake Up! Come on wake up sleepyhead!" someone was shouting near my ears but all I wanted to do was sleep... "Please...5 minutes" I said sleepily. "Rini I am telling you to wake up now or you are going to regret it. Your flight leaves in 5 hours." As soon as I heard that I was wide awake. With a jolt I jumped out of my bed panicking. "What do you mean? I had set the alarm for 7 am, why didn't it rang? "

Anita was looking at me like I was on crack. "Seriously Rini, Your alarm has been ringing since 7 and If I was not home today you were definitely screwed."

"I am trying to wake you up for the past 30 minutes after your alarm gave up on you." I was already dashing to my bathroom while Anita was going on and within 5 minutes I was done with morning routine. I hurriedly put on my jeans, T shirt and jacket and packed on my reading glasses, mobile charger, camera and 2 novels which I purchased earlier into my backpack.

"Call the cab you booked yesterday will you? " As Anita was calling the cab I rolled out my suitcases near the door and bouble checked if I have taken all the things I needed. "Don't forget the passport! " Anita said while hanging up the phone.

"Oh shit!"I exclaimed and opened the drawer of my study table and got my passport out and putting it inside my wallet securely.

"What would I do without you?" I said

"I am thinking the same thing. " she smiled

I hugged her tightly and feel my heart tighten with the thought of leaving my best friend and moving so far away. She patted my back and said, " You know you are stronger than you think you are."

I chuckled, "Thanks Mom, but I find it's always you rescuing me everytime." It was a nickname I had given to her as she always has been a mother figure to my group of friends. Always the sensible and matured one , who knows what to say and how to get out of any situation. We all always relied on Anita for support as she was a problem solver, specially me as I was her oldest friend since high school and after the death of my adopted parents she was the only one who was there for me.

"That's because I didn't want you to worry. And if you can secure a medical scholarship in UK without much effort you can do anything if you put your mind into it." She said warmly.

I hugged her back again momentarily before releasing her ," I will miss you so much."

"I know, me too." she said with shaky voice.

As we are saying our goodbyes the cabbie called," You better hurry your cab is here."

We both took my luggage outside and the cabbie helped us load the luggage. I sat inside the cab not before giving Anita a short hug and she reminding me to call once I board the plane, I land and when I reach my hostel. As I sat inside the cabbie started the cab and I waved to Anita until she was no longer in view.

As soon as we exited my house lane to the main road my heart sank with anxiety and at the same time I was feeling exited for my new step towards my career. Not knowing what is in store for me in my future I tried to calm my nerves by closing my eyes and slowly fall asleep.

It was the cabbie's voice that woke me up,

" Mam, We have reached."

I jolted up before looking at my watch. It was almost 9 am and it took approximately 40-50 minutes from my house to the airport depending upon the traffic.

"Thanks." I handed the money to him before he helped me getting the luggage out. I put both my suitcases on the airport trolley and my backpack and got inside the airport. It was really busy inside so I was relieved I was 3 hours early. I started the check-in processes and it was all done in 1 hour. with extra time in hand I went to grab something to eat as I was starving now and after that roamed around for some window shopping which was my favorite pastime to do at Airports. It was almost boarding time now that I called Anita up and after hanging up I boarded the plane to my new destination. As the plane took off I watched the land going farther and farther away, the place where I have grown up and spent my whole life hundreds of kilometers below. I tried to calm my nerves and thought about the new life while feeling a little sad to leave my old life behind. I put on my earplugs and closed my eyes with my mind going through all the things I am going to do once I land. And just like that I dozed off.