Chapter 1

My mumma always says, that every change is for a better cause and I used to believe that very much in my life. You can say I was a patron of this theory. But at this point, I really don't get it. My parents had never forced any of their decisions on me, we used to discuss everything before getting to a conclusion.

But last week, What my dad said turned my life upside down.

"I have got a transfer order, we are moving to Chicago."

I don't know what to say at this point, I have spent my entire childhood in Houston and all of this was so unexpected. It's as if, I need to pack 16 years of my life into a suitcase and leave for some unknown city.

What about my school, my friends and most importantly MY ROOM!!??No, I can't do this. God is really testing me at this point. How can I ever leave this place?

IT'S MY EVERYTHING!

•••

"Knock, knock!"

I froze.

It was already past evening.

"Get out of your black hole Mia, we are leaving tomorrow." My sister snapped

"Go away Annya." I groaned

Another knock, louder this time.

"Enough Mia, you already know nothing can be done about this. Just stop acting like a kid!"

Her voice was impatient, followed by a series of rapid knocks.

I remained silent.

"If you don't come now, I'm eating your dessert."

"Why can't you just leave me alone??" I yelled

"Cause when I was 5, I genuinely prayed for a sibling."

"So what?" I cried

"So now, I need to bear the burden of my foolishness." She snapped

I gasped

(Opens the door)

"Am I a burden?" I bit my lower lip.

"Yes you are, but a cute one and now hurry, mumma is waiting." She said while patting my head

My throat tightened, as if a painful lump was forming in it.

"I don't wanna see them packing all the stuff, our memories." I cried

Hearing this she pulled me into her arms, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I buried my face in her shoulder, gripping her shirt as if letting it go would make everything worse. I sobbed uncontrollably, but in her tight embrace the heaviness of my tears felt low.

"I'm here for you." She whispered, but that whisper felt like a ray of hope to me at that moment.

She kept holding onto me and rubbing slow circles on my back as if she was assuring me that things will be fine soon.

"Should I change your nickname to cry-panda?" She slightly whispered in my ear.

"you are such a meanie!" I cried while slightly punching her

"I know, it's really hard to accept everything and start once again from scratch but believe me things will get better with time." She said while looking into my eyes as if she was talking to my inner soul.

Then, hanging her arm on my shoulder, she pulled me closer to herself.

"And who knows this might be the beginning of a new story of your life?"

I don't know why but her words always make me feel better, I hate to say it but yes, I have the best sister in the world.

I really hope her words come true.

•••

Next morning, carrying the scent of Houston we were ready to leave. The moving truck had already taken our belongings early in the morning, leaving only a little baggage near the front door. For the very last time, I glanced at my home, which was once filled with liveliness and joy, now stood empty with only echoes of our memories.

It felt strange moving into an unfamiliar place, where everything would be new.

New streets. New school. New people.

Father was already in Chicago, setting up our new home but will that really be my HOME? Or can I ever accept that place as my home?

While I was lost in my thoughts, my mumma was making a final round around the house, checking each and every corner as if she was searching for something among those empty walls. I could see her flat eyes. Alas, it had been a long night of goodbyes.

In that silence, Annya's voice wavered,

"The cab is here."

That moment I realised, it really ends here, I exhaled, stepping out while the cold wind hit my face as if it was saying goodbye.

After boarding the flight, My fingers curled around the armrest, it wasn't out of fear but something else.

Something which I can't even explain.

As the flight ascended, I pressed my face against the window watching the life I had known shrinking beneath me.

And now, all I could do was wait.

Wait for a new happy life to start!

•••

From takeoff to landing, I was lost in music. It was a short flight yet long-stretched by anticipation of what was coming next.

When we finally landed in Chicago, dad was waiting for us, I could see that his face carried traces of exhaustion but the moment he saw us his face lit up with a warm cozy smile and in an instant all of mumma's worries were washed away. I guess that silent reassurance that "everything will be alright", was all she needed.

Mumma rushed into his arms and holding each other they became each other's solace, they are indeed my dream couple.

That's when Annya decided, she had seen enough.

"Dada, if you guys are done with your PDA, can we leave? " She teased, crossing her arms.

Mumma groaned, dad chuckled and me being the younger one just laughed.

Before heading off to our new house, we had a cute family hug.

As we were heading off, I could feel bubbles of emotions exploding inside me. I was excited for a new story that was yet to be written but I was also scared because 'NEW' always comes with the unknown.

As we were passing through those unfamiliar streets, we passed by a school, it's sign reading "Crimonse High School". Maybe I can join in here, I thought to myself. Slowly, the letters blurred out in my thoughts, there was so much more to take in and my thoughts were all set over the new house.

And then finally, we reached.

As I glanced upon the house which was supposed to be our home now, dad slowed down the car.

The house was covered in cream green which gave me a feeling of calmness. It felt unfamiliar yet familiar, that feeling was really strange yet comforting somehow.

"Finally!!! We are here."

Annya turned towards us with a grin on her face,

"Time to write a new story of life."

Dad laughed and then looking at me he asked,

"Do you like it Mia?"

I didn't know what to say, I don't even know what my feelings are here, but I could see, that he was eagerly waiting for a positive response.

"Yes dada, it's beautiful."

With just that, I could see satisfaction on his face, which was traced with worries just a few minutes ago.

I hope this new start goes well for everyone.

Within a few days, everything got settled. Now, the main topic of discussion was,

Which Junior College should I join?

•••

It was early June, the summer break was on-but my parents were in full research mode, going through brochures, making calls and even visiting schools, as the new academic session was set to begin in August.

I was supposed to be an 11th grader now, sounds quite serious.

One evening, while I was surfing through my laptop, mumma called me out to the balcony. Both mumma and dada were looking into their laptops, I took my seat and that's when I got another unexpected blow,

"We're thinking of enrolling you into Crimonse."

Crimonse?? The school we passed by?

"Isn't that the school we passed by, when we first came here?"

Looking back at the laptop, my mumma fixed her glasses,

"I see you have a good memory."

"But isn't that a co-ed school?" I anxiously inquired.

And now it was dad's turn to speak,

"Mia, you've been in an all-girls school for years now and we think it's time for you to step out of your comfort zone—it will help you in the future."

Comfort zone? Future? Co-ed? What the hell is going on here?

"Dada, I've been in a girls school for ages.....practically my whole life...I don't even know how to-how to exist in such a school!" I exclaimed in disbelief.

He chuckled.

"You'll adjust their Mia, don't worry."

Adjust??? It feels like I'm being pushed off a cliff. I can't even imagine a school with boys walking in the corridors, sitting in the same class with me...it clearly feels like, I'm being sent to some alien planet.

"This is a disaster." I whispered.

"You'll be fine, kiddo."

Fine?? How can I be fine??? My life was already upside down and now it's going to turn into a mess.

Dad got up,

"Take your time and think about it."

That's all they said.

The only thing, I could do now was stare at the sky with my doomed fate.

As a kid, I always thought math was the toughest thing but now I feel it's not math, it's Life!!!

And I'm gonna fail for sure!

After that, my parents didn't mention Crimonse for a while, they wanted to give me some time for myself.

After a few days when I was on my bed like a corpse, my mumma came in with a pair of cups loaded on the tray.

Hot chocolate!

Yes, that's exactly what I need right now.

The soft clink of the cups broke the long silence in my room.

She kept the tray between us and took a seat next, with her gaze no words were needed, I knew exactly what she meant.

Take your cup.

I reached for my cup, feeling the warmth seeping into my fingers, that's when she finally spoke,

"What have you been thinking?"

Thinking?

Yes, I thought about it for quite some time and I think I really need to get out of my personal shell but what if I turn things messier then they already are? What if it doesn't go well for me? My entire life changed within a few days and now this...

"Mumma, I know you guys are worried but since I remember, I've always been among girls whether it was in family or school and now all these sudden changes...I'm scared that I won't be able to adjust in there and what if I turn into a laughingstock in that process? Can't we just-? "

I paused.

My mumma looked at me with gentle eyes,

"Mia, there are many girls schools here and we can easily get you enrolled there, but you know why your dada and I made this decision for you?"

I nodded my head intently.

"Remember, what you said to Nouran's brother, when he visited our house once?"

This reminded me of one mortifying event. I was too young back then to understand certain things, but old enough to think I did.

Sister Nouran was our tenant and I was quite close to her. Maybe it was around the summer break when her brother visited...Keiron was it? That day, we all were just chilling in, when he came in asking for some painkillers and with concern, I asked him what was wrong?

He replied that he had a stomach ache.

And there with all my innocent wisdom, I asked,

"Oh, are you having your periods?"

Silence prevailed.

His face turned red, while sister Nouran and Annya looked at me as if their eye balls could pop out any second.

For me stomach aches and periods were connected. But to everyone else, it was a moment they'd never forget.

Looking back I was so clueless-not even knowing what embarrassing situation I brought upon myself.

I knew, why my mother out of nowhere mentioned this super old incident.

I nodded my head.

"Mia, in the future you'll have to work together with guys, you'll need to face them, it's not like you can hide from things like this forever. You'll need to step out someday or the other right, then why not now?"

She is right, though I'm not sure, but I have to face them anyway and maybe it's better if I get used to it now.....I really need to normalise such things.

"I agree mumma, I will try my best to blend in with everyone." I murmured.

"No Mia, there's no need to blend in with everyone, be kind but don't back out if there's something wrong on your side, we want you to learn not to surrender, you are strong and I know you will handle this very well my lil captain."

She gave me a warm hug and in her embrace everything faded away, I felt a sense of confidence growing within me after that.

"It was time for a new change.", that's what I said to myself.

And just like that, I enrolled into Crimonse waiting for a new session to bring in a new story of my life.

Time seemed to fly by and it was already June last, my days blended into one another filled with anticipation and nervous excitement.

One afternoon, I got a call, it was an unknown number. As I answered, a polite yet firm voice introduced herself—it was my new class teacher, Miss Priyana George.

"You'll need to visit the school tomorrow to collect your ID card and a few other important materials, be there by 11a.m." That's what she said.

After hanging up, I looked at my screen for a minute, this was it, my first step towards my new beginning.

The next day, I walked into my new school—the best part was, it was at a walkable distance from my home, which somewhat made me happy

As I stepped in, there was a long pathway, lined with tall trees and taking in that new surroundings, I wandered curiously through those corridors and finally, found the staff room which Miss Priyana had mentioned on the third floor.

Room 105!

That was it.

As I walked in, there was no one except for one teacher, busy checking in there. For a moment, I was hesitant but then I approached her and she turned around with an expectant face,

"Are you looking for Miss Priyana?"

She knows??!!

Heavens must be really happy with me today.

"Yes mam." I quickly answered.

She nodded setting aside a few notebooks.

"You'll find her in the activity hall."

She told me that it was on the fourth floor, I thanked her and left that space, making my way towards the activity hall.

• • •

The hall was buzzing with relaxed energy and quiet chatter, but the moment I stepped in, all the conversations died and everyone's eyes were on me.

That gave me a shiver, I could feel nervousness crepting within me.

I just came to get my ID and now I'm here...what a situation!!!

"I came here for Miss Priy—"