• Simran's POV •
"Ram Ram Bhai sarayane, welcome to my YouTube channel. Mai hu Simran, aur aaj aap dekhenge ki kaise meri Zindagi mera G**nd maar rhi hai", I introduced, recording myself through my phone and flipped my hair with my one free hand
(translation: "Ram Ram Bhai Sarayane, welcome to my YouTube channel. I am Simran, and today you will see how my life is killing me.")
"Oh Bhai zara dekh kar chalo na", I hissed at the random passenger who disturbed my recording. The said passenger glared at me to which I passed him one sarcastic tight lip smile and walked away towards my seat.
(translation: oh brother, please look and walk)
It wasn't as if I was a YouTuber or vlogger or something. I just liked recording myself on Snapchat sometimes. It was a weird hobby but I loved it.
I sat comfortably on my seat and kept my phone in my bag. The train halted at an intermediate station and I clicked my tongue in annoyance for the ninth time. Sometimes I hated the train journey because of the stoppage but alas it was fun to travel by train.
Train journeys are fun, filled with adventures and fascinating. It fills me with an intense excitement. I smiled looking outside the worn-out glass window as the train started and the previous station started fading.
I was travelling back home after months of work. Currently, I am in the final year of my MBBS degree and studying at a prestigious medical college. The last time I remembered I travelled back was during one of the summer breaks two years back.
After I completed my 10 public examinations I stepped out of the four walls of a place I called home to make a life of my own. I lived in a hostel and studied for my entrance exams, and after two years of continuous hard work and calibre, I managed to crack the examination with flying colours. Soon after the results were out I enrolled in one of the prestigious medical Colleges and since then I have been away from home.
Thinking about the past a fond smile plastered on my face. Hostel life had added something great, something so cherishable to my life. It just felt like a dream, the two years at the Hostel passed in the blink of an eye, leaving me with great friends and an amazing life experience. Speaking about friends, my phone rang and I gazed at the caller id. Akshi🧿
"Pahuch gyi?", came her voice from the other side. "Nhi thodi der meh pahuch jayenge", I replied looking out of the glass window
(translation: You reached?
: No, I will reach in a little while.)
"Thik hai, ghar pahuch kar phone karna", she said to which I nodded even when I knew she wouldn't see me. We talked for a minute or two and then she cut the call in the pretext of work.
(translation: ok, call when you get home)
Akshi and I met in the 11th grade. We were in the same coaching and same batch. She was that random stranger with whom I once shared a seat randomly and now years later we share our secrets randomly.
In the initial days, we didn't get along, because she looked so distant and reserved, almost unapproachable. But once we started communicating, the awkwardness flew away and we made really good friends. Our bond was amazing, no judgment, no criticism, just inspiration and amazing friendship. Even after we parted ways once the exam was over we promised to be in touch with each other. We frequently contacted via phone calls and random text messages.
Soon I heard the typical sound of the train station lady announcer and the train stopped indicating that I finally reached my destination. Gathering my stuff, I walked towards the gates dragging my suitcase along with me.
Once I stepped down, the familiar air of Raniganj Station hit my nostrils and I smiled at the nostalgia. I was finally home, finally to West Bengal. Even though I was from Bihar, my family means my grandparents moved to West Bengal and since then we've been living here. I was born and brought up here only. The palpitation of Diwali was so evident in the air, the chitter chatter of passengers, the hustle and bustle of the crowd and the festive air were so exciting that it almost made me smile. It was Dhanteras today.
My insides filled with joy and I felt a sudden adrenaline rush. The last time I left everything behind was 5 years ago and since then I've barely gotten a chance to properly return home. But this time I was back for almost a month. For Diwali followed my Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja is the most exciting festival.
With a constant smile, I made my way out of the railway station pushing past the rush of strangers and passengers. Throughout the whole cab ride back home, the smile didn't leave my lips. It felt nostalgic as I moved past the familiar streets. My teenage self flashed in front of my eyes and I inaudibly chuckled. I was so rebellious back then, bike rides with Prabhakar bhaiya and him calling me with his endearment of Choti, fun moments with Sajal, bunking classes and roaming in the school corridor with Sumedha. Gosh, I missed almost everything.
Sumedha, my best friend. We've been friends for ages. Our friendship was lifelong. During the whole course, we had our fair share of arguments but we still promised each other to be together. At times I felt that I didn't even know her properly and everything was an illusion but I let it slide and looked more on the positive side.
The can ride came to an end, I paid the driver and walked towards my home dragging my luggage along with me. I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the wooden door. I was happy, I was finally home, around my family, around my friends, around my people. I missed everyone. Mummy, papa, my baby brother Aryan and the almost best friend sister Smrity.
I raised my hand to knock on the door. Ready to meet my family with my nerves busting with excitement. But who was I kidding, I must have forgotten that I belong to a typical middle-class family, and my house is a Desi household and not some scene from a Bollywood movie. Where they would welcome me with an aarti ki thali with an almost emotional mother. Rather I was greeted with a loud yelling of my mother who was enraged.
"Dhanteras aa gaya, majak hai ki Ghar ka hamara koi kaam pura ho jaye hm, Diwali tak ham ismein Lage rhenge, arre logo ka toh ghar sajh rha hai aur yaha hamara kaam hi nhi pura ho raha hai, akele ham kitna hi kaam kar lenge, ek beta hai jisko sone aur phone se fursat nhi. Beti ko Diwali ki photos ke liye pose Marne se time nhi milta, arre hamari toh kismat hi futi hai", she ranted and I gulped having second thoughts about whether to knock or gather my stuff and run back. Because I'm not a fan of an angry mummy, because a mummy is angry, it means trouble.
(translation: Dhanteras has come, but still none of our work is completed , till Diwali we will continue to only work in the house, people are decorating their house , how much work can I do alone. , there is a son who only has time to sleep or use the phone. My daughter did not get time from posing for Diwali photos, oh my luck has run out.)
I was busy thinking in my mind when I heard a loud shrill voice of my brother. "Simmy didi.", and before I could think of anything the door was opened and there stood my mother with a broomstick in her hand covered in sweat.
"Beta tu aa gyi!", she smiled and I smiled back almost forgetting everything. I took her in a bone-cracking hug, "pranam mummy"
(translation: beta you came!)
Soon I was engulfed in a hug by Papa, Aryan and Smrity. I dragged my suitcase inside my room which I shared with Smrity and plopped on the bed spreading my arms wide.
"You tired?", I heard Smrity ask to which I just hum. I was exhausted, first I needed to do a double shift for a whole week to compensate for my holidays and second, my train journey was tiresome.
I closed my eyes and soon sleep consumed me, the soft mattress lullying me to deep sleep.
TBH~~🤝🏻
_______________________________
The first chapter is here. Drop your fav part/ scene from the chapter:)🙆🏻
Dhanyawad🙇🏻♀️✨
Author🦋
Roop♡