"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

– James Allen

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A new beginning

"The airport's announcement, now in its fifth and final call, struck a poignant chord with Misha. Tearfully, she raced toward the departure gate, her heart heavy with emotion.

The recent days had unfolded in a way Misha could never have imagined. Instead of weaving beautiful memories, she found herself abandoned within the walls of her childhood home, a solitude that tugged at her heartstrings.

Sahil's eagerly awaited football match, originally scheduled for three days hence, had been unceremoniously postponed. As a result, they had left the following morning, leaving Misha in the dark, her own family departing without a word.

This was meant to be her last day in the familiar abode, and she had yearned to share her journey to New York with her father, to bridge the emotional chasm that had grown between them. Yet fate had conspired against her, leaving her with no choice but to leave in silence.

Even her attempts to convey her decision over the phone had been met with the usual sharp rebuke from her father, intensifying the emotional turmoil within her."

Misha's POV

"Mishu, please fasten your seatbelt. We're about to land," Mom chided gently.

Lost in the search for the special doll Dad had gifted me on my birthday, I paid no heed to her instructions. The last five hours had been spent on this flight, comfortably ensconced in the business class section. Mom and Dad, engrossed in their own conversation, occupied the seats in front of us, while Prisha and I shared the ones behind them.

Then, without warning, the plane lurched, sending me tumbling forward and meeting the cabin floor with a painful thud. The sudden jolt brought forth tears, not just from the physical pain, but from the unexpected shock of it all.

My consciousness snapped back to the present as the flight attendant's voice filled the cabin, announcing our impending landing. The memory that had overtaken me felt so real, yet I couldn't reconcile it with my actual experiences. My family had never embarked on a plane journey together. How could this memory exist? My mind was a whirlwind of confusion, but I resolved to focus on the present situation. The plane's descent was turbulent, but to my surprise, fear did not grip me; it was as though I had grown accustomed to such turbulence.

The journey from the airport to the awaiting taxi was pleasant, though I couldn't fully comprehend what was happening around me. When I next regained consciousness, I found myself standing in front of a magnificent castle-like residence that felt eerily familiar.

The paradox bewildered me. I had never set foot in New York before; this was undeniable. I glanced around, only to discover the taxi driver eyeing me with a peculiar expression.

"What?" I blurted out.

"Ma'am, you've been gazing at this house for the past half an hour and haven't paid the fare. Kindly settle that first," he admonished, adding to my growing confusion.

"But I haven't reached my intended destination. Where have you taken me? I was supposed to go to New York University," I protested.

"What? Then why did you give me this address?" he questioned.

"I..." I faltered, unable to provide an explanation even to myself. Everything felt bizarre and surreal at that moment.

"Whose house is this?" She asked with curiosity in her voice.

"This area is almost empty. It's like a hidden gem, untouched by anyone. Even the owner, who left years ago, never considered selling it," the driver explained.

"How do you know all this?" I inquired, intrigued.

"Well, the whole country is aware of the legendary missing mafia boss, and this is his place," he replied.

"Mafia?" I was astonished to hear that.

"But why do you ask? You must already be aware, considering you brought me here," the driver said, though his irritation had softened. He didn't particularly like the place, but his commitment to his duty drove him to ensure his passenger reached her destination. Yet, now, she seemed like a stranger denying any familiarity with the location.

Misha's POV

Upon my arrival at the sprawling campus of our college, I decided to reach out to Eli.

"Hey, Misha! Have you made it here yet?" she inquired with excitement as she picked up her phone.

I let out a small laugh and replied, "Yes, I'm here. Could you possibly help me find my way around? This campus is so vast that I'm afraid I'll get lost in no time." I gazed at the expansive grounds stretching out before me.

"Of course, I'd be happy to help. Where are you right now?" she asked, her willingness evident in her voice.

After conveying my location, she assured me that she would personally come to guide me. Not long after our conversation ended, a blonde figure approached me, standing before me in amazement.

Feeling a touch of confusion, I cautiously inquired, "Eli?" Unsure if the blonde individual was the same Eli I had spoken to.

Her face lit up with recognition, and she warmly embraced me. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "It's fantastic to finally meet you in person. You know, I've been staying here for the past six months, and today, I finally get to meet my new roommate."

"Well, it seems I've been handed a bundle of surprises," I quipped with a playful grin. We both shared a hearty laugh, breaking the ice and setting a friendly tone for our college journey together.

Following our lighthearted conversation, we made our way toward the college dome. It stood as grand and spacious as the entire campus itself. As we entered the dome, we couldn't help but marvel at the scale of our new surroundings.

Our allocated room turned out to be more like an apartment, complete with two separate bedrooms, a cozy living room, and a well-equipped kitchen. Eli kindly helped me settle in before suggesting we embark on a campus tour. With college classes scheduled to begin the following day, we had the entire day ahead of us to explore and familiarize ourselves with our new environment.

It was reassuring to discover that the college had conveniently located shops and essential amenities nearby, making it easy for us to access everything we needed. Moreover, the dormitory rules were surprisingly lenient and accommodating, which added to our positive impression of the place. These rules were straightforward and reasonable:

No smoking or drinking inside the dome.Take permission before bringing any of your friends.Return to the dormitory by midnight.

These rules seemed fair and considerate, allowing us the freedom to enjoy our college experience responsibly while maintaining a respectful and safe environment within the dormitory.

Having taken care of all the fees and essential formalities for college prior to my arrival in New York, I felt a surge of excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead, both academically and personally. Leaving my family in India was undoubtedly a significant step, and now, here I was, in a new place with no familiar faces around. However, I had meticulously saved money over the years through hard work, and I felt confident that it would provide me with the means to settle comfortably and make the most of this exciting chapter in my life.

After our extensive tour of the college, it became evident that the campus was incredibly spacious and well-organized. Notably, the library was divided into three sections, catering to different types of learners and offering a wide range of facilities.

Our exploration continued beyond the college grounds, and we spent the entire day outdoors, taking in the surroundings. As we returned to the dormitory, the clock had already struck 10. Having dined outside earlier in the day, we engaged in some light conversation, exchanged goodnight wishes, and retired to our respective rooms, calling it a night. It was a promising start to our new college life in New York.

The next day arrived, and unfortunately, Eli had to leave early for her morning class. I got ready and made my way from the dormitory to the college campus. The stark contrast between the emptiness of the previous day and the bustling crowds now made me feel quite nervous. Some curious glances from strangers added to my unease, making my movements feel stiff and awkward.

After a lengthy journey, I finally reached the office to collect my schedule. I was informed that someone would be assigned to give me a tour. I waited for what felt like an eternity until a young man entered. He didn't acknowledge my presence and immediately approached the office staff, asking, "Who is the new student I need to assist?" I stepped closer to them and stood beside the young man, in front of the office staff. To my surprise, the lady behind the desk looked frightened and simply pointed at me.

The young man turned to me with an icy demeanor and said in a cold, dismissive tone, "Follow me." So, that's precisely what I did. As we exited the office, he turned and glared at me, his expression clearly irritated.

"You're old enough to figure things out on your own. Don't bother me with these trivial matters," he muttered, then turned to walk away.

"But I didn't ask for this," I responded, bewildered. He halted for a moment upon hearing my protest but ultimately continued walking, leaving me in confusion. "What the hell was that?" I wondered to myself, trying to make sense of the strange encounter.

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Thanks for reading

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