The family sat around the coffee table deep in thought. Mr. Kakkar had arrived an hour earlier. He had been held up due to an unexpected meeting. He could not discuss the topic of that meeting with his family but little did expect that he would have another meeting when he got home. A life changing one. The envelope was discarded on the table next to the letter which had caused the upheaval. Everyone had read it. Not once but twice.

Vidhya stared determinedly at the wall behind her dadi who continuously smiled at her. Mr. Kakkar had not said a word just like Abhi while Mrs. Kakkar held on tightly to the end of her saree* looking from one face to another waiting for someone to speak.

"Tum nay fasila lay liya hai*? You have already decided?"

"Yes, I want to go, papa."

"But what about Abhi?"

"Bate kare le hai* ... I showed him the letter. He told me to go."

"But what about his parents?" Mrs. Kakkar interrupted.

"I haven't told them. Abhi said he would speak to them."

"This is a disaster," Mrs. Kakkar held her head in her hands unable to believe her daughter's words. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Maa, this is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime that too for very few people in the world." Vidhya moved to sit next to her mother. "I know this changes everything. All of our lives will be affected but this is my life and this is what will make me happy."

"But Beta ... this is the moon you are talking about ... chand dhakanay kay liya hota hai, Janay kay liya nahi*."

"What if I can?"

"Think of your 'I do' not of your 'what if'?"

"But ma, What if I can."

"And if we said no. If we tried to stop you?" Mr. Kakkar interrupted.

"I would still go."

"You would run away?" Mr. Kakkar persisted.

"Nahi, but I would not give in or give up. I want your blessings."

Mr. Kakkar nodded and gave his wife a reassuring smile. He went over to his daughter and patted her on the head. "My daughter is all grown up now. If this is what you want then I am with you. I will miss you a lot."

"Arjun! You can't possibly mean that!"

"I do Gayatri and you know you will give in as well," he smiled at his wife and walked away to the bedroom.

"Beta, you know I only want what's best for you," Mrs. Kakkar said.

"I know and I love you. Thank you." Vidhya hugged her mother who wept into her daughters' shoulder. The woman stayed this way for a few minutes.

"Let her go, Gayatri the girl has to pack."

"Dadi, I love you as well you know that!"

"What are you trying to do! Hadiya todna chate ho*?" Dadi shuffled away at full speed from Vidhya who was trying to hug her.

"I'll go get the suitcases" Mrs. Kakkar wiped her tears on the edge of her saree. "And I'll pack a dabba* or maybe even two, of your favorite namak para."

Mrs. Kakkar left her daughter smiling on the couch. Vidhya stared at the red envelope. She picked it up and smiled at the logo on it. The letter was addressed to her from the 'Indian Interstellar Space Research and Development Authority'.

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1. saree - Indian female garment

2. Tum nay fasila lay liya hai - You have already decided

3. Bate kare le hai - we have talked already

4. chand dhakanay kay liya hota hai, Janay kay liya nahi - The moon is to look at, it is not to go too

5. Hadiya todna chate ho - do you want to break my bones

6. dabba - lunch box