She checked her name in the list again. Not Confirmed.

She contemplated to get on the train anyway but then what was the point. The nearest station near her destination was 110 odd kms away.

It did seem worthwhile to travel unreserved , something that she’d never done before and take some local transport to cover the last mile . again that’s going to be a first.

And then it struck her. If I have to do something for the first time, I guess , it should be driving down in my brand new car . It was her first car and he’d not even seen it so far.  Not even its picture. She knew that was the best idea she had in the longest time .

And that’s how her 711 Kms journey from Delhi began.

It’s not as if she was risk averse. Far from it. She was brought up to be an extremely independent & disciplined and that’s why just after she completed her schooling , she opted to go for a course that took her away from home.

That was 8 years back. She completed her 4 year degree and her masters and stayed in hostels through out. She wanted to live an independent life but she had no idea how far that would take her away from home.

She had just completed 2 years at her first job. With her student loan done with she had bought her first car and she was now doing reasonably well for herself.

Sadly , as someone who had celebrated every moment of joy big or small amidst her parents – being an only child , for the last almost 8 years , there was not even a single snap of them together celebrating something significant .

She realized this when she turned 25. A milestone she had always imagined to be life the turning point in one’s life. Just after she stepped back in her home , alone , after a party with friends she purely connected at a ‘fun level’ , she realized what was missing in her life.

That’s when she packed a week’s clothes, stocked up some cash and took her first road trip ever. Some stories need equally compelling back story and if anything this was one.

Her favourite playlist , some amazing dhaba food through the way and stays at B&Bs to keep a check on her budget kept her going . And then the moment arrived.

She crossed , ‘Welcome to Patnitop Cantt’ board and headed directly to the training grounds.

There he was , sweat glittering on his brows , the sun tanning his already dark skin making it even classier if that was possible . His fatigues , fitting him as perfectly as perhaps they did almost 25 years back when he would be as young as her.

She waived enthusiastically and saw a mirage of emotions pass through his steel face that seldom let an emotion get away.

“Happy Birthday Papa, You want to go get an ice cream just like old times? We can take my car for a spin this time around. “

One Moment , Two people .

Incredibly proud of a mid-sized red colour city car that had travelled for more than 700 kms to create a special memory . Realized how 25 indeed was a huge milestone.

One road trip became the journey of a life time.

 

Join me on my journey of #EveryDayWomen tales, in this 26 part short story series all through April. To read the other stories you can visit me at the AtoZChallenge page here . To know more about AtoZChallenge , you may want to read my very first post here and my Theme reveal post here. If you liked what I wrote or didn’t , do leave me a note , a remark , a critique or even an idea for my next story ! Hope to see you again tomorrow