Bright city lights, the kind she had never seen before. Amongst the awe striking radiance, honking buses adding perfect melody to the sight she had witnessed. This was the first time she would be riding a night bus. First memory where her loved ones bid her goodbye, for the first time. First memory of lights twinkling all over the valleys, the hills, the kind she had witnessed only in movies.
But what was striking more? The sparkling lights, or her sparkling eyes? Oblivious to the world she would be stepping on. A new life, far from her family, far from the mother who never let her out of sight, far from her father she aspired to be like. Far from everything she had ever known. Those sparkling eyes, almost convinced that the hills were covered in glitters. And she would be too, once she passed through. Those sparkly eyes, still convinced she had been in a dream, until gradually she was. Completely asleep.
This dream bore a striking resemblance to the world she had left. Her mother, with teary eyes, kissed her a heartfelt goodbye. And her father taught her early on, to not bother her uncle, and to be nice.
"Your aunt misses you, so your uncle has come to take you to her. Be nice, my dear, we'll come back for you soon."
Her father had learnt early in his life that receiving favors is the most difficult burden in life. And he was burdening his daughter with this favor. And now, she had to be mindful about how she behaves, despite just being three.
He knew he had raised a strong daughter, yet he couldn't hold back his tears while parting ways. A daughter who could perfectly recite all the alphabets before she turned two. A daughter who read morning papers with him. A daughter who wanted to be just like her father. He knew she would understand why he had made the decision. He was hopeful that she'd find it in her heart to forgive him someday, in the future, for he had taken the decision for her own future.
Everything seemed like a dream. Things she could witness, felt as if it happened long ago. Yet, it was painful. Her hurt was so grave, she could feel the tears leaving her closed eyes. The memory, so painful, she couldn't breathe. She knew that this wasn't just a dream. She knew everything that had happened. She knew her parents had sent her away. Away from home, with an uncle she had just met that day. She knew it all.
She knew it was all from her past. Her most cherished memory. She was three when she fell asleep, with a mind full of wonders, and awestruck from the beauty she held. Unaware that she'd be missing everything she thought of as her own.