After exploring most of the southern side of the state of Gujrat, it was time to head to Mumbai to catch my flight to JFK. My parents and cousins were accompanying me to the airport, just because they could and most of them hadn’t seen the Mumbai International Airport in person before.
Before heading to the airport, I had some amazing food and chatted with almost everyone I could find. After an hour or two, it was time for us to head to Mumbai Airport. When we were on the way to Mumbai Airport, that’s when I realized the difference between the Google Maps that we use in the US and the Google Maps that they have in India. For some reason, it was showing 5 hours drive to me, whereas my sister’s phone was telling 4 hours. Fortunately, I was wrong and we could make it to the airport in time. The last thing I wanted was to miss my flight back.
The memorable thing regarding this drive to the airport was our Chai break. I really enjoyed sipping cup of tea with my family and that was something that I hadn’t done with them in a long time. I will always remember that moment.
Upon reaching to the airport, we took so many pictures and talked about so many thing. I knew my parents might cry at any moment as their son was going away for unforeseeable future to the unknown land, but I was glad that they controlled their emotions. I was surely going to miss them and my family. I was sad that I was leaving them, but, at the same time, excited to meet my US friends, and have some fun time before resuming work.
One more thing that was particular about this whole incident was that I was accompanied by both Dikshu Tai and Prajwal. Both of them are trying hard to appear for GRE and hoping that one day, they would join me in the US. I could see in their eyes that they wanted to experience the similar thing that I was doing and was happy they felt like that. I will leave it at that.
Before wrapping it up, I would say, it was an emotional goodbye. Someone like me, who always had detested attending family functions and meeting relatives, ever since I moved abroad, I have started paying more attention to family and everything that comes with it. Obviously, it was hard to bid goodbye to my parents, sisters, and cousins. But, at the same time, I was excited to have some relaxed time back in the US.
I was looking forward to meeting my UConn buddies, Nidhi & Shlok. The cherry on top was going to be my solo road trip from New York to Michigan during North American winters.
Excited for the next few days!
Next stop – Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
stochasticity 