Delhi, India...
Morning time...
Today, Ara was overjoyed. Finally, the day had come—she was going to Mumbai. She had made all her preparations.
But her mother, Renuka, was torn between happiness and sadness. On one hand, her daughter had secured a good job and was moving forward in life, but on the other, the thought of her daughter moving away made her heart heavy. Still, seeing Ara so happy, she forced herself to let her go.
Renuka asked, "Ara, have you finished all your packing?"
Ara smiled and replied, "Yes, Mom. Everything's done. I've got a good job now, and I'll focus on my career."
Renuka nodded. "That's good. Once you're settled in your career, we'll start thinking about your marriage."
Hearing this, Ara's face flushed with anger. "No, Mom! I've already told you I'm not getting married. Why do you keep bringing this up?"
Renuka gently tried to explain, "Dear, everyone has to get married one day. How long will you stay alone?"
Ara coldly replied, "Once I'm successful in my career, I won't need anyone. I can live alone, Mom. I want to travel the whole world, and that's my dream, which I'll fulfill."
Renuka was about to say something more when Ara interrupted, "Mom, enough… You've managed everything alone after Dad left, didn't you?"
When Ara was just 16, her father passed away due to illness. His death deeply affected her, and she slipped into depression for 9 years. She stopped talking to people, rarely spoke at school, and distanced herself from everyone.
Despite being intelligent, Ara always felt nervous while talking to others. She lacked confidence. But slowly, she started pulling herself together, began speaking to people again, and gradually regained her confidence. Yet, at times, she still felt so anxious that she feared talking to others, and this often led to failures in interviews. But this time, luck was on her side.
Renuka sighed and said, "Fine, it's your choice. But if you ever like someone, or if you do in the future, just let me know."
Ara replied seriously, "That will never happen, Mom. I don't understand what love is."
For Ara, love and marriage had always been unclear. She had never experienced love, which is why she never had a boyfriend.
All the preparations were done, and Ara's family—her mother, brother, and sister—were sad about her departure. Ara could see the sadness on their faces, but she understood that if she didn't work, how would the household run? How long could her mother keep working alone? Her siblings still had to finish their education, and they needed money for that.
Trying to comfort them, she said, "Don't be so sad. Once I'm settled in Mumbai, I'll call all of you there to visit me."
Finally, the time had come for Ara to leave her home. After saying her goodbyes, she headed to the airport to catch her flight to Mumbai.
As she arrived at the airport, excitement gleamed in her eyes. This was the first time she was going to board a flight. She couldn't believe her company had booked a plane ticket for her.
Sitting in the flight, her journey had begun. But this was just the beginning—what fate had in store for her was yet to unfold.
Will Ara find success in her new job in Mumbai, or will she face unforeseen challenges?
How will Ara cope with the distance from her family and the emotional weight of leaving them behind?
What new opportunities or obstacles will Ara encounter in Mumbai that will test her resolve and dreams?
Will Ara's reluctance to embrace love and marriage change as she starts a new life in a new city?
How will Ara's past struggles with confidence and depression affect her journey in this new chapter of her life?
What unexpected twists and turns await Ara as she steps into the unknown, and how will she handle them?
Will Ara's dream of traveling the world become a reality, or will she face challenges that force her to reevaluate her goals?
How will Ara's relationships with her family evolve as she builds her new life far away from them?