No Time For Love

Chapter 1

"Passport?"

"Check."

"Ticket"

"Check."

"Identification Card?"

"Check."

"Currency?"

"Check."

My dad was asking me these questions when I suddenly heard a scream.

A literal scream. "YOU b***h! I HATE YOU! HOW CAN YOU LEAVE ME HERE ALL ALONE!? I HATE YOU SO MUCH!" This was my dear friend Arpita. We had been friends since last ten years. Unfortunately, she had a boyfriend who hated my guts. Because, well, sisters before misters.

I saw him enter my room and for the first time smiling at me. Maybe because I was finally leaving them alone. I saw a teardrop in Arpita's eyes and myself got a bit emotional. "Hi!"

That was the only thing I could say at that time because I was already being bear-hugged by my friend.

"Aru... ca-can't breathe."

"Shut up! Now you will go to London and marry a firangi and forget us."

"Stop overreacting. You know me well enough. I hate the concept of love, marriage and other crap like that."

"Yes, I have full confidence that my daughter won't even think of doing something like that. She will never get married without my consent. In the end, she will marry the man of my choice no matter what." My mom commented and I inwardly rolled my eyes. She was not aware of my actual plan.

"Come now, child. We should leave for the airport if you want to catch that flight on time." dad said with a warm smile.

On reaching the airport I touched my parents' feet as a gesture of giving respect and took their aashirwad. I bid farewell to my family and friends. I tried my best to not get emotional but in the end, I did cry. So as a result, my nose looked like a tomato because of all the crying. After around forty-five minutes of torture a.k.a security check, I finally boarded the plane.

That was when reality finally hit me.

I was going. Away from my home, away from my family, away from my friends and away from my country. I always felt proud of being born as an Indian. My country was a home to hundreds of different cultures and rich traditions. No doubt I was going to miss it! But in the end, I had to leave it. Or else, like every other girl in the country I would have to marry a guy I barely knew and ruin my life!

I felt sad and even had second thoughts but then I remembered that I was accepted at London University. Who in their right mind would NOT go?!

After spending eight hours in flight I found myself at Heathrow International Airport looking for a cab. I hailed a cab and told him the address of my campus.

On reaching, I completed my formalities and the lady in the administrator's office gave me a warm welcome by giving me my ID and room number. She informed me about the list of rules that were to be followed and I thanked her. It was a little hard to figure out the way since the campus was so huge but with the help of my excellent navigating skills I figured the route out in no time.

I opened the door to my dorm room and was welcomed with utter darkness. I switched on the lights and heard "IF YOU DON'T KILL THE LIGHTS I WILL KILL YOU!"