Have you ever moved away? It can be from a country to another or state to state. It can also be just two blocks away. I had to travel a long way. I had to leave my motherland, India.
I still remember the day my dad was leaving to America. We were all sad. I had to see my dad leave. I didn't know when we were going to see him again. Only thing I could think of was him missing his flight. It was a moment I'll never forget. We didn't eat properly for days. Then some months passed and my mom told me one day that we were going to Delhi to get our visa. I was real excited.
My uncle and my cousin went with us, and we got it, we got the visa. Everyone was very happy. Some hours later, we called my dad and he was happy, too. Then we got the tickets and started packing. As the day of departure came closer, I started to realize that I was really leaving. That thought made me sad. Then finally the day came. We went to the airport in the same train, with our same relatives. It was just like my dad's departure, but this time we were leaving.
Our flight was at 2:45 in the morning. I'll never forget that day. Whenever I think of it, sadness takes over me. As the time passed, tears filled everyone's eyes, and everyone was sad, including me.
Now that I am finally here, I still can feel the tears that rolled down my cheeks, I still feel the sadness that filled my heart. Whenever I ask my dad about why I had to leave, he always has the same answer, "Because God wanted us to."
Nitika S., May 21, 1998