Dealing with insecurities, waiting for her child's dream come true- Sheela Aunty.

I was about to leave the home, was carrying my bag and a bit worried in mind, how will I travel the whole night in the bus? Who will seat beside me? Will I be able to sleep? Many questions.....luckily got the bus just in-front of home, so reached the bus terminal in the city. It was evening around 6:30 pm. I was scissoring through the exodus of people from their offices rushing towards the bus terminal and subway station. Reached the ground floor of the greyhound bus terminal,was waiting for Lalit. He too arrived soon. We then got our tickets checked and just were wondering what next? An Indian Lady who was in her late sixties, a bit disorganized saw us, she immediately asked,' Are u going to Chicago?' I said,' No, to Cleveland.' She started inquiring about our whereabouts from India. I just gave her some tentative answers,as Lalit was not so keen to talk to strangers, quite true as you never know unknown people and their intentions!!!We left for our bus on ground floor.

I was carrying the dinner to night, both of us standing in the queue at our gates started to eat the roll of chapati and sabji.After about an hour we saw the same Lady standing at the rear end of the queue. Somehow I felt secured and now Lalit too. I told him,' I will talk to her and request to get the seat besides me.' He immediately acceded, so I went back and told her the same,her young daughter was standing next to her.The Lady in a second smiled to me and said ,'Yes'. I happily returned to my place and informed the same to Lalit, he was relieved too!!!

I bid goodbye to Lalit and boarded the bus. Got the seat and now was apprehensively waiting for Aunty. She came balancing her bags on her shoulders,her wavy hairs all swaying around.As promised She sat besides me.

We immediately introduced ourselves. 'Hello,I am Sheela from Delhi'.I asked her,'How long are you here?' She said,' I came here to stay with my daughter for a while,am planning to go to India next month.My daughter is studying here and aspires to become a dentist.'After She came to know,I teach in a medical school, she started ricocheting me with hundreds of questions.....and half of our night was over.

She told me,' How insecure as parent she feels, as her daughter staying all alone so far in this country. She added I am worried if my daughter elopes with some guy at least he should be an Indian.' I could feel the vibes of her anxious mind in her eyes. She said,' My girl is very intelligent and studying in the best university here, her Father wants her to give the best education so we send her here, we are proud of her and are sure she will always take rational decisions in life.'

We decided to take a nap. When I woke up it was day outside and was happy to have a safe night with sound sleep. We got off at Cleveland on time, Sheela Aunty had to change for another bus for Chicago to meet her relatives. She gave me her contact details and asked me to be in touch. I moved on for the cab ride to my hotel. After reaching my suite I called Lalit, he was happy that I made it safely. As my day was going to start late I sneaked into the cozy comforter, thinking about Sheela Aunty, and many brave parents like her.Though they understand the insecurities of their lovable kids in foreign land, they show the broader perspective of taking risks, facing the dangling sword of insecurity continuously for each moment in their life. The hope that just keep them going are the DREAMS of their child!!!! Amen.

Its Never too late to find your place....!!!!

That was a long day. After I boarded the bus, a familiar face invited me. I had talked to her some days back, but couldn't recollect her name?? I sat beside her. I asked her,'How is your work going? I remember you drive the coach buses to Atlantic City.' She smiled and said,' Ya...its really going well. Now its more crowded due to holiday season.' I asked her,' How is your experience as being a Lady driver?' She said,' Its really great. I enjoy my work, am working in this field since last 5 yrs.'

I was a bit surprised,' Ohh!! What were you doing before that?' She said, 'I was working in a store, then I was doing night shifts in a warehouse..its was a difficult time. Later, I thought I should look for some stable job, so gave the exams for licensing, appeared the driving test, got my license and now am happy to work in this field.' It was very difficult for me to believe,I said' Why did you come here?.' She answered,' I am from Guyana, my grandmother was from India, I came here six years back because of my daughter, but in this country everyone has to work for earning and have a good life.' I asked her,' Were you working in Guyana?' She laughed and said,' Not at all...I was a full time homemaker.' I was taken aback,' Wow...You look so confident, smart and balanced....no one can ever doubt that you are new in this field!!!!'

She asked me,' Where are you from India?' I said ,'Mumbai' She immediately said,' That's the place were all the Indian Actress are!!! They are so beautiful..and so you too.' I couldn't hide my excitement..'thank you dear.'. I asked her,' Are you enjoying your work?' She said,' Initially I had to do lot of hard work, I was driving on long distance night shift buses, since last couple of years i became permanent and now work only for day shifts, so am very glad.' I was about to leave as my stop came.I said,' It was nice meeting you dear.'

I was amazed by her story..somehow I felt ashamed of myself as i couldn't remember her name and today it did not occur to me, as her greatness acknowledges for her name. A real inspiration.. An all time homemaker,in her late forties came in a new country, learned and jumped into an entirely new profession and now is an independent, confident lady.