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.