Namrata looked longingly at the young man behind the counter. It had been a few hours since she had eaten anything. Her stomach was rumbling along and she knew for sure her daughter, Anagha's would too. Anagha was seated next to her, lost in her own fairytale world. She looked away knowing she couldnt afford it at all. She would just have to wait for the meal they'd provide on the flight.
Her thoughts wandered back to her squeeky clean kitchen she had left behind that morning, on Sommerset drive, Jersey. The announcements being made in the terminal were jarring and clashing with her thoughts. Her thoughts of another flight, another journey she had made 15 years ago, nervous just as any newly wed bride would be.
Hands crisscrossed with the red henna patterns, clutching her brand new suitcase, her neck caressed by the unfamiliarity of her new mangalsutra, she had embarked on her journey into matrimony. A flight that had taken her to faraway shores, latticed with promices of happy, bright, adventurous paths, far away from parental security. She had held his hands in nervous fervour, one she had entrusted her future into.
Now as she looked around the terminal , she tried to quell her nauseous thoughts. The painful memories of deciet, infidelity, abuse-physical and emotional had worn her thin. She dwelled on the choices she had made- a lucrative job, her warm circle of colleagues, her house,her daughter's world: she had to give them all up in search of one precious gift, her freedom. After he had wiped out her bank accounts, she had snapped. Now while she waited for her flight to be called, she shuddered at the thought of her future. But she knew she wanted to leave the place that held volcanic nightmares. She hadnt deserved to be treated the way she had, and she had taken a bit too long before coming to this decision. Now there was no turning back. She had a right to freedom and she was going to get it. A silent calm settled into her.
Was it her flights of fantasy that had held her back when she could have confided in someone? She had thought he would change if she did. Now she knew she was just clutching at a melting piece of ice. She smiled. She had made her choice and she felt happier. All she had to look forward to, once her flight was called and she bent down to lift her bags and hold her daughter's small hands.
This time her she was embarking a flight that was less unknown and she ,less nervous.
Her thoughts wandered back to her squeeky clean kitchen she had left behind that morning, on Sommerset drive, Jersey. The announcements being made in the terminal were jarring and clashing with her thoughts. Her thoughts of another flight, another journey she had made 15 years ago, nervous just as any newly wed bride would be.
Hands crisscrossed with the red henna patterns, clutching her brand new suitcase, her neck caressed by the unfamiliarity of her new mangalsutra, she had embarked on her journey into matrimony. A flight that had taken her to faraway shores, latticed with promices of happy, bright, adventurous paths, far away from parental security. She had held his hands in nervous fervour, one she had entrusted her future into.
Now as she looked around the terminal , she tried to quell her nauseous thoughts. The painful memories of deciet, infidelity, abuse-physical and emotional had worn her thin. She dwelled on the choices she had made- a lucrative job, her warm circle of colleagues, her house,her daughter's world: she had to give them all up in search of one precious gift, her freedom. After he had wiped out her bank accounts, she had snapped. Now while she waited for her flight to be called, she shuddered at the thought of her future. But she knew she wanted to leave the place that held volcanic nightmares. She hadnt deserved to be treated the way she had, and she had taken a bit too long before coming to this decision. Now there was no turning back. She had a right to freedom and she was going to get it. A silent calm settled into her.
Was it her flights of fantasy that had held her back when she could have confided in someone? She had thought he would change if she did. Now she knew she was just clutching at a melting piece of ice. She smiled. She had made her choice and she felt happier. All she had to look forward to, once her flight was called and she bent down to lift her bags and hold her daughter's small hands.
This time her she was embarking a flight that was less unknown and she ,less nervous.
This piece was written in response to the prompt at writer's island.
