**Let me introduce myself, I am Anna ! **

Today is the day I ran away from home. I am going to a place where no one knows me, a place filled with strangers, I am going to start a new life, a new journey.

Sitting inside the bus, I am staring at the view outside, to which I am bidding my final goodbye!

Never did I ever imagine that one day I would be leaving the place where I was born and brought up, a place which is filled with memories.

***

I can feel someone peeking at me… I heard a cute lovely voice from a child which was sitting behind me, the child asked me "hello! Why are you looking sad, sister, do you want a chocolate?". I cannot help but smile looking at such a cute kid, I replied, "hello cutie, no I don't want a chocolate you can have it for yourself." I deliberately ignored the other question because I didn't want to answer it. The kid looking at me gave a warm smile and sat back in its seat. How long has it been since someone gave me a warm smile! I feel warm inside thanks to that kid. I sat in a comfortable position and closed my eyes…without knowing, I had drifted into a deep sleep.

***

I felt pain in my neck which eventually broke my sleep, I woke up rubbing my eyes and saw all the passengers had already left the bus, it was me all alone with the bus driver…

The bus driver,"miss which stop are you getting off?". That question woke me up completely, since in the beginning I had no destination, so I had planned to get off at the last stop. I replied, "at the last stop, sir." the driver looked at me with a worrisome face and said, "it's already dark outside, and it's a village with not much people living there! Do u have someone whom you know there?". Hearing it, I became a little worried and replied, "no sir, I don't know anyone there." I guess the driver felt bad leaving me at the village, the driver, "I know someone who lives in the village, they are good people you can stay there for the night". I was relived and thankful for the driver, who seemed to be a good person. Furthermore, I replied,  "thank you so much, sir. I am very grateful for your help". The driver just gave me a smile and nodded.

after sometime the bus stopped at the last station,i got off from the bus with luggage in my hands. The bus driver who was talking to someone looked at me and said, " Miss, i have informed this person so you can follow him". I replied, " thank you once again,Sir". Then i looked at the person who was standing and i greeted him..saying " sorry for the trouble,sir". the person walking towards me with a smile on his face said," it's alright, let me carry your bag..since we will have to walk for a quite a distance ". I politely rejected him saying, " No sir , it's fine i will carry my bag its quite heavy ". the villager, " don't feel shy, i will carry it for you just follow me ". I couldn't say anything to him just nodded and gave a bright smile " thank you then".

To be continued ***

It was already dark outside, the road had no streetlight and was so narrow that it would be difficult even for a car to pass through. The villager walking in front of me with a torch in one of his hands and me following behind him, it has already been 20 minutes since we started walking, I wanted to ask the villager how long it would take but, I felt hesitant to ask him, so I kept quiet. Suddenly, the villager who had not spoken a single word since we had started walking turned to me and said, "are you tired? Just another few minutes we will reach the village". I replied, "no sir, I am fine, I can still walk". The elder, "our village has no electricity at night, so you cannot see it at night, a very few family reside here, and we all are a family here. How did you end up coming here?". I had realized that this village had not been developed as soon as I saw no streetlights on the road but after hearing this person I was shocked to hear that they had no facility of electricity...it was quite shocking for me as I was born and brought up in city for my whole life and I can't even remember a single day when we had no light, I replied," I came here to start a new life sir, it was not intentional to end up here I just got off at the last stop". The villager, "what!!! You are still young, did you run away from your home?". A reaction I had already expected did not shock me, I replied, "well my family knows that I left, so I guess I cannot say that I ran away! But I left the so-called place home!". The villager "it's fine don't be sad...at some point for everyone life gets hard, it's just a storm which will pass soon. You can stay in our village until then, we would be very happy to have you stay in here. You can take a break and find the answers for those questions and clear your mind. I cannot guarantee that your pain would go away but at least you won't feel pain while you stay here, our village might be small, but it is beautiful filled with lovely people and mother nature. I am sure your time spent here will make you feel happy again". Furthermore, I felt relived hearing these words, even I hope this storm passes soon, and I would find my lost happiness back again, I had a smile on my face and said "I am already happy hearing your words, once again thank you and sorry for the trouble I would cause you in the future". The villager laughed and replied, "you can trouble as much as you can, I would love to help you and don't be hesitant to ask me about anything". I said "alright sir, thank you".

***

While talking with the other person I did not even realize that I had walked for quite a long distance, I can now see the village, I feel weird entering the village a place where from now on I will live with people whom I am going to meet for the first time... I am worried as well as excited.

***

The villager stopped in front of a home and called someone... the grandma who came out looked at me, asked the other person, "William, who is this person?'. Oh, I just realized I didn't even ask for his name when we were talking, but now I came to know the elder's name. William explained my situation to the grandma and I could see that she is pitying me. The grandma turned towards me after listening to William's explanation, "dear, come inside, it's cold outside. You can stay here with me, I have another room. I would love to have such a cute and beautiful daughter like you".

Continuation…

Hearing her calling me daughter made me sad, made me think of my mother… I was barely holding onto my tears, which would fall any moment. I did not want to make it look obvious that I am sad, so I quickly put on a fake smile and replied, “Thank you, Please excuse me then”. Entering inside the house. I was stunned to see how beautifully the house was maintained with cute decorations and traditional vases which almost took my breath. I exclaimed,” It's beautiful, I can feel the amount of love you have for your home". The grandma laughing at my remarks replied, “thank you, I guess you had not expected this huh!”. I really had not expected it to turn out this way, I judged a book by its cover, I felt embarrassed, "I am sorry if I offended you in any way". I said with my head looking down. I heard people laughing, and I see that both the elders were laughing at me. The grandma, "I did not mean to scare you at all! I am not angry at you". William, "why do keep apologizing for everything, please consider this as your home". I just got to know that I keep saying sorry, I guess it has become a habit. I gave a nervous laugh, "I see". Grandma, "I am Lucy, as you can see I am still young and beautiful". I respectfully gave her a bow, "I am Anna, you really look young and pretty as a matter of fact! . I am 24 this year". Lucy with a bright smile on her face, "You really know how to flatter me! ". With a smile, "I don't know how to address you". Lucy, "I would love to have a daughter who is so cute". I was flustered at her remark, it was not like I hated it, to be honest I was happy. I guess she found me being uncomfortable, Lucy, "It's fine, you can just call me Lucy". I hurriedly replied, "Mom". My heart really must have wanted to call her as mom... Lucy, "William, look at my daughter, isn't she gorgeous! ". I could see how happy she was. William, "Yes, indeed she is pretty. Finally, you got a daughter, I am jealous of you ". We all laughed for a while, and without knowing it was already 11 pm. William, who insisted that I call him uncle, bid farewell after a short chat.

***

My mom... took me to my room and gave me a goodnight kiss on my forehead and left. I was over the moon!!! I feel like I became a 5-year-old kid all of a sudden. Likewise, I am really happy to call her as my mom, without any worry I slept having sweet dreams, I guess it must be mom's magical kiss.

***

I woke up in the early morning, it was 4 am. I could hear the rooster's alarm, but this time it was the real one. I went out of my room and saw that my mom was already awake, Lucy, "Good morning, did u sleep well? ". I replied, while still rubbing my eyes, "Good morning, mom".

My morning couldn't have been much more perfect.