Description + Author words + Book Cover + Chapter 1

Description

Akira Mishra

My father had one request—more like a condition—to allow me to leave our large, Indian joint family and move to New York to pursue my master’s degree.

To not get involved with anyone who wasn’t a Desi boy.

And I did not miss a beat before I agreed.

Because why not?

All I wanted was Freedom. To live away from my overbearing—but very sweet and supportive—family.

To study hard.

Find a job in NYC.

And make it on my own, like millions of my fellow Indian immigrants.

My plan was all set.

So, of course, it’s completely ruined when I sit beside him on the first day of my class.

.

Sam White.

Sam White, my White American classmate.

Sam, with his dark-as-sin clothes, a permanent frown etched on his face, and his perfect grades in class.

Sam, with his total ignorance about my Indian culture but his determination to understand it better.

So what if he makes me feel a little more at home in an unknown country?

So what if he looks at me like I’m the only one he sees?

I will not fall for him.

I cannot fall for him.

I absolutely cannot break my promise to my father.

So, of course, I do.

AUTHOR WORDS

THIS IS NOT MY STORY

ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER/AUTHOR

I am just sharing this book so all of u can enjoy it

I have seen many authors doing this. SO WHY CAN'T I

I have read so many novels, books, stories. I want to share it.

Original author: N.M. Patel

PLEASE DONT REPORT IT

BOOK COVER

Chapter 1

Akira

Ahmedabad, India

Chaos was inevitable when my entire family decided to come. All fourteen of them.

“Should we walk you to airport security?”

“That’s not necessary, Mummy.”

Everywhere around us, clusters of people were engrossed in their farewells and welcomes. The sharp tones of worried mothers and tense fathers, children screaming and running around, the sound of flights taking off and landing—and my own family talking over each other—had my heart pounding out of my chest.

“Are you sure you want to go to New York? You still have time to change your mind.”

“Pappa, check-in is in five minutes. And yes, I’m sure I want to go to New York." And my answer to this question has remained unchanged for the last nine months, since I began my application for a master’s degree in architecture.

“Where is that brother of yours? How can he be late to see his little sister off?” Mummy looked around the crowds as she dabbed at her face with a handkerchief, pretending to wipe the humidity off her cheeks. Every now and then, she swiped away a stray tear. She thought she hid it well, and it was evident how much she was trying to keep it together. She was going to make me cry. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and said, “Has Aakar ever been anywhere on time? Don’t worry, Mummy. He should be arriving any minute now.”

The late evening rain had cooled the harsh concrete pavement of the airport, and soft wind helped soothe the heavy emotions in the air. All of us stood near the entrance of the airport at midnight, preparing to say the final goodbyes.

Mummy’s firm grip on the arm I’d wrapped around her shoulder almost brought me to my knees. She was trying so hard not to break down in front of me. I placed a kiss on her hand and brushed away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. I stayed silent. Words would be our undoing. Was my dream of studying in New York worth leaving my family? Was it a better option than staying with my family, practicing architecture in India, and then marrying someone someday, hoping to God their family was open-minded enough to let me work? That scenario racked a shudder through my body. As much as I loved my family, I was entirely dependent on them, against my will. I wanted to live on my own—make decisions without asking for permission from my family. Cook my own dinner. Pay for my own shit. Create a life of my own. And at the end of the day, I wanted to live a life I was proud of. And I wouldn’t achieve it until I moved out.

I needed to follow my passion. So, when I got the letter of acceptance from Columbia University, I knew I had to go. I needed to do this for myself. When I’d announced my wish to my family, riddled with guilt and worry, Pappa had said, “It’s okay to follow your dreams, Akira. We’re here for you.” Since then, my departure had been a constant countdown, and the day was finally here. Emotions from all my family members surrounded me. My stomach churned. My heart sped up. I was drowning in the feelings around me and within me.

Nerves.

Excitement.

Guilt.

I was sorry for leaving, but not sorry for taking this step. As I stood near Mummy, my eyes met my younger brother, Abhi. He noticed Mummy’s strong hold on my hand and came bounding over from where he was hanging out with our cousins. “You better make some hot American lady friends,” he said, waggling

his eyebrows. “Abhi, watch your mouth,” Pappa said as he came up behind Mummy and rested his hand on her other shoulder. He was the rock of our family. I poked my tongue out at Abhi. “Even if I do, I’m never introducing them to you." He poked his tongue back at me. “I think you’re running late. You better go check in."

Pappa turned to me, his forehead etched with a worried frown. “Beta, I’m very proud of you for the courage you’ve shown. When you start living alone and get to experience that freedom, do not forget why you’ve decided

to leave us. To study. To make something out of your life. Don’t get blinded by everything. Don’t get into a bad crowd. And do not fall into this luv-shuv with some American. We don’t want anything to affect your studies.”

Luv Shuv meaning feelings like love.

I quietly listened to his concerns, for probably the fiftieth time. He’s said these exact words to me so many times, I could lip-sync with him at this point. I nodded obediently. “I know, Pappa. Trust me. I won’t let anything

affect my future.” “Aakar’s here,” one of my uncles shouted. Phew, saved by my older brother, like always.

“Aakar, how can you be late for something so important? Have we taught you nothing?” Mummy asked. Only my arm around her stopped her from going after my brother with her swinging handkerchief.

“Sorry, Mummy. I got held up at work,” Aakar said and quickly dragged me with him to stand with Abhi and Ria.

“I’m so jealous you get to leave this madness behind, Akira," my cousin Ria said with a sigh as she watched the drama unfold. I nudged her with my shoulder and laughed. She was my roommate, my support system, and my

best friend. God, who will I have midnight talks with? I had just minutes before I had to check in. With so many family members here, it was time to start saying goodbye. Mummy was on the verge of crying, and my aunts stood ready to console her. The men, my father included, still believed my bags needed to be looked over and my grandparents peppered me with advice...mostly unhelpful. My brothers and Ria busied themselves with snapping as many selfies with me as they could. I knew saying goodbye would be horrible, but I was shocked at my grief. It took leaving the country for me to realize how close I held my family to my heart.

Mummy started crying, and I held her as she cried on my shoulder. Pappa gave me the tightest hug he’d ever given me, and by the time every aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandparent had hugged me, I was exhausted. Every loving word punched through my heart, and I hated myself a little for putting my family through this pain for the sake of my ambitions. When I hugged my baby brother, I whispered in his ear, “I’ll miss you, Abhi.”

“Don’t you make me cry.” He squeezed me tight before turning away and pretending to check over my luggage—just like my father had. Aakar, who was patiently waiting for his turn, lifted me in his arms and gave me a twirl. “You better be safe, Akira. I won’t be around to have your back.” “I’ll miss you too, bhai.” I’ll miss you too, brother.

No matter how crazy my family was, they were my crazies. And I was going to miss them so much. I looked them over for a moment more, wanting the memory to be like a snapshot I could hold close to my heart. Tears blurred my vision, but only when I’d turned around and walked into the airport, did I let them fall. I didn’t know if my decision to go to the United States was the right thing to do, but time would tell. I could only hope that whatever came my way was worth leaving this love and support behind.

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