The cars finally rolled into the airport.
The moment Pragya saw the familiar airport entrance ahead, the nervous flutter in her stomach returned.
She had been trying not to think about this moment since she woke up.
She had spent the entire morning surrounded by people she loved, laughing, arguing, eating, checking luggage, and pretending that this was simply another ordinary day.
But it wasn't.
This was the day she was leaving home.
The day she was leaving Kolkata.
The day she was flying to Chennai.
The day she was beginning her M.Tech. at IIT Madras.
And suddenly, everything felt frighteningly real.
The cars came to a halt.
Anubhab switched off the engine and glanced toward his sister.
“Angel?”
Pragya didn't answer.
She was staring through the windshield.
“Pragya.”
She blinked.
“Huh?”
“We're here.”
She looked at the airport again.
“Oh.”
Anubhab smiled gently.
“Ready?”
Pragya took a deep breath.
“No.”
He chuckled.
“Good. At least you're honest.”
She turned toward him.
“You're supposed to tell me everything will be fine.”
“Everything will be fine.”
“Then why did you say good?”
“Because you're finally admitting you're scared.”
Pragya rolled her eyes.
“Bhai, please.”
He smiled.
“Come on.”
They stepped out of the car.
At almost the same time, the other car stopped nearby and Niharika, Aarohi, and Archismita climbed out.
Aarohi immediately stretched her arms dramatically.
“Finally!”
Niharika stared at her.
“We've been sitting in a car for less than half an hour.”
“Exactly. It was torture.”
Archismita shook her head.
“You are unbelievably dramatic.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“I know.”
Pragya laughed.
For a few minutes, the four girls were busy arguing over who would carry which bag.
“I'll take this one,” Niharika said.
“No, I'll take it,” Aarohi replied.
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“That isn't a reason.”
“It is when I'm saying it.”
Pragya looked at them.
“You three are fighting over my luggage?”
“Yes,” Aarohi said proudly.
“Why?”
“Because today you're important.”
“I'm important every day.”
Niharika nodded.
“True.”
Aarohi pointed at her.
“Don't get arrogant.”
Pragya laughed.
“Too late.”
Anubhab pulled one of the heavier suitcases from the boot.
“I'll take this.”
Pragya immediately protested.
“Bhai, I can carry it.”
“I know.”
“Then give it to me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“That is not an explanation.”
“It's the brother explanation.”
Anirban smiled.
“She won't win.”
Pragya looked at her father.
“Papa, you're supposed to support me.”
“I support your brother's decision on this matter.”
“Unbelievable.”
Aarohi whispered to Niharika,
“She's outnumbered.”
Niharika nodded.
“Completely.”
Once all the luggage had been arranged, they stood outside the terminal.
Nobody seemed quite sure what to say.
The jokes had suddenly become quieter.
The smiles were a little more fragile.
Pragya looked around.
People were coming and going all around them.
Families were hugging.
Children were running around.
Passengers were dragging suitcases toward the entrance.
But for Pragya, the entire airport seemed to blur into the background.
Her attention remained fixed on the four people standing in front of her.
Her father.
Her brother.
Her friends.
Her home.
Her world.
Niharika was the first to break the silence.
“Okay.”
She clapped her hands once.
“No crying.”
Aarohi nodded.
“Agreed.”
Pragya smiled.
“Good.”
Niharika pointed at her.
“That includes you.”
“I wasn't crying.”
“Your eyes are suspicious.”
“My eyes are fine.”
Archismita smiled.
“They're not.”
Pragya sighed.
“You're all terrible.”
Aarohi stepped forward.
“Come here.”
She hugged Pragya.
Tightly.
Much more tightly than necessary.
Pragya laughed.
“Aarohi! I can't breathe!”
“Good.”
“What?”
“If you're busy breathing, you can't cry.”
Pragya laughed harder.
“You're ridiculous.”
“I know.”
When they finally pulled apart, Aarohi's own eyes were wet.
She immediately wiped them.
“I'm not crying.”
Niharika smirked.
“Of course.”
“I have something in my eye.”
“Both eyes?”
“Dust.”
“Inside the airport?”
“Air-conditioning dust.”
Archismita laughed.
“That's not a thing.”
“It is today.”
Pragya hugged Niharika next.
Niharika held her for a long moment.
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don't become too busy for us.”
“I won't.”
“Don't just say it.”
“I promise.”
“Call me.”
“I will.”
“Video calls.”
“Yes.”
“Even if you're studying.”
“Yes.”
“Even if you're tired.”
“Yes.”
“Even if you're with new friends.”
Pragya smiled.
“I won't forget you.”
Niharika pulled back and looked directly into her eyes.
“I know.”
Then she smiled.
“Because nobody else will tolerate me the way you do.”
Pragya laughed.
“That's probably true.”
Archismita stepped forward next.
Unlike Aarohi and Niharika, she didn't say anything.
She simply hugged Pragya.
Pragya closed her eyes.
The hug was quiet.
Steady.
Familiar.
The kind of hug that didn't need words.
After a while, Archismita whispered,
“You'll be okay.”
Pragya whispered back,
“Will you?”
Archismita smiled.
“I've survived worse.”
Pragya pulled back.
“Don't say that.”
“Why?”
“Because you're my Archi.”
Archismita's eyes softened.
“And you're my Pragya.”
They hugged again.
Anubhab watched the girls with a small smile.
Finally, he walked toward Pragya.
“Angel.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
He held out his hand.
“Phone.”
“Why?”
“Give it.”
She handed it over suspiciously.
He checked something.
“Emergency contacts?”
“Already saved.”
“Papa?”
“Saved.”
“Me?”
“Obviously.”
“Archi?”
“Obviously.”
“Niharika?”
“Yes.”
“Aarohi?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
Pragya stared at him.
“Are you done?”
“No.”
“Of course not.”
He looked at her seriously.
“Listen to me.”
She became quiet.
“If you're ever uncomfortable, call me.”
“I know.”
“If you're sick, call me.”
“I know.”
“If someone bothers you—”
“I'll call you.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
“Bhai, I'm going to study at IIT Madras, not enter a war zone.”
“I know.”
“Then stop looking like you're sending me into battle.”
Anubhab smiled.
“Can't help it.”
Pragya suddenly hugged him.
He hugged her back.
For a few seconds, his usual teasing disappeared.
He simply held his little sister.
“I'm proud of you.”
Pragya whispered,
“Thank you.”
“Very proud.”
She tightened her arms around him.
“I'll miss you.”
“I'll miss you too.”
Just as Pragya wiped her eyes, Anubhab suddenly said,
“By the way, Pragya.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“You remember Eleanor, right?”
Pragya blinked.
“Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“Oh!”
Her face immediately changed.
“Yes, I know her.”
Then a mischievous smile appeared.
“She is your junior.”
Anubhab already knew what was coming.
“Yes.”
Pragya tilted her head.
“Your junior who apparently has a crush on you.”
Anubhab closed his eyes.
“Pragya.”
Aarohi's head immediately snapped toward them.
“Excuse me?”
Niharika looked equally interested.
“Who?”
Archismita raised an eyebrow.
“Eleanor?”
Pragya looked at her friends.
“Oh, you don't know the story?”
Aarohi immediately grabbed Pragya's arm.
“Tell us.”
Anubhab groaned.
“No.”
Pragya grinned.
“Apparently, my dear brother has a very enthusiastic junior.”
“Pragya.”
“She admires him.”
“Exactly.”
“Very much.”
“As her senior.”
“Of course.”
“Pragya.”
She gave him an exaggeratedly innocent expression.
“What?”
Anubhab sighed.
“Not again.”
Aarohi looked delighted.
“This is the best airport farewell ever.”
Niharika laughed.
“I knew there was some hidden drama.”
Archismita smiled.
Anubhab looked at all three girls.
“None of you are helping.”
Aarohi grinned.
“We're supporting Pragya.”
“That's precisely the problem.”
Pragya laughed.
“Relax, Bhai. I'm only teasing you.”
“Very funny.”
She gave him a suspicious look.
“So what about her?”
Anubhab's expression changed slightly.
“I actually asked her to help you today.”
Pragya's smile disappeared.
“Help me how?”
“She'll pick you up from the airport.”
Pragya blinked.
“What?”
“She'll pick you up and drop you at your hostel.”
Pragya stared at him.
“You asked Eleanor to do that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She is currently at Chennai.”
“What is she doing there?”
“Her grandparents are celebrating their anniversary.”
“Oh.”
Pragya thought for a moment.
Then her eyes widened.
“Wait.”
She pointed at him.
“You arranged all this without telling me?”
Anubhab shrugged.
“I knew you'd argue.”
“I am arguing!”
“I know.”
“I could have gone alone!”
“I know.”
“I can take a cab.”
“I know.”
“I can navigate an airport.”
“I know.”
“I can find my hostel.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you ask her?”
Anubhab smiled.
“Because you're my little sister.”
Pragya's expression softened.
He continued,
“You're going to a new city. You've never been there alone. She knows the area. She knows the routes. She'll make sure you reach safely.”
Pragya sighed.
“Still…”
“No arguments.”
She crossed her arms.
“You sound exactly like Papa.”
Anirban immediately spoke from behind them.
“Good.”
Pragya turned.
“Papa!”
Everyone laughed.
Aarohi leaned toward Anubhab.
“Bhai, you're very protective.”
“She's my sister.”
“And Eleanor?”
Anubhab groaned.
“Don't start again.”
Pragya laughed.
“I'm keeping an eye on you.”
“I should never have mentioned Eleanor.”
“Too late.”
A boarding announcement echoed through the terminal.
Pragya looked toward the entrance.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
It was time.
She looked at her father.
“Papa…”
Anirban stepped toward her.
She hugged him.
He held her tightly.
“Take care.”
“I will.”
“Eat properly.”
“I will.”
“Sleep properly.”
“I'll try.”
“Pragya.”
She laughed softly.
“Okay. I will.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Make your own life.”
She looked at him.
“And don't be afraid of missing us.”
“I won't.”
“You'll always have a home here.”
Pragya's eyes filled.
“I know.”
She hugged him again.
Then she turned toward Anubhab.
He opened his arms.
“Come here, Angel.”
She hugged him.
He held her tightly.
“Go.”
She whispered,
“I don't want to.”
“I know.”
“I'm scared.”
“I know.”
“What if I can't adjust?”
“You will.”
“What if I get homesick?”
“You'll call.”
“What if I want to come home?”
“Then come home.”
She looked up at him.
“Really?”
“Always.”
That answer made her smile.
Then he gently touched her forehead.
“But don't run home just because you're scared.”
She nodded.
“I won't.”
“Good girl.”
Then came Niharika.
“Come here.”
Pragya hugged her.
“Call me when you land.”
“I will.”
“Immediately.”
“Yes.”
Aarohi stepped forward.
“I have one final instruction.”
Pragya laughed.
“What?”
“Don't become boring.”
“I won't.”
“Don't become too sophisticated.”
“I won't.”
“Don't replace us.”
“Never.”
Aarohi hugged her.
“Good.”
Finally, Archismita.
She hugged Pragya silently.
Then whispered,
“Go.”
Pragya smiled.
“Take care of everyone.”
“You take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
They pulled apart.
Pragya looked at them one final time.
She wanted to memorize everything.
Her father's face.
Anubhab's smile.
Niharika's tearful eyes.
Aarohi's attempt to pretend she wasn't crying.
Archismita's quiet smile.
She took a deep breath.
“Bye.”
“Bye, Angel.”
“Bye!”
“Call us!”
“Don't forget us!”
Pragya smiled.
“I never could.”
She picked up her backpack.
Then she walked toward the airport entrance.
After a few steps, she turned around.
Everyone was still standing there.
Watching her.
Waiting.
Loving her.
She raised her hand.
They waved back.
Pragya smiled.
Then she turned around again.
This time, she kept walking.
Her eyes were wet.
Her heart was aching.
But her steps were steady.
Because she wasn't walking away from her family.
She was walking toward her future.
Behind her were twenty-two years of memories.
Ahead of her was an entirely new life.
And somewhere in between those two worlds stood one brave young woman—
Pragya Paromita Banerjee.
The girl who hated early mornings.
The girl who could disappear inside a book for hours.
The girl who had never wanted a life without her family.
And yet, today, she was brave enough to leave home to build the future she had dreamed of.
She reached the entrance and took one final breath.
Then she walked inside.
The next chapter had officially begun.
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