Before the Journey

There was an announcement in the news channel that my father was watching. I am generally not interested in news but it caught my attention.

It was about our area, about a storm coming up in two days and it's going to be one of the biggest one of this year.

I live in a small coastal town in eastern part of India, with my parents.

I heard father informing my mother who was more concerned about what to cook for dinner.

"Why do you get so worried still. We have been living here for ages and survived so many storms together!" said my mother.

"Our house is old now and I am a retired person. I am worried about the expenses we will have to bear in repairs." Father said.

I feel bad about this, I am their only daughter and I am not qualified enough to clear the exams for Govt jobs. Our family of three was surviving on father's pension.

I wanted to do something but I was clueless. I have never been out of this town and I was already 26.

Only a miracle could get me something but I was unlucky for that too.

Spent the whole night thinking how are we going to survive another bolt from the nature? Father was right!

I got up early in the morning, motivated to look for jobs in the city. The city is 8 hours from our place and it would not be wise to leave my parents alone in the storm but what use was myself to them if the storm comes!

"Ma, I am going to the city today to look for jobs. I will be back in 2-3 days" I told while having breakfast.

"Today? but the storm is coming!" mother said. She looked so much older than her age. Worry about money , about my marriage, made them older than they were.

I was a burden for them .

"The storm will be here, not in the city. You two take care of yourself here."

It never took much to convince them. They had faith in me and I had to do something to help them.