The Knot on the Plane

It’s a cloudy and chilly day. The wind whispered. The leaves rustling made me shiver down my spine. It’s as if there are ghost here. But, this is normal in the monsoon season in India. The harsh cold rain. Cars honked and screeched. All the birds hide in the nest with leaves on the heads to protect them from the wind. I made myself comfortable in my ragged sofa. My mom made some sort of a tangy and spicy curry. I turned on the old-fashioned brown tv box. Colored lights blasted my face. Then, it started to rain cats and dogs. Slowly I ate my rice and curry. Suddenly, someone opened the wooden door.

“Laxmi! Yash! Come here!” my dad shouted. I looked up and started into twinkle that I never saw before. 

“What happened?” I asked as I rushed towards him.

“Wait. Let your mom come.” replied my dad, “Laxmi!”

“One moment,” called my mom, “Hm. Tell me now.”

“We. Are. Going. To.”

“Dominos to eat pizza?”  I questioned eagerly waiting for a confirmation.

“No! We are going to the mall. Right?” my mom inquired. 

“No. We are going to the United States!” exclaimed my dad.

“Oh,” my mom and I replied.

It took us a while to get us used to the fact that we were going to the United States. United States of America! This is the cake! I don’t care if I got the icing or not. My education got to get better, we were going to be rich, and we wouldn’t worry about anything. We started to pack immediately. Suddenly, I realized that none of my friends were going to come with me, I wouldn’t know anybody, and I might not see my grandparentsever again. It’s tough leaving the only place you ever lived your entire life. We said bye to all our family and friends. Then we rode in the car silently. By then I fell asleep. 

“Airplane 8756 is leaving in T-minus 30 minutes,” boomed the speaker. I got shocked by the fact airports can be huge. My eyes couldn’t take everything in. Everyone moved too fast for me to even notice what went on. I felt homesick. A knot in my stomach began to grow. By the time we boarded the plane, I started falling asleep. I tried to sleep but couldn’t because I couldn’t lay flat. Luckily, they provided with little monitors that could play movies that’s been pre-downloaded. I sat there watching Cars 2 and enjoying the view. But, then I got reminded of India.

“We have left India,” spoke the flight attendant.

“Here we come, USA!” loudly whispered my dad.

A feeling of guilt ran throughout my blood. I am leaving all my friends behind. All my belongings and memories remained at India. Trying to shake off that feeling, I continued to watch the movie. After a while later an attendant brought me a tray filled with food. The cheese oozed for the hot steaming pasta. The brown fudge aroma filled my mind with sweetness. Even the salad looked appetizing. I began to feast. Somehow, theyweren’t as good as I imagined. But I ate anyways. Soon, I feel asleep.        

At last, we were in the USA. I stepped outside and inhaled the sharp cold air. “Burr!” expressed my mom by rubbing her hands together. Indeed, it’s cold. I glanced at the fog covering my face in the cold and dark night. Cars rushing somewhere to go somewhere. Family being reunites. Parents sending of their child. The feeling of happiness and sadness swirled in the air. After all, it’s Seattle. 

After two rough and painful weeks of getting used the rain, I joined second grade in Stevenson Elementary School. I knew nobody, and it’s petrifying to think that I would be living here. I got used to fact that the person who needed the help mostnobody else other than me. But by the end to the school year which stayed a struggle to complete, I could speak English and Imade a couple of friends. The weather started to get better. The leaves and the grass were getting richer and prettier. The festivals were starting. Fourth of July come around. American flags hanging in balcony of apartments. Surprisingly, no car horns were being pressed repeatedly. The air stayed nice and peaceful. It’s the icing of the cake that US baked.       

In the end, I thought about my journey here and experiences. Sure, I missed India, but I liked it here. There stood a constant difference between US and India that’s big as the sky.But, after meeting all the lovely people and rich nature that US had to offer transformed my thinking. The knot in my stomach melted away like the warm golden red sun dipping down on Seattle’s simmering lakes.