That Night
12:36 AM – The Night I Left Home It is 12:36 AM. The house is quiet, but my mind is not. In a few hours, I will leave my hometown for Delhi to begin my PhD at the University of Delhi. Everyone says, "Congratulations." They see a new beginning. I do too. But they don't see everything I am leaving behind. I am leaving the home where I grew up, where every room carries a memory and every corner reminds me of who I have been. I am leaving behind the familiar roads, the people who know my story, and the comfort of a place that has always felt like home. I am leaving behind my parents, whose sacrifices made this journey possible. Every achievement I celebrate carries a part of their hard work, sleepless nights, and unwavering faith in me. Walking away from home is exciting, but it also leaves a quiet emptiness that words cannot fully describe. I am leaving behind my elder cousin, who has always stood beside me like an elder brother. Through every success, every setback, every...