Priyanka looked around her room one last time before shutting her suitcase. This was it; she was finally leaving home to go to college. She was excited to begin a new life in a new place, have new experiences, and meet new people. Priyanka had received a scholarship to go to out of state college in New York City. Her family had moved to the USA from Mumbai, India when she was a little girl and had lived in the southern state of Texas. While she loved her life in Texas, she longed for the Northeast where she had heard that life was a lot more cosmopolitan, like her childhood town on Mumbai. She was looking forward to walking in downtown Manhattan with friends, going to the local coffee shops, and of course also to studying in one of the best universities of the country.
Priyanka flew directly into JFK airport in New York City, and then took a taxicab to the university. Curiong the cab ride, one of the biggest difference she saw was that every where she looked there were people of all races. Unlike Texas, there were Hispanics, Orientals, African American, and Indians. Lots and lots of Indians, which completely thrilled her.
She had been assigned her room in the dorms and her parents had insisted that she live in the all-girl dorms. She didn't now who her roommate was going to be but hoped that she would be someone nice. Priyanka went into the dorm and registered herself with the Dorm Director and then proceeded into the room. She opened the door and was not surprised to see half the room already decorated as she was just told that her roommate had checked-in the night before. What did surprise her was the fact that the room was decorated with Indian décor. She looked at the door of her room and saw that her roommates name was Jaya and in her hurry to come into her room, Priyanka had missed the name completely. She really hoped that Jaya would be a nice girl since she really didn't want to have a difficult relationship with a fellow Indian.
Priyanka started unpacking and setting up her side of the room. As it started to get dark, her room door opened and in walked in Jaya. Both girls looked at each other and instant broke into a wide smile.
"Hi!" they both said enthusiastically and in typical Indian fashion just gave each other a hug. All walls of formality instantly disappeared. They immediately hit it off, and after a few moments of pleasantries, Jaya started helping Priyanka unpack. They talked for hours and Priyanka told Jaya about herself and her family back in Texas. Jaya shared that she was an international student and her family was still in Mumbai. Hearing that Priyanka jumped up with delight.
"I was born there," she said entusiastically. "This is so wonderful. You have to tell everything about it. I haven't been there is ages."
"No wonder you're so beautiful, your a mumbian!" Jaya said. "One thing you have to know that Mumbai is the most happened place in India. Just remember that and everything will be fine because we Mumbaians take our city very seriously." She added with an air of pride.
"Ok madam." Priyanka said in mock seriousness. "And you should be the one to talk about my looks, have you looked in the mirror lately? You should be in Bollywood. speaking of which, have you seen all the movie actors and actresses? After all Bollywood is in Mumbai right?"
"Yea I've seen a few" Jaya said with a laugh.
"What are you laughing about?" Priyanka asked.
"Well you are only the tenth person to ask me that in two days." Jaya replied with another laugh.
The girls continued to ask and the comfort they felt with each other surprised both of them.
"I hope I'll be able to settle down here." Jaya said with a bit of apprehensiveness in her voice. "I know people do it all the time, but I tend to get a bit homesick now and then. I mean I've never stayed away from my family. My older sister went got her degree in Mumbai so I'm the first one to leave home."
"Well this is my first time away from home too. I'm sure we can help each other time in time of need. That's what friends do right?" Priyanka said back with little bit of encouragement.
"Right." Jaya cheered back up.
Priyanks then looked at Jaya and said "I'll make a deal with you, you tell me all about India and Mumbai and I'll help u get acclimated in the US."
"Deal!" said Jaya and the two girls hugged again.
Priyanka and Jaya friendship grew as time went by. Both were very good natured and had a lot in common. Priyanka let her talk to her family back in Texas who invited her over whenever Priyanka few back home. Jaya's parents in India were very happy to hear that their daughter was living with an Indian girl. While the girls did not have the same majors, they did share a few classes the first semester. So the girls studied together and helped each other out with homework. Priyanka was amazed at how smart Jaya was and often looked at her in admiration.
Jaya on the other hand was always on awe of Priyanka's confidence. When they hung out together on weekends, and went out together with friends, to college parties and sometimes even explored the city, Priyanka was always the leader and true to her word she help Jaya get acclimated to like in the US. Priyanka introduced Jaya to her first taste of alcohol which the girls enjoyed in the privacy of their rooms. Both of them got pretty buzzed and ended up having a pillow fight in their pajamas. When the university shut down for Christmas break in December, Priyanka took Jaya back to Texas to meet her family. Priyanka parents welcomed Jaya with open arms.
Their second semester was just as good as the first one. Their friendship continued to grow and soon they had become inseparable except when they were in classes. When the semester ended, Jaya went back to India and Priyanka went home. They kept in touch through emails and chats and updated each other regularly on what was happening in their lives. They also realized how much they missed each other. It was apparent that an unmentioned emotional bond had formed between the two and the day wouldn't be complete if they didn't chat for at least a little bit ever night.
Both were looking forward to the fall to return college, and in September their reunion was like that of school girls and not college women. There was screaming, and hugging, and giggling, and jumping. Such was their friendship. They were always there for each other in good times and bad moods; through laughter and tears; through aggravation of school, and homesickness. They weren't friends, they were they were best friends, and if genetics wasn't a factor, they would be sisters..
