A week later, a thick white envelope arrived.
The words Goldtrent College of Business glimmered faintly in gold across the top.
Inside were her acceptance letter, a campus map, a student catalogue, and the full scholarship details—official and beautiful.
Ishani read every line, heart trembling. For a moment, it felt like heaven had sent her proof of everything she'd been fighting for.
Her brother snatched the letter, reading it carefully. "So it's not a scam," he said, glaring at their father. "Now will you accept her dream?"
Their father said nothing. His silence was an answer in itself.
"Then it's time for her passport and visa," her brother said firmly.
And for the first time in weeks, Ishu smiled.
The following months blurred by—paperwork, interviews, signatures, and sleepless nights of both excitement and fear. Her brother stood beside her through it all, proud and protective. And when the day finally came, when her ticket was printed and her bags packed, her family stood at the airport gate, quiet under the glow of the terminal lights.
Her father didn't speak. He didn't even look at her. His face was hard, almost blank, but his hands trembled at his sides.
The boarding announcement echoed through the hall.
She turned back once, eyes already wet. Her father had turned away completely, refusing to watch her go.
In a sudden rush, she dropped her carry-on and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his still frame."Take care of yourself, Nanna," she whispered.
He didn't say anything. But his fingers, hesitant, pressed once against her back before she pulled away.And then she was gone—through security, through gates, through the life she had always known.
When the plane landed hours later, PP stepped out into the sharp chill of Canadian air. She inhaled deeply—the cold biting but clean, like a promise.
Her first thought was I did it.
Her first smile since that night at home finally came.
She caught a cab, wide-eyed as the city blurred past—neon lights, glass towers, people who didn't stare. Everything felt new, alive, and dizzying.
When the cab stopped in front of the Goldtrent campus, she stared at the grand building with disbelief. Her chest filled with pride and nervous excitement. She had made it all the way here, on her own.
Inside the administration office, a woman with kind eyes handed her a key."You'll be sharing your dorm with two other students," the woman said. "Please adjust accordingly."
Ishani nodded and smiled politely. "Thank you."
Dragging her luggage down the hallway, she began to notice things—open doors revealing students laughing, kissing, smoking. Someone was dancing in just a towel; another couple was tangled together on a couch half naked. Her jaw dropped.
So this is college life here… she thought, half amused, half horrified.
When she finally reached her room number, she exhaled in relief. Quiet. Thank God.
She unlocked the door and stepped in. The small common area looked neat—three bedrooms branching off from it, a kitchenette tucked in one corner. She dropped her luggage with a sigh, ready to breathe—
Then a blast of deafening music exploded from the far room.
Ishani jumped, covering her ears.
"JUST STOP IT, JOANNA!" a voice shouted behind her.
Startled, Ishu spun around. A girl—slim, furious, her red hair a mess—stormed past her and yanked the plug from the speaker. The music died instantly.
Ishani stood there, frozen and wide-eyed. The two roommates began bickering about something she didn't understand, their words overlapping like a chaotic duet.
And Ishani… just laughed quietly to herself.
How am I supposed to live with these monkeys for two whole years?
PP stood awkwardly in the doorway, suitcase handle clutched tight, watching the chaos unfold before her. Two girls were arguing—loudly—over something about speakers and playlists.
She cleared her throat softly. "Um… excuse me?"
Both heads snapped toward her at once. The silence that followed was thick enough to cut.
Ishani offered a nervous laugh. "I—I'm sorry, are you my roommates in 403?"
The red-haired girl blinked, then smirked. "Yeah… so you're the Indie girl who got into the MBA program?"
"Yeah," Ishu replied, awkward grin still plastered on her face. "That Indie girl."
The girl chuckled and ran a hand through her messy curls. "Well, welcome, girl. Sorry for the ruckus earlier. I'm Mary—Marina Forbes." She extended her hand, friendly and open.
Ishani reached out quickly, shaking it. "I'm Ishani Naidu. You can call me Ishu."
"ISHU," Mary repeated with a grin. "Nice. Easy to remember." She gestured toward the black-clad girl who was now picking up the unplugged speaker with clear irritation.
"This is Joanna Brooks—arts major. And I'm science major, by the way."
Ishu glanced at Joanna, taking in her jet-black outfit, piercings, and tattoos that peeked out from under her sleeves. She looked like the kind of girl who could terrify a room without saying a word.
Joanna gave a curt nod, rolled her eyes, and disappeared into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her with a sharp click.
"Does she… hate me already?" Ishani asked hesitantly.
Mary laughed, pushing up her round spectacles. "She doesn't hate you. She just hates everyone. Don't take it personally."
Ishu smiled softly, still trying to take it all in.
"So," Mary said, grabbing the handle of Ishu's trolley and dragging it inside. "Tell me where you're from!"
"India," Ishani said, following her into the apartment. "From a Telugu state called Andhra Pradesh."
Mary's eyes widened in excitement. "Then you must know Bahubali! And Prabhas, right?!"
Ishani blinked, then burst into laughter. "How do you know that? And yes, of course—I don't know them personally, but they're from our state."
Mary grinned, pushing open a door. "You're lucky, girl. Anyway, this one's your room. That's the kitchen, and that's our living area. Get changed—we'll eat and talk more."
"Got it." Ishu smiled gratefully and wheeled her suitcase inside.
As soon as the door closed behind her, she dropped her bags, flopped onto the bed, and let out a sharp, happy exhale. The unfamiliar ceiling above her felt like the start of something big, something she'd dreamed of for years.
She lifted her hand and clenched it into a fist."My dream," she whispered, a small smile curving her lips. "I'll definitely make it come true."
After freshening up, the girls spent the evening chatting about movies and college gossip. Mary turned out to be unexpectedly funny and open-hearted—her nerdy looks hid a warm, curious soul. Ishani felt lighter, as if the tension of a new country melted away with every laugh they shared. Before leaving, they exchanged numbers like new friends who already felt familiar.
"Mary… is there any convenience store nearby? I need to get some sanitary pads," Ishani asked shyly.
Mary nodded and tore a small sheet from her notebook. She drew a rough layout map with cute little arrows and landmarks—trees, a burger sign, a fountain. "Here. Follow this trail, you won't get lost. Wait for me there, okay? I'll join in five minutes."
"Sure. Call me when you reach," Ishani replied, tucking the map into her hand.
Outside, the evening air carried the faint scent of roasted coffee and rain-soaked pavement. Ishani followed the map carefully until she finally spotted the glowing convenience store sign. She stepped inside, grabbed what she needed, and turned to leave—only to bump straight into a broad, solid chest.
"Ow—!" she hissed softly, her shoulder stinging.
The man she hit barely moved an inch. He wore a dark leather hoodie, face half hidden by the shadow of his cap. Without a glance, he picked up a carton of milk and continued toward the billing counter.
"Hey, you should watch where you're going, boy!" an elderly woman scolded from behind.
He didn't react—just scanned his items in silence.
"These young ones… so rude," the lady muttered, turning to Ishani. "Be careful, darling."
Ishani nodded with a faint smile. Something about that encounter left her pulse a little uneven—an unfamiliar chill.
When it was her turn to pay, she noticed a faint glimmer on the tiled floor. A small silver pendant, shaped like a paw, lay half-hidden by the counter. She bent to pick it up, the metal cool against her fingers.
It must've belonged to that man.
"Miss, Cash or card?" the cashier's voice broke her thought.
"Ah—yes, sorry,Cash" she replied quickly, tucking the pendant safely into her pocket.
Outside, she scanned the street for any sign of him. But the man was gone—vanished into the night like he was never there.
A tap on her shoulder made her jump.
"Everything okay?" Mary asked, a bit concerned.
Ishani exhaled with a nervous chuckle. "Yeah… yeah, all good."
They walked down the street together, and Mary soon pulled her into a small burger place. "You have to try this—it's the best one here."
Ishani's eyes lit up at the sight of food. She was a hopeless foodie; one bite was all it took for her to forget about mysterious strangers, sore shoulders, and silver pendants.
At least for now.