Renuka was bursting with excitement as she packed her travel bags. This was her first-ever trip sans any adults. She was headed to the breathtaking valleys of Kashmir with her dear cousin, Meera and their parents weren’t accompanying them. The thought of exploring snow-capped mountains, sipping hot kahwa and exploring the Kesar flower gardens filled her with joy.
A few days before the trip, her phone rang. It was Meera. “Hey, Meera! I can’t wait to see you!”
“Renu, I’m so sorry,” Meera said, “I have an international client visit scheduled for this weekend and my boss has requested me to be here since I worked on the project. So, I can’t make it.”
Renuka felt her heart sink. “What? But our tickets are booked! I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months!”
“I know, I know! I wish I could go,” Meera sighed. “But maybe we could postpone this to next month? Or you could head out on your own?”
Confused and dejected, Renuka hung up, staring blankly at her packed bag.
“Renu, what’s wrong?” her mother asked from the kitchen.
“Meera can’t come with me to Kashmir,” Renuka said, her voice trembling. “And I really don’t want to go alone, Ma.”
“But, child, you’ve been so excited about this trip. Why don’t you consider going by yourself?” her Ma asked.
“Alone? I’ve never done that! What if something goes wrong?”
“Sometimes, you have to step out of your comfort zone. You’re stronger than you think. You might meet new people and have a wonderful adventure.”
Renuka looked conflicted. After a moment, she took a deep breath. “What if I get lonely or scared?”
“Then you’ll make new friends,” her Ma said, smiling. “You’ll never know unless you try. I believe in you, Renu.”
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