Fear is ubiquitous: We have all instances of being controlled or captivated by our fear. It was a farewell party at my high school. My friends and I had a plethora of emotions. But most of all, we were nervous and excited.
Until the party got over I was okay, right after getting back home it reality hit me. I was all the way excited about the fact of growing up and moving to a new city for university. But, right before the time came, I started trembling because of my fear! My fear of moving to a new environment, my fear of settling in without my family. Moreover, without my Maa and Paa.
I am the apple of my father's eye and, that is to an extent, that he never wanted me to leave him and move to a new city. Be it for studies or anything!
I knew that I have to do it so I pretended that I am responsible enough and could handle the pressure of a new and big city. So what if they would not be there in person, I made them believe that I will be just a call away!
Then comes the time, I jetted off to Mumbai: The city of dreams. As soon as I landed, heavy rainfall started and looked like it will not end, anytime soon.
After fixing and settling in, my father was ready to fly back home. That was the time when I got tempted to capitulate undeterred by my fear. Father hugged me and made me promise not to cry or else he will take me back to my hometown.
It was my first day of college without my father back at the house. I was terrified, trust me! I would always think that people would be so different in a metropolitan. And, yes they were different. From their language to their behaviour, it was all new and different. I did not know how to make friends.
I practised talking in front of the mirror, on as to, how do I speak to the new classmates. And, then these questions emerged:
Will they accept me?
Will they befriend me?
Will I be able to adjust?
How long will I be able to survive?
Then, I spoke to myself and said; I will take baby steps and, all I need to remember is: Nothing is impossible! Literally, nothing is impossible. Moreover, if my father overcame his fear of leaving his little girl in a wonderland. Then his little girl can, of course, make him feel proud of overcoming his inhibitions and fear by overcoming her fear.
Days passed, I made many friends. But, that came after a lot of efforts and initiatives. I pushed myself to adapt to the culture and the new space to make it my own. It has been five years in this metro and this for sure has become my new home!
And, that is how I overcame my biggest fear!
In the midst, of overcoming fears; I would love to quote, Marie Curie: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
