She had turned 19 years old a month back but the world still seemed the same it had 10 years ago. Nothing had changed except the fact that she looked bigger and now had to study and work at the same time. It was not much of a problem though. After all people that she worked with were always helping her and the core classes that she was taking were a piece of cake. Mridul had asked her out some days back. The thought brought a smile to her face. Since the time she had come here 6 months ago, she had felt a small flutter in her stomach in his presence. Though she had been too scared to admit it to anyone, but he had always seemed like such a nice person. She smiled again and put on her jacket, as she got ready to walk out to her car. She had to go over to didi's house for dinner before returning to her apartment. She would be seeing Mridul tomorrow. Didi did not know anything about her crush on him but she could tell didi later. She always worried about how Shreeya would make a big mistake and let down aama and baba. They had tears in their eyes when Shreeya had left them in the airport. She would never even dream of doing anything that would hurt them. She had talked to them two days back and they had filled her in about how they missed her and how Dai’s daughter could walk now. Aama had worriedly asked her if she was in a good health and whether she needed anything. Aama had always been worried that she would not be able to live by herself. Before coming to USA, aama had frowned and asked, "tero kapaal ma every weekend abba kasle oil haaldinchha? Kasle talai everyday khana banayera khan dincha?" Aama still thought that she was a baby! As she got into the car, she glanced at the rearview mirror to make sure that her make-up was okay. Though it did not make much of a difference, but she wanted to look good in front of bhinaju. Didi had been married for a long time but this was the first time that she was meeting bhinaju. Didi had been head-over-heels for him since she had laid her eyes on him and she hoped that something incredible like that would happen to her one day. Mridul’s thought filled her again and gave her a warm sensation. She had never liked a guy before. She had been to shy to ever go out with someone, but she was a romantic at heart. Though sleeping beauty and Cinderella were all fairytales, she was sure that she had a prince charming waiting for her. She could visualize Mridul holding her hand and smiling down at her as they walked together. Especially in a cold day as today, they would sit together and cuddle up to watch the snowfall! Even the view of highway 35 seemed beautiful as she drove by. How amazing that someone's thought could make the everyday view seem so beautiful! It was already dark but the snow on the road made the night shine. She was lost in her fantasy when suddenly she felt a jerk that made her come back to reality. Her car was sliding across the very snow that she had admired a minute back. She tried to hit the breaks but the car would not stop it went round and round. Oh god! Someone had hit her from the back! She closed her eyes and tried to think of Aama. The spinning sensation was nauseating; it felt like her car was going round and round for eternity. Cold fear gripped her, not allowing her to think. How can she stop her car? Suddenly the car came to a halt with a bang and she felt her head hit something hard. Hot liquid ran over her face and she lay there. She tried to lift her head but something was holding her down. She tried to open her eyes but all she saw was dim lights around her. Aama would be worried about her. Aama would always fuss at every small scratch, how would she respond to this? Drowsiness engulfed her and jammed her thoughts. She gave in to unconsciousness as she heard the sirens and felt someone grip her arms. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyoti had called last night. She could not make out what Jyoti was saying between her loud sobs. Aama had tried to calm her down but Jyoti would repeatedly take Shreeya’s name and cry. Jyoti’s husband had to take the phone and explain that Shreeya was in the hospital. She had an accident and had passed away before she had reached the hospital. Her Shreeya was not in this world anymore... she did not even have a chance to say 'good-bye'. Her Shreeya with the laughing brown eyes was not there anymore! Yet there were no tears. All that was left was the darkness around her and the emptiness inside her as she dreamt of her smiling little girl.