The alarm had rung off at the perfect time as usual. Both Robert and Amber had already freshened up and got ready. But Meera was still asleep. On Amber's order, Robert had been trying to wake her up for the last ten minutes and he was failing.

-"Wake up baby. We will be late otherwise. Up! Up!" He kept on tapping on his daughter.

Amber looked at them and rolled her eyes.

-"Somebody once told me, 'BE STRICT WHEN YOU'RE WAKING UP A KID'" Amber mimicked her husband.

Their flight to New Delhi was scheduled at 9 in the morning. And they should reach the airport by 6.30, and it was already 6. Amber went to the bed and shoved Robert off the bed. She got on the bed and took the duvet off her. Amber then pulled Meera up by her arm.

-"Wake up." Amber spoke aloud waking Meera up.

She had an 'I am going to cry' face with her eyes closed.

-"Meera we are gonna be late if you don't get up now."

Finally, sleeping beauty opened her eyes. Amber took this opportunity and helped her off the bed into the washroom. Within fifteen minutes, Meera was wide awake and ready in a beautiful white t-shirt and red shorts. Amber went to her makeup bag to take out some hair accessories. Meera ran to the window again.

Thankfully they reached the airport perfectly on time. Meera was excited. It was going to be her first-ever flight. After all the formalities, they boarded the flight. Meera wanted to sit by the window but was nervous.

What if the glass breaks and she falls off the flight! She thought.

Robert sensed her fears and encouraged her to take the window seat by giving her a slight push. Meera reluctantly took the seat.

Minutes passed and finally, it was time to take off. There was an announcement asking the passengers to fasten their seat belts. Amber tightened Meera's seat belts. As the aircraft started to move, Meera felt getting more and more anxious. She suddenly felt a hand on her. She looked up. It was her mother. Amber had a small smile on her lips.

-"Everything will be fine. We are here." Amber soothed.

A couple of days later

Four days have passed since Meera got her parents; four days of not being an orphan anymore. Things were going pretty well. On the first day in New Delhi, Meera was taken to a hospital for some medical tests. Meera was all okay until she saw the nurse pull out a syringe.

Meera had started shaking her head vigorously constantly murmuring "No!". But Amber held her tight in her arms as the latter kept crying.

By the time all the tests were done, Meera was a mess. Her face was red and her eyes swollen. But at the end of the day, Meera was happy to have what her parents had promised her- mac n' cheese and ice- cream for dinner.

Day two was very boring. They had to be at the embassy for long hours. From signing papers to just waiting, waiting, and more waiting. But all's well that ends well. By 6 in the evening, they had all the documents required for their departure, which included Meera's passport.

Seeing the passport on the table in the hotel room she recalled Anjali's words.

"Check your name once you get your passport."

Meera checked for her parents. Mother was in the washroom, while father was busy with a call. She sprinted to the passport and opened it curiously. And it was written:

COLLINS

MEERA

She was happy, relieved to realize that she will be Meera always.

-"You were checking your name." Robert's question sounded more like a statement.

Meera looked up at her father. She did not know how to respond because she was kind of afraid of him. Robert somehow sensed her hesitation and responded himself.

-"No one will take your identity away from you." He had a smile. But it soon stirred looking at Meera's perplexed face. She clearly could not understand the tough words. Robert rephrased,

-"You will always be Meera."

Today was day 3 in Delhi and they had a flight to Dubai in the late evening. They had the entire day to them. For Amber, an off day meant only one thing.

Shopping. period.

Mother-daughter was ready on time. However, Robert did not want to accompany knowing how boring will it be for him. He preferred being in the room and of course, working. But for sure, Amber wasn't having it.

-"You're going."

-"No babe. I am not." Robert smiled weirdly.

-"Robert please."

-"No!"

Meera found it funny. She kept on looking from one to the other not understanding much.

They spoke so fast!

Amber and Robert spoke very slowly with Meera with reasons obvious.

-"Robert Collins!" Amber warned.

Meera's smile automatically faded slightly. She was strict.

And like every other debate at home, the criminal lawyer lost to the fashion designer. Robert looked all grumpy as they waited for the cab to arrive. Meera noticed it. For a girl who did not like anybody sad, poked his sides getting his attention.

-"Smile." She said cheerfully.

Robert melted. In no time he too had a smile.

The shopping spree continued for more than six hours (11am to 5pm). And to the parents' surprise, it did not tire Meera at all. She loved hopping from one store to the other. Robert, in fact, had to beg them for having lunch in the food court. By the time they were back, Amber and Robert had a lot of bags. Most of them were Meera's.

Meera had a discovery about herself. She loved sunflowers. Meera got three sunflower printed dresses and two pairs of sunflower ear studs. Apart from that, she got a couple of pairs of trousers, shirts, t-shirts, shorts and also a beautiful salwar kameez.

Meera was elated.

******

It was finally time to fly again. She was happy. She loved flying. Again, she had hopped to the window. But this Robert sat beside her. The Collins had a private jet that could easily transport them to their home, but they chose otherwise. Robert wanted to have a break journey. He did not want to overwhelm Meera considering it was her first time flying. They had no idea beforehand how she would feel about the same.

Seat belts were fastened. The aircraft was ready to fly. Meera was excited. The small message on the screen in front made her heart pain.

GOODBYE INDIA

Realization settled in. She was leaving India, her country.

Will she ever be coming back again?

Will they allow her?

Doubts, insecurities started to fill in.

•••••••

A/N

It's useless to give the travel details minute by minute and publish filler chapters. I know most of you (including me) are waiting for the moment when Meera meets her brothers. Hence I'll be skipping unless it's something really significant.