19-02-2026, 05:34 AM
Chapter 3: Horizons Apart
The steam from the coffee cups between them couldn't mask the heavy atmosphere of the restaurant. It was Dilip’s final day before his flight, and the weight of the coming three years sat like a stone in Ramya’s chest. Tears blurred her vision as she looked at him.
"I've never been truly alone, Dilip," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know how I'll manage. Between the pressure of college, cooking for myself, and keeping up the apartment... what if I can't do it?"
Dilip reached across the table, taking her hand firmly. "We will do this together, even if we are miles apart. It’s just three years, Ramya. Think of the future—a better life for us in a new country. It’s a small sacrifice for a lifetime of being together."
Later, they walked back toward the apartment in a comfortable silence, soaking in the last few minutes of shared air. Ramya had begged to see him off at the airport, but Dilip remained firm.
"Ramu and Raj are driving me," he reminded her gently. "If you come, people will ask questions we aren't ready to answer yet. We have to keep our marriage a secret for now."
They made a pact then: a daily call, no matter the time difference. They promised to share every detail of their lives, leaving nothing out. The farewell was a blur of salt-stained cheeks, lingering kisses, and a heartache that felt permanent. As the door closed behind him, Ramya felt the silence of the apartment for the first time.
New Beginnings in Chennai
Ramya’s first day at college felt like stepping into a different world. Coming from a quiet village, the noise and pace of Chennai were overwhelming. She kept her head down, struggling with her schedule and the stares of her peers, until she met Shiny.
Shiny was everything Ramya was not: an extrovert, loud, and effortlessly confident. She seemed to know everyone by name within an hour. While other students teased Ramya for her shy nature and village roots, Shiny took her under her wing.
"Don't worry about them," Shiny said, throwing an arm around Ramya’s shoulders. "I’ve got you. If anyone bothers you, they deal with me."
Ramya watched Shiny with a mix of awe and curiosity. Shiny dressed in a way that would have caused a scandal in Ramya's village—short kurthis, leggings that showed her frame, and necklines and a bit of cleavage that were bold and modern. Yet, strangely, the boys didn't tease her. They respected her, perhaps even feared her a little.
By the end of the day, they were inseparable. Shiny loved the home-cooked food Ramya brought, even suggesting that Ramya move into her apartment once a spot opened up. For the first time since Dilip left, Ramya felt a glimmer of hope.
The Great White North
On the other side of the globe, Dilip landed in Canada to a biting chill and a massive culture shock. He was picked up by Hari, a professor at the university, and his wife, Priya.
Dilip froze when Priya greeted him. Not only was she wearing a T-shirt and shorts in public, but she stepped forward and gave him a brief, friendly hug. Dilip’s heart raced. In his conservative upbringing, a married woman hugging another man—especially in front of her husband—was unthinkable. But Hari just smiled, completely unbothered.
His new life was a whirlwind of luxury. The apartment Hari had secured for him had a private gym and an indoor pool. That evening, Hari took him to the communal gym to meet the rest of the faculty.
The sight left Dilip speechless. The women were working out in sports bras and leggings, laughing and joking with the men as equals. He felt like an outsider, clutching his modesty and his traditions. He tried to be polite, but speaking to women who were dressed so "casually" made him stutter with shyness.
The Midnight Bridge
Late that night, Dilip finally got his SIM card working. The video call connected instantly. In Chennai, it was a bright, humid morning; in Canada, it was a cold, dark night.
"I met a girl named Shiny," Ramya said, her eyes glowing with a bit of newfound confidence. "She's so modern, Dilip. She wears whatever she wants and people actually respect her for it. I want to be like her."
Dilip nodded, the image of Priya and the women at the gym fresh in his mind. "It’s the same here, Ramya. A woman hugged me today—Hari's wife. It’s just the culture. I was shocked at first, but... we have to learn to blend in. If we don't adapt, we’ll look like aliens here."
Ramya went quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I’ll try. I'll start slowly, maybe learn a bit from Shiny."
As they hung up, both felt the distance, but for the first time, they also felt the pull of the new worlds they were about to enter.
The steam from the coffee cups between them couldn't mask the heavy atmosphere of the restaurant. It was Dilip’s final day before his flight, and the weight of the coming three years sat like a stone in Ramya’s chest. Tears blurred her vision as she looked at him.
"I've never been truly alone, Dilip," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know how I'll manage. Between the pressure of college, cooking for myself, and keeping up the apartment... what if I can't do it?"
Dilip reached across the table, taking her hand firmly. "We will do this together, even if we are miles apart. It’s just three years, Ramya. Think of the future—a better life for us in a new country. It’s a small sacrifice for a lifetime of being together."
Later, they walked back toward the apartment in a comfortable silence, soaking in the last few minutes of shared air. Ramya had begged to see him off at the airport, but Dilip remained firm.
"Ramu and Raj are driving me," he reminded her gently. "If you come, people will ask questions we aren't ready to answer yet. We have to keep our marriage a secret for now."
They made a pact then: a daily call, no matter the time difference. They promised to share every detail of their lives, leaving nothing out. The farewell was a blur of salt-stained cheeks, lingering kisses, and a heartache that felt permanent. As the door closed behind him, Ramya felt the silence of the apartment for the first time.
New Beginnings in Chennai
Ramya’s first day at college felt like stepping into a different world. Coming from a quiet village, the noise and pace of Chennai were overwhelming. She kept her head down, struggling with her schedule and the stares of her peers, until she met Shiny.
Shiny was everything Ramya was not: an extrovert, loud, and effortlessly confident. She seemed to know everyone by name within an hour. While other students teased Ramya for her shy nature and village roots, Shiny took her under her wing.
"Don't worry about them," Shiny said, throwing an arm around Ramya’s shoulders. "I’ve got you. If anyone bothers you, they deal with me."
Ramya watched Shiny with a mix of awe and curiosity. Shiny dressed in a way that would have caused a scandal in Ramya's village—short kurthis, leggings that showed her frame, and necklines and a bit of cleavage that were bold and modern. Yet, strangely, the boys didn't tease her. They respected her, perhaps even feared her a little.
By the end of the day, they were inseparable. Shiny loved the home-cooked food Ramya brought, even suggesting that Ramya move into her apartment once a spot opened up. For the first time since Dilip left, Ramya felt a glimmer of hope.
The Great White North
On the other side of the globe, Dilip landed in Canada to a biting chill and a massive culture shock. He was picked up by Hari, a professor at the university, and his wife, Priya.
Dilip froze when Priya greeted him. Not only was she wearing a T-shirt and shorts in public, but she stepped forward and gave him a brief, friendly hug. Dilip’s heart raced. In his conservative upbringing, a married woman hugging another man—especially in front of her husband—was unthinkable. But Hari just smiled, completely unbothered.
His new life was a whirlwind of luxury. The apartment Hari had secured for him had a private gym and an indoor pool. That evening, Hari took him to the communal gym to meet the rest of the faculty.
The sight left Dilip speechless. The women were working out in sports bras and leggings, laughing and joking with the men as equals. He felt like an outsider, clutching his modesty and his traditions. He tried to be polite, but speaking to women who were dressed so "casually" made him stutter with shyness.
The Midnight Bridge
Late that night, Dilip finally got his SIM card working. The video call connected instantly. In Chennai, it was a bright, humid morning; in Canada, it was a cold, dark night.
"I met a girl named Shiny," Ramya said, her eyes glowing with a bit of newfound confidence. "She's so modern, Dilip. She wears whatever she wants and people actually respect her for it. I want to be like her."
Dilip nodded, the image of Priya and the women at the gym fresh in his mind. "It’s the same here, Ramya. A woman hugged me today—Hari's wife. It’s just the culture. I was shocked at first, but... we have to learn to blend in. If we don't adapt, we’ll look like aliens here."
Ramya went quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I’ll try. I'll start slowly, maybe learn a bit from Shiny."
As they hung up, both felt the distance, but for the first time, they also felt the pull of the new worlds they were about to enter.
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