Raju discussed the idea with his parents during dinner.
"Kolkata?" his mother asked with concern. "Who will you stay with?"
"I can share a room with Amit," Raju replied.
His father remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said, "Life does not change without risk. If you believe in yourself, go."
That night, Raju felt both fear and excitement. He had never lived outside his town. He had never traveled alone so far.
The day he boarded the train, his mother packed food for him. His father placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Remember who you are. Stay honest and work hard."
The train moved slowly, carrying Raju toward a new chapter of life.
When he reached Kolkata, the city overwhelmed him. The noise, the crowd, the speed — everything was different. People walked fast, spoke fast, and lived fast.
For a moment, he felt small again.
But he reminded himself:
"I have faced struggle before. I can face this too."