After some time, Kumar finally reached home and began discussing everything that had happened during the day.
Kumar did not have much idea about the expenses required to send his daughter abroad. So, he told Swarna to speak properly with her uncle and understand all the costs involved. However, he did not mention to her that he had also decided to send his son, Shiva, abroad.
Since childhood, Shiva had always been excellent in his studies and had dreamed of becoming a doctor. Understanding the family's situation and the responsibilities resting on his shoulders, he quietly agreed with his father's decision and prepared himself to go abroad as well.
Meanwhile, Swarna called her uncle and asked about the total expenses. Her uncle explained that everything together would cost around twenty-five lakhs.
After learning the amount, Swarna became deeply worried, wondering whether her father even had such a large sum of money.
Soon, it was time for dinner, and as always, the whole family gathered in the kitchen.
Swarna and her mother served food to everyone together.
Just then, Kumar asked gently,
"So, daughter, did you call your uncle and ask?"
But Swarna could not gather the courage to say that it would cost twenty-five lakhs.
So she softly lied,
"Uncle didn't answer the phone. I'll call again after some time."
Kumar then said,
"It's alright, I was able to reach him. He said it would cost around twenty-five lakhs. And it seems all the procedures must be completed within the next five days, and then you will have to fly."
Hearing this, Swarna finally felt relieved and quietly began eating.
After dinner, once all the kitchen work was finished, Swarna went to her room.
As soon as she reached there, she called her elder brother and sister on Facebook Messenger. With great excitement, she happily shared the news that she too would now be going to Canada to study with them.
Hearing this, Prashant and Prashna were overjoyed.
They immediately began making happy plans about all the fun they would have abroad and how they would stay together.
In the middle of their cheerful conversation, Prashant gently reminded them,
"We are not going abroad just for fun. Our family is investing the money they have earned through a lifetime of hard work and sweat through us. So once we go there, we must work very hard and only return home after achieving something meaningful."
His words deeply touched them, and they began reflecting seriously on what he had said.
Now, only a few days remained before their departure abroad.
The passports for all three of them had already been prepared earlier, so now they began gathering and preparing the remaining documents.
Days continued to pass, and the day of departure drew closer and closer.
This naturally made Maya and Kumar's hearts heavy with worry.
Yet, seeing the happiness shining on their daughter Swarna's face, they tried to comfort themselves.
At the same time, they also decided to arrange a good visa for their son and send both children abroad.
Now, only four days remained before Swarna's departure.
Because of that, she had to go to the city the very next day.
She began packing all the things she would need, while Maya lovingly helped her.
As she packed, her eyes suddenly fell upon the family photo frame placed on the table in her room.
With a tender heart, she picked it up and placed it carefully into her bag as a precious memory.
Perhaps because it was the last evening with her family before leaving for abroad, Swarna went early into the kitchen and began preparing dinner for everyone.
By the time dinner was ready, everyone gathered in the kitchen.
Today, Swarna had prepared everyone's favorite dishes.
For her grandmother, she made paneer curry.
For her father, she cooked his favorite potato dish.
For her brother, she made lassi.
But there was nothing special for her mother.
So Kumar gently asked,
"And what have you made for your mother, daughter?"
At that moment, Swarna replied softly,
"Mother has always cooked what all of us love. She fills our stomachs first and only eats if something is left for her. Sometimes she even lies, saying, 'I'm not hungry today.'
And there is no food that Mother ever says she dislikes.
Even if I accidentally burn the food while cooking, she still smiles and says, 'It's delicious, daughter,' and eats it lovingly.
That is why I never truly came to know what Mother's most favorite food is."
Hearing these words, everyone in the room became deeply emotional.
Tears quietly filled their eyes.
But Swarna quickly changed the mood and said,
"Tomorrow I will be leaving, so today there should be nothing on anyone's face except smiles. No one is allowed to cry."
Respecting her words, and for the sake of their daughter's happiness, everyone hid their emotions.
With forced smiles and heavy hearts, they began eating the meal Swarna had lovingly prepared, praising her again and again.
Even after dinner, no one felt sleepy at all.
Maya kept thinking in her heart,
"If only this night could stop here forever…
if only the day of sending my daughter away never had to come."