' IT S TIME TO WAKE UP MY CHILD AND EMBRACE YOUR DESTINY '

Wake up

Wake up

ARINI SHARMA! WAKE UP!

I groaned as I woke up. Rubbing my eyes I shut off the alarm clock with a smack. Apparently, my dearest brother thought it would be great to customize my clock with mom's voice. Gee thanks, brother

.

I got up from my bed stretching my arms as I yawned. Making my way to the bathroom I looked at myself in the mirror. I grumbled not liking what I saw. I looked like the models in the shampoo advertisement the one they show before their magical transformation.

Stripping off my clothes I took a shower while singing at the top of my lungs.

?Knock, knock, you about to get shell shocked

Knock, knock, you about to get shell shocked

That's my fam, I'll hold 'em down forever

Us against the world, we can battle whoever

Together ain't no way we gonna fail

You know I got your back, just like a turtle shell

Nobody do it better, all my brothers tryna get some cheddar

We all want our cut like the Shredder

Me and my bros come together for the dough

Bought the orange Lamborghini, call it Michelangelo?

Stepping out of the shower in my oversized t-shirt and jean, I made my way towards my darling Leonardo Junior or L.J. He was my pet turtle. You, my dear people, would have guessed by now that I, Airini Sharma, a 16 year old girl was a TMNT Geek and a hardcore one. From jewelry to clothes, everything I owned was turtle themed.

Maybe my fangirling was borderline obsessive. But eh.

I fed my baby his food. Humming to myself giddily I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I still can't believe that I was finally in NYC, City that never sleeps. And boy! I was beyond excited. Though I had landed just yesterday.

"Sure you are." Said my consciousness or as I like to call it mini-me.

"Well, look who's up" greeted my brother Akash, a man in his mid twenties who had settled in NYC for quite a time. He was sitting at the dining table reading his newspaper with his coffee on the table.

"Well good morning to you too bhaiya (brother)," I replied narrowing my eyes at him for that alarm clock. Yes, I was not all about 'forgive and forget'.

And he just chuckled at my expense. Gee what a brother.

"Aru are you excited about that Teensy Mutant Turtle Ninja Culture Festival?" he questioned. Oh, he did not!

"It's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle." I said out of reflex. You see my family knew about my obsession and never missed the chance took tease me about it. And my brother loved it a lot. Brothers. *Sigh*

"I still don't know what you see in them."

"…"

"Ok fine sheesh teenagers these days." He said shaking his head. I kept making my way toward the table and picked up his coffee and took a sip.

And made my way back to my temporary room.

"Wha- hey that was my coffee!" he called behind me.

"It no longer is! Make a new one." I said without turning back.

A few seconds later I heard grumbling and scrapping of the chair against the floor. I smile to myself and closed the door after me.

I made it straight towards my laptop and open the fan-fictions on it. What kept my interest and devotion towards the fandom alive, it was these amazing stories written by equally passionate authors. These were more than just stories they made us laugh, cry and sweep us off our feet to a whole new world. May god bless the world of fan fiction.

I continued reading the fanfics the whole day to open my mind to the possibilities I would be seeing at the culture fest. And was on the most interesting part,

He looked into my eyes it felt like he was staring into my soul. Blue electric eyes staring me down with love and compassion, Leonardo takes a step forward and-

*Ring*

*Ring*

"Oh come on!" I exclaimed raising my arms in the air in exasperation

Leaving my precious story to check the time. The clock read 9.15 am. My eyes widen in the realization that I had only 20 minutes left to leave for the Fan Fest.

Dashing around like a mad woman I managed to change into my black leggings and t-shirt that read booyakasha with a blue bandana just in 8 minutes. I should be awarded a prize for my quickness.

I was busy admiring my outfit in the mirror when I heard a knock on my door.

"Arini are you ready?" Came the muffled voice of Akash Bhiaya through the closed door.

"Yes. I am coming!" I yelled back.

Picking up my L.J.'s cage I opened the door and found my brothers staring me down with bored expression. Yes, he is taller than me. Not that I am short!

"Are you seriously taking it with you?" he asked me raising his eyebrow as he leaned against the door.

"IT? HE IS A HE!"

I couldn't help but scoff at his comment.

"Ok, ok no need to scream. I was just pulling your leg. Geez, you really are a teen." He tried to calm me down.

"Well, what are you waiting for go start the car bro." I urged him to leave cuz this was once in a lifetime opportunity I could not miss at any cost.

"Yes mam" he mock-saluted me and left.

I glanced at L.J. who silently tilted his head.

"Aw L.J. don't you worry sweetie, mama here won't let anything happen to you."

"And you call your brother a weirdo" mini me rolled my eyes. How do I know that? I don't have a slightest idea.

"Airini come down! Or I would leave without you."

"OK I AM COMING." I shouted going down stairs towards the front door.

Getting into the car I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I put on the seat belt. You know the fangirl smile.

"Stop smiling like a creep Aru." My brother chided me.

"Nope." I replied popping the p

"You know I really missed you." He said looking at me through corner of his eyes as he started the engine and we left his apartment.

"I missed you too." I replied softly looking at him with a small smile upon my lips. It had been three years since I saw him after he left India for his job as a chef.

I had cried pretty much the whole day when he left. He and I had been close when we were younger protecting me, he was my hero and still is. But I won't tell him that and boost already big ego.

I looked out of my window taking in site of the streets filled with people who were busy in their own world. It was a nice change after the Covid19 who left people utterly alone.

"All the streets look the same bhai. How could you remember your way around." I changed the topic not wanting to get emotional now.

"Funny you asked. It took me months to remember my way through them. Heck, once I was driving all round asking them way to my apartment only to realize I had crossed it twice."

"Talk about embarrassing." I giggled imagining him asking the way around only to be standing infront of his destination.

"Look we are here."

It brought me out of my thoughts. I couldn't hold my excitement, whilst trying to get myself out of the stupid seatbelt and jumped out of the car.

Finally my kind of people, I thought enraptured by the beautiful sight of fans dressed as the ninjas, kunoichi heck I even saw a Shredder. It was heaven.

I sighed dreamily. Not because of shredder! *cue the shudder*

"I would pick you up at 8.00 pm. Okay?"

But I was too distracted to listen. I grabbed L.J. from the car and ran.

"Okay bye!." I squealed and ran into the unknown. (Got it! No one? Okay)

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