Aisha Urooj - Eleanors Travels

Dedicated to life and grand adventures;

For the people and places of this beautiful world;

To finding love, when you least expect it;

For discovery, both outside yourself, and within.

Copyright 2020 by Aisha Urooj

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. The opinions expressed are those of the characters and should not be confused with the authors.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

To follow the Author, please visit: aishauroojbooks.wordpress.com

Chapter One: Big Plans

P assport? Check.

Tickets? Check.

Suitcases, packed and ready? Check.

Extra long goodbye hug with Best friend?

Check, Check, and Check .

Ellie, I say to myself, You are ready to explore the seven continents. Ready or not world, here I come!

I am Eleanor Grace. World explorer extraordinaire, and Oscar-winning actress.

Ok, ok, so I havent won an Oscar yet... but I plan to... and you can do anything if you believe, right? As for world-explorer, I will be after this trip. This trip around the world is exactly the inspiration I need as a rising superstar. Time to do some soul searching, greet new adventures, and perhaps even learn a few things?

This trip around the world was my parents gift to me, on my twenty-first birthday. Seems a little extravagant for a twenty-one-year-old?

Dont blame them. I was the one who asked for it.

My parents are top-notch successful lawyers. In a lawyers world, time is money, and every minute is worth many $$$, so they have very little time to spare. They made up for their absences with lavish gifts, and unfortunately, lavish excuses.

Luckily for me, the bigger their absence, the greater my price tag went up.

Unfair, you might say? Well, to be fair, I am their only daughter. I might add: I also inherited the gift of strong negotiation and intense bargaining from them .

So, how did I convince them for this trip?

You should know almost everything in life is negotiable. And I mean everything.

The secret is how to ask for it.

My strategy went by understanding what the other side wanted. Next, I figured out how to get what I wanted, and made it seem like the other side was winning. Lastly, I was ready to walk away. At this vulnerable point, the other side will most likely strike a bargain (and they did).

To be extra successful: Rinse and repeat until you win your battle.

I knew my parents didnt mind. In fact, they encouraged my take charge attitude. It made them proud when I stood my ground, and it even brought a tear of joy to their eyes. Normally, they had unreadable expressions.

I would grow up to be like them, maybe even a magnified version of them, if it werent for Cassie.

Cassie is the one who humbles me, stops me from being spoiled and entitled, and brings me back down to earth. She is my balance.

Cassandra Grace, or Cassie as I call her with love, is my best friend in the entire world. My opposite in every sense of the word, and I wouldnt change her for anything, or anyone. It was especially hard saying goodbye to her, seeing that I wouldnt see her in person for about a year as I went on my big trip.

We are also roommates, and have been living in the same apartment for a few years, ever since we dropped out of high school together.

Yes, you heard right. We both dropped out of high school together. My negotiation skills came to a breaking point, but somehow, I convinced both our parents.

Cassie and I were successful. Now, we could take charge of our lives as independent adults... well, almost as adults. I mean we were only seventeen then.

Our parents asked: What if you fail?

I answered: Then, we would go back to schooling and university.

They couldnt argue with that.

I wouldnt have been so brave without Cassie there by my side. Cassie doesn't realize I couldnt have done it alone, because she sees me as invincible and always 100% sure of my path.

It was ironic. Her believing it made it true and gave me that strength, much like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

She is like my sister, even if our outer appearances are very different. I am blonde and fair with blue eyes. She has mysterious green eyes, and even more captivating dark, wavy tresses. I can talk all day long. It is hard to get many sentences out of Cassie.

When she says something though, it is poetry... it is Shakespeare... it is a sirens song... it is eloquent, and spell-binding.

The great irony is she remains unaware of her powers. I am sure there will be a time when she will recognize her divine gift of words. I can say with certainty: She will mesmerize the world as a writer.

Cassie doesn't even know what she wants to do. I mean, it is so obvious to everyone else!

Sigh. For all her cluelessness, I love her to bits.

You will never find me stuck in analysis-paralysis or overthinking once I have decided. I know my choices aren't always perfect, but I will be ok with whatever happens.

Risk is a part of life, and without it, you cant spell adventure.

That was poetic, wasnt it? I guess all that poetry stuff from Cassie is rubbing off on me. Although, I can confidently say Cassies most daring adventures are in the pages of the books she reads.

Anyway, getting back to my trip, so why would I go on this crazy adventure?

I snagged a few acting roles here and there, but I havent come across major, critically-acclaimed level roles. My wish is to be more than the pretty girl in the soda ad, or the one time hit action movie star. I am grateful for the success I experienced so far. Now, I want directors to take me seriously and consider me for challenging roles.

Being a world-class traveller would help get me that edge, that gravitas, and certain Je ne se quoi, non?

Did I tell you I have a talent for languages? On my bucket list for this trip is to learn more languages, especially hone up on my Spanish... in Spain and Mexico. Italian in Italy, a little French would be good.... and Japanese?