My mother had never looked so beautiful. We ran towards each other like they do in Bollywood movies and gave each other a huge hug – one of the warmest I have ever had in my life. Then I saw my dad standing behind her and threw myself into his arms. After six months of slaving away in engineering college, I was having my much-anticipated summer break.

In years past, vacations from school meant eating out, pizza parties, movies, nights out, long bike rides and sleepovers with friends; I never really spent much time staying at home and spending time with my family. In any case, my parents were so occupied that they had little time for me anyway.

But this vacation was going to be different. My parents had moved from India to Abu Dhabi, and while I was looking forward to visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time, the very thought of a holiday without my friends was giving me goose bumps.

As it turned out, the month I spent in Abu Dhabi was a completely new experience. My parents did not have any social obligations and their work load was much less. In the absence of any friends, I had ample time to talk to and listen to my parents.

Instead of watching new Hollywood movies, I spent late nights with my parents watching old Hindi movies and, to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed them. Visiting tourist attractions, evening walks, shopping in malls and eating Arabian dishes with my mum and dad made me completely forget my friends. I discovered a new chemistry with my parents, and for the first time I felt I could relate to them.

The last message that I sent to my friends before I boarded my flight to Abu Dhabi read “Friends, wish me luck for the boring days ahead”. On returning to India, however, when I switched on my cell phone, a smile swept across my face as I texted my friends again ‘srry frnds -pls ignr my lst msg – i hv nu frnds’.

Abhinav Kapoor, age 19