Well, since the past 22 yrs.. oops!.. 23 yrs and exactly 1 month, this is the longest period that I've been away from something I used to call home !! Many times since this period I have asked myself what I think was called "Home".. Is it the place, the people, the rooms, the clothes lying everywhere, study table covered with tons of things except books ;) !, intermittent phone calls..or what?? It took a few amazing experiences for me to start answering this question. Probably my answer will keep changing over time.. I don't know.. but at least I can make a beginning..
The first few days were remarkably smooth and easy.. Getting used to a new environment, a new climate, new languages and new people and most important.. (for me..) new food..!! The television barely spoke in a language I could decode.. and the restaurants never sold anything I could call out.. A treat for the non-veggie in me with the big fish and ample meat.. the canteen smelt weird though and the fish, I realized.. were safe from salt !!.. no honking horns and no paani puri ! No Thane locals and crowd no where.. a bus with more seats empty than those occupied.. Ample of rain..but no potholes..! Variety of cultures.. Malay, Chinese and Indian too.. People struggle with english and the 'dumb charade' expert in you gets a philip..
Slowly we start talking in their slang.. the rice.. bread and eggs get on my nerves.. I am stuck at home after work..wish for a walk besides my very own lake.. My thoughts turn back home.. to the beautiful lake-side walk.. a small stroll with friends.. a chat at CCD and a chaat at Mamtaa's.. my college..where I forced myself to go even on sundays.. the night outs and the khau gallis..watching serious non-sense on tv.. or being with everyone at the same time.. the overcrowded trains which.. took you "HoMe..".. haa..
So what was it exactly..was it the place? or the things associated with it or your habits.. I was still not clear...
This weekend, a very kind Indian lady invited us over for dinner.. It was only after smelling the puri bhaaji, butter paneer, aaloo gobhi and finally some chapaatis and of course after devouring them, did I realise what that feeling should be called.. Feels Like Heaven.. rather.. Feels like Home..!!.. Its not really missing your house or your room or your college for that matter.. Feeling homesick is missing the feeling itself.. Coz.. hearing a hindi song after couple of weeks of Malay and English..A chat with your close ones from over a hundred miles.. watching your neice smile over your laptop screen.. Eating butter paneer in a foreign country, making Kelyache shikran at home and even watching a movie like Saajan on Malay tv.., could trigger a feeling and tell you.. you are at home..!!
