Sunday 25 October 2009

Journey through past

Early morning I got inside the city hopper from Norwich International Airport to cross English Channel. As I took the first step the rush of chill made me nostalgic, how soon this city had crept up beneath my skin. I sighed and made way inside.

As I settled by the window, I recollected a familiar face on Heathrow digging cold fingers deep in black tuxedo alone for almost the first time in foreign land. The first bus journey from Heathrow to Norwich. My little Angel who helped me through my first visit. My first encounter with rabbits scurrying through grasses near my accommodation. A class of 17 with 13 nationalities, my first consultancy client, exams, public presentations, London trips late night parties, Buckingham Palace, London Underground, Everything just brushed past me as the flight took me in air to rest on the familiar face who had accompanied me to the airport!

I felt ripped apart heart and soul going to each, soul called for home and heart rested on that face. My eyesight got blurred as we crossed the English Channel. I was still gathering myself when captain announced arrival at Amsterdam.

As I got down the hopper I felt hollow, incomplete and torn!

Thursday 12 February 2009

Masters!

Day started as usual, after morning errands I switched on the laptop and made my way towards kitchen to brew a cup of coffee. Smelling aroma of fresh brewed coffee sipping it slowly I made my way to my laptop picking up some cookies.

I minimized the updates, offline messages and news feed to open Outlook. Looking at 24 new messages I heaved a sigh only to see one email from Terry, my MBA program director. Yeah, it was first after a long time, I opened the email, it said "Congratulation you have been nominated for the MBA"

Masters secured!

Sunday 1 February 2009

Norwich Calling!

Days flew by, and it was time to pack bags, Norwich was calling back, the cold air filled me in the warm room.

My father rushed in the room with his check list to ensure all was packed. My aunts, uncles, cousins and scores of friends had flocked at our place since evening to see me off. Our large size family house which generally seemed too big for our nuclear family was packed. I came out and joined the flock, and laughter filled the air.

The time ticked again and watchman loaded my bags in car with drivers help. I came out with my parents and sister and bade byes to my extended family, friends and neighbors.

Thursday 1 January 2009

New Year with folks!

Back to India, reunited with my family I was glad as following the tradition set years back this new year also I would be with my folks...

As the clock ticked we got together crouching on sofas in the living room, which was turned to dinning room for the occasion with the center table full of roast chicken, liver fry, green salads, mint chutney and my favorite Biryani. It was past a week since my arrival but even after days of chatting and catching up there was still so much to talk.

It was my mother tonight, she was filling me with her stories, as I saw her standing by the kitchen platform cooking and a small boy of 10 stooping by her side on the platform keen to listen to his mom's stories, the boy grew up in front of my eyes as his mother got old and he was now not only standing and stooping to listen but also talking and helping her as she got slow, and then I saw the boy disappeared as she stood there alone, my eyes prickled, the boy was back!

I heard my father laugh out loud and I looked intently as he started to fill me with his part of stories, his hair showed streaks of gray, and he looked tired. This time I saw a kid almost 6 years old filled with joy as after days of persuasion his dad was finally taking him to his office.

I saw the awe he was filled with when he saw the massive building, huge guards, grand war canons and the biggest Indian flag he had ever seen, he was amazed at the grandeur of the place his father worked. The office was filled with loads of people, his father got busy as his peon took the boy around the big building showing him big offices and bigger rooms finally to the very big canteen where he ate chocolates. As the day of treat ended I saw father buying the boy a red fire brigade toy from the shop on the way back home, his souvenir of the day. The boy was filled with admiration for the father who was tall as the building he worked. Days passed again and boy grew now, a bit taller than his father and filled with the mammoth of admiration. Finally, I saw them at the airport as his father bade him bye. I gulped down the last sip of fanta, the boy was back!

As my glass was empty, my younger sister came forward with the bottle to refill my glass. I now looked at her as she stepped back, I remembered the nights when we slept in our room, how she kept on talking till late night, telling me all the stories of the day, till I told her to be quiet and sleep. I saw the time flying back and I saw a five year boy peeping at his new born sister, as she waved her tiny hand and even tinier fingers at him, now I was smiling!

As I was lost in my thought, my sister announced that it was last minute of 2008 and as the new year came I wished my parents and sister a Happy new year!

Happy new year to you all too!