Are you still there?

Chapter 1 Im Home!

I love these tiles. I have always loved them. The pleasant yellow striped one, with small red flowers on it. When I shower, the steam covers them and of course, it does not seem like dew drops. But it gives a sense of calm to me, seeing them. Ghosh, I've missed home so much.

--

"Khushiiiiii!! My babyyyy", mom rushes to me giving me a tight hug. She is so very excited! But wasn't this how she has been with me all along? In fact I've been the same with her as well. Every day I come down and when I see her in the kitchen, I've never been able to contain my rush of love. I always go give her a peck on her cheeks and pull her into a hug wishing her good morning in one of my weird, child-like voices which I always try to imitate when I'm with her.

Today also I feel the same love if not more for her, I share the same excitement as her. But words just elude me. I stand silent, letting my mom shower her love and I be the silent grateful recipient.

"Kya Hua Khushi", my mom asks pulling back from the hug, looking at my silent state.

"I missed you mom", I say after a short pause and my arms automatically pulls her into a tight hug. "I missed home".

--

"Wow, I've almost forgotten this taste ma" I savor the dosa and mint chutney mom has made for breakfast.

"Its so good to have you back didi", my ever so silent but naughty brother says, sitting next to me, serving me a jalebi.

"Oh my, did you make it?", I say already grabbing the bowl.

"We made it", mom says coming and standing beside me, serving one more dosa.

"Did you sleep well beta? Is your jet lag ok?", dad asks me, with a jubilant smile looking at all the care and affection I'm getting.

"Haan dad, I'm much better, the churan really helped. I had a sound sleep", dad smiles and before he could ask anything else, mom interrupts.

"Khushi, now you will be here for sometime, isn't it beta? You wont leave this city for at least two years now right?" I could already see my mother in pain, reminiscing the days I've not been here.

"No ma, I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere".

--

Ma had prepared lemon rice and potatoes for lunch. It has been my all-time favorite of her recipes ever since I could remember. And that's one of the many things I've missed about home. My stint in Hungary has been terrific. I would never regret going there. But that doesn't mean I would say I didn't miss home. I've had a lot of spreads, various cuisine but I've almost forgotten this contended feeling after we eat from home, which is oh so different from having full.

After a happy lunch and a good nap, I'm back again looking at my mom making green tea in the kitchen. Ah... green tea!

"Arrey Khushi, you are already up? Jet lag nahi laga tughe?" (Didn't you feel jet lag?)

"I wanted to be with you ma. Now give it to me fast, I cant wait for your green tea now"

We settle down on the couch in the terrace, among the small kitchen garden my mom has so meticulously curated. The leaves are lush green and look happy, all thanks to my mother.

I love to be among plants, but I'm not a gardening person. The only plant I've had with me in my place is a pot of aloe vera. There are some kind of flowers too in the plants here, which I'm sure is not that ornamental flower but the one which turns into some vegetable in sometime. But which ones, I have no idea.

"Till when do you have your break?"

"I don't have to join until next Friday ma"

"So you have two weeks in hand then! I'm so happy beta. But had you said this earlier, we could have planned some trip na"

"Maaa, I've been on a trip for such a long time now anyway. I just want to be home, with all of you. I don't want to go anywhere else", I keep my glass away and cuddle my mom, resting my head on her shoulder.

She silently pats my head and sighs. "Fine, but we will go somewhere closer alright. Its been so many years".

"We definitely will. Maybe a two day trip before I report to office. But we will have a lot of opportunities to go out now ma. Now that I'm here I'm going to trouble you together for all the years I've been away", I start to tickle mom and she returns the favor and we are a laughing mess.

--

I'm back in my room after dinner. My mom has changed the bedspread and pillow covers to the old ones. She had especially gotten bright yellow ones for me and arranged the bed. But I wanted the old, a bit faded blue cotton bedspread.

I strip myself naked and get into the shower cubicle. Mom said they have renovated the bath fittings a year ago. But this jet stream looks brand new for its hardly used. The water passes through my open hair and wets my naked body.

My first day back home is coming to an end. My family is more health conscious, I can see they have maintained themselves very well and my parents look young and energetic. My brother has always maintained his fitness routine. Yet they feel the same. I wonder how did I even think that they would be different to me!

Some things have changed too, like the shops in the colony, the renovations in my home and...me. Or so do I think so.