Home is where the heart is #YourStoryIndia

Chapter 1

I had decided that I would go home this year, no matter what. No backing out this time. I would definitely ask for that leave. I was sick of working, of the sycophancy, the office politics! Heck I was sick of myself!I needed a break.

Besides I missed home very very much. I missed Durga Puja for the last three years. In my struggle to reach the top I had to sacrifice a lot. That included family time. The only connection I had with my family was talking to my mother once in a week for about half an hour. Sometimes not even that long. I know she missed me. I was her only child after all. Back when I was a kid she was a house wife and her whole life revolved around me. She had opened a sewing school after I left for college. That kept her somewhat busy.

My dad was not a very ideal companion for her. They couldn't stay in the same room for two minutes without shouting like mad people. Dad was in government service. He still had a few years left before retirement. The more his retirement came near the more he got involved in his work. He had been a workaholic his whole life. Guess I got it from him. Now that his working life was coming to an end he went into denial. He already got a two year extension mostly because he was an excellent employee. The only problem was he was never a family man. Family was never his priority. I turned out just like him. We only ever corresponded by email or on Facebook very occasionally.

What I missed more than my parents or the rest of my family (I lived in a joint family) was Durga Pujo. I was Bengali which means I am from West Bengal in India. Durga Pujo was the time when all of my family close and extended came together for 5 days to celebrate the coming of Goddess Durga on Earth where her home is from Kailash in Heaven where she lived with her husband and children. It was a joyous occasion for us when everyone young and old forgot all their problems and lost themselves in the sheer grandeur of the festival.

Like Mother Durga I couldn't wait to get back to my home.

After all "Home is where the heart is".