Another mixed feelings long haul trip
One more of the quick trips to India. Last one was to celebrate mom’s one year death anniversary. This one is for dad’s. The excitement to make these trips is completely gone. These trips were all about expectations of some funny comments from dad, a trip with the siblings and their families, all of us sitting down on the floor as a big family to have dinner and all that. But with their departure and passage of time, the adhesive force of pulling everybody together is missing.
The kids have grown up. Niece is in college in Bangalore. Nephews are focused on their all important Board exams. The timing is not perfect either for my sister – who is preoccupied with setting up their new house or for my brother – who is out of town for work.
One silver lining is that my brother in law is going to be in Durgapur when I go to visit my mother in law. Looking forward to it… he is a very funny guy.
Same here Rajib. I just came back last Thursday after wrapping up my mom’s first year death anniversary rituals. The trips are no longer the same. It really hits hard when I reach home and have to take out my own set of keys to get in the house. Everything looks the same but the familiar face of my mom waiting in the balcony is no longer there, forever gone.
But still I feel fortunate that I have been able to make these trips and also meet our classmates who go out of their way to make me feel at home when I reach Delhi. The sheer joy of meeting our classmates takes the pain away.
I could not have put it better, Pramod!