I knew I would come here one last time, what I didn't know was that it would take me three years to have the heart to do it. It seemed so different, just like one of the three storey houses designed by Architects these days. Grey stone on the outer walls, an iron gate, huge glass windows overlooking the now beautified park of our Block and the home that my Dadaji built for us was nowhere to be seen. I sighed remembering the last time I was here with Papa.
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The empty drawing room like all the other rooms was shrieking of being ripped off like our emotions. The showcase still had our collection of showpieces Papa had bought over the years, a silver peacock he gifted Mummy on her second Birthday after marriage; Photo frames having pictures of Mummy-Papa's wedding Day, Me on my third Birthday wearing a new Navy Blue frock holding a hat; the beautiful doll I always wanted to dress like on my wedding day.
All the walls and the roof seemed to close in and before I knew, the tears I had been holding on to for so long, started rolling down. Each nook and corner of this place held memoirs of our lives. My childhood with Dadaji, how he used to hide me under the bed to save me from my Dadiji, He used to carry me in his lap and take me for a walk in the park in front of our home. Walking out into the gallery I saw the place where I parked my first tricycle.
Turning around I saw the famous hideout of all my cousins while playing hide and seek just behind the staircase and between all the Iron trunks which always contained so many quilts and bedding that would suffice for a complete baraat. I used to wonder why Dadiji keeps so many of them and then they would come handy when all my cousins would come over during their summer vacations and we would move the beds out and spread them on the floor and all of us would cuddle up and chatter till the wee hours of the mornings we would spend together. Those days always brought a smile on my face, not to forget all the teachings I got from all my cousins as I was the youngest of the lot and had so much scope to learn about all the mischievous stuff from them.
The wall which was once hidden behind our study table still had its impression and I could picture all the times my brothers and I used to fight on who would get a chance on the computer. A coughing sound brought me out of my reverie and I saw Papa standing in the backyard verandah, I could see the sheen of fresh tears in his eyes. What was he wondering.. and the days when we used to bath in the Rains there, came in front of me and how my brothers would practice all the skidding stunts on the wet floor and got the scolding from Mummy.
Papa sensed me around and turned away, moments later he looked at me and said "Let's Go". I could say no more. We locked all the doors and the main gate of what was left there for one last time and got into the car. I knew then this isn't the last time. The forty five minutes of our ride to our new abode were spent in Silence.
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I was estranged from the surroundings, I could walk those roads with my eyes closed but today they had led me to a place as alien as it could have been. The Gulmohar Trees, in front of our old home were cut down and a pavement with two chairs had taken their place.
A familiar face crossed by and Narula Aunty stopped to notice me standing there. I had been to her place on every navratra pooja and even after I had grown enough not to be considered a Kanjak, she had still sent my share of prasad to my Mummy. After exchanging our greetings she told me how things have changed around, she told me about few of my brother's friends who had moved to hostel for further studies and about so many other things which I could not catch as I had again drifted into another world.
After bidding adieu to her I turned around and entered the park, finding the nearest bench I sat there remembering the times when all 3 of us kids had flown Kites with Papa and our friends on Independence Day. That hullabaloo was not there anymore, it was serene and the fragrance of flowers was every where. A new generation of kids were playing at the far end and I realized the good ol' times have slipped away just like sand from the hands.
This was no longer my Dadaji's Home, this was no longer where I belonged, this was no longer where I had imagined getting married like few of my cousins, so that I could get his blessings. The dream got lost into reality and the connection snapped.. !
Link to --> www.thebanyantrees.com
***************************************************************************************
The empty drawing room like all the other rooms was shrieking of being ripped off like our emotions. The showcase still had our collection of showpieces Papa had bought over the years, a silver peacock he gifted Mummy on her second Birthday after marriage; Photo frames having pictures of Mummy-Papa's wedding Day, Me on my third Birthday wearing a new Navy Blue frock holding a hat; the beautiful doll I always wanted to dress like on my wedding day.
All the walls and the roof seemed to close in and before I knew, the tears I had been holding on to for so long, started rolling down. Each nook and corner of this place held memoirs of our lives. My childhood with Dadaji, how he used to hide me under the bed to save me from my Dadiji, He used to carry me in his lap and take me for a walk in the park in front of our home. Walking out into the gallery I saw the place where I parked my first tricycle.
Turning around I saw the famous hideout of all my cousins while playing hide and seek just behind the staircase and between all the Iron trunks which always contained so many quilts and bedding that would suffice for a complete baraat. I used to wonder why Dadiji keeps so many of them and then they would come handy when all my cousins would come over during their summer vacations and we would move the beds out and spread them on the floor and all of us would cuddle up and chatter till the wee hours of the mornings we would spend together. Those days always brought a smile on my face, not to forget all the teachings I got from all my cousins as I was the youngest of the lot and had so much scope to learn about all the mischievous stuff from them.
The wall which was once hidden behind our study table still had its impression and I could picture all the times my brothers and I used to fight on who would get a chance on the computer. A coughing sound brought me out of my reverie and I saw Papa standing in the backyard verandah, I could see the sheen of fresh tears in his eyes. What was he wondering.. and the days when we used to bath in the Rains there, came in front of me and how my brothers would practice all the skidding stunts on the wet floor and got the scolding from Mummy.
Papa sensed me around and turned away, moments later he looked at me and said "Let's Go". I could say no more. We locked all the doors and the main gate of what was left there for one last time and got into the car. I knew then this isn't the last time. The forty five minutes of our ride to our new abode were spent in Silence.
***************************************************************************************
I was estranged from the surroundings, I could walk those roads with my eyes closed but today they had led me to a place as alien as it could have been. The Gulmohar Trees, in front of our old home were cut down and a pavement with two chairs had taken their place.
A familiar face crossed by and Narula Aunty stopped to notice me standing there. I had been to her place on every navratra pooja and even after I had grown enough not to be considered a Kanjak, she had still sent my share of prasad to my Mummy. After exchanging our greetings she told me how things have changed around, she told me about few of my brother's friends who had moved to hostel for further studies and about so many other things which I could not catch as I had again drifted into another world.
After bidding adieu to her I turned around and entered the park, finding the nearest bench I sat there remembering the times when all 3 of us kids had flown Kites with Papa and our friends on Independence Day. That hullabaloo was not there anymore, it was serene and the fragrance of flowers was every where. A new generation of kids were playing at the far end and I realized the good ol' times have slipped away just like sand from the hands.
This was no longer my Dadaji's Home, this was no longer where I belonged, this was no longer where I had imagined getting married like few of my cousins, so that I could get his blessings. The dream got lost into reality and the connection snapped.. !
Link to --> www.thebanyantrees.com