Going … Went … Was .. Going Back

When you’ve been half way round the world and then you return home, it is a special feeling. Well, I know it because I just know it. Specially, when you flying back for your parents’ 25^th marriage anniversary and they have no idea about you coming home, it is very special.

Well, I reached Bombay half an hour before expected. The adrenaline wasn’t rushing through to reach home as soon as possible because I’d come to know my mum and dad were not in town. Felt like it was a cruel joke by destiny to surprise me. Well, taken and taken in right spirit.

Cab ride to Barista, Cadel Road, Dadar.

“Saab, do sau(200 rupees) rupaiya hua.” I was bonked out of my brains. I smiled and said, “Bhaiya, gaav se nahi aaye hain. Airport se kya pehli baar nahi ja rahe hain. Tarif card dikho.”

Turns out, we settled the bill for 90 rupees.

Barista, He n She

I stepped out of my cab and then rushed to meet an old friend. Turns out she was waiting there for a while with her boy friend. I glanced at them and smiled. To my pleasant surprise she sprung to her feet and rushed towards me. It got a bit filmy when I dropped couple o my bags and we hugged

In an after thought and aftermath, it gives some kind of kick to have hugged your friend while her boyfriend gives you “wazz up dude?” look with not exactly comfortable glare.

Granny, am home

With all the enthusiasm and ziel, “I’m home, I’m home after half a year.”

And she calls me by my brother’s name and says, “It is good that you are home.”

Well, felt like a long breath just got stuck in my lungs.

Dad, where are you?

Dad was to return home by Gujrat Mail, the next day I reached home. I wanted to surprise him. I rushed to the train station and entered without buying platform ticket as the train had already arrived.

I reached out for the wagon SC6 and when I couldn’t find it, a porter enlightened me, “They detach all the wagons starting from SC3 at Dadar, the stop prior to this one.”

Wow, someone or something was keen on surprising me again. I hate it but what the hell. Run, before dad gets out and sits into a cab.

I called him up again, “Dad, where are you?”

“I’m standing beneath a clock”

“Dad, there are half a dozen of them on this platform.”

“Oh, so where are you? “

“emm, Here to pick you up.”

Hugs…no… we are equal, NOW

Watched a movie in my favorite theatre which had closed down three years back. Had food at a joint which is catering to young crowd since my dad was young. We sat down and discuss the prices of things such as Bhenpuri, shirt-pant, coke, a pack of cigarette and so on. Turns out inflation has taken toll. J

Right then, she called up and she was in town. We decided to meet. I took a momentary leave from my dad (we overlooked my promise that I was going to spend the whole day with him).

I saw her after maybe more than a year and was surprised as she looked really different. She took a while to recognize me as well. I took a couple of spaces and thought we might hug, but then came the embarrassing moment 7 for the day (leave first six for some other time)…she just gave a hand. Aftermath, afterthought, afterexplanation…. “Ahh, Nachiket, I was so damn sticky. It was for your sake that I didn’t…

A couple of days later, we were to meet for coffee at Bandra, Band Stand. As usual, I was on time and she was late. I was sitting down listening to ipod and scribbling something. I saw her walk into café, all smiles and cheered up. She walked up to the table and tilted a bit towards me and I stayed sunk in my chair refusing to move an inch. She settled down on the opposite chair and cutting the smile short she said, “I was going to hug you but…”

Afterthought, aftermath, “I didn’t want embarrassing moment 8. Besides, we are equal now.”

Well, we meet time and time over again and just get equal.

Café / Restaurant? Nope… chai cutting

It has been three years since we passed out of college. Me n my mates, by God’s grace all of us have moved on to better things and spending some money just for fun sake isn’t a problem. I picked up the phone and tried faking an American accent…it was a very dear friend who had returned from uncle Sam’s land after a while. Was eager to catch up. Thought of meeting up at some very high class, posh place to spend all his dollars that he had gotten along. Turns out, both of us were much happy to meet up for a cutting chai (half a glass of tea), some roadside food and seaside fresh air.

Some things don’t change and fortunately some do.

Marine Drive

Something I could not cover this time around. Marine drive is the most beautiful sea face in this world. The memories attached to it make it even more special for me. Missing it was the first realization that I can’t live without sea next to me.

Bunking college and sitting at marine drive- sea face, walking the whole stretch of 6 kilometer until lands end and wondering when will be the right moment to slip in my hand into hers, walking lonesome in the stormy weather witnessing lightings dancing like fairies on horizon, overpowering waves leaping as high as 6 meters, getting dad’s car and belting it by the sea face to 130-140, chasing Porsche on my bike with best friend riding next to me, riding with her hand clasped around me, putting on a bet with brother to overtake a better bike and winning it, those morning walks and Man to Man talks with dad, a quick pit stop after shopping spree with mumma, sitting along staring at nothing late at night, venting depression in nothingness, watching sunsets and then leaving footmarks in the sand, walking up there with half smile and hoping to complete it, walking out with a resolve and lungs full of hope…well, all that and much more is still pending to be felt again at Marine Drive.

Badminton :

Trust me it is tough to move around swiftly with excessive 10 kilos around the Badminton court. Well, excessive 10kilo is nothing but all the flesh n fat gathered during last few months I’ve been leading horrible lifestyle. I was convinced I was in amazing nick until my friend from the other side whispered, “Dude there is something between the frame of your racket, called gutting. May be next few shots you would like to use gutting rather than metal frame.”

What the hell, I was winning points and that is all that mattered. Doesn’t matter.

Hospital :

Bro returned home that night. Literally all fucked up. For a split second I thought someone beat him up real bad. Lip all swollen beyond imagination, eyes sunk in, dirty pretty much torn shirt, drooped shoulders and dragging feet.

I learned that somehow he made it home from Pune and had temperature.

We had to get him in hospital next day.

It was some kinda infection from insect bite and he really was in a mess. I’m lucky that I didn’t have to be in hospital so far and I really am shit scared of hospital.

I’d morning shift that day. My bro was always this smiling n charming ass, who was centre of attraction no matter where he went. I would be introduce as his elder brother most of the places. I mean I always publicly displayed how much I hated it, but deep down I was really glad. To see him lying on bed so pale on drips, it was so killing. I walked into the room. He just nodded and I nodded back. I walked around the room, read up the report chart as if I understood, looked at the drips, checked the bed and repeated the whole cycle of events all over again. Till he said, “Relax Dada, don’t be scared. Everything is fine. I’m OK.”

In that split second, everything just came at stand still and I was so stunned but so happy that bro has grown up maybe more than I have. I was so speechless for next five minutes till we broke ice by talking bout girls, movies, bikes and well other stuff mom wouldn’t really want to know.

Guest with free access to Fridge and Remote control

I loved staying at home as well during this stay and more I stayed at home, increasingly I got the feeling of a guest who has free access to refrigerator and TV remote control.

Standing by still as the whole city whistles by in its own rhythm and hurry. Being a complete social misfit and watching the long Marine drive like a tourist, with nostalgic eyes looking at those streets which never lead to nowhere, long coffees and quick lunches, evening bike rides, favorite movie halls and flee markets. All and all it feels, it is time. Time to head back.

Don’t know where….maybe here..

Neo