“This is the first day of the rest of my life”, I thought as the tires touched the wetness of the concrete. And I reminisced – “I had left this country at an hour when India was fast asleep. I come back to this country, as India is getting ready to start a new day.” Almost a decade back, I had packed my life into two suitcases and landed in Detroit, which was then fondly popular as the Motor City. It still is, just that the fondness has given way to sympathy.Sadly.
“Welcome to America. Enjoy your stay” – she had said from behind the plexiglass. My good friend and his faithful Marlboro Lights had greeted me as I stepped out to a chilly fall afternoon.That was my first ride in a Ford. I was naive and excited, about everything that was to be. There was the factor of the unknown, about how life would shape up to be, in the next few years. First came the University, the jobs followed and then getting married, and then our child. And finally came the “decision“. The one which we had talked about for years. To move back ! But when it really happened, it was too surreal. It swept us off our feet. Into the air.Literally.
”Namaste Sir. Enjoy your visit. How long are you staying?” he asked from under his neatly trimmed mustache. “For a while”, I beamed under the neon. “We are back for good, at least for the next few years”. We dragged our bags into a pleasing Bangalore air. And before I forget, let me tell you. The airport is beautiful.And wonderfully maintained. And so is the Mumbai airport. From the time we landed in India, I have flown through a lot of airports. Let me correct that. I have been flown by the most obliging pilots. And I have loved each one of them. And let me tell you, all those flights have been on time.Technically.
There has been so much that I have experienced in the last few weeks. Couple of them are most impressive on the memory. Like how, I got to smell the smoke, from the noise of crackers during Diwali, laughing out with D in his Navi Mumbai high rise, as we put away some cold beers with freshly grilled kabobs. Our baby, soaked in tears as he lost all his silky hair under the skilled razor of the pundit in charge at Tirumala. And the warm air as we sped in awe on the wonderful – NE1 from Vadodara to Ahmedabad.Really.
As I wait for my PAN card and hopefully get employed with any company that has a loaded cafeteria, it is but most understandable that my LDL will be duly entertained by samosas,dhoklas,pakoras,pani-puris,medhu vadas,paneer puffs,khakras,mysore paks,gulab jamuns, and a few others. As I do justice to all of them , I should be able to catch up on my blogging and primarily with following my favorite fellow bloggers. If you still remember me, please do visit again. If you are here for the first time, welcome to my world of reclosion.This is the beginning to a new journey and would love to have you with me.Truly.
Welcome back to blogging, LEB!!And a warm welcome to India the typical Indian shtyle. Namaskar!!!
Thanks RS. Glad to be back home. Namaskar to you as well. And now if someone could take care of the winter monsoons please. 🙂
Wow. Welcome, Welcome. If we had known we would have waited in line at the airport with a life size garland.
Delighted to have you closer to home …. Perhaps LEB may change to Solpa Adjust Maadi Blakker
Thank you Ramesh.Not too late. Hopefully when we meet, we can each carry a garland. I am getting used to people saying….Adjust Maadi, Enjoy Maadi…etc. So the new name might fit in very well. 😉
LEB…Can’t express my happiness better than with a beaming smile if you can see…:):):):) and my very loud cheer WELCOME TO SWADESH. Good wishes that you do find all that you came back here for apart from the desi sooo good grub and lots of bum chums.
Finally a big THANK YOU for considering me as one of your fav blog dost.
CHEERS 😀 and lots of Good wishes to you and family. :):):):)
oops! the cheeks hurt now…so keep blogging and i shall be back with more.
Thanks Shivani for the warm welcome. I am touched by all the warmth from everyone.Indeed you are one of my favorite bloggers. If I do happen to get to Chennai, maybe we can make a trip to that infamous sandwich joint.Till then let me stuff myself with onion pakoras and ginger chai. I am hopeless. Please be back with more and more. 🙂
You are back to blogging – Yaaaaaay !!
Hope you have smooth climes and happy times as you transition to life back in Des.
Have extra helpings of all manners of yummy goodies on behalf of us poor souls who can’t
Thankooo BOC …. I really hope so. Right now I am just getting used to reliving life as it used to be in India. This evening saw me dig into pepper chicken and chilli chicken dry. I am the new spokesperson for the Obesity Anonymous. 🙂
It’s great to have you back LEB…and do keep us posted on the beginnings of your new journey
And thank you for including me in THE list.
Thanks Purba. I have to catch up on all your older posts. You are welcome and most definitely need to be there.
helloji
welcome home 🙂
there can be no better feeling ……
Thanks Gargi. You could not be more correct. India is close to winning the 4th ODI. And I am watching it live. Jai Ho !!
It’s such a warm post, such straight from the heart post. Welcome to India again. You write beautfully. One can feel ur presence in ur words.
When I got ur indimail, I was surprised to see that u still remember me! thanks for remembering 🙂
tc and stay in touch.
RESTLESS
Thankooo Restless. Guess we need some of that warmth with the 9 degrees going on in Gurgaon. Of course I do. You are one of the few people who say all the nice things about my blog. 😉
Welcome Back!
Enjoy the complexities of a simple life in swadesh.
Is Bengaluru the blessed city?
But …….. Tirumala?!! Really??
Bangalore t’is. Blessed or not, am not so sure. Yes, since his mother is from there and we wanted to be there for the “FALL” 😉 I am a mean Dad. 🙂
Whoa! This is big. You know, it gladdens me no end when people make the willful choice of moving back from abroad, the West especially. So, a very very warm welcome back. I do hope you’re prepared as much for the frustrations and shocks, as much as the joys you will encounter.
Truly, this post made me smile because of many things 🙂 so, a heartfelt welcome back home and to blogging. I hope you’ll keep us posted regularly how this leg of the journey turns out for you 🙂
Oh and thanks for the mention on your list. Honoured. 🙂
Thanks TRQ for the warm welcome. Indeed we are prepared for all the spices of life. So we think 😉 But this is also true that the India we are back to, is a whole lot different from the them we left out of. I would not want to miss out on anything, including sitting next to the auto-wallah and praying that the tires do not hit a pothole 🙂 You totally needed to be on that list.
Welcome back 2 India 🙂 and your post really brings out your feelings for swadesh! Was touched!
Thankoo Shilpa 🙂
Hey! no new post?
wow you’re R2I too…gr8…b’lore is an awesome place…enjoy madree 🙂
w00t?! No wonder I have been wanting to read your blog since the last two weeks. Telepathy, or blog-o-pathy or.. Meh. Welcome to namma Bengaluru! 😀 I moved in here in December too, new life new dreams, allaaru what you said. 😛
Hope to hear more about your new abode/lifeishtyle. And yes, welcome to India. Welcome home. 🙂