It’s been a month since I landed here in US. 18th July doesn’t look long back, but it is. There was excitement everywhere; people coming to meet from all over; if not, then atleast a ring on Graham’s successors. I was busy packing stuff and unpacking and repacking. All the “maybes” a few days back, but “just can’t” today were being moved to the attic. It all looked never ending. After all, I could carry only 96 kgs of my world with me! Realising this some days before I left, I was giving away my belongings to friends and families; but you can’t give away “can’t carry” things gifted from friends over the years. In addition, other practically-junk-but-still-dear possessions amassed over time have to be protected from the hands of the folks and moved to safer places. I couldn’t sleep for those two days with all these excitements around. How could you?

All the initial excitement with which I came here is now long dead. Strange land, stranger people, but probably the strangest of all is the logic here. Or simply call it foreign. How else do you explain the phenomenon of muggers who point a $100 gun just to get $5 out of you? Oh no, I wasn’t robbed but this is the general scenario. Then again some more responsibilities fall on you, for the good though. And then you wonder how your elders managed with all these nitty-gritty things; looking for apartments, doing groceries, cooking, cleaning, laundry, getting gas, electricity, phone and net connections, paying all those bills and deposits before due-dates, opening and maintaining bank details, buying mattresses, beds, study desks, sofas, coffee table, chairs, dining table, all those electronic items like ovens, microwaves, even fans and bulbs…pheww…and these are just the essentials. Heck, forgot to mention about the trash. How many of us have even moved out the trash on a regular basis at home?

And amidst all these, no dear ones are with you. Yes, technology does provide you with innovations like talking to them and seeing them on gadgets, but absolutely nothing can give you the physical intimacy. As a very stupid but cherishable example is that my mom can no longer pull me by the ears to make me stop this post right here and make me have my lunch. Indeed, sounds funny, but think over it again, it’s anything but funny. Need a better example? Think of that beautiful gesture when your mother moved her hand over your head in affection.

Ok ok, I am getting sentimental. But I have a reason; I am almost missing home, almost missing parents, almost missing friends and almost missing you too, reader. Why almost you ask? If it weren’t almost, I would be back home now. There is no place like home!

Also, do pay a visit to Kusum Rohra’s blog. That post touched me, made my eyes moist and made me miss my folks back home more badly. Do I know her? How did I get there? I just searched for Kurla, saw this title and just had to read the whole thing then. No wonder then, I copied the title.

Duh, ran outta time, have to have something to eat and move on with life. Have to move out trash too! All this without ear-pulling is difficult.