I recently had this conversation with one of my friends, who is planning on going abroad. Primarily because he wants a change and also to earn his bread and butter. Though the second reason is not his motivating factor, he wants to go. He was asking if I would like to come too. I said jocularly, you go, get me a job and I will follow suit.
Do I want to go? Do I have it in me to leave this place where I have born, been brought up and have now become a part of? I would say no. Not if I am paid a king's salary. There are a multitude of reasons of why I would not do it. The main reason being, If I leave here, I would feel like I have lost my essence. Traveling is one thing, but when it comes to pack my bags to settle abroad to earn my living, I don't have the courage in me to do it. Why, one might ask. Well, read on to know why.
When I grew up, I grew up with my surroundings. The din that surrounds me, though it drives me crazy at times, marks my territory. I love silence, but I cannot live without this din that surrounds me. Call me crazy, but ask any person who lives here, they ll tell you so. When I wake up in the morning, I wake up to the buzz of my mom rattling away in the kitchen, with wonderful aromas rising from it. Where will I get this pleasure of waking up to the sound of tempering in my kitchen. Nowhere but my homeland. Where can I wake up in the morning, but for my country, with the wail of the neighboring infant, the distant chime of the temple bells, the bong of the church, the morning prayer from a mecca, the strong aroma of filter coffee, television sets blaring with a cosmopolitan mixture of sounds, mooing of a cow in the neighboring open land, kids hurrying past, clad in a multitude of colored uniforms, neighbors bringing in a new recipe they tried their hands on, fighting with my dad for that morning paper, a friendly chit chat with my neighbor, a fight with my bike mechanic, the marketing shouts of the vegetable vendors, the beautiful kolams that decorate my doorway.
Where can I get the pleasure of recognizing a familiar face in the corner coffee shop, starting of with the usual pleasantries and before I know it, I have just been updated with the latest of the entire neighborhood. Where can I celebrate Diwali waking up at the crack of the dawn and competing with my neighborhood on bursting crackers. Where else can I see the air of festivities and the bright colorful, cheerful mood that it brings with it. Whenever I am traveling out of my town, my face will lit up when I see that familiar green colored city bus, announcing my arrival to my home town. I can live just for that pleasure.
Where can I get the pleasure of bargaining to the street vendors, where can I get the pleasure of grabbing a bite of that samosa or vadai from the local tea stall or the local vendors. Though I crib about the heat, I know I will miss it when I am cold. Where else can I watch the kids playing like there is no tomorrow, but around my street corner. Where else can I see those familiar, life saving yellow and black vehicles called as auto, but for my country. I am in love with my country, my home town and my neighborhood, cos they define who I am and what life is to me. Ask the guys, and am sure they ll say that nothing in this universe can equal the pleasure of them gathering in the near by tea stall for the tea, a smoke and catching up with friends.
There is an immense joy and peace when I see and hear all those that are familiar to me. Without these I will feel like a cast away. This is life to me. I enjoy this thorough and thorough. I have not quoted everything that brings joy to me, here in this post, cos this space is never enough.
Do I want to leave these behind for the unknown pleasures of an unknown land? Nah.. I don't think so.
Do I want to go? Do I have it in me to leave this place where I have born, been brought up and have now become a part of? I would say no. Not if I am paid a king's salary. There are a multitude of reasons of why I would not do it. The main reason being, If I leave here, I would feel like I have lost my essence. Traveling is one thing, but when it comes to pack my bags to settle abroad to earn my living, I don't have the courage in me to do it. Why, one might ask. Well, read on to know why.
When I grew up, I grew up with my surroundings. The din that surrounds me, though it drives me crazy at times, marks my territory. I love silence, but I cannot live without this din that surrounds me. Call me crazy, but ask any person who lives here, they ll tell you so. When I wake up in the morning, I wake up to the buzz of my mom rattling away in the kitchen, with wonderful aromas rising from it. Where will I get this pleasure of waking up to the sound of tempering in my kitchen. Nowhere but my homeland. Where can I wake up in the morning, but for my country, with the wail of the neighboring infant, the distant chime of the temple bells, the bong of the church, the morning prayer from a mecca, the strong aroma of filter coffee, television sets blaring with a cosmopolitan mixture of sounds, mooing of a cow in the neighboring open land, kids hurrying past, clad in a multitude of colored uniforms, neighbors bringing in a new recipe they tried their hands on, fighting with my dad for that morning paper, a friendly chit chat with my neighbor, a fight with my bike mechanic, the marketing shouts of the vegetable vendors, the beautiful kolams that decorate my doorway.
Where can I get the pleasure of recognizing a familiar face in the corner coffee shop, starting of with the usual pleasantries and before I know it, I have just been updated with the latest of the entire neighborhood. Where can I celebrate Diwali waking up at the crack of the dawn and competing with my neighborhood on bursting crackers. Where else can I see the air of festivities and the bright colorful, cheerful mood that it brings with it. Whenever I am traveling out of my town, my face will lit up when I see that familiar green colored city bus, announcing my arrival to my home town. I can live just for that pleasure.
Where can I get the pleasure of bargaining to the street vendors, where can I get the pleasure of grabbing a bite of that samosa or vadai from the local tea stall or the local vendors. Though I crib about the heat, I know I will miss it when I am cold. Where else can I watch the kids playing like there is no tomorrow, but around my street corner. Where else can I see those familiar, life saving yellow and black vehicles called as auto, but for my country. I am in love with my country, my home town and my neighborhood, cos they define who I am and what life is to me. Ask the guys, and am sure they ll say that nothing in this universe can equal the pleasure of them gathering in the near by tea stall for the tea, a smoke and catching up with friends.
There is an immense joy and peace when I see and hear all those that are familiar to me. Without these I will feel like a cast away. This is life to me. I enjoy this thorough and thorough. I have not quoted everything that brings joy to me, here in this post, cos this space is never enough.
Do I want to leave these behind for the unknown pleasures of an unknown land? Nah.. I don't think so.
You have written all my thoughts which were trying to come out of mind.Great men think alike but how we think alike :P .Beautiful thoughts .Certain thoughts are best when it is written than said .The best of the lot is when u said "Whenever I am traveling out of my town, my face will lit up when I see that familiar green colored city bus, announcing my arrival to my home town" .The feel u get out of this is unique it cant be expressed unless u feel it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI used to feel the same about Bangalore. The 1st 4 yrs after leaving I used to miss the city terribly...I've cried thinkin abt memories associated with the city but gradually learnt to appreciate the city I'm in now. Infact when I go back now I see so many changes, the terrible traffic & am a bit intimidated;-(.
I sincerely U never have to make tht choice:-))!!!
I sincerely HOPE.....
ReplyDeleteA tiny bird leaves his nest in the morning and comes back in the evening but he cannot stay in his nest the whole day and neither he cant stay away for long, For god sakes we are human beings.... Its a real pity that people draw circles and squares around them and want to live in it. Open up buddies!!!
ReplyDeleteGiri : The sense of being, and the sense of ours always gives us the joy.
ReplyDeleteReflections : Thanks! And I hope so too :)
Vj : Its not drawing circles around us. When it comes to reality we all have to make tough decisions. I agree. I might actually not get to stay here forever, I am aware of that. But its my wish that it does not happen. Of course if I have to move, I will move. Dreams and wishes don't always come true right :)
You are absolutely right about it...
ReplyDeleteNice way of penning your thoughts and thats what i call spontaneous flow of feelings
Asif : Thank you ;)
ReplyDelete