Going The Distance

Tia was a city girl, born and raised in the city. She loved the hustle-bustle of people and activity in the streets, the cacophony of the thriving markets. She was reluctant to visit her grandparent's ancestral home when she was summoned there for the winter breaks. With an agony of mind, she packed her bags and got ready thinking if going the distance would be worthwhile. When the city roads gave way to the dusty countryside, she saw huge trees, small ponds, houses with kitchen gardens and cattle grazing everywhere. Mother narrated several of her childhood anecdotes and the father told her how used to walk miles to school.

Finally, they arrived at the grandparent's house, which her parents often referred to as our home. She had visited this place a couple of times in her childhood, but couldn’t recall much. The two-story house was painted yellow and encircled by greenery. Swishing coconut trees stood as guards on all four sides. Varieties of hibiscus, marigold, lilies, and roses bloomed in the courtyard. In the veranda, there was a wooden swing and facing it was grandfather’s rocking chair. Her grandparents enjoyed their morning and evening tea there occasionally waving and chatting with the passer-byes.

She entered the hall and was hugged firmly by grandmother. At the dining table authentic home-cooked food with warm and happy conversations were served. Grandmother gave Tia a stack of colorful bangles, which were elegant and told mundane tales of love. Grandfather promised her to teach her gardening on the condition that she had to be his assistant.

In the evening the family sat in the veranda sipping tea and munching on snacks prepared by grandmother. Tia saw the golden sun descending into the horizon and the twilight sky vibrant ochre. The breeze was soothing, it was calm and quiet except for the occasional barking of a stray dog at a distance or the mooing of neighbor’s cow. The sky glistened with a canopy of stars. The sound of the temple bell brought her back to the present. Tia felt how gracefully her grandparents lived, caring and supporting each other at this age. Is this love? Indeed this is love. Love for each other, for their children, for this cozy home, for the beautiful garden, for the lovely neighborhood. Seeing her lost in thought and smiling grandmother caressed her head. And of course love for her. Going the distance was actually worthwhile.