HOMECOMING - 1

The way to home is a tricky stretch. The pebbles crackle against the tyres of my mustang, and I rub my anxious hands over the steering. The air waves caress my hair like my father did, the fragrance of roses reminiscent of my mother and the warm breeze of the river -Yamuna - as aged yet frail but stern akin to my grandmother. From her kitchen I have taken a dozen trinkets and from her a ton of memories. The nostalgia pierces my heart, in and out, the summer time is high and loosen my shirt. My small family. The vague view of the village, behind a vast extent of eucalyptus standing like an army, runs like a film. The innocent games I played in these streets. The soft bed of mud and some water droplets from the well. Some dark stories of the woods and a scary folklores. Everything seems as alive as a man so to soak up the surreal uproar of poignant feelings I turn the music on. 

"Girdhari ji! Girdhari ji!" I ask for the housekeeper, while handing over my luggage to the entourage

"Namaste Baby Ji, How was the journey?"" Said Girdhari in his humble tone, once this 6 feet tall man and his quintessential thick mustache was burly and strong as a mountain, now his back is hunched and the hair is all grey as ash.

"Namaste Girdhari Ji, it was great. How are you?"

"I am old and quite not as strong when you used to ride on my back" he chuckles

"Oh! That is why, it is what it is" I laugh hard

"Let me guide the entourage and meanwhile why don't you make yourself comfortable, it is your home Afterall!"

"Sure, Please get me my black coffee"

"It will reach you before you reach the living room" [chuckles]

***

[living room]

[[Thud] Sarita has placed the cup on the coaster]

"Baby Ji, Here is your coffee!"

"Sarita! Do you place a new garland on Badi Ma's portrait everyday?"

"I don't, Girdhari ji does that, very religiously I must say, he handpicks the flowers and Pushpa sews it into a garland each evening!"

"Even now?"

"Yes, with his hunched back!"

"Girdhari ji!" I sigh

"Call for me anytime, Baby ji, and please do not pick up anything otherwise he will scold me" she shies away

I giggle at the hold Girdhari ji still has on the house. The house help all held taught and disciplined under his stern but diminished command. The lawn well mowed. hibiscus, roses and marigolds blooming. The walls well painted. No creaking of the furniture. The beautiful portrait of my Granma covered in beautiful jasmines. The burning incense and smoldering mosquito coils in the front yard. 

[Someone comes running in the living room]

"Where is my grandfather?"

"Who are you? and are you looking for Girdhri ji?"

"Yes! I am his grandson, where is he?"

"Girdhari ji, is getting my room ready, Let me tell sarita to call him!"

"Sure"

"Sarita, sarita! Ask girdhari ji to come here for a second!"

"Are you Baby ji!" 

"You can call me Niharika, what is your name?"

"Bablu! You live in America?"

"Yes!"

"Everyone is very white there, right?"

"Not exactly, but Let us say that!"

"Oh God, don't irritate her with your silly gossip bablu, go ask Balli ji to come in, you are too late!" grumpled Girdhari ji while looking at bablu annoyed

"It is fine, he is such a good boy"

"Baby Ji, I have to give you some trouble now, Balli ji is the owner of a Guashala, and Badi Didi wanted to donate some money to gaushala before her demise, So I invited Balli Ji to help you with that, fine?"

"Yeah sure,"

 [Pushpa comes running and brings an old red bag, that grandma used to have all the time, It had money and some gold coins]

"Baby ji, now remember badi ma and touch it before I give it away!"

"Like this" I ask hesitantly

He took it from my hand and gave it to Balli ji. He was advising him over something while I sat in the porch while sipping my coffee. I saw bablu standing in the patio and I beckoned him. He came towards me with his cheeks red of the embarrassment he had just faced.

"Do not worry, Girdhari ji is very bossy sometimes!" 

He giggled. 

"Baby ji, Your room is ready and I will get the lunch served in an hour." He said while he sat on the chair while bablu sat in his lap. 

"He is my grandson, Bablu, He turned 7 last year."

"He is so adorable"

"Only for a minute, once he starts there is no ending." we laugh

"The village seems the same in all these years."

"No, things have changed, mostly for the bad!"

"How?"

"We have plenty of time to discuss it! Bablu now go home and tell Bimla I will come late tonight, I have to arrange the stuff for tomorrow morning too, ask her to send Shanti for some extra help!"

And like that he left me, while bablu waved me bye.