Heart is where the home is..

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. "

"Mini, how can you be so careless.. fir se toot-ta kuch aur", shrieked my mother from less than 3 feet away. Outwardly, I put up a scowl. Why would one big break of the previous day mean I would continue breaking all of the other stuff which my mom loves? I am not that much of butter fingers!

Inside, I was doing a jig, 'cos the scene was so reminiscent of the times when I was in school (and hence staying with my parents), and kept dropping/breaking stuff. The scolding brought back a nostalgia so strong that I wanted to freeze the moment forever, be it my mom's angry look or my petulant scowl at being rebuked. (I did not break anything more after that, but there was an incident of me pulling out the microwave plug so enthusiastically that the projectile motion of the 3-pin could break many things in sight..)

Home is a simple four letter word which combines in itself a meaning so deep, and a comfort so protective and engaging, that you don't imagine just a brick and mortar set up. You associate with it memories, and companionship, and growing up, and fights. It is a place where no matter how big the problem, it will get solved. A place bustling and full of people you love and care about is a treasure so big which nothing else can replace! Having to come back to a home, and not just a house, can just make all the stress of the day wither away, and give renewed enthusiasm. I imagine being able to just walk across the hall and talk to my mom about anything under the sun, or getting my dad all the things which he asks in infinite requests, or planning latest  foodie outings with my sis, and I think, now that would be bliss! 8 years of being away, and on my own, make me want more of these simplest pleasures..

I had an instance of similar home like deja vu after the diwali vacation. Back in engineering days, hostel used to be a home away from home. The homesickness used to vanish as soon as I used to meet my special ones in hostel, in adjacent rooms. With time's passage we are all in different parts of world, and the communication is limited. But a recent 2 day stay with a friend brought back all those memories like a song.. laughing like we used to, at jokes which were as juvenile and innocent, as they were when we were a couple of 18 year olds. Life has changed for all of us, but the rejuvenation that we had through old pictures and videos, infused some old world happiness back into me. 

Today, I feel lucky that I have had these amazing moments, which give me so much happiness, and a longing, at the same time. It helps me when I'm having my escapist moments. I can go into a cocoon and be a child again, with the envelope of memories around me..

"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."