What a pain! Driving on non-existent roads to travel to a part of city that was still far from civilization. I remember driving here on Wednesdays while the weekend we did it together. Week after week for months on end, till the concrete, glass and pillars emerged into the shape of a home. Slowly, painstakingly. The excited shopping for tiles, for each basket that went in the kitchen woodwork, each fan and light with a very bored toddler in tow was an adventure in itself. The stuff we have to do to build our houses!
It was a novel experience for me, a person who had always lived in rented houses, shunting from one accommodation to another as dad was in a transferable government job. No niceties there as we tried best to make a home out of random houses. No customizations were done as we shuttled sturdy Godrej almirahs, beds and sofas till some of them gave way during the long journeys by trucks. Since the walls everyplace had choona or white/cream look, everything fitted everyplace, well almost.
Coming back to this house in Bangalore which has been home for almost a decade now. A beautiful oasis where we got a tiny lawn and a large terrace to experiment with. Where my younger son was born and the youngest one, Coco, followed him a few years later. Where we went from a young couple with a toddler to being uncle and aunty to grown up neighborhood kids who tower above us. The house charmingly stood testimony to beautiful birthdays, anniversaries, random happy celebrations, laughter and joy. Where we embarked upon new personal and professional journeys, where we fought tooth and nail and then made up passionately. Where I learned and experienced the joy of growing food and raising a family. This house has made me fall in love with this lovely city. Bangalore is home now!
And slowly as it happens with everything else, you take your home for granted. It is there; it is not going away. Till yesterday. Now that we are planning to shift houses to be closer to the husband’s workplace, we did some househunting. One particular one yesterday was airy and quite large. But, what hit me as soon as I entered it is how beautiful my current home is. I don’t know if it is hormones or what that made me feel emotional instantly and sad. Sad because I will be leaving this home the husband and I built with such happiness and love. No, it will still be ours but we will go live elsewhere in a few months. And, I know that I somehow never go back to the home I’ve left.
As much as I know myself, I have never felt attached to homes and places, having been to so many in my lifetime but this home is special. I am sure the next house will be spectacular too because home is after all made with the people who live in it. Yet, I felt gratitude and pride when I walked back into this home yesterday. I know I will leave it with a heavy heart soon. But, it will always be a cherished abode for all of us. Mixed feelings, huh!
So to drown my sorrows, we bought a large pack of donuts. Nothing like a sugary, sinful treat to cheer your Sunday. 😀
So how was your weekend? Do you feel sentimental about homes too?
Rachna says 
Leave a reply to Shilpa Garg Cancel reply