MUSIC moves MIND.

I was walking from the final office bus stop to my house at night. Like always, i was plugged to my music. A lone man walking at night. At some distance i see a house decorated with lights. The light bulbs, of different colors, were placed in parallel lines. With a particular song which was running [argghhh.... i can't remember the song], i just, for an instant, travelled back in time with visual glimpses from the past clouding my mind till i crossed that house.

The glimpses were of the decorated christmas trees that i used to see near my aunt's house when I was a kid. This particular place i.e my aunt's place, has lot of christian families. I used to wait for the day of christmas whenever i realised the month was december. For one, there was food, confectionaries and they were in plenty and another, there was this sense that built up inside that i belonged to that place, the eternal peace i used to find whenever i visited that place, the familiar and friendly faces to greet everytime i was there. There is a hospital near by which used to put up christmas trees with dangling christmas cards and covered with lights, clay dolls placed in small dens or placed over a small area, depicting stories. I was taken to the place by my dad or uncle. At times the entire family used to visit the place.

As I think of it now and that night when i walked past the decorated house, the whole place gives me a sense of security, pleasure, comfort. The security is not in a way that I would be attacked or smacked but it's like the way that there's someone to make you feel connected, important, liked even though you feel you dont need it. The place gives it all to you. That's what's so beautiful. I don't have to say it to anybody or express anything the way I feel for that place. It's hard to describe. I think that is what 'belonging' is all about. Whenever there is a glimpse of the wonderful past you had, if given a chance, you want to get back there, and as fast as you could.

Hard days’ work on return home

When you are staying away from home, you think about it at times. When you get back, there’s work waiting for you – specially, if it’s a festive day.

I do have the liberty of waking at my time but this is gravely marred by the ‘to-do’ list for the day, reminded by mum the previous night before retiring to the cozy bed that ensures a prefect sleep.

The ‘to-do’ list for the next day:

1. The red chillies need a hair cut: Not exactly. The stem, I suppose, is the word I’m looking for. The stem needs to be cut off using the scissors. You sit in the chair in the hall staring at the chillies on the table, picking up one-by-one and cut the stem off and drop them into the container. The population of the chillie species, in particular the red type, is so good that you don't want to delve into counting. Completion of the work assigned is the call and a good and clean work ensures accolades from the commanding officer of the kitchen.

2. Shop for groceries and vegetables: “Take the scooter and get the list of items written in the list and listen be careful when you are riding!” List..List...List. One list for vegetables, one list for groceries and another list in the mind - of the things i wanted to do that day but inevitably has to be delayed (which includes watching movies gulping down alco from the bottle). When you get to the destination, you have to wait in a queue to get all the 'listed' items and you hear yourself say "What the f**k?. This is taking so much time." and get back home after 2 hours of standing, like a street lamp pole.

3. Talk to relatives. Go. Visit them: This was in the ‘to-do list. "Aunt and uncle will be disappointed if you don’t talk to them. These kids of modern days. They don’t know how to maintain family relations. God take care of these fools". Yup.Yup. god shall direct me to the path of the wise and i shall enlighten my brain with all the wisdom from the journey and 'grow up'. Its more an obligation shoved than the need or the desire to speak. The tormenting question of 'How would you maintain relations with people?" - related people in particular and the inevitable conclusion drawn from the present behavior of mine - my refusal to speak to relatives and the griping that goes after the talk, makes my brain go berserk.

Work awaits you everywhere. So does the fun that follows it.

leaving for home!

After a long time on work going in for a break. Where? going back home! yippee. I have been missing home food a lot so now that im leaving, this time there's no other thougt than delicious food. Well, let's add my relatives' side too. Lot of things to do. Let's see what can be done in a weeks' time. Will be meeting old friends.

have a fun time. I certainly will be having.

Chao