Coming To The Roots

I like traveling. I don’t know why but trains have always been my thing. So many different people to observe, the solitude, it's a new experience every time. And when I’m on my way home, things are even more exciting.

Well, we spend a four month semester here, 1200 KM from the home. So when we get the chance to get back to our place, it's just beautiful. I never realized how close I am to my parents until I got out of the safe and sound world they had created for me.

The first thing that occurs when I get to my natives has something to do with taxis. The taxi drivers always like to make a fortune out of my pocket. It takes me just to say “Seriously?” in Marwari as they figure my locality. They then give me a sluggish smile and slash their hiked rate to one fifth. It's always funny to have a conversation about the earlier earth shattering rate. Funnier than you might think. Talks like these make me realize that there exists a difference between knowledge and wisdom.

On my way home, there is this hospital where my dad was a physician once. I was around 7, a little too young to remember that place! It looks the same as of today. So this happens almost every time when I come back to town and look at that hospital after a long time. Seeing that place keeping in mind that I’m all grown up now, all I remember is the days when I was just a lonely 7 year old kid, the only kid in the entire resident block of that empty hospital with no one other than me in the sight. I used to get out on those hot days and play all by myself. It is surprising how less demanding I was! All I needed was a marble to play with, but I was not allowed to carry one as I had over-protective parents. There was this giant tree of Baadaam I guess. That’s where I used to hide my treasure- a single marble! I used to throw it over the floor then race along with it to the other end. That was me. I had no idea back then about how lonely I was. I guess I had me.

As I got tired of playing alone I used to sit under that big tree which was quite frightening at night but in the day it had the coldest shadow of all. That was when I got to know what calmness means. Everything so quiet, so peaceful. Nothing but the music of nature. I must have liked it. That’s why I miss that place the most when I’m surrounded with people that I really don’t care about but still have to add my nod to theirs. This is what I crave the most these days. This is what sometimes I want the most!

As I reach home, my mother momentarily becomes the happiest person on earth. To me, the glitter in her eyes becomes the most valuable thing. The constant smile she has from her eyes to cheek- priceless! Parents are always the same to you no matter who you are. Soon after reaching home I get scolded about my eating habits and unwashed and non-conventional clothing. And as always, Sharma Ji’s son soon jumps in the picture. As much I hate such conversations, I would have missed it for so long that it makes me feel like I’m home, again!

 These are the only things which are never going to change, they are change-proof! Everything else does. There comes the first lesson of life- nothing can or may resist change. You live just a year away and you will get to know the pace of change.
Everything has changed. It’s saddening. People, places, behavior, all are nothing but variables of time. If someone stays a couple of years out, they won’t be able to recognize their very own town. It got me this time.

Well, there was this place in the middle of the city, a park which was known for its hundred-year-old Banyan tree. As I was in town after so many days, my friends decided to meet up. As a lover of nature and peaceful places, the park was pretty close to my heart. So I told them to meet me up at the old tree. They replied, “You really are back after a while”. It came to me as a shock to know that the park is gone and now there's a seven story shopping mall to replace the beautiful place. I just couldn’t get over this change. It felt as if my mind purposely didn't allow this data to sink in! It was ironic having drinks at that mall, after all I was at the same place.

Apparently, that wasn't the only thing that had changed. The people I was having pizzas and drinks with had changed too. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad to that. They seem to have adapted a different style every time I meet them. It’s no longer the old bro code that they follow. They are completely different now. And it’s after meeting them that I started to realize that they're not the only ones. I started to notice the changes within me. The way I used to make friends, the way I didn't give a shit to the judgmental turds, the way I used to be an open book; well, it’s gone now! Now I know there exists a thing called insecurity.

I guess we all change over time. It’s just instances like these that point them out. I met one of my class teachers this time. She looked very happy about how I turned out. I used to be the synonym of terror among my teachers. Really, I was the most notorious being in the whole class. Everyday someone used to send me out of the class for crimes like breaking the glass, playing a prank, incomplete homework, etc. When I met her, she was particularly happy about the fact that I’ve turned out good this far. Also she said “And I'm lucky, not having to deal with another student like you. You were impossible”. We laughed remembering all my old deeds!

This certainly has changed. I don’t consider myself that much of a troublemaker anymore. These experiences made me realize the harsh truth. The law of change- Everything changes. Sometimes a few may resist but eventually they’ll bite the dust because of time! Sometimes it's for the good, probably the best thing, sometimes it’s heartbreaking, sometimes necessary and sometimes just by chance, but everything eventually will change. Everything apart from the fundamentals, everything apart from the basic! Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t judge them too soon.