I’m particularly feeling
homesick these days probably because I’m falling sick too often, way too often.
And I don’t know which one of these is probable cause but every time I close my
eyes I can smell the familiar smells of…. home.
Like the mustiness of my clothes cupboard that my sister has taken over.
Like the earthiness of garden soil with the flowering plants that Grandma loves
more than us. Like the crunchy oiliness of the dosa and the milkiness of the
tea that Mariamma akka (the house help who is more like family) makes
for us for breakfast. Like the boy smell of my brother’s room. Like the slight
rust and metal smell of the motor room. Like the all-pervading dog/zoo smell
that comes with having five dogs that I miss every day. Like the warm cat smells
of those little rascals who insist on sitting and preening on my pillows (the
six cats are now everywhere and I miss tripping over them). Like
the book-y smell of Grandpa’s room where I sometimes go and wish I could smell
him, his Ayurveda oil and cologne and scruffy cheek and match dissection and
his reprimands. Like wisdom and experience that comes with having lived an era.
Like planes that he worked with and the stories he told. Like the love he
cocooned me in, his kuttammi. Like the sister’s deodorant that I really,
really hate. Like the sister that I really, really love. Like unwashed clothes
and tones of my books in the brother’s room. Like my brother, all six feet of uncuddlable,
awkward teenager-y him that I love catching into a bear hug mostly out of love
and sometimes out of love for embarrassing him. Like Mom’s favorite body lotion
& cream. Like Mom’s favorite perfume. Like Mom’s tea that I actually don’t
like but never have gotten around to telling her. Like Mom’s hugs on the
mornings I reach home for the weekend. Like Mom’s hugs in the evenings when I
leave for Bangalore.
Sigh.
I really miss home.
Really. Really.
I really miss home.
Really. Really.
I feel like sharing. Here are some old photos.
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| Little Rascal No: 1 |
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| Little Rascals No: 2 & 3. RARE photo of this species. |
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| Little Rascal No: 4 |
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| Me+Mom=Peekaboo-ing Session |
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| Little Rascal No: 5 |
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| OLD picture: Grandpa in his plane. No handsomer gentleman, I must say. |
