Page 160 - Musings 2020

you have for me, and you only wished for the best of me. I am going to pass through our
house by 11th of October, and if you decide to have me back, could you lift half the lights in
the house? Even in the garden. And if not, I would go on with no hard feelings."

Coming to the present. On that night, I was waiting on the road, asking people to give me a
ride. One man did give me a ride and was also kind enough to take me to his house.
Absolutely refusing to hear my polite no's, he forced me to have dinner with him. Seeing his
fatherly and warm figure, I poured out my heart to him and told him the entire thing. He
looked sadly at me, and with such pain in his eyes, that I asked him, "Sir, are you alright?
Can I get something for you?" He replied after a long pause," Son, my son, the star and moon
of my life, left me two years ago. I did everything to stop him. I just hope that somebody is
good to my son. I pray to The Lord for giving him strength every day. I just wish that he
would come home, and forgive this old, stupid man." It took me every ounce of my strength
not to cry. I decided I would be on my way, and thanked the man profusely. I was
overwhelmed.

I went back to the road and hitched a ride. A truck was going the same way I was, and after
much coaxing, the truck driver decided to drop me home. He made very little conversation
and I was glad for it. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. By the time he woke me up,
we had already reached the end of the lane in the residential area I lived in. Scared and
excited at the same time, I asked the driver if he had seen a house lit up. He exclaimed,
"Why! We just passed that house! Not only does it look like Diwali has come early there; an
old man is also flashing torch lights! He must be mad! Uff, is desh ka kya hoga!" With a
regretful sigh, he dropped me. I started crying and after thanking him profusely, I got down.

I had not marched inexorably to liberty, but I had realized what life means and that the love
of a family is forever and to infinity. No matter what I did, they would always be there for me
and see me for who I am. We might not agree on everything, but that's what makes family life
so exciting, so enjoyable! We bind together for life. Because the heart is where the family is.
I had emerged as a wiser, more responsible, and mature adult. It is said that God gives his
toughest battles to his strongest soldiers and I am glad for it.

Smiling, I made my way to my house. After all, I had missed my father, my mother, and her
cooking, my siblings, and their fights, I had missed my family.

I was home. And that is what matters.

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