Away from Home

Last week was full of fun, frolic and entertainment. It was the much awaited Durga Puja week. No matter which part of the world you live in, there’s no dearth of enjoyment during this festival, especially if you are a Bengali. You get the feeling of a home away from home when you are engrossed in the grandeur and celebrations of worshipping the Goddess of Power.

Undoubtedly, it’s my favourite time of the year and I enjoy it to its fullest. I have celebrated this festival in five different states but till date, my heart longs for the celebrations back home, in my hometown Dhanbad. The peace and tranquillity I get there is unmatched. Also, the cherry on the cake is to be with your parents for the entire festive time.

It’s not possible to visit them every year and in those years somehow, my celebration remains incomplete. We call each other every day, after every event, talk at length and end the call with an unsaid, ‘Missed you.’

On every such occasion when I miss my home and it’s warmth, I think hard, what if I never left home? Life would have been so much simpler. What if I never grew up? I miss being pampered and living a life without responsibilities.

Today, as a parent my only joy is to relive my childhood through my kids. Their innocent questions and keen observations leave me spellbound. This year my son enjoyed every moment of Durga Puja. He was fascinated to see Ma Durga’s ten hands, like her he too wanted a lion, he cried when the idol was being taken away and at the end when we immersed it in the water he amazed everyone by asking, “Will she swim back to her home?”

He brought a smile while bidding a tearful farewell to Ma Durga. My heart sinks when I see the idol being immersed. It creates a void and I am made to think, this is the void we create in our parent’s lives when we leave home.

I wish I could stay with them forever. Staying far away from home, I can only pray to the Almighty. May God bless them with health and happiness and take care of them when they need us the most. Lucky are the ones who get to stay together or at least in the vicinity of their parents. Treasure it, value it and be thankful for every moment of your life.