Departure :EAST............. Arrival: WEST

           While marriage flew me from East of the globe to the West; within a short span of few days, I was once again onboard for a long journey further west. This relocation within the same country, offered a diametrically opposite experience. The coast-to-coast transition presented a platter of changes as the two places stand poles apart. From freezing cold to scorching heat, snow to sun, gloves to sun glasses, heater to air conditioner,the drastic variation in climatic condition justified the 2500 miles long distance between the two. This relocation once again brought us at the junction of cross roads to decide the further course of journey. New city, new location, new dwellers, new atmosphere, and a totally new route to explore. From hunting for an apartment  to finding out grocery stores, from trying new cuisines to discovering new roads it was a back- to-school experience where everything was to be started afresh.
           The farewell phase was difficult as it meant leaving behind friends, acquaintances, places, that crafted beautiful memories within a very short duration. Vacating the house and packing was a task that demanded patience, energy and presence of mind to make sure we took along what meant to be ours as we set our feet on a new march. The job of packing and moving out took us on a roller coaster ride of excitement, happiness, tiredness and mounting tension to shift a life that was 'just set' to a life that was 'to be' set . Being the first ever experience it was a challenging task to fit everything into our bags only to realize that something was left out each time. We filled our luggage full of wonderful memories while discarding away the undesirable ones. What amazed us was till the end we could not bid goodbye to the house as the homely feeling simply refused to part away. The excitement of discovering a new city and staying at a new place to be soon called 'home' carried us away from the sad feelings of distance and departure.

         Though the new place received us with open arms to experience the amazing , enormous and wonderful opportunities it had to offer, the mind could not stop its own set of calculations and comparisons with that of the old. It needed time to accept the new place; like a child hesistant to adjust in a new school with new friends. It also meant readjusting the clock to a further time difference with people back at home.Within no time, this city will occupy a place close to the heart ; following the footsteps of the old. Till then the process of settling down will keep us busy as we begin a new start. With a hope that this place will love us like the previous and a trust that it will be ours forever, we wait to completely blend and transfer the 'VA' to 'CA' ;)