The ‘Home coming’ series

SEASON 1

   While you must be wondering about the confusing title of this blog, let me enlighten you about its usage. Though it may sound as one of the series on television, the writer in me has not ventured into script writing or story narration, yet!  As blogs are nothing but thoughts and ideas put into words, an exciting experience in the recent times has fueled this idea of home coming. After spending a month in my home country during the first-ever debut visit, when the blogger in me sat down with words, there was lots to talk about. While one single post would not be able to deliver justice to my flow of thoughts, this idea of series came to the rescue.

    Offering wide array of interesting experiences, this one month visit was truly colorful in every way. From meeting my little nephew for the first time to celebrating his first birthday, from talking about life overseas to relating it with factors back home, from riding over the waves of nostalgia to enjoying the most awaited unique gifts of the home soil, every single experience was wonderful by all means. Crossing the globe over several miles and travelling in the air for numerous hours resembled an adventure in its own way, deserving and demanding a post to its own name. With this, as the series of ‘home coming’ begins to unfold its episodes, I hope to paint the picture as expected.

    A term that stands for reunions, alumni meetings, association of ex-students and recollection of nostalgic memories, ‘home coming’ offered an apt title to the series. By reuniting with old folks and recollecting good, old memories; this ‘home coming’ was successfully enjoyed till the last bit.

     As the blogger in me takes you through these exciting experiences from the recent past, sit back and enjoy the series through these few interesting episodes. While some of you may relate with them closely, few others may have tasted such similar flavors before. So, whether you have lived these memories in the past, or whether you may come across with them in the future, let this series entertain you in its own way.

P.S: All the characters and incidences in the series are non-fictitious in nature! Resemblance to real-life situation is purely intentional.

SEASON 1, EPISODE 1: ‘An aerial affair with a heavy fare’

The ‘to’ journey

      Heavy dosage of excitement, loads of happiness, uncontrollable smiles and numerous dreams - describing the journey to ‘home land’ with the most correct choice of words, the inbound trip was nothing less than an enjoyable adventure. Flying along with parents enhanced the charm, as they posed as perfect travel mates to share my rising excitement. While their happiness reflected the eagerness of reaching back home after a touristy visit and my joy portrayed the essence of touching the home soil, our reasons differed, yet feelings matched.

        From packing the bags since several weeks in advance to accomplishing it as an awaited task, from planning the journey on a minute-to-minute basis to imagining the trip for several times in mind, from excited and sleepless night before the travel to impatient haste on the main day, the entire experience was exciting and entertaining. Eagerness to leave for the airport much before time, coupled with willingness to load the luggage all by self were some of the acts that made total sense back then, only to deliver laughter and smiles as I think about them today!

       Though the journey comprised of 16 long and continuous hours along with additional 5 in short breaks, excitement of touching the home ground erased away all the pain. Be it friendly smile of the airline staff or cold meals during transit, be it high elevation over the ground or company of clouds all around, every aspect of the travel seemed magical in its own way. Starting with excitement, moving through happiness and finally terminating into impatience, every phase of the journey was marked with its unique set of emotions. Eagerness to visualize my city after a long period of absence along with uncertainty of reactions clubbed together into an exciting outcome as every moment offered its own charm.

        From walking inside the aircraft to passing the long duration with entertainment console, from making attempts to catch some sleep to staring impatiently at the clock, every passing moment of the trip gained exciting momentum and interesting acceleration. Finally as the journey dropped us to the destination, my happiness and joy was truly over the moon.

    Stepping out of the airport, standing over the home soil and breathing air of the country combined into wonderful experiences that cannot be framed into words. Riding over nostalgic memories on the way home and admiring the beauty of the city that never sleeps, these fantastic moments were truly magical in every way. With an exciting aerial affair as the ‘to’ journey reached its goal, the next phase of stay welcomed me with open arms!

The ‘return’ journey

       While the ‘to’ and the ‘return’ differed in their purpose, experiences, memories and emotions, both of them were equally interesting. Excitement and happiness of reaching home during the inbound journey was replaced with satisfaction, joy and content of returning back during the outbound, as a home away from home longed for my presence! Loaded with beautiful memories, memorable moments, happy experiences and interesting talks as I boarded the flight back, eagerness to meet ‘the better half’ and narrate him every single experience fueled the return leg of this journey.

     Though traveling alone came across as an interesting learning experience, it was surrounded with loads of memories for company. Smiling over the happy moments of the past and rejoicing under the delight of their occurrence, the journey seemed shorter than expected. Powered with the eagerness to look at the bachelor state of the house, the novelty of every aspect made it interesting by all means.

    Returning back to the second home also seemed heartwarming and welcoming as an invisible bond connects me to it, after all home is where the heart is!

   While this blog is being penned down under the heavy influence of ‘jet-lag’, crossing countries and moving over the globe was definitely a unique adventure. As I frame other episodes of this series over the coming days, I hope to recreate the experience in a live and true manner.

Till then, experience the impact of this aerial affair with a heavy fare; light in its feel, heavy for the pocket!