Living in the West

14th August 2005, the day I cannot forget ever. That was the day when I boarded that plane to come from one West (Mumbai) to a different West (Boston - USA). I was nervous, sad, anxious and excited to step into a different life. The first step towards my independent life here in USA. I had never been away from home for more than 10-15 days. Even today it gives me chills thinking about it. I still can't believe I had the potential to pull it off; completing my Master's, getting a job, being independent. I miss everything about my family, be it lunch and dinner we had together, be it being entertained or entertaining them, being in the center of all that family drama, creating a mess and knowing someone would cover my back. Here in America I know I can't have the same luxuries in life. Most times I miss my buddy in India. All those times we hang out together, had fun. Knowing that he would be by my side through thick and thin. I miss my days in Mumbai, the city, the traffic, the staunch, the dirt, the commute to college, bunking lectures and playing carrom, sitting at Jay's sandwich and having a good time. I wish I could relieve those days again. Every time I goto India, I roam around those same roads and same places and makes me wonder why did I have to leave college and do all the grown up stuff. But life has been good and kind to me. When I look back at the past two years of my life, it has been eventful and awesome. I made lots of new friends, lost some along the way, made some more. I have acquired habits and a lifestyle which I cannot even imagine having in India. I eventually learned to drive and bought a car of my own. I have the freedom to do what I like, when I like and how I like it. Freedom to spend thousands of dollars on stuff I can do without. Sometimes, however, I miss that fear - the fear of getting in trouble, the fear that my actions could cause disgrace to my family, the phone call from my aunt whenever I am not home on time. I wished living in the West would be a win-win situation, but I guess that happens only in India. How much ever luxurious my life here would be, I still crave for that one strong friendship that I have with my pal in Mumbai. Friends like that are hard to get. If I ever find myself in trouble here, there is no one name that comes to my mind, that can rescue me. So I dedicate this blog to my friend and my family, particularly my aunt; and end it quoting the same thing I always tell them "Let's see where life takes you!!!".