Saturday 7 June 2014

A visit home ~


Dil dhoondta
hai phir wahi , fursat ke raat din
.....

This song from the film Mausam ( 1975) sung by Bhupinder and penned down by the great Gulzar talks about what seems like a by gone era. It talks about the idyllic and leisurely days when one could lie down on the green grass and stare at the open blue skies. In today's time and the hustle -bustle of the busy lives we lead, the song has lost it's meaning more than ever. We all yearn for days where we could go back to a life where days could be as idyllic and perfect as described in the song.
Whenever I think of such 'fursat ke raat din' I always think of my original home , my parents' place where I spent a good deal of my growing up years. Life was so simple, devoid of worries and troubles, where you always had all your problems taken care of and you got the feeling of being on a never ending vacation.
Today, I cannot even fathom a life like that. Not that life has thrown any stones in my path ( for which I'm grateful) but it does come with it's own challenges and battles .
 Recently I was able to go back to my sanctuary, my parents place for a short vacation and after a long time I was able to spend some good quality time with my entire family . It was only then that I realised the meaning of this song in it's real sense, feel and savour each moment to it's fullest. The best part of being home is the fact that you don't have any deadlines to meet and the days start and end without your even realising it, the mind is free and uncluttered and you feel totally at peace with your surroundings :)
My hometown, Allahabad , is a small , sleepy town and you experience a change of pace the moment you set foot there. My parents home, a huge bungalow with sprawling lawns and a big, spacious 'aangan' adds to the old world charm . The garden very lovingly tended to, by my mother is anyday better than any resort and all I can say is ' There is no place like home ' :)

The first thing I did there was to stop glancing at the clock. I did'nt care when I woke up and when I slept and that was the biggest luxury I could gift myself. I did not watch any television at all and that was such a great feeling...I never felt the need to do so. I just ate, slept, read some books from my small library that I had created as a child and teenager ( I still love my Agatha Christie collection there ), spent good time with family, caught up with old school friends, went to my favourite eating joints, bumped into familiar faces , shopped stuff for myself ( I still love to go shopping there) that I had been procrastinating for a long, long time, kept nagging my mom to make 'this and that' for breakfast, lunch and dinner  along with the umpteen cups of tea , feasted on all the great bakes that my sister in law specialises in, went for a lovely and relaxing facial with friends, indulged in some sight seeing ( the same old places I like to see when I'm there ) and had a whale of a time. I did'nt have to worry about my kids since I knew they were well looked after, did'nt care about cooking , cleaning, laundry and the works. Never once had to bother about what to cook for lunch or dinner . I think this is the best break or relief I could have given myself and could actually feel the 'fursat ke raat din' lyrics echoing in my mind constantly. Bliss!
Take a look at some pictures of my home and hometown, the perfect place for relaxation, the perfect place to unwind, recharge your batteries and the perfect place where you can experience the lovely moments of nothingness that mean the whole world after you are through with it :)






The Alamandas fluttering in the breeze.




Mom's special ability of growing flowers anywhere and everywhere :)


Th swing that holds happy memories of our childhood . Well, some not so happy ones too. I fell down from it once and hurt my head badly when I was a kid .


The bottle brush tree that has the most perfectly jutting out branch along with the Monstera climbing up along it's trunk.


Baskets that hang from every tree .


A small sit out in the verandah where tea tastes like never before :)


The grape chandelier that always welcomes you every time you enter the porch.


The canopy on the metal frame right in the middle of the garden is my favourite outdoor location.


Tea, that is served almost every hour :)


Mom's garden always yields some lovely harvests. This time it was the sweet tasting bananas :)


Amaltas trees in full bloom opening their yellow hearts to all and sundry .


The beautiful creepers with the sweet, intoxicating fragrance .


Bamboos and money plants overlooking mom's kitchen garden .


A place where you find yourself face to face with some strange creepy crawlies .

 Home made goodies that I brought along with me too .


My Agatha Christie books that I can never tire reading .

  Our living room there with the red oxide floors which only opens for the guests :)




A lovely day at Sangam ...


During a boat ride.



That's the fort .
So, those were snippets from my home visit. I am back totally rejuvenated and fresh and ready to take on the world. The best part is... there are still some daysleft for my kids to resume school after Summer holidays , so still time to go back to the grind.
Hope you liked my sleepy little hometown and my original home . This is where my roots lie. This is a place where I grew up, did my schooling and college. This is the place that's been instrumental in making me the person I am and I am proud to be associated with it and this is truly a place where I'd always love to be whenever my heart yearns for those 'fursat ke raat din ' :)


18 comments:

  1. What a perfect vacation you had Reshma...your mom's place is none less beautiful than any resort and special bonus everything done for you is with much much love. I am sure you miss them but you feel recharged :)

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    1. Thank you Nayana. Yes, true . That is what makes is all the more special :)

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  2. What an excellent write up. The pictures are superb. Really I was waiting to read from you.

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    1. Thank you so much Asha. Means a lot to me . Thanks for stopping by and for the feedback :)

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  3. Yes Reshma, I completely agree with you when you say this is the place which made you what you are..! Your original home is as soulful as you!

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    1. Thank you so much Padmamanasa. I feel no matter how far you may wander away of settle away from your homeland, it always beckons you from time to time. I am , specially , very attached to my hometown and my people :) Thanks for stopping by !

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  4. Hey Reshma,
    I have been hovering around your blog for sometime but mostly on the cellphone so since I was never really logged on to my blog account didn't want to comment.After reading this post I simply HAD to comment.First of all, SAME PINCH! I belong to Allahabad as well.Did my schooling from SMC And BHS and college from AU. Since my parents are here with me this time I didn't go to Allahabad for the vacations.And needless to say I agree with everything you've penned down here.For me its a vacation and complete fursat ke din whether I visit my parents or my parents visit me.Felt nostalgic although just came after staying for three and a half years in Allahabad since my husband was in field.(he is in the army}.I have a house in Lukerganj and my inlaws stay at Thornhill Road.
    Not to forget...Hira Halwai ki dahi jalebi..and lalloo ke samose...Lokenath ki chaat...civil lines ka churmura...hot stuff..ke burgers...O I am already missing Allahabad.
    Thanks for this post..

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    1. Hi Antara, so nice to hear from you. It's always great to hear from my fellow Allahabadis . I always feel there are strings attached with them even if I've never met them. Yes, you are right , even when parents are here, it's the same feeling . Hira halwai is my fav. haunt too . I went there for samosas this time and yes, all the places you mentioned have a special place in my heart. All childhood memories. I have done my schooling from GHS and went to the university. I think you must have been a few years junior to me. Great to connect with you . Do keep visiting me here :)

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  5. My lovely baccha,
    I am so happy that you had a relaxed time,(though brief), here . That is what 'maika' is all about sweets. We ,your dad & I , had a fabulous quality time with you all & the kids.Missing you lots.I am sure every daughter feels this way when she is in her home town ....& as you have so aptly put ,'original home'.You have expressed it beautifully.Both of us here feel so blessed to have a wonderful daughter ...that's you~~~~~maa.

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    1. Thanks Ma, though I know I don't have to thank you , still I will. You and papa take care of everything and make me feel so blessed specially when I'm there. Thanks for dropping a comment here. You know I love to hear from you . Hugs !

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  6. You echo the sentiments of every daughter going homd but oh so beautifully. What delightful pictures. This post brought a smile to my my face. Agatha Christie and fursat ke raat din. We would certainly get along😊😊😊

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    1. Anu, thanks :) Yes, I'm sure it applies to all of us who go home once in a while . I think we all need such breaks aka 'fursat ke raat din' :D

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  7. Hi Reshma, you have sold Allahabad to me. Next time we plan a trip to India- I must visit your beautiful 'sleepy little hometown'. Nice clicks:)

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    1. Hi Arti, thank you so much :) Yes, please do visit, even better if I'm also there at that time . Thanks for stopping by :)

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  8. Hi Reshma..
    With a home and garden like that I am sure you relaxed very well.. Nice pics.

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    1. Thank you Vasudha. Yes, nothing compares to this feeling :) Thanks for stopping by !

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  9. Hi Reshma, The red oxide floors and chairs in the living room made me stop and read your post (as I was blog surfing). They brought back vivid memories of my uncle's place in Lucknow. It was only later that I noticed you are from Allahabad, which explains the similarity. Reading through (especially your mother's comments), I so long to go visit Lucknow and hug my Masi tight. I just lost my uncle. Lucknow was such a big part of our childhood.

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    1. Hi Mama magic ! Thank you so much for stopping by :) Yes, the red floors are synonymous with Alld. and Lucknow. Old bungalows had a lot of them. So glad to hear your association with the place too. Sorry to hear about your uncle and yes, you must give your masi a big tight hug. Lots of love to you :)

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It's always good to get a feedback :)