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Home Sweet Home

1. When I was lost as a kid

Since childhood, my family has always been on the move due to shifting schools to receive the best education. Though it was thrilling to experience a new city, leaving the friends I had made at school was a challenge every single time. I would face struggles with adapting to a new home and school environment but bore it with a positive attitude and a big smile on my face. However, my parents could see through my misery and, thus, would design a warm and comfortable space for me at home where I would feel like I belonged even in the most odd circumstances. 

I was 8 years old when we moved to a new city (Chandigarh). The house we lived in there was quite old and did not give off the most positive and homey vibe. Moreover, the community we lived in caused indifferences between my family and our neighbors. Overall, adapting to this new environment seemed tough compared to previous years.

To make me feel at ‘home,’ my mother redecorated the interiors of the house. After school hours, I even used to help her with it. More than the physical changes, soon the warmth and love shared among the family members helped me get through tough days at school as well as made me feel loved and valued at all times. This entirely changed my misery into happiness. Furthermore, as a family, we started doing many activities together, such as cooking dinners, going shopping, and watching movies till late at night on weekends.

The moments I will cherish the most are the cultural festivals such as Diwali, Navratri, and Holi, as well as our birthdays and significant successes together. Within two months, I felt accustomed to the place I lived in and started venturing out in the neighborhood on my own in the evenings. I would interact with the people around me with no bias in mind and strike up meaningful conversations with them that created great bonds with them. The boys living in the house next to us went to my school too. The three of us became friends in no time and would go for long bike rides to watch sunsets from the hills and play cricket for countless hours. 

After two years of shaping some of my best memories there with my family, it was time to move out to a new province as I had reached a crucial year of my schooling life, Grade 10, and my parents decided to shift me to a new school with better faculty to help me achieve great success in my upcoming board examinations.

As an adult, now whenever I reflect back on those days, I recognize the value of family and, more importantly, a place that you can call "home."  It's not just about the physical structure or the possessions inside, but the sense of belonging and comfort that it brings. In my worst times, my home has been my parents, not the shelter I lived under or the neighborhood around me.

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2. During COVID 19

After moving houses all my life, COVID-19 served to hold my family and I in one house for more than three years. It certainly was a difficult time for the world. It affected every country and led to the death of countless lives and the breaking of innumerable lives due to the death of their loved ones. The pandemic brought with it an eerie quiet feeling that filled everyone’s home and the streets outside. 

Moreover, it brought with it a famine that affected many people, especially those who were already living in poverty. The situation was particularly dire for beggars and other marginalized groups that were left without any means of earning a living. As the pandemic continued, normalcy in people’s lives and daily routines seemed bleak.

Initially, when a nation-wide lockdown was announced, I was happy about it as school had been very intensive lately and staying at home would be a time to relax and rejuvenate myself from sleep deprivation. Soon, the closed environment of home started to agitate me, and boredom hit badly. I was very frustrated with my mundane routines until one morning when I watched on the news channel, visuals of people on the streets crying because of the inability to reach a hospital in time for medical care 

This was a turning point in my mindset, and I felt grateful for having a roof over my head, along with unlimited access to food, a place to sleep comfortably, and the moral support of my family. I started putting more effort into striking up conversations with my parents about their childhood and learned innumerable life lessons that have stuck with me till today, like that hard work is the key to success and always pays off in the long run. This grew bonds with my family deeply. We indulged in many game nights playing Monopoly, sang karaoke until sunrise, cooked meals together, and exercised to stay healthy. We all hit lows on some days, and without any hesitation, we discussed our anxieties and worries with each other. 

Though we were confined in our home for almost a year like always, I never felt alone, but rather more comforted than ever because of the warmth and support from my family. Furthermore, the pandemic highlighted the importance of community and the need to look out for one another. It showed us that we are all connected and that we need to support each other during difficult times. As we emerge from the pandemic, I hope we continue to cherish the things that matter most in life, like our homes, families, and communities.

Now, it was time for me to move again, but this time not with my family but rather all alone to university in a country really far from my home, Canada.  

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3. Going back home during winter break

It had been four months since I had felt the comfort of home. There was a lack of warmth in my life, quite literally! As soon as my first term exams ended, I packed my bags and caught a flight back to India. The 21 hour journey was exhausting, but the prospect of reuniting with my family and friends made the trip worth it. I could not wait to go back to the familiar surroundings of my hometown.

As the traveling was coming to an end, I could feel an unusual excitement growing inside me.  The memories of my childhood started flowing back into my memory, and I was eager to relive them all. The comfort of my own bed, the sound of birds chirping outside the window, and the aroma of my mother’s cooking - I missed them all.

When I finally met my family at the airport, it was bliss; we all shed tears of utmost love and joy. We drove back home with the biggest smile on our faces and so much to talk about! The first few days went into overcoming the jet lag, eating my most favorite dishes, and having long nights of sharing stories and experiences from the past four months with my parents. It was heartwarming to see how much they had missed me and how much they had grown in my absence. The same goes for me as well, who spent four whole months away from them. They often told me that I seemed more independent and that they were very proud of my willpower at university. During my stay, all of my friends from high school connected and met up over various lunches and dinners. We visited our favorite spots and reminisced about the good old days. It was refreshing to see how much everyone had matured and grown, yet how our bond remained just as strong. Also, we reunited with our relatives and paid a visit to the ones who were close to me. It was such a delight that everyone welcomed me with their open hearts.

Overall, what made this winter break truly special was the feeling of being home. The comfort and familiarity of my surroundings, the love and warmth of my family, and the sense of belonging - it all made me feel valued. Though it was for just two weeks, it was a detox from all the stress of university life, and I made sure to live every moment to the fullest. 

As the winter break came to an end, I knew that I would miss my home and my family dearly. Along with me, I was carrying endless, unforgettable memories that would give me the strength and perseverance I needed to face all the challenges that lay ahead of me. As always, my parents stayed in my heart as my biggest cheerleaders, and I knew that no matter where I went, my home and my family would always be there to welcome me back with open arms.