Nani ka ghar !

The deviation from the pre decided account on Pune is for valid reasons. I am visiting and truly so, my birth place, the erstwhile Patliputra now known as Patna. A short 7 days stay here has allowed me to explore the various aspects of this city, some as a mere tourist while others as a resident as I reminisce the childhood days I have spent here. My span of stay in this city was never more than 1 month at a stretch because we visited it only during the vacations. I remember vividly shuttling between my maternal and paternal homes.
A lot has changed; to start with, my paternal home is no more there. It’s being made into a more luxurious house that will be more comfortable for us or so they stay. I went there a few days ago and realized that the land, on which it stood erect till a few years ago, seems much smaller than our home did. The mango trees, the talaab at the back, are all gone.
I get goose bumps every time I even think about it. The hailstorms we played in as children in that house, the usual fights that happened among the cousins every vacation when we met there, all come flashing by when I think about it.
I feel how beloved we are of our grandparents. I remember how my dadi would save me from my mother’s scolding and pampered me with everything I asked for. Dadi is no more, neither is my Baba.
Nani’s house always had a lot more action in store for us. With many more cousins we would rampage the house every time we came. I remember how my nani would hide the Rooh Afzaah bottles from us which would otherwise have emptied in a day. On the other hand she would make my favorite dishes for me and shower us with all the things that we craved to eat, the pizzas from Sweet Home, the noodles from Chow cart, the Dosas from Vasant Vihar, and the Golden ice cream we would wait for every evening.
My nani was a woman of very strong principles and they were more often than not right. When I hear about them now, I think how well sorted out all her decisions were. I remember when nana would yell at us for our tom foolery, she would get livid and forbid him from it. I miss her and all my grandparents. They left us very early in life. It’s all a lesson learnt, to cherish all the memories and to make the most of the time I have with my Nana.
I came here 2 years ago last time and I see a clear change in the way the city is. Better traffic, more cleanliness, and most of all a much improved law and order system in the city. People here are a lot more carefree now, and shops are open till late in the night too. Modernization is on its way with the plush hotels coming up. Finally the taxes we pay are being put to good use!
I’m still here and living every moment of it. The nothingness also is a way of enjoying what is there and what may not be because as a rule of nature, nothing is forever. But no, the memories will last for as long we live and for ever more. 