The Journey back home..

What can possibly be sweeter than the journey homewards?

After 4 months of scorching Chennai heat and an exceptionally tumultuous end semester fortnight, the lo...ng wait had come to an end!

I was going home!!!

During the first few hours of the journey, I rarely looked out the window, my head buried in the latest issue of “The Week”. 

Really, I’d seen enough of Chennai, with its hurry-burry life, slum-ridden suburbs, men and women who like to speak really REALLY loud ;) and the ubiquitous scent of jasmines and orange blossoms.

In fact, I was quick to clamber up to my berth and surprisingly, slept soundly, even amidst all the ruckus. My mind was at peace, dreaming happy dreams of the three months to come.

Yes, I was going home....finally.. 

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Early next morning, so impatient was I to get a glimpse of Kerala, that I prodded Mom awake, cast meaningful looks at her and strode noisily  up and down the cabin, until everybody just  had to wake up, cast  a few “Wherever did this pest come from?” looks and straighten up their bunks. B)

And, it was worth it.! :)

Lo and behold.! My very own home land.. my heart warmed up at the very sight of it. <3   

Aah..The alluvial smelling air..

 The spongy cumulous filled sky of typical Kerala summer..

The pleasantly humid seductress of a climate..

 The million coconut trees peeping out from every corner, the bunches of coconuts swaying in the strong breeze..

Vast, stretching patches of fields with a solitary hut in the right centre..

The dozen cows grazing in lonely grasslands..

The worker tapping toddy from palm trees at the break of dawn..

 The multicoloured croton leaves jutting out from the household walls..

The plantains poking their heads out from the roadside walls..

The jack fruit bunches heaving out, spreading their delicious fragrance throughout the entire neighborhood. 

Peaceful folk sauntering about with their typical Kerala “don’t have a care in the world” aura..

The hazy mountains , visible at a distance, silhouetted against the foggy horizon, sky and earth bonding hands in a fashion difficult to distinguish one from the other.

There is the hint of a nearing summer shower in the humid air, there always is. The climate seems to tease us with its transient mood swings.

Finally, as if to appease us, a 2 minute burst of mushy rain materializes..and disappears as quickly with a cheeky grin..

It reminds me of the actual rainy season in Kerala. Rain, in all her majesty, has the time of her life here. The rainy smell pervades each corner of this little land, filling it's occupants with a strangely strong rain-connected nostalgia.

But then, Edavapathi* is not long away.. :)

The snow-white storks meditating on one foot like venerable saints in the algae-filled lakes..To watch them flapping their wings amidst the coconut trees (of course ;)) in the early morning sky, with the sun’s rays filtering through the foliage is really a visual treat.

Early morning Kerala is indeed a beauty..

The scenes seem so fragile in their existence, like a Monet painting in a different avatar..Everything seems to blur into each other with perfect synchronisation of brilliance. 

Life seems so unhurried; easy-going...time seems to dwell in this panorama of natural splendour..

Aah..Kerala..How I’ve missed you..

That struggling writer in me dove deep down into the caverns of desolation without your beauty to feed my poor soul. 

After months of oblivion, I finally found her today, eyes pressed to the train window, gasping with relief to see your grandeur unfolding before her eyes, greedily absorbing every image of scenic loveliness, eyes moistening to see that nothing has changed, her land still retains its innocent, village-like beauty.

I think she has finally found her way out. And God, I hope she stays out for good.

Yup, its definitely good to be back home.! :)

Cheers! :)

*South west monsoon. Starts in June..