Baltimore to Bhagalpur

As I walk towards the International Departure, I turn behind, wave and bid him goodbye. He waves back to me. I control my tears; take in a big gulp of sadness and with a deep sigh I continue walking.

I kept walking. I wanted to turn again and see him. But I didn’t.

I checked-in at the airport and collected my boarding pass. I had asked for an aisle seat. After the emigration, I started walking towards Gate 21 to board my flight. Pre-occupied, I forgot to mention my frequent flyer number. I walked all the way back, irritated, because of my stupidity, I got a new boarding pass with my frequent flyer number mentioned on the boarding pass, I started walking towards gate 21, again.

After an hours’ wait at the lounge, I board my flight. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was as if time had frozen. It was as if that one hour had sixty deadly minutes which in-turn had three thousand six hundred pricking seconds. My mind was cluttered with morose thoughts. I couldn’t imagine a week away from him, but I couldn’t bring him along with me. I had to leave on a very short notice.

He is my life and I love him more than myself. :-)

As soon as boarding was announced, everyone rushed to the counter. It looked as if it were a, ‘Who gets in first’ race! I waited patiently, for the restless, rather excited idiotic crowd to clear. I boarded the flight, fastened my seat belt, switched off my mobile and took a deep sigh. A few more hours of solitude, mid-air, without him. The very thought was driving me insane. I kept thinking what he would be doing back at home. But I had no choice. Ever since I have been with him, I have never been away from him. I think I need him more than he needs me.

He is my life, my everything! :-)

Boeing 757, Seat C4, Twenty two thousand feet above sea level and the only thing I can think of is him. The craft swayed like a pendulum, due to the turbulence caused by the air-pockets in the clouds. I was scared of heights and confined spaces, and the turbulence scared me even more. I started chanting Hanuman Chalisa. Felt better, but was thinking about him all-the-more.

I tried distracting myself, tried doing the cryptic crossword and the Sudoku, read the comic strips, my horoscope forecast for the month, the weather forecast etc. All my efforts to cheer myself up went in vain. I couldn’t concentrate. I was missing him, a lot.

He is my life, my everything, my Rohit ! :-)

The craft landed in Patna after the jolty journey. The wheels creaked along the runway; it was a horrible landing. After taxing for about fifteen minutes, it came to a halt. I switched on my mobile. Got a ‘Airtel welcomes you to Bihar’ sms :-) People rushed out, ran towards the immigration hall, and then to collect their luggage. I went out at my pace. Patna wasn’t my destination. Bhagalpur was, I had to travel more. Hmmm. *Sigh*

Getting back home in India was unavoidable. There were some legal issues which I had to settle in my home town, Bhagalpur. I had some self-centered, narrow- minded, good-for-nothing, stubborn, irritating, orthodox relatives in town, but they just added to more trouble and misery. My parents were no more. They passed away a year ago. I was better off alone in the city, I did not inform anyone about my coming. I wanted to wrap up my work as soon as possible and get back to him. I had settled abroad after specializing in ‘Psychology’, which was my passion and profession. I admit, I’m one of the very few people who get to have the same profession as their passion. I’m very happy about that. :-D

After five days of running around in the scorching and blistering heat, assimilating the correct documents, following up useless government officials who come to work late and leave before time and keep expecting a bribe every single time, getting their signatures and seals, arghh! Finally I was through with all the work. I was relieved. Phew!

I went to my native temple, sat at my favorite place, meditated for a while, I waited to see the evening aarti. It was very peaceful. I visited the places I had lived during my childhood. The familiar lanes, cinema halls, shops, the big banyan tree, the lucky well, Bhola Ram’s dhaaba, Laljeet’s sweet shop. I was happy to see all these places after so many years. Unfortunately I lost contact with all my friends. I’m not on any social networking sites and I’m bad at maintaining contacts. I’m pretty much of an introvert and I love my privacy. I was hoping to bump into a known face, well, that didn’t happen. I had a lovely day, visiting all these places, but wanted to go back to see him, it was high time I left for Baltimore.

I work in Baltimore since twelve years; live with Rohit, my adopted son.

We have a dog Dora, I found her on the streets, I got her home :-)

I’m a single mom, a spinster, my name is Raagini.
He is my life, my everything, my Rohit, my son :-)

9th July 2011