Let the house be full

I don't know about other girls, but for me, I always wanted to makesure that after I move out of my house, let my house (@hometown) be always full! 

Maybe that is how I associated myself with the feeling of a 'home'...

A home full of people, laughter, love, ample health and abundance of bliss.

Yesterday, late at night, around 11 pm, I was just out of a hot shower bath and being a weekend, I was preparing for a head massage. As I sat in the bed with the bowl of coconut oil mixed with rosemary, I got a notification on my phone - "So Gayi?" (Slept?, in hinglish). It was a message from my Mom.

If I am too tired or not in a mood to take anymore calls, I would avoid responding at that moment. Also, knowing fully well, Mom's struggles with timely sleep or the unhealthy sleep time or habits like i.e. watching TV or scrolling thru phone, I would refrain from responding to her to avoid the guilt that will follow after I have had a conversations that late in night with her. By nature, our conversations would go longer and I too would loose my sleep by then.

But, yesterday I dialed her back. We got on a video call. And she picked-up. Partially, my decision was also influenced by the utterly hectic, messy and emotionally charged day at work which also continued post my return from office and slipped into my night i.e till 10.45 pm. And I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to share the work-day stories with Mom, laugh over it and also take those off my head.  It can probably also work like a lullaby to her and help her release worrying thoughts (eg. Brother's marriage, house painting etc)

As we conversed, I started massaging my head with the coconut oil. I was trying really hard to stay up and keep my eyes open. Such calls are very rare for me as I personally do not like too much of exchanging minute-by-minute details of my day/ life and it exhausts me.

Well...mine and my Mom's conversation started with what I was upto?, what I had for dinner etc. When it was my turn, I started with office story, I spoke about the deep conversations with my manager and how he acknowledges my struggle at work etc.

Then, mom shared that we have some distant relatives visiting us and staying with us there at home. I was aware of a cousing and his wife visiting who were passing from my hometown and headed towards Bhopal, to take part in an exhibition.

Mom said, it's my grandmother's youngest brother and his wife (we address them as Grandfather & granny, but they look quite young). I was like wow! So, we now have - one set of my uncle and aunty (eldest & who stay with us) travelling for a wedding, their distant relative couple is at home visiting and will be leaving tomorrow, then their is this elderly couple also in-house😄.

With curiosity, I asked Mom where will they all be accommodated for which mom patiently and elaborately explained that: On ground floor, Guest room (porch) - one of the two beds is occupied by the elderly uncle. 

The living room or hall (biggest room of the house) is occupied by another uncle (my father's 3rd brother). 

The room that belongs to the eldest uncle (currently travelling for attending a wedding) is occupied by the other visiting couple (attending exhibition).

One last room, near kitchen, which is also the one I find most peaceful. I was told that after my birth, I too was kept in that room along with Mom 😌💕; is where my brother is, now. He too is back in native for few weeks as they are starting the house painting work which was postponed from Diwali due to labour shortage.

Then she narrated how the distribution of people is on first floor😄...

There are two rooms. One of which belongs to one of my Aunty (widow) and that is where the visiting elderly granny is sleeping. And last is Mom's room where she is all by herself as Dad is in the farm house.

At last she says today it's "Full House" and we both laughed our hearts out!

Later, we continued with some random talks and disconnected.

I too was about to sleep, I switched off lights and thanked God in my heart for such blessings of visitors or distant relatives who keep visiting and in a way keep the ladies of the house busy and engaged in healthy interactions and also receive blessings from the elderly. This same place once housed sixteen people, staying together and when all kids moved out or got married, the elderly who are there, live with just the memories and hope that the joy would return when their kids return home. 

In today's life it's very rare we see joint families and such deep connections where we let go our differences and still stay connected and look after each other...even if it means just short visits to check how the other one is.

And when I choose to write ✍️ this, I probably wanted to keep this somewhere as a memory of how and where I grew up. Even, when I am gone this words and stories may be there..... hopefully:).