The Surprise that was Home!

I don't know what was more heartening.

Was it the brightest expression on Amya's face with eyes popping out like lemons and mouth agape, dumbstruck with surprise, as he came arround the garden fence to give me a rib-crunching hug and damned me with some of the most creative explatives that I have ever heard in "Amchi Marathi"

Or the speachless happiness with which Aai and Baba looked upon me, as I stood at the door of our house with my luggage, as if they didn't want to reduce the intensity of the moment by saying silly things...

Or the frenzied cry of hamma followed by "I knew you would come, I knew you would never miss my wedding no matter what...I knew it." as she collapsed in my arms crying her happiness out.

Or the most beatiful laughter of recongition and appreciation granted by Shama Tai, Ashwini and bakul to the biggest surprise they had ever received.

Or the colourful beads of pearl revealing anger, surprise, betrayal, love, relief, satisfaction, pleasure and end of struggle, and, and, and I don't know what. Those were the teardrops in Shweta's eyes. The only thing she could say the whole of that afternoon that we spent together was, "You are evil! That's what you are you know..."

Truely, to be loved and missed, and to be able to know it so intensely gives you an intoxication better than any narcotic.

I knew it would be a great experience but I never would have imagined that the surprise that I had planned to give to my friends and family in India, by coming home without announcement, would be a memory so satisfying and ego-boosting...