At the end of our yoga class, our teacher told us to think of our favorite room in your favorite home. She told us to do this to find ourselves at peace in this place, but I went into brooding trying to find a favorite room where I can rest myself in peace.
During my train ride back, I kept picturizing myself in all the places I lived till now. My first memories are from Campbell Bay, the southernmost tip of India, the last island in the chain of 300+ islands of Andaman and Nicobar. We lived in Government quarters, my memories are so vague that I have pictured this place through my mom’s description of this place; I was just in 2nd class.
Than we moved to Port Blair, the capital of Andaman Nicobar Islands, and stayed there from my 3rd to 12th class and even after that. If my yoga teacher had told me to imagine my favorite place, this would be the place where I would like to come and visit when I am old. This is where I am at peace with myself.
Coming back to favorite room and home, which one is it?
We started out in Port Blair living in Prem Nagar, a rental apartment in the style of chals in Mumbai, 5 houses sticking to each other built out of wood, where you can hear your neighbors heavy breathing. So; no pleasant memories but we were here only for a year.
As my dad was a civil servant for Andaman Lakshadweep Harbor Works(ALHW) , we lived in government quarters, and getting the best location would always be a struggle. Everybody has to start some where, and we were in Shadipur, a colony located on the hilltop, faraway from everything. The climb was a steep 45 degree, I would always fear that our scooter would topple backwards. My memories from this place is of our blue hen coop which we had in the back of our house, and my bother would go and get a warm egg every morning.
Everybody wanted to move out of this hill and land in the most happening Junglighat area. Finally my dad managed to switch to quarters in Junglighat, my memories are of the stink from the fish market, my classmate Swaminathan living next door and I walking with my best friend Kavitha to and from school. We lived here for maybe 2-3 years.
Moving again, as my dad was transferred but my mom decided to stay in Junglighat with my brother and me, for our good education. This time moving to a 2-story wooden rental apartment on the side of a 40-degree hill, this place holds my fondest memories. My giant size reading table was placed right below the window overlooking rainforests and tress. This place helped me move from childhood to adolescent, letting me dream up movies and scenarios. This place reminds me of our class 11 and 12th tuitions at my place, chatting with my friends on the stairs for hours about everything and most importantly boys. I remember my brother walking me to tuition early in the morning, as my protection with his eyes closed sleeping, he was so small, just a kid. This rental apartment was my home for all good means, from here I left for college, and made a life for myself.
After being by myself I have moved a million places again, from Jalandhar hostel rooms to Mumbai Women’s hostel to the faraway United States of America. Share a room with someone at Columbia, South Carolina, than to Chaddsford, Pennsylvania. Then to couple more rentals, bought a house, sold it, moved to India, rented in India, moved to US, rented moved, rented again and now we bought a house and moved, this is our 4th month in this house which is our home presently.
After all this, is it my fault that I could not pick out a favorite home, forget a room. My mind is full of clutter when it comes to finding a place to rest. But writing gives clarity, and maybe it is the 2 story rental place which houses my most memorable years or maybe I am still looking out for my favorite room and home.
