Picture rain. A bustling market, different vendors selling their goods, big and small shops. Stunning mountain views, even in the fog. Playing Uno inside with my family friends when the weather was bad enough.
These were just two of many days during my recent trip to India, to the hill station getaway of Mahableshwar. The rest of the time I was in the city of Pune, staying with my grandparents first and then my mom's best friend and her family.
What made this trip particularly special was the fact that I was going alone. There were no parents, no siblings, just me traveling by myself not only for the first time to India but the first time ever. Having just graduated high school, I'm not sure when I'll have time to go back again once college starts; to me, this voyage was more so a need than a want.
I can't put a finger on just one reason why I'm so attached to this place. The people that come with it are certainly a plus. I'll admit that meeting my relatives without my parents seemed overwhelming at first, but their unwavering warmth, kindness, and intention to feed me as much as possible made those experiences so much better. My mom's best friend, who I call Sonal mavshi, has always treated me like her own, and her two daughters are some of the closest things I've ever had to sisters. Whether we were going to the mall or out to eat, trying on clothes or just staying in and binge-watching movies, I wouldn't trade the memories I've made with them for the world.
Being fluent in the language primarily spoken in that region of the nation, Marathi, has certainly helped me find comfort whenever I visit, as does my new attempts to learn Hindi. And while I am usually a picky eater, I cannot even stress enough how much joy it brings me to try new foods whenever I visit.
It tears me up every time I have to leave. I can't tell you how much it hurts to leave behind the good food, the views, the memories of driving to get sweets late into the night or singing along to the same Bollywood songs over and over. I guess the other reason I came to India this time was to be reminded of my childhood, of the simple things like Maggi noodles and playing cards when the lights went out. To being spoiled and given unlimited attention.
To not ever growing up.
The older of my two family friend-sisters is starting her master's program in Bangalore next week. The younger one, who people refer to as my "twin," already started college last week. So much was changing already, and before I enter my own college years in a few months I wanted to hold on to whatever youth I had left, no matter how ridiculous it made me look. But, alas, I am not Peter Pan. In the end, I think we all do have to grow up.
But no matter if I come back in a year or two or even ten, I know that India will still be there waiting for me. And I am forever grateful to have found a second home there forever.
