My Sentimental Longing
Sorry that it took me so long to come back to my virtual world.
The thing is I am back home for this long a period after almost four years. So, I had to do the role of the cheerful obedient daughter who visits all the relatives and talk to them about everything-that-is-boring-under-the-sun with a grin on my face. My face literally hurts now. I had to retreat back to a state of no talking for about two days for things to go back to normalcy.
I went to my gramps place after four years. It was the place where I used to spend all my summers when I was in school. I had so many memories of the old house where almost the whole of my mother's side of the family lived. Five brothers under one roof. It is one of those colonial houses built by a business man from Rangoon in 1890s. Every nook and corner has a part of history associated with it. The house to me represents my family more than anything.
It has its war marks. You can see the arts and crafts things my mom and her sisters worked on when they were kids in the drawing room. The glass panes everywhere are covered with all those memorabilia my uncle collected from all those radio stations that he used to write to. The shelves are filled with all those spiritual magazines my grand pa used to read. This was a place where I actually grew up.
My grand pa bought this place for his whole family because he dint want to disturb his kids with his frequent transfers as a health officer. He was one of those people even in those days valued education the most. He wanted each one of his kids to have a job and be self sufficient and independent. He used to travel the whole of the state while my grand ma took care of my great grand parents and five kids and raised them.
This is a part of the history which my grand ma tells with so much pride. She got these plaques made for all her five kids with their educational qualifications and jobs written on them. So, we have five plaques outside the main door, which my grandmother looks at every morning with so much pride that it moves me every single time.
The house has seen so many people during its time their dreams, their hopes, their happiness, their despair.This is where my parents met the first time and eventually got married. This is where I used to sit with my grand pa when he used to tell me stories from the Ramayana when I was four years old. This is where my grand ma used to warn me incessantly about being away from home with a lot of analogies ( the leaf and the thorn etc etc :D). This is where I learnt to play with fire (Seriously I actually burnt myself while playing with a candle :) ).
So when I heard about my distant uncle who wants to tear it all down to build an apartment complex I was so angry with the whole family I actually shouted at them. How can they destroy a part of history for some measly bucks? I was outraged. But the sad part is I cant do a thing. People grow up, they dont have the sentimental attachments to things. They say its practical, the upkeep is too much but how can you do this to your family home? The house where you were conceived! People have no place for values!
I know I sound too idealistic and too impractical but to hell with it, I cant let this happen! I have to find a solution soon. I hope I will be able to do something.
The thing is I am back home for this long a period after almost four years. So, I had to do the role of the cheerful obedient daughter who visits all the relatives and talk to them about everything-that-is-boring-under-the-sun with a grin on my face. My face literally hurts now. I had to retreat back to a state of no talking for about two days for things to go back to normalcy.
I went to my gramps place after four years. It was the place where I used to spend all my summers when I was in school. I had so many memories of the old house where almost the whole of my mother's side of the family lived. Five brothers under one roof. It is one of those colonial houses built by a business man from Rangoon in 1890s. Every nook and corner has a part of history associated with it. The house to me represents my family more than anything.
It has its war marks. You can see the arts and crafts things my mom and her sisters worked on when they were kids in the drawing room. The glass panes everywhere are covered with all those memorabilia my uncle collected from all those radio stations that he used to write to. The shelves are filled with all those spiritual magazines my grand pa used to read. This was a place where I actually grew up.
My grand pa bought this place for his whole family because he dint want to disturb his kids with his frequent transfers as a health officer. He was one of those people even in those days valued education the most. He wanted each one of his kids to have a job and be self sufficient and independent. He used to travel the whole of the state while my grand ma took care of my great grand parents and five kids and raised them.
This is a part of the history which my grand ma tells with so much pride. She got these plaques made for all her five kids with their educational qualifications and jobs written on them. So, we have five plaques outside the main door, which my grandmother looks at every morning with so much pride that it moves me every single time.
The house has seen so many people during its time their dreams, their hopes, their happiness, their despair.This is where my parents met the first time and eventually got married. This is where I used to sit with my grand pa when he used to tell me stories from the Ramayana when I was four years old. This is where my grand ma used to warn me incessantly about being away from home with a lot of analogies ( the leaf and the thorn etc etc :D). This is where I learnt to play with fire (Seriously I actually burnt myself while playing with a candle :) ).
So when I heard about my distant uncle who wants to tear it all down to build an apartment complex I was so angry with the whole family I actually shouted at them. How can they destroy a part of history for some measly bucks? I was outraged. But the sad part is I cant do a thing. People grow up, they dont have the sentimental attachments to things. They say its practical, the upkeep is too much but how can you do this to your family home? The house where you were conceived! People have no place for values!
I know I sound too idealistic and too impractical but to hell with it, I cant let this happen! I have to find a solution soon. I hope I will be able to do something.
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