Surprise Dear :)

In June, I decided to go back to India, the place where I belong… the sweetest place on the earth, home. :) Although I had been to India during Diwali, seven months seemed seven years to me. The second innings to US was full of traveling and reading. I had been to wild Vegas, heavenly lake Tahoe, scenic blue Pacific beaches and many lovely places in bay area. Once you stay at any place for almost two years, you get attached to the place, to the people. Even though it was a mixed feeling, I was happy. Happy … because I was going home … because I wanted to meet my old buddies … because I wanted to add more colors to my life … because something inconclusive and uncertain was on my way :)

Generally, I am poor at giving surprises. Can’t keep myself controlled till the apt time. ;)
I think… once in a blue moon I got success. So, thought of turning the tables of prevailing trend with a pleasant strong comeback. One night, I was sauntering after my dinner and planned to give a sweet surprise to Aai, my mother. I called her and told that I would be at home on fourth Tuesday of June. She was glad and I could imagine an avid curiosity in her eyes. But, the reality was I would be at home on third Tuesday. I involved my sister in this plan. :) Rather I had to. What would have happened if I had gone home and learned that the lock on the door was waiting for me ;)

For few days, I kept switching the dates in my conversations. When I talked to Aai, I used later dates and when I talked to my sister, I used previous dates. It was fun…thumbs up to my sister that she kept mum.

Finally, the departing day, second Saturday of June arrived with the oceans of mixed feelings. My flight was in the evening. Interestingly, it was the first ever Jet Airways flight from San Francisco to Mumbai. So, action filled first day events and inauguration were on their way at the airport. The ambiance was filled with zest and happiness. As the plane took off, the sun was already settled in the west and a red-yellow haze was inevitable over the blue pacific. I liked the service of Jet and especially one yellow uniform dressed airhostess. But, the history repeats again, unfortunately she was serving through a different aisle. ;(

After a long journey for almost a day, I landed in the financial capital of India, Mumbai. :) Fortunately and surprisingly, one of the immigration officers did not ask me to go through immigration check and I escaped without spending a penny. Had my luggage been gone through immigration check, it might have cost 50 to 100 bucks to me with my 2 bags that include loads of electronic stuff. I could feel Indian-ness everywhere. ;) I was excited and a glittering zeal was locked in my eyes that I was on the way of giving a great surprise. My friend came to pick me up, we chatted for a while and I made my way to Pune.

I enjoyed my one and half days in Pune and on Tuesday afternoon, I started my journey from Pune to Aurangabad. In the mean while, one of my friends called my home to talk to me. And luckily, my sister spoke to him. If Aai had picked up the phone, the plan would have been a failure and the prevailing trend of my missed-surprises would have continued. Eventually, I arrived at Aurangabad, took an auto and landed in front of my apartment. The bubbles of happiness were flooding in my heart. It was around 10 PM. I rang the bell and there was a pause of 5 seconds. My sister already knew that it was I who was at the door so she involved herself in some work and indirectly pushed aai to open the door. Aai opened the door…. She was stunned for a while. A benign smile was dancing on her surprised face. Similarly, my sister came and started smiling. Aai later told that she thought the watchman of the building knocked the door at 10 in the night. ;)

In this way, I broke the old trend and set a new one. Although I took help of my sister, it was one of the sweetest memories and the biggest surprise I ever gave to anyone. :)