On a lazy winter(?) afternoon...

A winters day
In a deep and dark December...
-- I am a rock, S&G

I miss that feeling. I miss the early morning, mid morning, early afternoon, mid afternoon, early evening, late night adrak ki chai, I miss the feeling of warmth that just holding a cup of chai brought. I miss my razai, I miss the tonnes of warm clothes... I miss the red sweater and stockings days back in school... I miss watching my mom knit for everyone she knew! I miss the childish pleasure of watching my breath float like fog... I miss the new year eve bonfires... I miss the sight of watchmen huddling around small bonfires every evening. I miss the Christmas celebration in school and on our terrace and the bright (and yummy) Christmas eves at Sonya's place. I miss the scarves and mufflers... I miss sattu ka paratha and gud adrak. I miss lazing in the sun for hours on end. I miss the afternoons I spent in the lawns of my aunt's professors' quarter, that was in reality a haveli with the most awesome old worldly charm ever! I miss the bright and colourful gaajar matar... I miss the pleasure that only mom-made gaajar ka halwa can bring. I miss my wintry birthday parties. I miss the board exam prep leave and the gallons of chai that came with it. And most of all, I miss Ma's warm slippers and ready hugs.

It's been years since I have been at home in a wintry city, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavla, Ladakh and Manali not withstanding. Pune wasn't my definition of cold, Bombay is always hot and humid, and the Bangalore temperature hasn't varied much in the last 6 months. I can't wait for 18th, I can't wait to go to Ranchi (and I still wish I was going to Patna too, I wish I still had roots back home) I can't wait to be home this December... I am hopeful :)

Disclaimer 1: I know I think/ write/ reminisce most about food, even when I write about cities, people, and seasons. I KNOW that ;)

Disclaimer 2: Neha Thakur, don't kill me for plagiarism, I couldn't leave out the watchmen and chai bits just because you decided to ghost write for me last weekend :P