Homesick

It had to come! I was expecting it, sooner of later ! I am homesick! Yes, the viral fever, that spreads during the festive season, when one is far far away from family !

Although Christmas is not such a huge thing at home for my family, it definitely is that time of the year, when everyone seems to be in a cheerful mood. New year cometh....new and exciting events to look forward to ! Yes, most adults do remind themselves of their receding hairline, or the extra flab. But hey, come on, lets smile and show the kids that we are all gonna have more fun, in 2007 ! :)

Theres one particular new year's eve that I remember well. It was probably when I was in the 8th or 9th grade. We had exams in January first week, and on Dec 31st, I was forced to sit at home and study !!!! My vociferous appeals went unheard. Any fast bowler worth his salt would have been proud of me, for such tantrums could have hardly gone unrewarded on the cricket field. But alas, my mom, with nerves of steel, simply and disdainfully ignored me! I wanted to go out on New year's eve and goof around! My friends were waiting!

I was sitting in my room, reading how sulphuric acid can be caustic ! My parents were watching the new year eve programs that the channels used to dish out...Some family friends were also in and the world was having a jolly good time. My brother, well past his school days, was a big college boy, with freedom written all over his forehead. I just couldnt take it anymore. I got up, put on some fancy clothes, ran my fingers through my scalp to settle the strands , and went past the living room, to wear my slippers. As I was doing this, my mom, with a tone that could send jitters, enquired about my act ! Before she could get up from her chair, I was out of the door, onto the stairs, and out on the road, in a flash. Free at last !!! Sulphuric acid and its caustic properties, were not going to ruin my night out. I was 14. I was growing up. I wanted to be with my friends and the group included some pretty girls. And pretty girls in their fancy clothes, dont come out late in the night too often. Thats the beauty of the new years eve! Everyone gets to break the rules.

Well, this time, I wish I could simply get up and leave this place and join my family...breaking rules the same way I did that new years eve !