Vanavasam

Vanavasam : The wait to Return

It was around 9 in the morning. The bright sun was beating down, though it was the last days of summer—and, in parallel, the last days of my happiness. Everything was loaded into the truck.

Everything—our worries, fears, and sorrow—went with the moving van, except for the memories, the happiness that lingered in the walls of that house. We were drenched in sorrow, fully aware that the days we once knew would never return.

Ours was a joint family of around 30 people, all living under one roof. We shared everything—happiness, anxiety, and even sorrow. We lived in a village where our family was respected, almost revered, as the head household.

As we grew, our parents made the decision to move to town, hoping to provide us with a better life. But they didn’t realize that we would never truly have a better life without Grandpa’s house and the village we loved so much.

Our village was our comfort zone—more specifically, it was like a mother’s lap.

Now, when I go back to the village, I’m always welcomed warmly. It’s been 10 years since we left our home, our Brindavan.

The moment I enter the village, I feel like I’m wrapped in warm hugs from the nature we left behind. Lord SitaRama seems to whisper, comforting me with the thought, It’s okay, I’m here with you, while Lord Hanuman feeds my soul, knowing how much I miss our home-cooked food. Every villager tries to comfort me, reminding me that their doors are always open, no matter what.

I’ve always loved being pampered by Lord Lakshmana. He reminds me of his time in exile (Vanavasam), where he had to leave behind his only wife Urmila for the sake of his brother. I see a reflection of my own situation in that—leaving my one true life behind for the promise of something better. Just as his wife Urmila waited 14 years for his return, I know my village will wait for me to come home again.

I pray this exile ends soon, with the promise of the betterment and success we dreamt of, and I look forward to the day when I can finally sit in the comforting shade of home once more.

My dear lovely reader,

Today, while cleaning my books, I stumbled upon a note in an old diary. It was filled with heart-wrenching emotions, memories I had almost forgotten. I couldn’t help but think of sharing it with you all, hoping it might resonate. Maybe it will inspire you to revisit your hometown, or at the very least, flip through your own diaries that are filled with memories of the place you once called home.

That's for today,

 I hope you guys enjoy reading my post as much as I enjoy writing.

LOVE,

HEY MOKSHA.