I stood there outside the wide open, big, black coloured, iron gates. The one-storey building, that stood some 10-15 steps away, looked deserted, reflected loneliness. A heap of pebbles was still standing there, blocking the pathway to the staircase of the house. The office and the tuition centre, located on its ground floor, were shut down for the afternoon break. The pile of bricks was neatly lined on the extreme left. At one corner, opposite the building, a few carts were parked. On the extreme right, the doors of the houses of the cart-pullers were also closed. Everything, over there, seemed lifeless, except for the betel leaf vendor, who put up his shop just outside the gates. He was sitting at his stool-turned-shop and was simply viewing the passing vehicles on the main road.
I turned my attention back to the house. Many years back it used to be my home. This time, I have a more attentive stare. One slow view from left to right. The balcony still seemed to be the same. For some reason, the plants there still bore flowers. Maybe someone still waters them. When I glanced back towards the left end, I could see my grandmother, sitting by her window, smiling and waving at me-I must be waiting for my school bus. One of my aunts comes and hands her a glass of tea. She too sees me and waves at me, then goes back inside... I am in the hallway, playing cricket with my brothers. I am scared of balls. I run towards the kitchen for some protection... I am standing outside the kitchen, pleading with my mother to take me to school, while she constantly replies, "It is Sunday, a holiday." She goes to the storeroom. I follow her... In the room, I see my brother showing me my new study table, my birthday gift. I was about to hurt myself, but he swiftly pulled my hand away. He then took me outside... Reaching outside, I saw my other brother rushing out from the washroom in a 'critical state' seeing a cockroach. I laughed hysterically and my eyes ran merrily after him... I enter his room. My uncle had returned home that day. All of us kids were sitting, surrounding him, and he was feeding each of us the tiniest bites possible while we watched 'Tom & Jerry'.... Leaving the room, I enter my room. Mine and my brother's legs were tied to the legs of the bed. Both of us at two ends, toys scattered near us. We were, as usual, again punished for something. A toy rolls out in the hallway... From there I go to the empty room of my aunt and am comfortably watching television when two brothers enter the room, fighting like 'cats and dogs'. Soon my aunt enters and scolds them both, and I just enjoy the show. She takes me away with her... Coming out of the room, I see the house beautifully decorated with lights. I enter my grandmother's room and the entire family is there, doing the Diwali puja together... It's time to burst crackers. We are in the open space outside. Someone just lighted a fountain. My gaze goes up as it lights... I can see the terrace. All of us playing Holi. I can hear the squeals and continuous shouts of 'No...No...No...'. Someone just poured a bucket full of coloured water over me. I run downstairs... Mid-way I see the big Saraswati Idol, decorated in yet another theme. My uncle is dancing and we kids are clapping and laughing. I am sent to get something... At the gate, my aunt is asking my brother to drop me off safely. We carefully cross the mound of pebbles and come towards the big gates. He is constantly holding my hand... He walks past me, and I turn my head to see him, until the time I can see him no more. When I glance back at the house, everything looks blurry. I wipe away my tears, only to stare back, once again, at the lifeless house, which was full of life ages ago.
