The dried yellow leaves of autumn season, the warm sun rays, perfect for the season, not so cold, not so hot;
it’s just warm enough which is in perfect harmony with the warm feeling coming from our loved ones during this festive season at home.
And I am here away from home, and I sure do miss my family.
If I had known that the times I spent with my close ones during this time eight years back won’t come back again for time being, I would have spent it and been with them as if it was the last moment. I should have given my all for them.
At home, tomorrow is the day when all the married women will be invited for lunch by their brothers in their maiden home. We called is ‘Ningol Chakouba’. The brothers prepare delicious, special food for their married sisters; the sisters adorn their traditional dresses prettily and go home with lots of snacks and sweets. The brothers and their parents eagerly wait for their daughters with their kids to come home. Together, they enjoy the food cooked by their brothers merrily, talking and laughing about good days. The brothers presents gifts whatever they can give to their sisters and their kids as a token of their love with their blessings. Still they continue to laugh and enjoy the moment.
As a child along with my own brother and sister, I had always enjoy this day, not because of the gifts or anything, but the fact that I will be enjoying a good lunch with my uncles, aunt and cousin’s together at my mother’s maiden home. Even though we meet now and then, on this day I feel more special and I do love the affection from my uncles. Spending times, playing together and listening to my elder’s cousins stories are one of the best memories that I had when I was growing up. Later when I go back to my own home, again with my grandparents, uncles, aunt and my cousin’s from my father’s side, we all have dinner together and go to watch movies to end the day. Sure I do miss those days, those moments, those times of togetherness.
Even though I am far from them for now, working in my lab like a normal day, I won’t be able to hide the feeling of this warmth of this day. Definitely, I will be missing my folks back home. It is the love of our loved ones that warmed us, that make us who we are, even though we might have misunderstandings with them sometimes, but on a day like this we forgive and forget. We enjoy the good times only to bring all of us closer again, to bring more harmony and peace.
And with the memories of this festival, I realized the meaning of the phrase “Live each day as if it is last day” because if I had knew I won’t be able to attend ‘Ningol Chakouba’ at my mother’s maiden home for a long time, I would have enjoy the previous one with all my might with my loved ones. Seeking blessings and advice from my elders, playing with my cousins, I would have enjoyed more.
Smile on The Way 