Homesick

I hear the Markets at 2 AM
Selling little eggplants with thorns
The half-moon slice of papaya with lemon
Half a glass of thickened tea
Long-lost cousins popping up
Telling me about their marriages and babies
Piping hot sheera with a scent of banana
With the morning dew on flowers

It is funny how my mind frees itself
And goes to India at night
Without a ticket, a passport even
And comes back by the morning light
When I wake up, it takes me a while
To know where I am
And early mornings are filled with sheer amusement
Of my mind's incredible wingspan!

The days are not too bad
Realistic,logical and scientific
Where I rationalize unreasonable events
And make peace with delays and mistakes
Returning to silent evenings
And cooking a Meal.

But I do look forward to bedtimes
When I can take my mind off her leash
And let her wander into the streets
Of my childhood
And tell me stories from home
When I am fast asleep !!