Belonging

I read something recently, about being from everywhere and nowhere. Although I have moved a few times in my life, much more than, say, my closest friends, I have always been from one place. This seeming semblance of stability aside, I have not had the most conventional of childhoods, or lives. Obviously, I am not going to elaborate, but I do want to say something. Wherever I go, wherever I live, however far I travel, I will always be from one place. I am from Madras. I've lived on the beach and weep when the Super Kings lose; I've stopped at tiny tea shops to buy cigarettes and driven on ECR; I bristle at the very mention of "Madrasis" being code for all South Indians, I love, love, love The Hindu and consider it akin to The Bible; I am quite profane in Tamil and enjoy perhaps just a little too much.

So, here's the thing, I intend to go many more places in my life. I was born in Delhi, lived in Hyderabad, studied in London and now work in Bombay. I will hopefully study further in another country, someday. But in my heart, home will always be one place. I will never feel more comfortable that when i am in Madras.