Leave Behind

As I leave behind my old life

To tread onto a new path -- one less frequented

A surge of nostalgia takes over me

And brings back to life all the memories

That I know not when

Found a place in this heart of mine.

As I wonder aloud how all my time

Has seemingly slipped away

Like grains of sand through my hands;

Naina embraces me from behind.

She asks me with her notorious smile and tears in her eyes

"Di, don't you wanna see your room one last time before it's all mine?"

As I climb the stairs whose banisters were our playground

And wistfully look at the walls that were our canvas

I enter my land of never ending dreams and possibilities

On the ceiling of whose is still plastered the night sky

That I would stare at from the top bunk

And wonder what fate awaits me while hearing snores in the background.

As I reach the front door which opens with the familiar creak

I see Dad loading my packed suitcases in the trunk

Just like he did when we four stepped out to explore the world -- together.

I turn to Naina to say goodbye -- "I won't miss you at all" says she with her tongue sticking out at me.

Next moment she's on my shoulder making me promise I'd call her everyday.

I give Mom a tight hug, wipe away her tears, tell her I love her for being the best and ask her to not stay up too late watching that crime show.

As I turn around to glance at my abode --

One which housed me for years;

I take it all in, wishing I could carry it around forever.

My mind walks down memory lane as I

Meander through the countless instances that

Make me who I am.

As I sit in the driver's seat of my truck

I let the lemony smell in the truck waft through me.

Dad joins me in the passenger's seat to be my guide

Holding my tiny finger in his hand and

Leading me along

The path of life and its principles.

As I travel the length of these known roads

I reminisce all those picnics and days out

When Mom and Dad lay down in the green grass talking

While me and Naina walked on our hands, gazed at the blue sky upside down discerning shapes of the clouds.

Not because it's what the world told us to do as sisters,

But just because we could.

As I pull into the driveway of the Departures section of the Airport

I turn to wish Dad goodbye. Dad's truck disappears out of my sight,

When I feel a familiar hand tapping my shoulder.

I turn to hug you so tight, willing to never let go, but time stops for none.

I kiss you goodbye, promising to return soon, as you smile that smile of yours that breaks so many hearts.

You look into my eyes one last time for days to come, telling me you'd wait for me right here, right where I'm leaving you.

As I enter my new world,

Far away from the one I've known all these years,

A sense of déjà vu wells up within me.

I spot the sticky note taped on the jar of my favorite cake she bakes,

Lying in the suitcase and not on top of the fridge this time

"Don't eat too much in a day, moti ho jaogi!

With loads of love, Mom :)"