It's a regular Sunday morning chat with the in-laws when suddenly I get a call from a friend/colleague and he say '' ay shon na, mon kharab korish na. Sob theek hoyay jabey( Don't be upset, everything will be fine).'' Honestly, I don't remember what he had said after this. After talikg to him for 15 -20 mins , I go to my bedroom and start thinking about the year that has just passed by.
January 15th, 2012- (Calling papa)- Papa , I got my visa . Ah what a relief. I am tired working for 12-13 hours a day and the crazy travelling. I need to just put in my papers and .....ya I am going to put in my papers tomorrow.
February 23rd, 2012- I decided to get to office at 11:30 am. Anyway it was my last day. Had to exchange pleasantries, give the speech, cut the cake and then go home and pack and prepare myself mentally to move to a new country.
Feb 23rd, 2012- 12:30 pm - The HR calls me and we have a quick chat (exit interview ). I had nothing bad to say because I really loved the place I was working, people were nice.
March 10th- So my tickets are booked , 5 more days and then i will be off to Bristol. I was very happy but little did I know what a drastic turn my life would take.
Everyone wants to go abroad and make money but after staying in UK for approx 12 months, on feb 15th I decided to move back to India for good. I didn't like it there. I was unwell and more than that I missed my family. I missed going out for Karaoke, dinners and walks with friends. I missed going out to grab a glass of juice .
Feb 16th- I wake up at 6 GMT and wake my best friend up (who is also my lovely husband)- Abhra, wake up...Abhra was really scared and asks me - ''all ok?'' I wait for a moment and say ' Nope it isnt, I am unwell. I need to see a doc and I need to get the hell out of this country, Abhra springs out of the bed switches on the light and says- ''kya hogaya''. He had definitely realised that I had changed in the last 11 months. I wouldn't talk much, wasn't excited about my new job and all I would do is talk about being back in Bangalore. After having a 20 mins chat, he understood my plight and after thinking for 10 minutes he says-''Yes, I had noticed that you had changed, You didn't enjoy going out shopping, you neither enjoyed going out for walks or movies. I think you did your bit by moving to UK with me and it's not that you didn't try but it's not worth it. Pack your bags we are done with it.'' That's all I wanted to hear .
Now comes to breaking the news. Abhra's dad wasnt very well so I didn't want to give him the sudden news hence we planned it out . My mom was the stricter one and telling her was really tough. I picked up the phone , dialed the number and the moment she answered the phone , I said- ''Ma, I am coming back home'' After asking me couple of questions, she said-'' I am soo glad you have made the decision to move back . Come here ASAP.'' This phone call made my life little easy.
Till 2011, I thought staying abroad will be exciting but little did I know what I was going to miss out on . At times one needs to take a conscious decision and I am so glad that I made this decision. But I do feel that I wasted a year , I should have made this decision before but no use of being upset.
I am glad I am back. I missed the city, I missed my parents and above all I missed the familiar feeling. Yeah, it does sounds like a blog with a theme mera bharat mahan, but seriously, I would never ever want to move abroad, neither for a day nor for a second. I don't need the money, all I want is being close to my family and friends.
I am lucky that I have found love in a person who is soo understanding and is always there for me . 2012 was difficult and the after effects are crazy- upset stomach, blood tests, doctor visits, depression but I am lucky to have Abhra by my side and I just wish that the road ahead will be little easy and stress free.
