Uzhavar Sandai of Aminjikarai (U.S.A) part 1

As the big giant plane took off from Delhi, I bid a 'c u soon' to India. The pain was intense for I could see that watery eyes of amma and hear the 'kavala padathey kanna' voice of appa. So, as the airplane took off, there was some kinda mixed reaction within myself.

I was going to the US, a place which was named the 'land of dreams' and I was going to see my brother after about 2 years. Landing into a nation where you still have your family never lets you feel all alone and deserted.

I slept for straight 12 hours outta the 16 hour journey, happily enjoying the comforts of the first class. As the plane took a turn from the north pole, I woke up to see where exactly the plane was flying. Shoot!! It was about 25 miles from Chicago and I hadn't filled any of the immigration or customs forms. Hence I filled it up and kept waiting... waiting and waiting.... There we were... I could see lights all over Chicago and still I was just searching for that one pair of eyes...Stretching my neck up and high... I could see him with that 'dimple' smile. 'Papa' was how he called me and hugged me tight.

As I walked from the International to domestic terminal, I was trying to explain all my excitement to my brother. Unintentionally, I started explaining with 'Lollu sabha Manohar' expressions. He said 'ei... nee paatuku kaiya kaala aati paysadey... idu america' . Alrite now... my tummy started getting excited as well. So I had to give it some food... There is this place called Starbucks where they are supposed to be giving good tea.

With a 'Rouse' english my brother asked 'hey could i have one chai- te-late with 5 pumps of cream please' and I was assuming that it was some creepy thing which he was ordering. Paatha!! Namma nair kadai masala chai pa... Very worstu... I was like 'ewww... I can't handle if it is so sweet'. But obviously, anything that he gets me has its own added value :)

We waited in the airport like for sometime until they called out for the flight going to Tulsa. As soon as we got into "AMERICAN" it moved like a teeni veeni ant in the BIG airport. Guess what.. I saw like 20-25 airplanes standing right behind to take off... I asked my brother 'dei... yenna ipdi iruku" and all that he said was 'ei... idu koyembedu bus stand d... anga bus nikkum inga plaaaaiiin nikkum' Honestly speaking, so true he was.

This was when I first time I saw the bright day in Tulsa. Looking all sides, asking him stupid questions... all I wanted to do was to reach home :) OUR HOME IN TULSA.

To be continued...