Home is where the heart is…

What’s the dream home of a nomad? Upon retrospection I realized that I have been leading a very nomadic existence till now and my dream house is travelling with me. I was born in one place, brought up in another. I did my schooling and college in an area surrounded by jungles and then I did my job in a place near the beach.

So, during my school days I dreamt of a home in the belly of a jungle surrounded by tall ‘saal‘ trees. My dream house was a little cottage with a small kitchen garden where I would grow carrots and mushrooms. It would be surrounded with a wooden fence and the smell of jasmine near my bedroom window and the chirping crickets would lull me to sleep.

I got my first job in a beach town. With my owned money jingling in my pocket, I would dream of a house overlooking the sea. I imagined starting my day with the chirping of birds and the view of a beautiful sunrise and ending it by sitting in my front porch stairs with a cup of coffee in my hand, watching the sea waves lapping at the seashore, after a long day at work.

My next job was in a concrete jungle. I fantasized about a beautiful home in a majestic sky rise apartment. I dreamt about living in the top most apartment and almost touch the sky if I raised my hand from my spacious balcony. I wanted to feel the breeze on my face and watch the twinkling stars and the whole bustling city together at night from such a height. I longed to sit and spend time with my family in that balcony while sipping our tea.

I had to move to a different country altogether after marriage. There also I started dreaming of a cottage on the hill side covered with powdery snow and icicles hanging from my windows. I dreamt of sitting in front of a old style fireplace listening to the crackling sound of fire and read a book while watching snow flakes falling from the sky.

You won’t believe if I say that my husband’s job next took me to a desert. There I imagined my own home surrounded by beautiful blooming cactus plants with hummingbirds hovering over them and a cobbled path which takes me inside my cool as a cucumber house to protect me from the desert heat.

So many dream houses and all remained in my imagination. Not one saw the light of the day. But it was fun to see my vivid imagination sky rocket every time. But did I miss my ‘dream house’? The answer is ‘No’. I realized that a dream home is one in which you and your family live together with love, peace and harmony. And that I did in all the geographical locations I mentioned. The outer building doesn’t matter. Home is where the heart is.