The grass is really greener on the other side. The other side of a city, of a job, of people, and of a lifestyle. Remember when we were students and were always in need of more money, how we always wanted to do things and go places and meet people? Then we got jobs and even though we could afford to go away once in a while to new places and meet new people, suddenly there was not the time, nor the interest, to do any of these things. Life became a routine of work and sleep and a flurry of housework in the weekends. Well, at least that’s how it was for me.
Living in a different city from my family, I always wished I could be at home, leaving behind the worries of running a household and taking care of myself whenever I fall sick. Then I came home, and I do enjoy the attention and care showered on me, love playing with my nieces and walking the dog in the morning. But I know that very soon I will long for my freedom and independence, and a quiet house to come home to.
Aizawl is wet, cold, and sometimes hot and humid. In the twelve days since I arrived I haven’t really gone anywhere, except for a shopping trip with my sister and running errands with my brother. All my old friends from my neighbourhood are married and gone, and I’m not really interested to go out and make new friends as of now. Ran into a few old friends from school and college, haven’t attended church yet, and yes I could see the look on your faces and feel the burn of the branding iron which no doubt will mark me as an unbeliever and unsocial person. Let’s just toss that to the wind for now, shall we?
The streets in Aizawl are still as narrow as ever, the traffic still a nightmare. Electricity comes and goes, the Internet is dead slow, vegetables cost a bomb, and cooking gas is scarce. Pretty girls and boys walk around beautifully dressed, and merchants, not customers, still rule the market. (I met a merchant who told us to get lost, after a spot of bargaining, and the look on her face was priceless when her business partner sold us the item at our price). The local TV channels broadcast Hindi, English and Korean movies and serials dubbed in Mizo. I stopped reading the news, rarely watched TV, and my phone is gathering dust.
Sometimes I would catch myself checking the time and thinking “If I was still working I would be having my lunch now/waiting for the bus/people would be slowly arriving” etc etc. Or “If it was a month ago this would be my free time in the evening and I would probably be at home watching a movie on the computer”. Then I’d discard these thoughts and crawl back into my cocoon.
Mumbo Jumbo 
Oh!
Yes!
Aizawlah chuan khua tlai hma fu ang a, dawr an khar hma ang a, zan lama chhuahna tur a tlem sawt bawk ang a. Naupang ho kilkawiin hun hlimawm tak tak i hmang thin ang.
Pu caribou, zing dar 6 ah te kan haw paw pheu tawh mawle 🙂 Zan lam chu sawi loh chhun lamah pawh chhuahna tur reng a awm lo.
So Home is not where the heart is? 😛 Would have been great if I was home and we could meet, try contacting online friends and meet up, uhmm, or a “particular” online friend 😀 Go to hmuifang, jump and take pictures, with that friend :D. Go and dine out, with that friend 😀 Or, go to Sihhmui for picnic, with that friend 😀 Make the most of your stay.. enjoy.. with that friend 😀
On a serious note, I guess life is not fun anymore as we grow up, childhood days was the best
Hehh Mimi who is this “particular” online friend you are talking about, eh? I bet you have loads of advice heheheh 😛 But jumping at Hmuifang sounds fun.
Yessir, being grown up is no fun, too many things to worry about.
Blog thar i nei tih pawh i sawilo, i va induh emm emm, i rawn haw tih pawh i sawilo, i induh lehzual, khawkhatah kan awm tih ka hriaa, ka khawhar a hnem deuhhlek. Mimi khi hmanni a rawn haw a a thiltih a sawi vek ani maw?
Hmundanga awma Aizawl haw hian inkhawm thatchhiat a awl duh rauh ltks, hmelthar an lo awm thrup nen.
It will take time but you’ll slowly adjust to the pace of living here. Shrug at patch-work repaired roads, resignedly accept exorbitant prices, wait patiently for youtube vids to load, not venture out after 7 unless its for YMA or KTP activities…. yawnnnnn
But after all that, when you leave the place again, you’ll miss it’s brash, lazy charm and yearn for home again.
Kuku ni e tumah pawh ka hrilh lo, induh ni leh rih phawt mai ang. Mimi te hi chuuuu an in “advertise” thin dan chu i hriat kha 😛 Inkhawm hi chu taima tak ka ni ngai lo hrim hrim, khawiah pawh.
The strangest thing is, after a week here sometimes it feels like I never left at all. I have to remind myself every other minute that I am no longer seventeen. Sad, isn’t it? Speaking of Youtube vids, the other day I tried to watch that Mami Varte MTV video and simply gave up. Then I watched the repeat telecast on TV 🙂
Hello Sir Aduhi, didn’t know you were here, welcome home! YAY!
Aduhi is in town
She’s wearing a black gown
Of ennui and jadedness
Save her from the spiritlessness
Don’t worry
Your hero awaits
In a chariot that never fades
This is crazy
Call “him” maybe
Greetings Sir Jo, in khua hi a va vawt ve! Lovely poem there. Let’s just hope the chariot’s wheels have not rusted in this weather.
…I was bought & brought-up in a city….got married & stayed 25 yrs in Aizawl…now back to the same city,working….wanna go back to Aizawl…its heaven there……you belong there but do not feel at home in own home. Why?
Hi angeleyes, thanks for reading and commenting. I’ve been away for too long that I now feel out of place at the city where I grew up. What I need to do is just accept this place as it is and stop comparing it with other cities. And it feels good to speak just one language throughout the day. Maybe you too should come back, at least for a visit.
a ni thei viau ang 😛
Ni thei tak a ni.