Australia...n

Well, I am officially an Australian now. I took the following pledge on 25th January at the Citizenship Ceremony.

About four years back, I was hoping that by the time I become eligible for the Australian Citizenship, Indian Government start dual citizenship. So that I need not relinquish one to get the other. But, of course nothing of that sort happened. And I have to let go my Indian Passport now. What do I feel? Surprisingly nothing!

And that's because I still feel at home in India. I visited it after three years and got used to the chaos, people, traffic instantly and in fact started enjoying it too. So, it doesn't really matter if my passport says that I am not an Indian.

Why Australian then? Within my first year of coming here, I realized that this was home. I live here, I love it here. So, it just makes sense that I share the duties with fellow citizens and get voting rights too.
Happy to be an Australian!

India

Out of the last two months since my last post, we have spent 5 weeks in India. Now, it was after three long years, so obviously there was much catching up to do. We visited Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Ujjain. As much as we were worried about Adu, she decided to find pleasure in the noise, people and general hustle and bustle there. Ours was mainly a social visit- meeting people and eating, what with a wedding at home! Adu had a gala time playing with kids who were in abundance in the wedding. The highlights of our trip (in no particular order)-

• Watching Adu and Arjun play, with Arjun playing the role of the sensible, responsible older brother, keeping Adu entertained and she on the other hand laughing at anything and everything he said or did. It was kind of history repeating itself.
• Meeting the parents.
• Meeting my grand-mother and Adu meeting her great grand-mother. She passed away 10 days later (RIP).
• A chance get-together with my school friends in Bhopal.
• Shobhna coming to Bhopal for a day from Delhi to meet me.
• Shopping, shopping and more shopping.
• The wedding, of course.
• Staying at my parents' place. My home, my room...It was just fantastic, gave a very positive feeling that all the worries would dissipate...just like it happened in older days!
• Chatting endlessly with Aai while Adu showered sloppy kisses on her.