Everything comes to an end! After a long journey from Bhubaneswar to Delhi to Zurich to Boston I am homebound after a six-week trip to India. Sitting alone and sipping tea while watching frozen, almost lifeless trees, I am trying to unwind and recollect all those beautiful memories. Everything changed within 36hrs. Pleasant weather in Bhubaneswar to bone-chilling cold in Boston, busy streets to barren ones, a lively home to a lonely one.

As I unpack my luggage I am counting one by one all those precious gifts I have carefully packed including all the unforgettable and nostalgic memories of affection, blessings, best wishes, and those comforting warm hugs I have received.Everyone I met simply welcomed me with open arms and showered his or her unconditional love. I am truly grateful!

Some of the most rewarding moments for me personally were meeting many award-winning litterateurs including eminent linguists, Poets, Authors, editors, and columnists, apart from well-known singers, composers, and film producers whom otherwise I knew only through their work or on different social media platforms.

I am wondering if I was simply lucky or if some past good karmas played a role. My desperate yearnings for seeking my parent’s love probablymelted the Lord Sri Jagannath. I am sure He cried with my tears and decided to comfort me in every possible way.That is why I felt each and every one’s love touching my soul and healing my spirit. I am sure this was all possible because I searched for my mother in my mother tongue which in return connected me to so many incredible souls radiating Divine Mother’s love which would not have been possible in any other way. A blessed feeling I will cherish forever.

I also owe a lot to my mentor, Dr. Jayakrushna Choudhury, who is a very humble, honest man with a golden heart and an everlasting smile on his face. In a true sense, his personality defines unconditional love. It is he who restored my confidence in writing with Odia and introduced me to so many authors indirectly. I am fortunate and grateful to him.

Reminiscing those memories captured in frames and feeling blessed!