12 jam-packed days, endless memories and a hard goodbye
Today, the house feels a little quieter. After an intense, whirlwind 12-day visit, my son headed back out into his world.
Knowing our time was limited, every single day was meticulously scheduled, balanced between creating family memories, seeking spiritual grounding, and fulfilling responsibilities. We made sure to pack it all in: as I wrote in this post, from visiting my parents to taking blessings from Lord Jagannath, catching a movie together, and balancing a heavy workload. But what made me proudest was his heart for family. Before he arrived, I had started a series of medical check-ups for his maternal grandfather. The moment he landed, he took over the load, accompanying his grandfather to several hospital visits. The effort paid off beautifully - his grandfather’s health has visibly improved.
Seeing the sheer amount of work on my plate, he spent most of his time trying to ease my burden and take things off my hands. As much as I appreciated his help, I had to remind him to live a little, too. I made sure to carve out time for him to catch up with his friends and treat them to a nice dinner out.
Then came today - the airport drop-off, the exact place we excitedly picked him up from just days ago. Saying goodbye is always a deeply emotional moment, especially since this was his first major visit back home after moving out. That transition carries a massive emotional impact. However, I have always raised him with a core philosophy: look forward to your responsibilities and keep your emotions in the back seat.
In my life, I have always believed that life must be anchored in responsibility. For me, Duty is God is the ultimate truth. Time flies, but if we execute the right duty at the right time, the long-term results make the temporary sacrifices entirely worth it. Difficult emotional milestones are real, but they should never deviate us from our path.
His journey back isn't a direct one; it includes a split route with a layover in Hyderabad. Because there is a long 4-hour delay before he joins his next flight, I wanted to make sure he was taken care of. While his check-in luggage is handled and transferred automatically, sitting at a gate for four hours is exhausting. Anticipating this, I have arranged airport lounge access for him. It turned out to be the right call. As I am writing this post, the latest update from him just came in - he thoroughly enjoyed a good meal in the comfort of the lounge and is now well-rested, recharged, and getting ready to board his connecting flight to Indore.
From there, the real test begins. He is heading straight to IIM Indore for a cultural fest. For the next three days, he will be staying in a crowded dormitory room, sleeping on the floor. It is a level of physical hardship he has never really experienced before. And to add to that challenge, once the fest concludes, he and his peers are about to face a grueling 40-hour journey back by train. But honestly that is exactly what builds character - he needs to be rock-solid, capable of adapting to and thriving in any situation life throws at him. To me, that resilience is exactly what a true management education should teach - not just textbook theories, but the grit to handle the real world.
Safe travels, son. Do your duty, stay strong, and keep making us proud.
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