Tomorrow is the weekend, and I will finally go home after 2 long months.I can't explain how I am feeling right now. It's a mix of excitement, happiness, and that strange restlessness you get the night before going home. For the last two months, I have been away for work/study. Life has been routine ..!wake up, work, eat, sleep, repeat. I missed home so much. I missed my father's morning tea talks, my mother's scolding, and my little nephew's non-stop chatter and running around the house.
So today I decided I shouldn't go empty-handed. I wanted to take something small but meaningful for everyone. I went to the market after work.
The market was crowded because it's Friday evening and everyone is doing weekend shopping. The lights, the noise, the smell of street food it all felt different today because I was shopping not for myself, but for my family.
First, I went to a gift shop to find something for my father. My father loves simple things. He has a small table in our living room where he keeps his newspaper, glasses, and a small radio. I always felt something was missing there. Then I saw it a mini flower vase. It was white ceramic, very small, not more than 4 inches tall, with a beautiful hand-painted blue flower on it. It was not expensive, but it was elegant. I immediately thought of my father. He loves flowers, especially when we put fresh small flowers from our garden in a vase. I imagined his face when he would place it on his table. The shopkeeper wrapped it carefully in newspaper and bubble wrap so it wouldn't break in my journey.
Then I went to buy something for my mother. My mother never buys anything for herself. Her old handbag is almost torn, the zip doesn't work properly, but she still uses it every time she goes out. I have told her many times to buy a new one, but she always says, "It's still okay." So I decided to buy her a bag without asking her. I went to a bag store and looked at many options. I wanted something that is both stylish and practical. Finally, I chose a dark brown medium-sized bag with many pockets inside. It's made of soft leather-like material, strong, and has a long shoulder strap. It's not too flashy, perfect for my mother. She can use it for shopping, for weddings, for daily use. I know she will say "Why did you waste money?" but I also know she will secretly love it and show it to everyone.
At the end, the most important shopping was for my nephew. He is 5 years old and the soul of our house. The last time I video-called him, he asked me, "Mamu, when will you come? Will you bring chocolates?" How could I forget? I went to a confectionery shop and bought a big box of chocolates ....a mix of Dairy Milk, KitKat, and his favorite Gems. I also bought a small packet of jelly candies because he loves colorful things. I can already imagine him running to the door when I arrive, jumping on me, and then quickly searching my bag for chocolates. His happiness is the best part of going home.
Now all my shopping is packed. The vase is safely in my bag, my mother's bag is in a paper bag, and the chocolates are hidden so my nephew won't finish them before I reach. My train/bus is tomorrow morning.
Going home after 2 months has taught me something home is not just a place, it's the people. And the happiness is not in big, expensive gifts. It's in a small vase for your father that will make his table look beautiful, in a needed bag for your mother that shows you notice her small sacrifices, and in a handful of chocolates that can make a 5-year-old boy the happiest person in the world.
I am counting the hours. Tomorrow I will be home.