What is Home?
The Fluid Nature of Home in Modern Life
Introduction
As I navigate through the labyrinth of my twenties, a recurring question echoes in my mind: What is home? This question has taken on new dimensions since my parents moved from our childhood home in Faridabad to a more developed satellite city, Gurgaon. As I, too, have shifted houses in Bangalore, where I started my professional journey, the idea of home has become increasingly complicated.
The Childhood Home
Growing up in Faridabad, our home was a place of familiarity and comfort. It was more than just four walls; it was the backdrop to my formative years. I remember coming home after playing in the park, hearing my mom scold, "Why are you so late? Your homework is pending!" I remember taking my chai on the rooftop during the rains, watching the skyline. Our house hosted countless get-togethers with a "phones in the bowl" policy to ensure genuine connections. My room, painted in my favorite color, was my sanctuary. My brother and I fought to keep our favorite amrood ka ped during a renovation. The birds that nested in different corners of our home, the house helps, and our childhood driver uncle who saw us grow up—all these memories are etched in my heart. The childhood gang I spent hours with in the park, making rangolis on Diwali, decorating the mandir on Janmashtami, throwing balloons at strangers from the balcony, and playing (or fighting) with my brother. Every corner held a memory, every room a story. But now, strangers walk the halls of my memories, and that realization is profoundly disconcerting.
College Days
College brought a new definition of home. It wasn’t a physical place but the people I shared my days and nights with—my wingies. Our hostel was a chaotic blend of laughter, late-night conversations, and shared dreams. I remember pulling all-nighters for exams, not studying, but talking about random things under the sky, college gossip, and our futures. Late-night walks on the campus, taking care of each other when sick, wiping tears, making fun of each other, and fighting for room allotment in hostels—these friendships made our hostel a home. Yet, as we graduated and dispersed across various cities, that sense of home fragmented.
Bangalore: The First Move
Post-graduation, I moved to Bangalore, the tech hub of India. My first house out of college was an exciting yet challenging transition. I lived with new people, adjusted to a new environment, and slowly built a routine. Over two years, that house became a sanctuary—a place where I began to forge my adult identity. I remember the late nights spent on the balcony talking about insecurities, fears, and ambitions. My flatmates and I painting ourselves more that a painting together for the living room. Buying groceries at super market together, discussing life problems at home. But as life would have it, I recently moved to a new place with new flatmates, and the process of acclimatization began anew.
Parents’ New Home
Visiting my parents in their new apartment in Gurgaon was a mix of amazement and estrangement. The apartment is beautiful, situated in a lovely society, yet I found myself living out of a suitcase, unfamiliar with where anything was kept. It made me question: Is this home? When I couldn’t find the salt on a lazy Sunday morning, I realized how much the little things matter in feeling at home.
Redefining Home
Through these experiences, I’ve realized that the concept of home is evolving. Earlier, home was synonymous with a specific place. Now, it resonates more with the people I share my life with. The essence of home is carried within the relationships we cherish and the moments we create together. It’s about the sense of belonging we feel when we’re with those who matter most to us.
As Maya Angelou once said, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” This quote rings true as I reflect on my journey. Home is no longer a static place for me. It’s a fluid concept, ever-changing with time and experiences. It’s in the laughter shared with friends, the comfort of a family gathering, and the warmth of familiar routines.
Conclusion
While my childhood home in Faridabad will always hold a special place in my heart, I’ve come to understand that home is not confined to a single location. It’s where the heart is, and for me, that’s with the people who make life meaningful. So, what is home? Home is where love, comfort, and belonging reside, no matter where life takes us.