Where I don’t have to constantly chant in my head “keep right, keep right” when driving
Where I don’t have to ask for “no meat” just say, vegetarian
Where I don’t have to worry about credit scores, just show my “three months’ payslip”
Where all buildings don’t look alike
Where I hear a familiar language when I step out
Where silence is the exception
Where I can call out ”Auto” on the streets and go wherever I like
Where I don’t have to search for something edible on the menu when I go out to eat
Where I can stop someone on the street to ask for directions and not have to carry a GPS
Where Upma for breakfast is what’s normal and bread is for “emergencies”
Where I am not worried that I can’t afford to fall sick or have a tooth ache or break my glasses
Where I see familiar faces and smell familiar smells when I go to the mall
Where I know where I am
Where my accent is not out of place
Where business casual means salwar kameez and formal means trousers that are not jeans
Where I can stop by the road-side to buy anything from food to balloons to pirated novels
Where I can strike up a conversation with the person next to me on the bus
Where the radio plays a familiar tune
Where the grocery store is called the super market and there is a kirana store wherever I go
Where I can wear a sari whenever I like
Where there are no tabloids by the checkout counter
Where I don’t have to generate 1000 pounds of garbage a year
Where I can pile up all recyclables and sell them to the paper wallah
Where there are no ice storms
Where addresses are skewed and I can navigate through a maze
Where there is an istri wallah and a maid and a cook and a driver and I am happy to be helping them support their families
Where I am not a legal or authorized alien
Where I don’t have to be friends with everyone Indian because everyone around is Indian
Where I see change happen everyday
Where I belong…
