So, as many of you have heard or even come to see me, I am back States side – My country of birth – my Home if I may.
It all started with Dad heading back to India, mid of March. I wasn’t being told anything, but I could sense something was up. On April 3rd, Dad and Mum came home middle of the day and said – we are going back to Dallas buddy! My joy knew no bounds. I was excited, happily planting wet kisses and doing the dance. Then I said – oh wait, doesn’t that mean, a flight of over 24 hours to get me back there? Damn!!! It is. I ask these questions and no one pays heed to it.
Finally, around 4 Pm on 7th April, dad calls mum with a confirmed tickets – mum says yeah, I can pack up. I am sitting there going, I need time to prepare. They go all frenzy packing in a day (or less) – weren’t adults supposed to be better planned prepared than that? Specially when moving (for good) from a continent? Oh well, Whatever!! Dad says don’t roll your eyes on me, I am sitting there going, okay I will not – but hey – really??? But who listens to me anyways. They go on with packing, thanks to Nani who gets going on everything and gets things sorted out with super speed, they are close to done. Grandmoms and Grandpa show up, all is well. They are packed up and ready to leave.
Next comes my crate – no plan on that till the date of travel – I am shocked! Are you not taking me guys? Then at 2 PM on the date of travel, a guy shows up with screws and bolts for my crate, my food containers et al and I am more satisfied now – yes am going. I was ready for that 30 minute ride to the airport and then off to good old Dallas, I say yeah that sounds doable. We get in the car, am happy! I am told its just 5 hours buddy, you will be okay! I am going airport cant be that far!! Then daddy says – Bangalore – I am like vow!!! Bangalore can take a minimum of 7 hours – how do these guys plan on getting there in 5 – without being motion sick … Damn these grown ups. All I get is less than 24 hours notice to get on a 24 hour journey half way across the globe. Jesus Christ!!! I did not even to say proper goodbyes. I could feel the emotion getting the better of me when Nani hugged me Goodbye and Grandpa. Granny was crying and I was as well – but I am hiding my tears. Its all good, its okay, its alright, as far as I can see. Grandpa says – “Go back to your America” he’s all tears and showing emotions. I am sitting there and going, These folks are going to visit me states side – I did travel half the way around he globe to be with them after all!
We get to the airport – that’s right – in Bangalore. It takes us about 120 mins of waiting. A few folks wanted to know if I was a dog, a further few wanted to know what it would cost and the worst of all was why I was getting on a plane, in short they were all getting on my nerves. I was nervously excited and it felt the wait was a lifetime. Finally, I am all packed into the crate, I have food, I have water and I have my cozy little mattress, a few toys and a few bones. I doubt if I would ever touch any of those. The first leg is Bangalore to Frankfurt, I remember Frankfurt – it’s a neat little airport and the first country outside my home that I visited. Dad walks me into the secure area and close to the plane and then turns to me and says – be good buddy, I’ll miss being with you. I go – I am in a crate that barely lets me turn around without bumping my head against the walls and what naughty things do you expect me to anyways and like hell you would, its going to be negative 40 or lower and you would be a nice little seat stretched out in a temperature controlled cabin. Whatever buddy! Wait till I get to Dallas. The first flight is delayed and I am tensed, will these guys leave without me? Will the ground staff have enough time to move me between flights? My fears are baseless, I hear later – Dad’s bags are not moved but they let me board the second flight – I am thrilled. Dallas – Here I come is what I say! And a quick Thank you to my handlers.
I arrive in Dallas, waiting for my folks to clear customs etc. The gate agents in Dallas are such sweethearts – they gave me 2 bottles of Water – fresh and pure – I drank it all very grateful to those thoughtful folks – I hadn’t had a sip of water or any food since I boarded in Bangalore. Dad gave me a tight hug when he saw me and guess who I met? Sonny and Mittu babai, as soon as I land – I am going – hey guys! So good to see you after all these years!!! I met Shruti for the first time and then we get in the car and head home. First stop at none other than Mr. Vadlakonda’s home – beautiful yard they have and that man has not changed one bit – I hear he has a little one – I am yet to smell those diapers or meet him yet – priority you know what it is. Then we head to Sonny’s place and it felt like I had lived there all my life – I walk in and I am right at home. I take a couple days to settle in and finally the tune in my head is – Yeh Jo Des hai tera, swades hai tera. Rehman man! I tell you has a song for every situation.
We finally found a place, in the old neighborhood we lived in – remember? By the lake – the house with no yard? Yep! This time, the yard is bigger – more trouble for me – every party I am sent to boarding and the parties seem not too spread out. I don’t get to meet all my friends that often – but my doctor is cute again, the shots are smoother and everything is okay. Grandpa calls mum, doesnt say a word to her, simply says – lets do a facetime, I need to see Vito!!! I am missed!! I miss him too…the long walks, the JUMP! The hide and seek games! The secret bone soups and him! I miss you old guy! Come visit us in Dallas soon!!!
One things for sure – most of the people I know in Dallas are now married – Sonny, Bobby, Amar, Vishal (no more massages from this guy – I am pissed), Srinivas – I am glad they are all happy in matrimony. God bless the kind bachelors Mittu and CD – I still get all their attention. What saddens me is that I am still a bachelor – Its not that I haven’t had my share of girlfriends – remember Kiara? But I am still lonely – koi bolo yaar mere baap ko. I am done with this!!!
So this week, I celebrated my birthday, my 6th birthday. Super fun, I did not have the full crowd, but I had a gang – bobs parents were here which is always good to have parents around – they bless, people wish! And a bunch of folks including Arun – who used to be freaked by my sheer size I hear – really??? You are so much bigger than I am dude – whatever!!!
I did get an XL bone (no jerseys this time) – Texas style – too heavy for me to hold but every bit as yummy and I am yet to finish it – not many times I get to say that – any size bone, I need to finish in 24 hours or less, that’s my SLA. This time, not so much. I am relishing it and enjoying showing off the size to everyone that walks in.
Mitthi ki Hai Khushbu, tu kaise bhulaaga!! Its so good to be back home after all!
Singaraju 
Good one Bro.. 🙂
Good one as usual, Prasanna 🙂