Finding Familiarity amidst Unfamiliarities

-Namrata Kalita

New city.

Newer people.

Yet my eyes keep searching

for something familiar.

Perhaps a familiar smile,

a familiar accent,

a familiar voice,

a familiar concern,

or a familiar identity.

I try finding some shards of my loved ones

in these ‘new people'

I see, I meet and I greet.

You know, I see a part of my best friend

from my school

in one of my college benchmates.

Her grin. 

Familiar bond!

Some of my collegemates

gave me the same nickname

My school friends gave me. 

Familiar looks!

That cute granny who comes

for an evening walk with her granddaughter near my new apartment

reminds me of my days

with my Aaitama.

Familiar bond!

That neighbourhood uncle

with a thick moustache,

strolling down with his pet dog

brings me back the glances of my father.

Familiar looks!

That little kid teaching his sister

how to ride a bicycle made me relive

my brother’s affection for a moment!

Familiar bond!

That senior didi

from the third floor of my apartment

looks somewhat like my cousin.

Familiar looks!

That professor who always says

“May God bless you all”

at the end of the class

reminds me of my favourite school teacher.

Familiar bond!

That mother-daughter duo

that I saw in one of the cafes in Hudson lane seemed like it’s me and my Maa

sitting over there,

just like we used to, in Jorhat!

Familiar looks!

Don’t you try finding

 something familiar

amidst the unfamiliarities,

something that makes you

keep the missing love and warmth

of home with you?

I?

Yes.

Always!