The Homecoming

It was early morning. The dawn cracked into a mild orange sky backdrop. The car took us on a bumpy ride along narrow wet streets of Kerala, lined with trees on both sides, their broad leaves peeping in and out of the frame with raindrops carrying the scent of October monsoons. We took the final turn and I could see the bright red of laterite stone juxtaposed against a grey natural plaster finish of fresh concrete. The slope of the roof was slightly more angular and artistic than the other houses. There it stood ---the home from my dreams!

Ever since I was a little girl, I would be fascinated by beautiful houses that lined the hilly streets of Pune, my hometown. On our usual evening strolls, I used to point out my most favourite sloping roofed houses and tell my mother how I wanted to live in such a home someday. My mother used to joke, “Then you must marry a wealthy boy with the most beautiful house”

My inclination towards architecture had begun by then. Who knew, these mind strings that were pulled in childhood would lead to something big!

Architecture college helped me choose my architect husband --- who became the future architect partner of our dream house. And today, after fifteen years I can say, I did marry the man with the most beautiful house, like my mother said!

The terracotta bell at the patio nudged me back to reality from my flashback. The house, as we envisioned, waited right in front of us with its half sloping roof - half terrace, a large double-height space, overlooked by a cozy family room, each of the four bedrooms having one special feature, the local earthy material used with the elegance of natural stone and wood and the rustic charm combined with a contemporary planning. It was everything we sketched out during those uncertain times of Covid, hoping for this day to come soon, when we would actually feel the spaces we designed.

With tear filled eyes, laden with dreams trickling down as reality, we looked at each other. Now nothing else mattered. The moment that every architect awaits has arrived. All the dots of destiny were joined to form our villa in Kerala --- DIVYAM, as we call our home. Divyam stands for the divine blessings from all our loved ones looking at us from above, with pride--- most importantly my mother and Kris’s grandfather, who would have loved to see this house.

We spent the entire holiday arranging the furniture and artefacts, planting trees, laying the stone tiles piece by piece along the garden paths with our own hands, collecting the fresh rainwater in earthen pots. What a satisfying feeling it was!

Every evening, we used to sit on the front patio, sipping tea, looking at the neighbouring houses light up one by one, with silhouettes of coconut palms swaying in the dark blue sky. What I love about small towns is that everyone's houses have their doors open. The vegetable sellers bring their handcarts every morning with fresh picks of the day. The air is warmed with spices and incense, intercepted by sounds of prayer, soothing the rural ambience.

On the last melancholic evening as I watched mist drift across the Malampuzha hills by sunset, it reminded me of my last evening in Pune, when I was to leave for Abu Dhabi. My mother had handpicked steel utensils for me to start my new life… I think the little shops, hills and narrow lanes connect myriad phases of my life drawing parallels between my hometown and this quaint little town of Palakkad, which now feels like home.

This house has reunited all the fragile relations that had become distant during covid times. A full house filled with light and laughter, fragrance of home cooked food, with a hint of distant temple bells ringing is what completes my life. I could sense her presence with us. I know she would have loved to look out from the corner windows, have breakfast at the dining - side sit out and sip masala tea on the patio every evening.

Returning to Abu Dhabi in a totally different setting was very difficult. But when I close my eyes, I transport myself back to DIVYAM, to the sound of rain on the broad banana leaves and the artistic wall with niches, designed to keep the Diwali lamps. I continue to live at DIVYAM everyday in my daydreams...