conversation with the boy sitting next to me on the train

on this 5 (or so:) hour train ride, i found myself talking to an indian boy sitting next to me, who was forlornly musing about his mother's cooking, which he wouldn't have for another 65 hours (his train ride significantly longer), and he said he was lonely...as he was travelling with 4 of his classmates i asked him:

you're lonely even though you were travelling with friends?

him: yes, friends are not like family. nothing is like family. i miss them very much.



me: how long have you been away from home?

him: 7 days

me: how old are you aashish?

him: 31.



and there you have it: a 31-year old male who is homesick after one week away from his mother's cooking and misses his family like crazy. of course i do miss my family and my mama's cooking...but living 2500 away from my parents and travelling out of the continent for over two months must just seem like utter nonsense to these people.

wouldn't be india w/o the contrast... :)