Home, Sweet Home

Ken was lost in his thoughts, sitting at the window seat of the airplane. The air hostess was saying something to him, even though he tried to listen, he realized he couldn't. His mind was engulfed in turmoil, his eyes were seeing things in front of him and yet not seeing at all. He was thinking about Bowers, the town where he grew up and spent most of his teens. His mind was wandering over the memories of his high school. All of a sudden, he came out of the limbo as the announcement of the landing was being given. He laughed to himself and told himself that he should let bygones be bygones.

After a few hours of wearisome traveling, he finally reached the road that led to the town which was home to him once. It was not home anymore, his home was New Jersey now. He was a bigshot investment banker there, his wife and his kids: all were in New Jersey and not here. But why did it still feel like home? "It shouldn't", he told himself. "I am here to complete a task and then I will leave the place for good ". From the window of the cab, he saw places and many faces. Again some memories came gushing back to him. He remembered the day when he was forced to leave this place by his parents. He never wanted to go, not so soon anyway but his dad convinced him that staying behind was not an option.

Ken paid the cabbie and decided to check into a motel rather than going to the old dusty house where he spent his childhood. He had all his itinerary planned. Tomorow he would go to the real estate agent and sign the legal papers. Then he would leave. The house had been vacant for the last 13 years, since the time when his family left. His father wanted to sell it but never got any good enough offers for it. Ken knew his dad was sentimental about it, it was good that he never gives in to emotions when it comes to money. If he did, he couldn't have created a lucrative business in mutual funds. He was happy that he was getting a huge bid for his old house. Apparently, a shrewd business man was venturing into a retail supermarket. He needed Ken's ancestral house for the parking lot. After negotiating and bargaining for three months, Ken managed to raise the price of the house to a staggering amount. He was satisfied with the deal, he just wished it would be over soon so that he could go back and finish the pending work which was piling up on his desk right now. Tired, he lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

The next day he woke up by a knock at the door of his motel room. When he opened the door, he saw a smiling semi bald guy standing in front of him. Before he could utter anything, the man hugged him, and said, "So you are back! Everyone comes back. I knew you would too". Ken then recalled that this man was none other than his childhood best friend Joe. He invited Joe inside and after exchanging pleasantaries and information about each others families, they took a trip down the memory lane. Both laughed hard at their past follies and discussed their occupations. Joe was a paralegal in the law firm which drew the papers for the sale of Ken's house. That's how he knew Ken was coming. He first went to Ken's house to look for him, when he did not find him there; he assumed that Ken must be holed up in the town's only motel.

Later, the two friends went on a trip around the town. Ken especially wanted to see his school and playground. Joe introduced him to a few new people and there were some old acquaintances too, who dropped in to say hello. Ken thought it is not as bad as he expected, maybe coming here will not be such an ordeal after all. In an hour, he was scheduled to meet the real estate agent and the lawyers. He wanted to reach on time so he asked Joe to drive him to the venue of the meeting. While going through the other part of the town, he realized that they would have to go through the lane where his house was situated. He just wanted one glimpse of it to see whether it still looks as peaceful and slumberous as it used to. Then he saw it, looking ancient and dusty, but nevertheless intact and unchanged, as if time stood still for it.

"Turn back", he shouted. Joe looked at him bewildered, and asked, "What happened? Did you forget something?" Ken replied that he finally remembered something and that he never wanted to forget it again. He understood why his father could never sell off this house and why he won't either. The house was more than just concrete to his father and he loved it as his own family. Ken decided that he would not make this deal. He was rich and did not need the money from the deal, whereas, he needs this home and the home needs him.

On his way back from Bowers, he happily reminisced and planned the future trips to the town. Next time he would bring his family too, he thought and smiled.