‘Ente
Keralam, ethra sundaram...’ so goes the Malayalam song. Here, singer Usha Uthup praises Kerala’s
beauty as she feels Kerala is her own.
Well, being born and brought up in
Maharashtra, Kerala, for me, has been my destination during summer vacations.
With most of my relatives staying out of Kerala, I’d visit my maternal uncle
and aunty every year till my eighth grade.
As a child, my excitement would
start at least a month before our trip. Normally, it would take 1.5 days from
Nashik to Kerala by rail. The first day would be boring with only dry grass and
mountains all around. However, the surprise awaits the next day. The morning
greets you with greenery and serene beauty. You are able to view paddy fields
and villages, which are seen only in television programmes. Happiness knows no
bounds when we meet our relatives.
The ensuing weeks are filled with
fun and lots of food. Consequently, I gain weight and oh! my clothes become
tight for me. The sight-seeing, the fun at the beach and the list goes on.
Fond memories have always
accompanied me to my way back home. And
this year in June, we are visiting Kerala, God's own country, after six long years. I and my mom
can’t wait for the day. Super-excited as we are, we keep planning for the trip.
Our minds are full of KERALA!
