An Open Letter to My Mother for Showing me that Traveling is Worth it

Dear Ma,

Over the past few days I am clutching over everything I could attach to you. And this occurred to me on the way to Kharagpur today, although a similar idea was given by Navitaji. I thought of giving up every hobbies, be it the coins or the stamps, travel blog or photography but then all of them linked back to you. The only thing that is ruining me from inside is that I could not be there in the last hours of your consciousness. But all the things we did together, before, is still holding me together and giving me the strength to write this, only if you could read it.

Thank you for being my first ever travel partner.

That was Digha in December, 2004. And we heard the waves crashing on the sea shore in the middle of the night together and you taking me out the next day to see the sun rise even though I was a bit down. That was the trip when I got to see a different version of you, a travel buddy who turned into my closest friend all of a sudden. Going out together, stopping at the shops and looking for the souvenirs, patiently listening to all my “let’s buy these” and then sweetly passing a “No”, trying every possible fish dishes out there; somewhere in between I fell in love with the act of traveling itself, besides loving the new version of you.

Thank you for being there when I fell sick on our first.

I do remember being ill on our very first outing together. In spite of being worried yourself, you provided me the strength, and taught me not to be down by any physical weakness when already on the roads. You taught me then to have strength, if not physical then mental, to have a strong disposition, not to succumb to any sort of ill health. This made me to retract the fever and to witness one of the best scenes of nature and the trip did not go waste.

Thank you for inspiring me to travel solo and be there even when I thought of giving up.

When I decided to go for a solo trip and on reaching the destination I called you and you sensed some anxiety in my voice (maybe I was subconsciously) you told me to enjoy the time wholeheartedly because it's now or never. And for those words I ended up with one of the best trips I ever had. 

Thank you for teaching me that traveling is worth it.

Traveling is overcoming the inner fears of oneself and venturing out into the open world, meeting and greeting new people of various culture and ethnicity and yet bonded together by some strange strings.  You taught me to venture out and discover the unknown and etch it forever in the mind palace. The map inside our head could only be expanded by appending new places to it and this is only done by visiting the same. 

Thank you for enjoying the food trailing with me.

All those different foods we tasted while our mini outings,  those tasty fuchkas,  batata puris,  fish fries,  wow momos,  dosas etc.  And adding an extra love for trying the bests at our home experimenting with different ingredients.  I did try the chingrimacher malaikari few days back; but still I could not achieve the secret ingredient of your special touch. 

Thank you for clicking my display pictures on the go.

And through all the long and short trips you clicked the numerous photos with all the patience in the universe and also posed for all my irrelevant requests. 

Thank you for inspiring me with wonderful hobbies.

Whenever you could you told me of the collections you had.  I inherited a lot many stamps and coins from you as well as Baba.  It was you who showed that stamps talk of the various places and the history related to it.  I listened to it awe-inspired.  And now I carry forward the collections. 

Lastly thank you for all the wonderful memories that we created together.

Every time we stepped out or stepped in we created wonderful memories for life.  You showed me the world and pointed out the beauty of the same in every possible way, prepared me for the best and the worst, yet protected me at the same time.  I did not want to, but had to,  let you go on the never-ending solo trip of yours but I pledge to keep your spirit in me.  My heart will go on and on....  I love you...  Always.