My friend who lives in the UK during one of my many conversations mentioned that life in the UK for an Indian can be very lonely.....

That observation shocked me a bit since I feel absolutely at home in London..... I get everything I need over here (including sambar from Waitrose) and there are so many Indians over here that you feel at home..... then my friend clarified - you feel isolated because there is no one you can take liberties with ... like you can when you are in India....

And I thought to myself - that is so true.... one of my many cultural learnings here in the UK is that you never impose beyond a certain point... nobody is that welcoming into their homes here... and they would invite you only if they know you that well... though I have been very lucky to be called by several english people to their homes I could understand what my friend was saying.... there is something secure in knowing that something is yours....your country, your people, your relatives....you naturally take liberties with it....

Ahh... now I am not feeling so stupid about wanting to go back to Mumbai/India still... it is mine - with all its problems, craziness, dirt and absolute chaos.... mine to adopt, destroy, adapt, change, accept, modify, cleanse.. whatever my mind wants....