Leaving the cradle

When was the day I last left my cradle? I dont have even a vague rememberance.. I dont remember how i felt leaving the soft comfort of the cradle.. the swaying motions that put me to sleep so gently... the hands that rocked them.. the songs that my mom sang.. or were they prayers??? I do not know if leaving the city that you have known for 21 years of ur existance is anything comparable to the feeling of leaving the cradle... but it shd be no less.
A mad city that I live in.... chennai. I love it for all that it is and all that it is not. Brief journeys and long stints away from home.. it has all had the same effect. The cradle beckoning me!!!

The sweltering heat, the maddening crowd, the crazy traffic and so much more.. chennai.. i love u with all these. The crowded beaches, the deserted stretches of it, sundal, palmistry, kaathadi, molaga bajji, sunrise, morning walks, sunsets, nice little chats with good old friends, kelunga machi radio mirchi, rickety MTC buses, share autos, suburban trains, scooty, pulsar, ECR, spencer plaza, steamed corn, city center, alwarpet signal, evam , AFM, pakathu athu mami, kutti paiyan nikhil, sathyam, pondy bazzar, saravana bhawan, planet yumm, dhaba express, pantheon road, the haggling, temples and the solitude, paatu class, vasalla kolam, vatha kozhambu, thayir saadham, mavadu, malli poo, chellamana nai kutti, a smile of recognition, a blend of tradition and modernity, the funny mix.............. am gonna miss all these and more. The sense of belonging, the feeling-at-home..... I will come back!!!! This is not a cradle am gonna leave forever.......... Chennai, I'll come back................