Homecoming

Today marks the 3rd year of my moving out from home (Mumbai). What I was back then is a person I hardly recognize anymore. The ad hoc decision to leave the womb of Bombay to discover alien land was the best thing I have done for myself so far.
I do feel at home here in Bangalore, but I don't think I have any feeling of belongingness. If a tree was to being in Mumbai, I might even have gone and hugged it for love for that tiny island city; if this happens in B'lore, all I do is 'sigh, poor tree'. Yes, its indifference; I recognize it, but can't seem to cure myself of it.
Lush raintrees lining the roads with a canopy of green everywhere haven't stirred my heart as much as the gurgling water which gushes up through the cement boulders, sending the myriad of crabs scuttling just a few feet below where my legs dangle freely.
The noise and the chaos of people may be shocking for people in Mumbai; but for me its the high decible chirp of birds outside my window which are a cause for annoyance in B'lore.
I am a city-girl, used to a real city life; all this psuedo stuff doesn't impress me. Bangalore was a quiet little town, and it was cute that way; part of the itenary checklist for holiday trips, famous for its biggest kids store (that's how I remember hearing of B'lore first).

Ok ok. I quit cribbing, and will get to how I have managed to stick around here for this long. Now you may not believe me (after all my rant above, and here, here, here and here about B'lore) but people in B'lore are nice and cultured. I mean have you ever seen an accident after which people get out of their vehicles and chat with each other in low voices on what damage happened to their car?
I'm sure this has a strong influence of the mild weather here; never too hot, not too cold either as it rains/ drizzles year-round.
4 dwellings, and 2 jobs later, I can say that B'lore will hold a tiny spot in my heart once I leave it; but I wouldn't think of coming back here ever. So am going to continue enjoying the place as long as I can, and leave it at that.
Today also happens to be my mom's first visit to my new house, which has been set up, decorated and maintained by me for over 5 months. It got a thumbs up...which finally gave me the assurance that I can make it out there on my own after all.