A personal note
A month in the USA flew by. On my way home I carry a huge stock of memories and special moments of being loved. I am not sure I have extended our hospitality like so to these people back home.
Americans have very busy lives. 5 days are work and cooking. Weekends for chores. Yet they party. The bars are overflowing.

Athens – My cousin Sujata, Richard, Manas

They drove down to Atlanta to pick me up. 300 Km, a long journey but she insisted it was non negotiable. Sujata, an immigration lawyer had a tough case at hand and was hyperventilating yet she introduced me to all their friends, took me to eat Ethiopian, Mexican, Grits. Food was cooked at home too. Richard was commandeered to take me shopping, visit museums, drive to Madison which was a treat. At the shops I would rummage and Richard quietly read his book. Manas was making tea, coffee, heating food, chatting.

Miami – Sanjukta

Airport pick up with a samosa treat en route. She dropped me to tour stops, picked me up. Spent half a day getting my phone repaired. We went for a Broadway show and laughed a great deal.She has Rocio the human touch to help but cooked delicious meals and found time to adda. She is a lawyer and was dealing with a difficult client, for long interludes arguing ferociously. I learnt the metro system. The mover, the metro, the bus. Easy peasy.

Boston – Sucharita

She works at MIT and I went to her office after landing. She drove me around Harvard and some other places. The drive back home was interesting and a hot meal was waiting with rotis. Saturday she drove me to this exquisite seaside resort Rockport. We window shopped, ate, walked on the pier and pfaffed. The whole day!

New York – Achal Shivani
A warm welcome. Picked me up, dropped me.Achal sat me down and explained the train, metro and road alignment. He lives an hour drive away. He took me everyday and after doing my stuff I returned on my own. Everyday I was picked up at the station. A cosy home. There was a saucepan for tea waiting for me on the stove, munchies, nashta to take with me. I returned to home cooked delicious meals and this became very special. Loved being spoilt.

Ayush Liz
They live in Jersey and I opted out of visiting them cos of their dogs. Sadly. The two touched base constantly and insisted on coming to New York. Mashi privilege. Ate a superb Italian meal soaking up the sun. They took me to High Line, Chelsea as I hadn’t been there. Loved it. Liz and her glamorous smile A looks like his dad and threw me off gear.

Washington DC – Kali Rasik

Two young people with demanding jobs. The first day with Rasik he cleaned his house for me and it looked perfect. I was later told that everything was under the carpet or closet. Nevertheless. They had a party elsewhere and home cooked food waited for me. Pulao, bhindi, raita, aloo, cheese balls, dessert. They were both a revelation.
Through the week there was Ample coffee, breakfast, meals rustled up. I occupied the bedroom and there was water by my bedside refilled everyday. They invited a friend to meet me.
R messaged in the morning and evening came across from work everyday. Both insisted I go out despite a punishing work schedule. We went for dinner to a Mexican place with delish food with Tara, a friend’s daughter. The next day they absolutely put their foot down. We walked down 18th street, heard jazz at a bar, stopped at another Arabic place, a curiosity shop and reached home near midnight. Kali stayed up, finished work and left for Mexivo at 3 am. Rasik is now in charge. He has ordered my Uber for a day out while he is at work, and will be driving me to the airport. The fridge is adequately stocked for hunger pangs.
DC is in a Federal shutdown the first day on the tour was incomplete as everything Govt owned was closed. My resolve to see all museums here was cancelled.

Phew
That’s quite a bit about the warmth. Thanks!