How I fell in luv with Chennai- ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!

Dec 25- I was up before 7 am, when my alarm was supposed to go off. A realization "Its 25th, the day is here"- Excitement in its ultimate gigantism. To top it, an A in my favorite course. Can there be a better morning in my life? I doubt..

The 14 hour flight was so annoying. Home so close, yet so far. Its so weird how after waiting for 450 days, it pains like crazy to wait 14 hours. By the time I reached Abudhabi, I was sick..of flights...the security checks and just having to sit glued to one place. I got into the flight, irritated and sleepy. The moment they announced "non stop service to Chennai", my face lit up. It hit me where I was heading. It dawned on me that I had to wait 3 more hours and then it would be heaven. I probably was the only idiot who was smiling when the plane was taxi'ng on the run way. From then on, my screen had just the live map running.

Distance to Destination: 1786 miles Estimated Arrival: 3 31 am Ground Speed: 590 mph. Hmm..so slow.. Wat to do? Its so boring..Shud I sleep? Shud I look out into the dark? I was clenching my fists and looking at the Distance to Destination without batting an eyelid..

Distance to Destination: 364 miles-I felt the first surge of adrenaline. I mean, imagine, it was true, that I was going to reach chennai. I was as close to Chennai as I would have been if I was somewhere in say, Hyderabad. No more 5 digit discouraging distances, no more 10.5 hour differences. Appa wouldn't have to say "Hi, u woke up too late, its time for me to sleep" or "Preethi, its time, I am off to office, u better go to sleep". He could kick my ass and wake me up at 6 am (of course I wouldnt wake up, but tats a different story altogether).

Distance to Destination: 122 miles- "Cabin Crew, Prepare for landing". I was choking. The aircraft was really going to land in Anna International Terminal. I was going to touch my parents and see that I wasnt touching my laptop screen. I was paralyzed. I was staring out of the window not wanting to be looked at like an alien by my co passenger. The cabin lights were turned off and oh my god.. Chennai was breathtakingly beautiful. People who know me would have easily guessed that I would have started crying by now.

After Immigration, I reached the arrival lobby. Vishnu was the first person I saw. Then anna. Then manni. Then..AMMA. I hugged her and was locked in that position, for 2 mins. The world around me froze. Then Appa! "IDIOTTT, go get ur baggage, u just left it astray.."..Sigh, Appa's, they never change..

I picked up my bags, came out to the open..And took a deep breath of Chennai's air-

REBIRTH...