176-CHARLEMONT ROAD-VICARAGE LANE-EAST HAM

While listening to the song, DIL KYA KARE Song from the movie SAALAME ISHQ, a sweet memory from my past just went across my mind and the nostalgia lingered for a short while

I remebered my first international Visit and my Home away from home 176-charlemont road. When I landed in the Land where sun never sets, I never knew where I would stay - just knew the address. Cruising past the tall buildings on both sides, leaving behind the big gardens lined with maple trees after the fall ,I halted in front of this house, which I had only seen in movies or in small pictures .

With a sleep filled eyes I entered into a house with a friend of mine who showed me the room – the owner (who were a srilankan family of 5 consisting of 3 kids and there parents), very sweetly asked me for dinner, but the feeling that I am in London had never sunk in, and sleep had already taken me out of control, I thought of retiring and slept like a log.

I was awoken my friend and when I opened my eyes, I saw a very picturesque surrounding from the window, I then pinched myself to let myself accept that am in London actually. The sweet little room I had got had a nicely draped bed, with the cover hanging low till floor, the floor was of wood and also carpeted. My bed was a little princess’s one and the room had a flowery cupboard in it. The windows had nice furnishing, I really felt for while like a little princess.

With the early morning laziness I went and sat near the window, there was this song playing on my laptop and there was a mist outside with dews on the grass and the trees.
It could either be Wordsworth or Keats or any romantic poet who can aptly describe the exuberance that flew within my veins that moment, but not me.

The owner of the house were sweet and warm people , they kept the spirit of the home as it should be, I hardly realized in few days that I was away from home ,so 136 Charlemont road became my home in few days. I bonded with the kids and they very fondly called me ‘AKKA’.I still remember Uncle giving me his share of crabs as I liked it and aunty cooking vegetarian food at times for me. I still remember the kids become sad for a week and pleading me not to go back. I still remember uncle raising the wine and saying to our dear ‘SUSHREE’, the day before I left. I remember aunty not asking me last week's rent, until I paid myself. The people I stayed with were not rich with the empress seal but were rich from heart. That’s what made 176-charelmont road my home.

In a week’s time I saw snowfall, the exact date being 10th of February, I and my friend stood by the window watching the snow come gushing down the sky as if someone had actually blown cotton lumps in sky, that was my first snowfall experience. I then found beauty in the chill weather too.

What I loved about London at that time was the chill, the mist and the tea. That was the first time I got to know about paid launderettes, wherein we have to wash our own clothes – I was spared from that, we had washing machine at home. When I went around places, few of my friends had to spare a day for washing clothes, this was another gift that 176-charlemont road gave me.

I remember returning from office, with the ipod playing on songs and somehow when this Dil kya kare song played I could relate to this place. When the District Line wound through blackfriars, emerging at whitechappel I could see the mist surrounding the area near west ham, far from the place canary wharf with all its glory stood blinking amongst the Cloud of mist.

To the chill, frozen souls of ours the house always looked as a blessing. Like school kids we used to run towards it and immediately get into its comfortable red and blue welcoming interiors. Our day always ended with piping hot home cooked Indian food and watching nice movies in the little princess room.

I saw the first spring onset in there, watched the days pass by and saw the trees get the foliage back and also the flower on them. I had the best of parties and friends gathering hosted at my home. In the city of strangers I found people who had great warmth.
With a mere 55 pounds a week I got everything that would keep my worries of existence in the city at bay and keep exploring visiting and working with patience.

I still remember the evening when I used to stroll back to home, watching out for jackals who at times made appearances near the garden and also looking at the trees in full bloom , with their red ,pink and white flowers.

As days flew by, and my returning day came close. I had lotsa emotion suddenly playing games with eachother.As I watched them play, I was taken back, and then winner emerged to be the one who felt for the house and the surrounding.

I conclude – My stay at London was very eventful, with the accolades from client, with the responsibility as the delivery head, as a Coordinator, with my strolling across places alone and with friends, with my exploring happiness in lonely evenings, with the love for 136, charlemont road.

I owe the success and the happiness to 176-charlemont road, Vicarage Lane, East Ham – E6 6AQ.