Meanwhile in Mission Veng......

It was a very cheerful, happy day for a certain family who lives in Mission Veng, Aizawl.  It was the much anticipated day when their beloved, darling daughter was coming home from a far away university where she finally earned her post graduate degree, to finally stay at home forever.

Everyone in the family had eagerly waited for the day, and there had been much preparation and planning by each member of the family. The mother had prepared all of the daughter’s favorite dishes for dinner. She marinated  chicken the previous night, all ready to be put in the oven. The previous day she cleaned the daughter’s room, change the curtains, bed sheets and even re-paint the room light green, the daughter’s favorite color.

The 16 year old brother was the one who did most of the planning and hardwork. He even got up at 9 in the morning on a Saturday, because he had to shift all his stuffs like empty potato chips packets, cigarette ashes, pile of comics, game CDs and unwashed garments which he had littered in his sister's room during her absence.

Even the uncle took the day off from work only to pick her up from the airport. As he was waiting for his niece at Lengpui airport, he called her up and asked her where she was. The girl told him that she just landed at Kolkatta airport and would board the flight to Aizawl within one hour. Then the uncle called the girl’s mom.

“She just landed at Kolkatta. She’ll be home within two hours”, the uncle said to the mother.

Then, the mother called the grandmother to inform her about the same. Then, the grandmother informed the uncle’s wife, the uncle’s wife informed the aunty, the aunty then informed the cousins, and the cousins informed the neighbours. The neighbours then informed the neighbours' kids, who then informed the cats. Thus, it was a vicious circle. Then everyone gathered at the house, including the neighbour's cat, waiting for the V V I P, with their own personal motives in sublime anticipation, each with the big question in mind i.e. "What would she bring for me this time?" 

Yes, it was a happy day for everyone, not only because the girl was so keenly missed since she was a really nice girl, but everyone knew very well how their lives was going to be much better with the girl now staying at home.

It had been a busy year for the family, and the mother knew once her daughter gets home, she would be relieved of 70% of the household chores. She can now attend her social gatherings, shopping and church events without worrying for a second who will cook for dinner and who would do the laundry. She can even sleep late on a school day without worrying about the boys’ tiffin.

The 16 year old brother knew once her sister gets home, he would be freed from his mom’s tyranny, relieved from his bonded labour to clean the dishes and taking out the garbage.

The 10 year old brother was happy because now he had someone to cook maggi for him, anytime in the night.

The auntie with three kids and a baby had eagerly waited for this day, because she would now have a nanny free of cost to babysit her children.

The grandmother thought to herself, once her grand-daughter gets home, she would have someone to massage her back or pick her grey hair anytime she wants, and by anytime, it means anytime!

All the cousins, especially the girls, were keenly waiting for their sister, because they cannot wait to raid her closet and take whatever clothes they wanted.

The neighbours and the neighbour’s kids too, had eagerly anticipated the girl’s return, because she would bring goodies and sweets for everyone.

It was indeed a happy day for a certain family in Mission Veng.