Personal Narrative: Coming To America

“What was it like?” I asked, scrambling to keep up with my aunt. She paused, her tall thin frame standing in the doorway. Dishes lay scattered around us. Dinner had ended hours ago, and everybody was upstairs.. It was just us: my aunt in her scrubs and me in my pajamas. “Growing up in India? Coming to America,” I prodded. She continued rhythmically bustling around the kitchen, snatching random things with muscle memory. She seemed to be thinking as she worked, though. The air got thicker, as if crowding with the memories and ideals of a different world. I was transported nearly 35 years backward in time, and I saw a playful happy childhood of an adventurous little girl growing up in the 1970s in India. Thoughts of games

The streets were moving sluggishly, the cars running at snail's’ pace with their motors causing a lulling hum and never ending honking. Mosquitoes and flies buzzed in slow circles as sweat dripped down faces. Adults spoke softly if at all over afternoon chai, or tea. August in Ahemdabad, India was racked with heat waves and nobody wanted to move, save a few. Rheka, her brother Kandarp, and their band of ragtag cousins were as alive as ever each of these long summer afternoons. They were adventurers, explorers off to discover every last secret of their grandparents’ estate. They trooped out of the house and met on the front

Ahemdabad was a big city, full of lights, color, temples, markets, and treasures- or so they assumed. The courtyard was old hat, they’d seen every corner of it. Piles of rocks and small plastic balls were scattered from the times they’d played Lagori, an old favorite of a game. Rheka opened the front gates. It was an impressive sight- a ten year old with two braids throwing open the gates that had bound their life. Her cousins watched in awe, maybe terror. But she grinned out at the world that she knew. Dust covered streets, trees every few feet providing little shade in the muggy air. She stepped out and they all followed. They were free to explore until dinnertime- that was when they would be missed. Rheka stepped onto the burning hot street and winced though she had nice sandals on. She hopped around and gestured for her team to follow. They ran down the street, jumped through the shade and laughing. All the gates were closed and nobody disturbed them. Then they hit the main street, with lazy traders and such wandering