A long lunar eclipse

I know...I know what you are thinking, "Wasn't that a solar eclipse that created waves a couple of days back?, so why the title?". No, this is a lunar eclipse, you may not have seen this on CNN or BBC or in any channel for that matter, because its only in my life. My moon, My son, Shashank left to India today with my wife and parents. I won't be seeing him for at least a month, that being the optimistic chances of all.

I console myself that it is the price I pay for the money I earn but heart doesn't quite get it. All it knows and wants is that smiling face that comes rushing to the door on hearing a familiar voice. Well, no one will come so now. I guess I won't be rushing home either. He isn't here but everything that I see, the strollers and child seat in the closet, the 'happy 1st birthday' wall hanging, the cute foto in which my wife is cuddling him, the remote controlled car hidden under the bed, baby on board sign on the car and the tea table along which he walks reminds him.

Whenever I am out, he knows, he checks the bedroom closet once in a while to see if I am hiding there. I did check to see if he is hiding in there, but no, he isn't. Where will he check in the new place, he doesn't know that he is so far away from his dad. But it will be on his mind, he will know that he is missing his 'someone special'.

I have felt lonely at times, at different points of life. But, this loneliness is different, first time when I came to US, yes I did leave my parents but fell into a circle of friends. Next time around, my wife was with me to take care of me when I came away to US. But this time, it is different. This isn't the first time I am away from my parents, but it is the first time I am away from my kid as a parent. A bit of my own medicine for myself, or may be its only justice that is meted out for being away from my parents. Life is fair.

One thing is for sure, loneliness is not lonely now, I am here for its company.

Vj