I had completely forgotten about it. When I used my United miles to buy my ticket to India, I had to book an arbitrary return flight. I had no idea how long I’d be gone for, but I had to pick a date. And now that my journey is underway, the return date is set in stone: May 31st, 2008.
Like it or not, May 31st is a big day. It’s either the day I pay the U.S. a visit, or it’s the day I wake up and go back to bed.
I must admit, I’m secretly excited. I’m not sure the financials will all work out — after all, taking this “free” trip back home will only mean that I’ll have to buy another plane ticket back to India. But it sounds fun — a vacation in California. For the first time, I’d be a tourist in America. I’d be visiting the country, only to have to leave again to get back to New Delhi.
I can already imagine the intersections I’d visit:
19th and Mission for Tacqueria Cancun. Drumm and Market for the shiny ACLU. 2nd and Geary for my old apartment and a shot of soju at Rohan’s.
Catching up with old friends. Crashing with the new subletter — my brother. Time with my parents. And a trip to that cultural epicenter: Modesto.
Calm down now. Calm down. Take a deep breath.
Back to the insomnia. And the housemate’s Scotch.
