"Now I have to go.." said Sonali

After a long time I have been home for nearly two weeks, recovering slowly from a sudden diagnosis of high levels of sugar in the blood. Ofcourse, being put on a low calorie and no sugar diet, I have had to make drastic changes in my life style. However, what I miss the most are my mid-night meals of chocolates and icecream.
I wrote this piece, "Now I have to go..." in 2006 after visiting Sonali.

Interestingly, these days Sonali calls me every day to enquire about my health and for once she is no rush and I don't hear her say, "Now I have to go..".


"Now I have to go..."


"When you reach the Residency Inn, at San Mateo just give me a call and now I have to go,” said my 22-year old daughter Sonali, in her typical accent from San Francisco. However, before I could react, the phone call had been terminated.

I must have scowled a wee bit because my younger daughter, Shubhi patted me and remarked, “Hey mom don’t worry, she does that to me all the time. I know she is thrilled that we are visiting her.”

My husband, Diwakar, and I, had planned a holiday to California to see that Sonali had adjusted well to the new city and her first job.

“We must make her feel secure. She will never tell us that she is lonely,” I told Diwakar. For once there were no arguments and Diwakar agreed immediately. In fact, he said in a solemn tone, “She must be missing us. She has been away from home for nearly nine-months.”

So the family arrived in San Francisco to meet the Bio-engineer daughter. The two small bags between the three of us and one large bag containing 24-packets of Maggie noodles, Priya green pickle, steel masala container, microwave idli-maker, packets of spices, a dozen packets of ready made food, sweets and nani’s home made namkeen, fortunately, did not create any problems at the airport. “Daughter’s food-bag”, smirked the guy at the counter.

There was no sign of Sonali at the airport, I tried calling, the voice mail responded, “Hi! this is Sonali, leave your number and I will call back”. “Oh! She must be in the shower, relaxing after a long day in the office,” said Shubhi, pacifying a hyper mom.

Finally, Sonali arrived with an overnight bag, and a large Pizza. “Hey! dad, hey! mom. The hotel looks good. I have eaten already. The pizza is yum. I have brought you some. I will sleep with Shubhi tonight,” she said. I was happy to hear that.

She looked skinnier than before, but more confident and relaxed. “She has matured,” I said to my husband quietly. I guess, I had said it a bit too soon.

“What are you doing about Shubhi’s pimples, and why is she not exercising”? Sonali commented giving me one of her usual severe looks. “She is on the treadmill everyday and plays golf with dad,” I said trying to pacify her.

“That is not enough. When you go back to India , put her on a diet. Don’t you guy’s read anything back home,” she added.

Before I could react I could hear her say, “Now move Shubhi, I need to sleep. Got to reach office at 6.30 a.m.” The conversation was over.

I did not meet her the next morning because she had left early. I tried her phone in the afternoon. A tired voice responded, “Hey mom, I am so tired. Why does dad have to make his office calls so early in morning, I barely slept. Shubhi kept turning and waking me up. I will not come tonight and now I have to go.”

I decided to leave her alone. The next two weeks went past quickly. Sonali was busy working on most days; one weekend there was a cricket game, the next one her colleague of two months was leaving. In fact, I just about got to see the apartment she had rented and we did some shopping together.

The day before we were leaving Sonali once again walked in with her overnight bag. “I am going to sleep with Shubhi. Hey! mom, why don’t you and I, chat. You know you could have stayed another week.”

“You are happy and well settled. My job is over and now I have to go”, I said mimicking her accent. She looked up and smiled sheepishly. For once she had no answer.