Dusk is the worst time of the day!

I hate the dusk. I hated that time of the day in India and I detest it in this country. At least in the winter. During days of school, dusk was the time when spirits took a distinct down turn. I’d invariably lapse into some sorta gloom. This wasn’t my reaction solely, my sister too. Mummy was the only cheery person around, come sun or stars. Daddy was the same all the time, irrespective of weather…:-) Dusk, for the two of us (I think), symbolised end of sunshine, end of day, approach of the next day at school, mean teachers, meaner class-mates (for me), an entire day of classes, watching wannabe *romances* and crushes working around other people (never around me!), the perpetual *itch* for God-knows-what!

Yesterday, we were out shopping for furniture. I’d contacted a lady who had a couch-n-love seat to dispose off and we landed at her doorstep around 6. These days, the light starts fading around 5:30 and it’s tough to believe that the day has already passed on, so damn soon. When we reached her home, it was awfully dark and dismal. She was painting her front door and the house looked stripped-off of most of the furnishings. I asked her where she was moving to and she replied, “India”. Damn, that set the trap off and I felt a momentary twinge of home-sickness within. Not momentary at all since it lingered till night. I was reminded of a bright and sunny India (conveniently forgot how hot and uncomfortably humid it gets!), full of friends and relatives (btw, most of my friends are in this country!), Diwali nights, Navratri nights, Saturday lunches, Sunday newspapers… the works. Thankfully, the waterworks didn’t take over. I was kinda okay by night. Damn!

This morning is again brilliantly sunny, warm and bright. Hopefully, the litany won’t repeat itself all through this dreary winter…:-)