I’ll tell you when it happened to me

floating unsuspectingly

inside a watery balloon

muffled Tamil filtered through.

 

The world outside awaited me

Mama and chittis, thatha, and patti.

dhal and iddli, curds and rice

scents of spices to entice.

 

My fate was settled it would seem

a child of India I would be

destined to live in families’ arms

plying my first- granddaughter charms.

 

But then, a hairpin turn in fate.

My life in Bharat would have to wait.

A conversation passed between

mother and father still unseen.

 

He left for opportunity

she stayed and waited there for me

then later she would make her way

the crying babe would have no say.

 

Together they would meet him there

and build a life in Delaware.

And now I am the me you see

American minority.

 

So much of who I am today

the things I think and do and say

are born of one small change in course

that had an immeasurable force.

 

Indian I will always be

but American is what makes me, me.

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NaPoWriMo 2013: Day 9