India's Coming Full Circle

The day I left for India

Life is coming full circle for me in India.

When I arrived about 3 and a half years ago, my right leg landed encased inside a boot. An ankle sprain caused by stepping into a tiny hole while wearing cute red patent leather wedges on an after dinner walk in Chicago with my family.

My arrival to India is held in my mind like hands wrapped around warm cup of tea. Many of the memories warm me mentally on cooler Mumbai mornings. Around the inside walls of the teacup though, there are ankle sprain stains. Memories of being "trapped" inside during monsoon season. Avoiding slippery sidewalks. Avoiding puddles. Memories of frustration caused by trying to be patient with my healing body while my soul wanted to go out and explore.

Flash forward to a week ago, Friday. Change the setting to school and a quick bathroom stop on my way to a classroom A combination of a wet floor and lack of signage warning me of said wet floor caused a new sprain. This time, my left ankle.

Friday on my way to school, ankle brace and all

As I sat nursing my ankle with an ice pack, a colleague I'm close to said, "India's come full circle. You're going out how you came in." I laughed. It was true but this was not in the way I'd hoped. 

I want to spent my last months in India exploring and embracing and being trapped inside my apartment again wouldn't allow for this. After this sprain, I again shut myself in and was a "good girl" who rested at home and didn't go out for a friend's birthday or errands or exploring. Those stains from 3.5 years ago came back. I had friends who came over and others who checked on me which helped as well as lots of reminders that I was "doing the right thing" from friends and family and a physical therapist.

Late last week though, I was reminded less of the stains and more of warmth. 

I was reminded that when the sun did emerge during monsoon when I first moved here, so did I. I explored my new neighborhood by leaning out of rickshaws. I met friends for Bollywood movies and even visited the Gateway of India on Independence Day. I was able to get out. Just not as often and frequently or necessarily when I wanted. 

Gateway, me and my boot

This time, small things like a visit to the framer, running several errands and a weekend where I wrapped my hands around a cup of tea while talking with friends brought the feelings of freedom. Despite the annoyances that come along with physical injury, I was reminded that in the grand scheme, it's going to be okay.

There will be more days of soreness. There will be days I feel trapped.There will be days that physical therapy will take priority over a dinner with friends. These won't be my only memories though. The circle's not quite closed and there's still lots of time and ways to keep filling up my cup.