It was suppose to be a long boring family reunion at my sister's place. Please don't mistake me for I love my family more then anything else; it is just that I hate the so called rituals to show my love to my family. It has always been the same over the years; my sisters exchanging notes on their latest jewelry purchases, their husbands upping the ante in the race to be the best son-in-law, and their children braying for my blood, each determined to have a piece of their only uncle. It isn’t that I don’t love my nieces and nephews; it is just that I love my solitariness more then anything else, and secretly, I don’t liked being called uncle by so many children because each time they call me I am reminded of my advancing age, lol.

So began the journey toward my sister’s place just outside Imphal with cars full bright excited eyes including mine. This was my second visit to her place since she moved in some weeks ago, but the first visit was just that, a visit and nothing else. This time as I neared her house I felt the magic of the place. As the meandering, ascending road led us toward my sister’s house the misty blue hills from afar turns into various shades of green, like a slow motion magician’s performance in progress. We could actually see white pieces of heaven kissing the ever so eager hill tops; a brazen love making act suitable for all to watch and appreciate, from my two and half year old nephew to my seventy year old father. The spray of tiny droplets of drizzle was the perfect welcome for us dusty city folks.

As the day progressed I never expected any meaningful topic to come up in all the chatter-chatters. But somehow one conversation led my host sister to say… No parents should expect anything from their children. Of course, children should always be prepared to be there when their parents need them. And parents should find satisfaction in that and should expect nothing more. I am so glad my sister said that and I am even gladder that my mom fully agreed with her. I will now feel a lot less guilty if I never get married or if I decide to live a gay couple life.

As we drive back through the same meandering road, the food that we ate was having an effect on all of us, and I saw sleepy faces all around me. They are faces I have seen a zillion times, and yet I never get bored looking at them. They are faces that make me who I am; I am their son, their brother, their brother-in-law, and their uncle. I love them all. It was a moment where I can easily get carried away and say that I will give up anything, even my gay life, to make them happy. But the question is: do they really want me to give up anything in my life to make them happy?