The Boston Experience

I was planning on visiting Boston for a while. Firstly, it was a biotech hub obviously and my eyes tilted towards seeing the city area. But also because I had a relative there and thought it would be a convenient place to travel to because I could actually stay with someone. Awahan Dai, Sebastian, and Sam Dai confirmed the trip 1 hour before they left for Boston from Philadelphia. It was a rollercoaster ride – we were all set on Boston but canceled the plan for a while because Sam Dai hadn’t slept well and again re-planned the trip because Sebastian agreed to drive instead of Sam. Once everyone got to New York, we decided to stay in my apartment due to travel fatigue and opted to leave for Boston the next morning. We had to squeeze our way to my apartment – with only 1 small bed and 1 sofa with no AC, it was claustrophobic to sleep there but we somehow managed. I guess that’s the reality of having a friend living on a budget in Manhattan. The highway road to Boston from New York felt very special. We were right beside the pristine ocean river that connected to the Charles River in Boston.

Boston had a very different vibe. There was definitely more hustle in the streets relative to most states in the US. We ate Indian food at Chulo and immediately headed to MIT. Hem Dai showed us around the campus. MIT felt like a place that was capable of unleashing the utmost potential of anyone who studied there. I was in part happy that I was finally visiting an institution that I looked up to since my school years but a part of me also wondered if I could ever be lucky enough to study here someday. We made our way to popular lecture halls, to the design studios, to the libraries, to the weirdest chair skating area, and finally in front of the famous MIT dome. We took pictures and roamed around the Charles River throughout the afternoon.

In the evening, Sebastian drove me to Yem Mama’s place. My mom had been insisting that I visit Yem Mama since the day I landed in the US. She told me he was one of the few who showed genuine care towards our family. At first, I did not understand what to expect. Neither had I ever met Yem Mama nor did I properly understand the bond he shared with my mom. But when I got there, I was astounded by the amount of affection Yem Mama and Mira Maiju showed toward me. I hadn’t felt like this in a while. Even though I couldn’t remember the times Mama visited us when I was small, I felt a strong connection with him. It was as though I had known him for years and we were reuniting after years of being apart. I was greeted with traditional Nepali garland and tika, followed by gestures of Puja. We bonded over dinner when Mama and Maijju told me stories about my mom’s past. Maijju showed me a picture of Mom’s wedding from 21 years back and that was when I got to know that my Maijju was the supposed bride’s (my mom’s) best friend during marriage. I got a bit emotional inside when I looked at that picture. All I could see out of a bunch of people was a girl draped in a traditional red sari, who seemed lost and shy and didn’t even look at the camera. All I could see was a woman who would later be my mom. That picture reminded me of my love for her.

The next morning, a series of pranks followed me. Since I was the ‘bhai’ (youngest one) in the group, I was the center of all pranks. Awahan Dai called me and told me they had been to the border of Massachusetts without me. Of course, I didn’t trust him but on some occasions, it felt real because he was holding on long after that call. And then he tells me there is not enough space in the car to accommodate me so I might as well travel to New York on my own. It was funny listening to everyone trying so hard to prank me. I didn’t fall for it but these gestures were what kept all of us lively and happy throughout the day. We reached Manhattan at 9 PM and the three guys headed to Philadelphia shortly. Despite the brevity of this trip, I am filled with enthusiasm to return and delve wholeheartedly into the vibrant hustle of Boston. Until we meet again!