going home

as i step off the train, the familiar scent of pune's railway station hits me. it's a mix of sweat and diesel fuel, of food vendors and worn leather. it's a smell that's instantly recognizable, one that transport me back to a different time. i've been away for a long time, and everything feels different. the buildings look shorter, the streets narrower. but the smell, the smell is the same. i breathe it in deeply, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me. it's like i've never left. and yet, everything feels different. the city feels smaller, more insular. i feel like a stranger, like i'm seeing everything for the first time. i walk through the station, taking in the familiar sights and sounds. the vendors calling out their wares, the sound of laughter and conversation. it's all so familiar, and yet, it's all so different. i'm not sure where i fit in, or where i'm going. all i know is that i'm home, and that's all that matters.