I come from Hyderabad my homeland The smell of dosa’s cooking scent jasmine wafting through the air Spices mingling in elaborate curries and chutneys Ashburn home datacenters suburban areas schools long grass lands My family with whom live dad is backbone Mom caring kind makes us all feel wanted sister who often fight still has found a way into heart These are people make me am India where heritage while it also was born idli’s as soft pillow melting your mouth crisp freshly printed newspaper fish squirming pond coconut trees swaying wind rice more overpowering than perfume aroma chicken curry garnished basil leaves Mutton curd leaving pleasant soothing taste on tongue biryani spreading throughout house Stone Hill hallways blacktop Stingrays festival lights Diwali colors Holi celebration New Year traditions Walking Grandfather to supermarket stray dogs sleeping porches peoples houses auto’s picking take them places sound horns honking presence clock counting down shoes squeaking experience adrenaline you run court rush when shot This what