Ask any Patialavi abroad what they miss and the first answer is usually food, because that is easier than telling the truth.
The truth is that many of us miss the casual nearness of life back home.
We miss the auntie who arrived without calling, the uncle who stayed for tea and left with neighborhood news, the cousin who never asked if it was a good time to come over.
We miss hearing Punjabi drift in from the next room, the next balcony, the next lane.
We miss not having to explain our humor, our volume, our hospitality, or why one simple visit can turn into a three-hour sit-down.
Even when life abroad is fuller, cleaner, and more efficient, there are moments when it feels almost too arranged.
Patiala spoiled us with interruption, and maybe that is another word for belonging.
If you left Patiala but still carry one habit of home into every new city, write it down here.
