We gather around the living room,

Cards in our hands, laughter in the air,

Freshly roasted peanuts, everyone’s favorite,

their aroma wafts, tempting.

Snippets of conversations from politics to rising humidity,

A slap without bite stinging on my thigh – a price for teasing,

the hard floor comfortable beneath us,

Mum and brother arguing over game points.

Aunt fussing over my hairdo and my cousin egging her on,

movie dialogues thrown dramatically in the mix,

Mum humming an old song.

The heat, insufferable, yet welcoming,

I feel light, this is home.