#AtoZChallenge : Latibule

My usual Saturday routine of waking up late in the morning had been missed. I woke up irritated for I hadn’t slept well last night. I picked a few things that I needed and put them into my bag as I had to travel. It was just a matter of a couple of days. But I liked the peace and quiet that Saturdays had to offer for the humdrum of the week would annoy me to no end. Spending time on my bed, while reading a book or just sipping a cup of tea while looking outside my window was my idea of a perfect day. It wouldn’t be possible today and I couldn’t help it because I had to go.

I arrived at my grandmother’s place. Though the hot summer sun was blazing with all its might, the large shady trees made it bearable. I liked this place when I was a kid and I’d insist on coming here every single time I had holidays. Times had changed and I’d grown up! No matter how much I craved to be here, I couldn’t because of various reasons. Gradually, I’d forgotten how much I liked coming here. Now that I was here, I realized how much I’d missed this place.

Memories kept running in the back of my mind as I walked. I remembered those cheerful days of my childhood when everything seemed to be so simple and easy.The games I played and the fun I had made my days here so great. This place always felt welcoming for it was home. But what had kept me from coming here were the questions that would be asked. Questions about my life, the decisions I’d made and about everything that I’d chosen to do and not do. Adulting was hard and all the questions about it made it more difficult. The flurry of questions would always leave me with a feeling of unease. Sensing the impending questions, I wished I could run away and hide in a safe place.

As I walked, I stopped by a little shed underneath the old Mango tree. When I was a kid, this was where I’d spend my time when everything else seemed to bother me or when I was angry! This was where I’d feel better. Grandma had ensured that this shed was always clean and I would be comfortable if I decided to visit the shed. She also knew that I would not like to be disturbed when I was here. This was just where I wanted to be right now for this place offered me comfort. As I opened the door and stepped into the shed, I went back in time for nothing had changed. I stepped in forgetting all my worries and apprehensions outside. This place was and still was my place of comfort, my hiding place, my latibule.

Latibule : A hiding place, a place of safety and comfort.

Origin : Unknown

I’m participating in the A to Z Challenge again this year. This is my third time participating in the challenge. I’m going with the theme of  “Rare, unusual and beautiful words from various languages”