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I got off the truck on the outskirts of town and was filled with a mix of feelings. I was looking forward to going home to my family and friends, but I was also a little blue about my travels coming to an end. Where would I get that rush of life now? 

The uncertainty of travel gave me a rush, something no nine to five routine would give me; yet I was ready to return home to see what life had in store for me. 

I checked my pockets and saw that I had enough money to take a bus home. I waited for the bus and got on to the one that would take me homewards. I found a seat and sat quietly, watching the city, and as we got deeper into the city, the bustle of the city just blanked out all my thoughts. It was indeed a cacophony and I had forgotten my tune. I could no longer keep a thought in my head as the buzz of the city just got busier, louder and distracting. 

After an hour of this madness I reached my destination. I got off the bus and looked around for an auto rickshaw to complete the last leg of my journey. There was no auto rickshaw around so I decided to walk. 

The area was familiar and I was close to one of my smoking haunts. I decided to go smoke a  chillum at the adda.

I walked into a hut and saw that my dealer was sitting with a few customers and they were passing a chillum around. They passed it to me and I took a deep toke and felt like my legs had turned to jelly. I slumped down to the floor and waited for the rush to subside. 

My dealer asked me where I had been for such a long time. 

I told him that I had been travelling for the last three years and had just got back into town. 

He asked me “Did you get your answers?” 

I said I had.

“Now you can get on with your life” he said. 

I nodded, understanding the wisdom in his words.

I bought some hash and decided to celebrate my return by the sea side. I left the hut and took a rickshaw towards the sea side. After a fifteen minute ride I arrived by the sea side. I got off and walked to the edge where there was a small ledge where one could sit. I rolled up a joint and puffed on it, reflecting on what I had experienced and what I had learned on my three year trip.

I looked around and saw some couples holding each other and kissing. They had no place where they could be together. The seaside was their love nest. They were in love and that was all that mattered to them.

I was nicely stoned and smiling to myself when I got an insight; that all of life is a precious journey only for realising love. To know beyond doubt that we are made of love itself was the only goal of life. All other attainments are incidental and fall away as we make our way towards this realisation. I closed my eyes and thanked God for the gifts that he had showered on me and sat there looking at the sea with the waves crashing a few feet from my feet.

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