Rediscovering Us: A Journey Through India’s Hills and Heart With My Wife

After a long time, she was smiling again.

Her smile was full of peace and happiness.

We checked into a small homestay near Darjeeling, a hill station in India.

Last year, we decided to travel to a part of India.

I often visited India to attend business meetings and conferences, but this time, I decided to come with my family and spend some quality time together.

I never wanted to simply check off tourist spots; rather, I wanted to visit a place where I could unwind and enjoy everything slowly and peacefully.​

We booked flights from Chicago to Mumbai and then to Kolkata.

From Kolkata, it is a short flight to Bagdogra, which is the nearest airport to Darjeeling.

Traveling with our boys, we decided to stay for two days near Bagdogra before heading to Darjeeling.

We booked a small homestay in Siliguri (Ronglee), and needless to say, it was the best decision.

The homestay owner was fabulous and understood English well.

More importantly, the stay was raw and real, close to nature and jungle trails.

The boys loved it a lot.

My wife is more adventurous than I am, and she liked the trails.

After quite some time, it felt like we were living a fulfilling life. It was a much-needed break.​

In the afternoon, we visited the nearby monastery on foot.

The tranquility of the place was soothing.

We took a different trail to return to our homestay.

On the way, we saw elephants trained by the sanctuary authority for scouting inside the deep jungle. The day was well spent.​

After quite a long time, Sophia (my wife) was visibly happy.

She wanted to take some photos with me and the boys together.

I had a great chat with the homestay owner, Eunad, and his wife until late at night after dinner.

When I finally came to my room, I was shocked to see Sophia.

She was looking a little naughty and wanted to have some real fun with me.

Though I was a little tired after the long day, I did not want to disappoint her.

The next morning was great, refreshing, and it felt like we were living happily as a couple.

It was the end of January in 2024, more than one year ago.​

As I write about our travel to India in my study room, I can still feel the void and pain in my heart.

I really do not understand whether my wife loves me or not.

My relationship with my wife has always been going through ups and downs.

I always felt bad because I was emotionally impacted by her whimsical behavior.

But eventually, I internalized this reality that if I stay with her, I need to pay less attention to her emotional tantrums and go with the flow.

I am trying to be happy with my own life.

Instead of focusing on her, I want to live a fulfilling life.

I am hopeful that someday she will understand me in a better way. Until that time, I need to improve for the better.​

P.S. — I’m documenting my everyday life here as a journal.

Today, I have written about what I feel about my life right now and the exciting time we spent together last year in a homestay in India.

This is my way of sharing my hope, frustration and my efforts to make my marriage work. Has anyone faced similar days in their relationship?​

Journal Date — April 5th, 2025. Time — 5:45 AM CST/CDT.

For interested people — We stayed in Ronglee Homestay near Siliguri. Here is the google review page of the home stay.