november in america feels like the year slowing down
for a warm nap. 
maple leaves turn into rangoli shades — लाल, नारंगी, सुनहरा — 
and everyone’s talking about thanksgiving plans
and turkey strategies. 
but for desis like us, november brings double emotion: 
एक तरफ़ pumpkin pie, दूसरी तरफ़ गली में दिवाली की खुशबू.

in india, november still smells like crackers, weddings,
and shaadi season chaos. meanwhile,
हम यहाँ winter jackets निकाल रहे होते हैं
while scrolling through cousin’s mehendi pics thinking, 
“यार, मैं होता तो क्या क्या मस्त dance करता.”

november is that bittersweet playlist between
घर की यादें  and home away from home.
it’s chai with a dash of cinnamon instead of इलाइची,
it’s mittens instead of mojaris, 
it’s desi hearts beating under fir trees.

so whether you’re lighting diyas on your porch in new jersey 
or in your courtyard in new delhi — 
november reminds us that warmth doesn’t come from weather, 
it comes from belonging.

happy november, दोस्तों —
यहाँ भी, वहाँ भी.