Mombasa!

Man’s Eternal Quest for Family

In “The Mombasa — Man’s Eternal Quest for Family,” a man in NYC explores his deep emotional tie to Mombasa and discovers a newfound sense of family through a DNA test.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

“Mombasa”

“What town are you from?” my friend answered, responding to my question.

The moment I heard the name “Mombasa,” I was overwhelmed with emotion. It felt as if all thirty million cells in my body were vibrating. From that day on, every time I hear that name, I experience the same surge of vibration, happiness, and excitement.

Mombasa is a city on the east coast of Kenya in Africa. What about this city, a place I’ve never visited, thrills me so? Why does every cell in my body come alive at the mere mention of its name? I’ve pondered these questions endlessly, but the answers remain elusive. My quest for Mombasa took a backseat as I navigated the pressures of work life in New York City and family responsibilities that began with the arrival of my wife from India.

I completed my undergraduate degree in India before moving to America for my master’s and, eventually, my Ph.D. All my academic and professional pursuits have been in New York City. Raised in a nurturing family environment in India, it took me a while to adjust to the American way of life, where human relationships often seem undervalued. It’s disheartening that even immigrants from my country seem to share this…