When our daughter, Akanksha left for university, I grew concerned about the changes to our home. When our son Akhil left, too, I became more anxious. After 22 years what would my husband and I talk about? Would we enjoy outings as much without our children?
The evenings seemed to yawn endlessly and some days coming back to a dark home, with everything in the same place I had left it, made me yearn for the days I returned to find the flat in a mess.
When I was not able to get either of the children on the phone, I would work myself into a frenzy conjuring up every possible disastrous scenario.
Akanksha insists I have the distinction of being the only person on this planet who has repeatedly called the office of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (where she was interning) to leave messages that she "needed to call her mother urgently".
Research shows that all parents and caregivers are susceptible to the "empty nest syndrome". While not a clinical condition, the feelings of grief and loneliness experienced when children leave home can be very real.
Recently, a parent whose son is in the final year of the International Baccalaureate programme shared her feelings with me. Her pain was almost palpable.
"I feel very sad when I know my son will leave me soon to [go to] university. I think of this every day. I don't see any future for my life," she said.