Partho De, the man who had lived with the maggot-infested remains of his sister Debjani and two pet Labradors for months, returned to his 3 Robinson Street home on Thursday for the first time since his tragic story spilled out of the house of horrors last June.

Surveying the dust-filled living room, the 44-year-old said he had been longing for a visit to the home he had shared with his father, sister and two pets because it held many "loving memories".

In his deep-blue blazer and black shoes, Partho looked a far cry from the dishevelled, unshaven man who had spent time in a mental hospital. He spoke about how revisiting the classics - Mark Twain is a favourite - gives him the joy he has long craved.

"I plan to live a normal and peaceful life now," Partho said.

As he conversed with this reporter , policemen milled around him while Father Rodney from the Archdiocese of Calcutta stood at a distance.

Partho had recently expressed his desire to visit his home and stay there for an hour or so before returning to the centre run by the Missionaries of Charity where he has been living since being discharged from Pavlov hospital in October.

3 Robinson Street has been under lock and key since June 11 last year, when the burnt body of Partho's 77-year old father Arabindo was discovered in a bathtub and the skeletal remains of his sister and two pets in a bedroom.

Partho, accompanied by Father Rodney, arrived at the house around 4.15pm on Thursday and walked straight upstairs. "Please come in," he invited Metro a little later.

The rooms, caked in dust after eight months of disuse, were in disarray. Books, chairs, tables, utensils and sundry household items were strewn all over, leaving barely any space to stand.

Partho zig-zagged through the mess on the floor, casting a glance at familiar objects. Father Rodney and the cops followed. He paused for an extra few seconds in one room, as if trying to remember something.

The keys to the house, which had been in the police's possession since last June, were returned to Partho on Thursday along with some documents and books that the police had taken away for investigation.

In the 90 minutes that Partho was at 3 Robinson Street, he shared with Metro his journey from turmoil to "total recovery".

What made you come back to this house?

I was very eager to see this house. Many loving memories of my life are associated with this apartment. It feels very good to come back. Sometime ago, I was not too well as I was suffering from some mental health problems. I have recovered totally. So I wanted to see the house. Now I want to live a happy, normal and peaceful life. (He avoided talking about his father and sister and didn't respond to questions about them.)

Do you want to stay here?

No. I don't want to stay here as of now because this would remind me of the past, which I don't want. I still want to stay under the care of Mother House. The Missionaries of Charity has given me tremendous support all along. I would consider staying here permanently after some time, if I feel like.... There is so much pleasure strolling down Robinson Street and going to a nearby cafeteria for a cup of coffee.

What is your life like at the centre run by the Missionaries of Charity?

I am doing a lot of reading. I have started reading a lot of classics again. Very recently I have finished Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, and managed to get a copy of O. Henry's collection of short stories from Father Rodney, which I have started reading. Sometime back, I read Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, which I enjoyed very much. But along with these books, I have been reading a lot of spiritual books.

What are your plans for the future?

I am planning to get involved in social work. At the moment, I am trying to gather the fragments of my life and live peacefully. I will get myself involved in social work, particularly the kind of activities the Missionaries of Charity is involved in. But this will take some time. I am sure I will be able to engage myself in many more activities... I may also get back to my old profession in the field of IT engineering.

You have said that this has been a journey for you...

It has been a tough struggle. But my story is very simple. Many people have mental issues and most of them can overcome them. The same happened in my case too, though I must admit it wouldn't have been possible without the help of many people, particularly the Missionaries of Charity, the police and the people of the city.

What would you like to tell those who have followed your life with interest?

Please let me live like a normal person. I am ready to share my story with everybody. But don't treat me as an object of curiosity. If I want to sit in a coffee shop and drink a cup a coffee, let me do it independently. I don't want the media to follow me. I would love to go back to my club in the evenings and meet my friends if I get the freedom that I used to enjoy before.

Post-script: While he was leaving, Partho's uncle Arun De and cousin Arjun, who stay in the same compound, came to see him in the garage. Partho touched his uncle's feet and sought his blessings. He enquired about other family members from Arjun.