Happy Birthday, Baba!

"...Its a special day to me..Baishe Sravan..7th August.. .today is my father's birthday..For Bengalis the day become special when on 1941 our cultural icon Rabindranath Tagore passed way ...But, for me, this day was always special as my father's birthday! Maa has prepared payesh today..a typical birthday celebration in bengal..so is in my home too! Although, I am sitting at about thousands miles away getting updates only through phone! Me too have started  the day through offering a Puja to a nearby temple! But today its altogether different to us from the other years ..As this is the first time the birthday boy is missing! But who says so! Our offerings , our celebrations all are to you only...I don't know where he is now! You never know, may be he is just sitting beside me enjoying Rabindasangeet..Just the difference is, I am missing all his wise comments that he always shared with me..Somewhere in my heart a tune of sadness is flowing slowly.. where are all those precious moments that were only between two of us...a father and a daughter! His elder daughter ..inheriting all his facial resemblance and genetic heredity too..Don't know why, we always reacted in a same way to a song or a piece of literature...or to a Rosogolla or to a movie..The only difference is that, he was always a silent observer and me always bubbling in words..But when I have started living outside home, decided to shift Delhi only within only one evening, he started speaking to me ..more...what if that's only through phones! Always picking up my phones, always waiting anxiously whether my flight arrived in time..always keeping all the bengali pujabarshiki ( he could read that what I am missing in Prabash!) ..

He used to check all my writings in my childhood, compelling me on every summer vacation to translate any popular bengali story in English..it used to irked me a lot..but now when people couldn't believe that I am from a typical bengali medium student, I send a silent thanks to him only..He had a dream of studying Biochemistry but he can't ..well , he was a person of Organic Chemistry..But I took it as my Masters subject..a silent joy spreads through my heart ..I have fulfilled his dream..The day I got my Ph.D degree he has called all my relatives..just like when this silent man shouted that I cracked Medical entrance! Last one year, was the most turbulent phases of my life, in all those indecisive  anxious moment his words  can only sooth me! My Maa used to say that, Tupur can say a night a day if baba said so! Yes it is! But I also have not listen to him several time! I have not said a sorry when I was late in an Ashtami night, I won’t listen to many trifle as well as serious decisions of mine! But still, he forgave me every time..he wished to see me for last two month..this time too, I have not listened! I hope now he can listen all my words, silent prays, all my mind!...”

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This post was actually written in 7^th august 2011, the very year I lost him from this mortal world..today after three years I was just re reading this..Things have changed quite a bit, so as the city and the person may be! That was a huge personal loss nevertheless to say! What I feel now, actually a part of my soul was separated that time..What caused so much pain? Is it that I was not there? I cant hear his last words? No, certainly not..as far as I know my self I am pretty sure seeing him dying is the worst thing I expected to say..sounds selfish, I know..but its true..But now after three years I believe that why things were so difficult to articulate that he is not there, and paramita stop brooding! Three long years, things changed, so as my family! My sister got married, my mother now started coping with her empty hands..I do remember she told me that I should not make a habit of wearing shakha-pola after marriage, sounds odd! Actually, what I feel this changed status with a lot of costumes and customs reversal are both meant to give an additional baggage of bereavement to a person.I t is said time heals everything..You know what , time doesn’t heal, it is only the adaptive power of yourself got increased with passing time..Nature’s best adaptive creature we are ,after all!

A great pain sometimes makes you wiser, I started feeling how difficult a parenthood is..I started realising how bad it would have been for him whenever I have uttered a wrong word to him, now I start realising how the remaining part of  the always quarrelsome couple ( that is what I used to tell them), my mother, started missing him this much! I don’t know whether there is a place from where the spirits can actually listen to you (I believed on this notion, more on those days, and spent so many sleepless nights thinking that it was his earnest wish to meet me , so he would come to me atleast, but no, that haven’t happened), but it would be nice atleast on their side that may be a sense of satisfaction comes to his mind , atlast she started accepting how much she loved me. I , rather stick to that notion that after death person goes to an emotionless, painless form, so atleast I am happy that his Arthiritis pain is not bothering him that much! But again a counter thought comes then how could at my every point of distress he comes in my dream so concerned tensed and console me! Just like Harry Potter I also started asking, “is it real professor? Or is it happening on my head?” and like Dumbledore I console myself , “ off-course its happening inside your head Harry, but who said that is not real?” ..(Now I have started loving this series more at my thirties cause, I find now the layered tone of philosophy behind every innocent dialogues and acts)..Now one thing is changed,for sure, as I stopped going to pray in temples on these days. The gentleman called Almighty, if he would have been kind enough would have retained him in the mortal world, just to see our prosperity, so he doesn’t deserve my prayers for his in-human act (foolish adjective he is a non human, so don’t expect that from him), and on the contrary he was good enough in lessening the pain of the people so may be he saved him from a coming worse days of ageing and pain and lying on the beds etc. ( It’s a popular way of consoling , I have  heard this a hundred times from people), so he is done with his job and there’s no scope for a reconsideration! Actually, the best conclusion can be drawn is that I have become more pragmatic on offering rituals ONLY on a special day and I deliberately stopped making this days more ceremonial to mark his absence!!! The best way to feel happy is to start believe in Magic, that atleast there is a magical world where children losing their parents can actually see them can talk with them say thanks for their unconditional love and support, for me everything is same, only I can’t see him and the conversations are definitely going “only in my head”..so in a way now I am a bit more capable in converting my anger, outrages into a solitude of memoirs!! But one thing is unchanged, still at 12 o clock I say, Happy Birthday, Baba! Let that much of childish stupidity be remain on my ageing heart, a permanent Horcrux, every parent make unknowingly and every child bears happily within!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Whenever I get a new calender, I always see what is the Day of 25th is ...is it a Sunday? I will say wow! once again!..coz it was a Sunday when originally it took place...if not, fine then...

Every year this day brings something new, either joy or pain...don’t know what it is in hold for today! 

Coz for last few years, especially after losing father, this day doesn't mean a very special for me...just like another day..only a bit more walking through the memory lane...

So this year just to make it different, start arranging my birthday memories..as I fear with the rising symptoms of dementia may be one day I will completely forget all of these…

Since childhood, they have always made me feel myself special..they means, maa baba bon and off course some very near ones , who without any invitations used to come our home and that always made me happy and excited...one was Chotomama..with his high specs (high means really high minus 10 , I suppose), would always brought a special book, duly covered , written my name in his own hand writing ,mostly in red and signed in as CHOTOMAMA ( my maa’s youngest brother)..He was like a hidden Santa for me..One day I loved a book most probably "upendrakishore Ranchanaboli" in my relatives place, some way or the day other they were reluctant to give it to me..I passed the sadness to him, and yes , a brand new one was there on my birthday!

In our times, the two famous gifts we used to receive in Birthday is Tiffin box (the steel one, which we have to struggle to open and sometimes the food used to spill out); the most attractive one used to carry a double decker, and Pencil box, here too, double deckers are the priceless one! But for my birthday, I used to get loads of story books, as I was quite famous in my childhood as a voracious reader! ( its better to give her a book, then she would stop her mischievous act ,like refraining from "what is there inside" kind of her inquisitiveness)!!

Then later, at around six - seven years age, I get to know that I actually share it with Geeta Mashi's Husband ( the most popular guy among our maternal side, for his amazing culinary skill and storytelling)..so once we were to their home..which used to be a big party itself and whenever you visit six seven members shouting in joy, ha ha hi hi stuffs. Once I had broken my head, had two three stitches and that day I was painting a Rainy day Scenery..my most favourite one..suddenly remembered it..

In our first home, my friends used to come bubu (sujaya, my first friend of nursery), jyango, mithudi and so on...

Then started my  school days..well, the last week of July was full of celebrations, 24th is Sukanya's, 25th Mine, 26th Swarupa's , 28th Poulomi and most probably 29th is Juins' birthday..so every day we used to get two candy and a baloon sometimes!! I remember Maa used to wear her famous sunglass and come to schoo,l she was quite popular among my friends as a very stylish woman , as Doyeli still says, wearing sleeveless blouse in those days late 80s! I still remember the smiling faces of my friends, even of the A sections' students;( oh! it was just like the Gryffindor-Slytherin  army all through my school days!, I was a proud B section Girl , and I still remember the big chaos when teachers strategically wanted to mix up some the A section girls to us and vice -verse, one famous inclusion was Doyeli to our section, the whole day crying and all..will tell you later that story)..As I used to give chocolates to their section too! My sister used to visit that day, a five year old kiddy, with keeping her hand on her wrist, I remember she threatened Anindita Gupta of A section saying, why you have beaten my didi? God knows, what happened when she grew old she become quiet and quite serious about studies! )..

Then I especially remember my birthday of class four, when Anasua actually brought a bunch of Roses (six , I remember) wrapped by her self and given a dramatic singing at class saying, Happy Birthday Paramita! oh! she was my best friend, and if there would have been any option that she would be a boy, I would have surely married her on that day ( no offense meant,Debanandada!).

Next saga should contain my coaching days in class nine or ten. One shy boy of my batch gifted me a Reynold jetter pen, my most favorite one, and suddenly become priceless as gifted by him, my boyfriend! 

Eventually as days goes on, that day become more ceremonial less of heartfelt wishes and all, in college a bunch of friends especially billadal, Tanusree, Kakoli, Sudeep, Anupam , Dibyendu, Tinku , Gopal the famous eight  ( some more were there can’t remember, of Bio hons ) used to be the gang of uttarpara to roar that day!..I guess Billa and Tanusree they made a hand-crafted greeting card and written inside in an amazing handwriting of billa some magical lines! He was a gem of that, the only guy who defeated me in debate, used to play the worst prank of keeping my specs at a higher rack in class room, I used to be blind , shouting !!...

At university it was with Simnatini, Krishnakali, Aniruddha I guess..mostly going somewhere sitting beneath the pantaloons our famous adda space...Last birthday at M.Sc final year were celebrated in Simantini's house..I remember koli smiling and gifting a very cute square pendent to me!! It was just before their departure to US..so a mixed feelings was there..but still I feel the same warmth and joy when we talk..and yes, sometimes social networking sites do help to keep connected with your old buddies sitting thousands of miles apart!!

In Ph.D. days I remember one birthday where Raju brought a chocolate (that diary milk multi chocolate box , a pen and a card may be) eventually gifting me one at each hour with Sanchalika and subha and sujayda...And I took a photograph!

In Post Doc days at Delhi, it was quite a celebration! cutting cakes, and then Sir wishing me in the morning and offcourse with Sushma, Maninder, Lima, Anshuman Swaroop, Prasad sir , sarda sir ..off the list will go on!!

Then?

Cant remember anything special at this moment anymore! I have almost tried to state my birthday’s bibliographically ..

In all these days, Baba used to be the first wishing me, when I was out of home, calling exactly at 12 o clock with utter surprise, now that job is replaced with Maa and off course my sister ( She set a birthday tune on my first mobile I remember, which of much surprise ranged exactly at 12 , quite a bit of celebration I feel)..and my N Jethi, ( my N uncles’ wife, Na means I guess the penultimate among the brother’s? ) who, is like my second Maa , my best friend and so on..call me always, to make the day special for me! And Subham , my brother, who used to come with a chocolate , every time I suppose..

The list has lessened now..as chotomama left me when I was in class nine, my fifteenth birthday…Subham left me at around my 26^th birthday..and baba in my 29^th)..

Now a days , Its only looking back to those colourful birthdays, watching old photographs , a sigh and yes, for a change this time writing a big Saga!…

Its difficult, you know, to cope with a changing world , loosing your dear ones with one un changed birth date! And in this post 30s, I feel, it’s a celebration of your experiences, a good log book to count your good old days and a sigh with a smile and thinking God knows where I would be on the next, same city or a different one? I am a bit surprised with my use of words, like" those days" and on, which itself warns me that you are old enough to talk like that! But yes now, after reading the whole write up again, with counting so many times the world “surprise”, is giving me one final thought, still birthday means a surprise, be happy with whom you are, with the ability to write, to remember and get counted among your friends!

Still getting a lot of phone calls exactly at 12 feels me special..Getting a call from a good old friend in the morning after 4-5 years is special and off course to write a blog to make the day special in my own way, is special!! Thanks for all who called, messaged or mailed to make this day again another special Birthday for me!

 P.S. A special note of thanks to my new found lady love in Krittika, who, with her words, with her  messages often made a simple day so special and a special day simply brilliant! Again, at this post 30. I am in love with a girl and thinking why she is not a guy!! Am I meant to be getting only sensitive girls and insensitive or over-sensitive Guys ! God Knows:)

আমার কৈফিয়ত

আজ দিন শুরু হল আমার ঘনিষ্ঠ বান্ধবীর পাঠানো একটি প্রবন্ধ দিয়ে। তিরিশের কোঠা পেরিয়েছি  আমরা  দুজনেই , বহাল তবিয়তে সোজা হয়ে হাটি স্বোপার্জিত অন্ন গ্রহন করে। তবুও প্রশ্নবান ছুটে আসে নিয়ত, কেন বিয়ে  করিনি আজও, হেসে উড়িয়ে দিই আমার স্বভাবসিদ্ধ ভঙ্গীতে। তবে কি আমার প্রেম ভাগ্যে শনি বক্র? তবে কি আমি আমার উন্নাসিক মনভাবে হেলায় ফিরিয়ে দিচ্ছি যোগ্য পাত্রদের? সাবধানবানী শুনি, তিরিশ পেরলে পাত্র পাওয়া যায় না! তারপর শুনলাম ডক্টরেট পাত্রীদের পাত্র নামের আগের ডিগ্রিটি অধিকাংশ বিদ্বান পাত্রের চক্ষুশূল! আমি আমার বিখ্যাত তর্কবাগীশ মন কে তালা বন্ধ হতে বাধ্য করি, যখন শুনি, আমার কোকিল কণ্ঠী ,  ডক্টরেট বান্ধবীর পাত্র দেখার সময় শেষ  মুহূর্তে কোনও না কোনও অজুহাতে জানান হয়, “সবই ঠিক  ছিল জানেন, শুধু যদি একটু তার …”, দোষের মধ্যে তার ত্বকে মেলানিন একটু বেশি, তাতে তার কর্কট রোগের বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিরোধ দিলেও, সভ্য সমাজের এই ছোঁয়াচে অসুখ থেকে মুক্তি পায়নি সে।

মজার ব্যাপার হল, উচ্চশিক্ষিত পাত্রদের একটি গোষ্ঠী  মনে প্রানে বিশ্বাস করে, পাত্রি হবে পোস্ট গ্রাজুয়েট , জাতে ছেলেমেয়েদের বেশ উঁচু ক্লাশ অবধি পড়াতে  পারে কিন্তু ডক্টরেট পাত্রী নইব নইব চ। তারা নাকি কু তার্কিক, তারা নাকি বড্ড বেশি নিজের কেরিয়ার বোঝে! কোথাও কি ধাক্কা খেলাম? আপনি পরিসংখ্যান নিয়ে দেখুন, অন্তত ঘনিষ্ঠ বন্ধু মহলে তারা স্বীকার করবেন। যারা  মনে করেন এধরনের প্রাগৈতিহাসিক কথা আজকের যুগে অচল তাদের বলব মশাই চোখ একটু খোলা রাখুন। ভারতবর্ষের কোনও এক বিশেষ অংশে  আজও মেয়েদের উচ্চশিক্ষিত করা হয় এই আশায় যে দেনা পাওনায় দর দামে কিঞ্চিত ছাড় পাওয়া যাবে! সেই দেশে পাত্রদের শিক্ষা ও প্রতিষ্ঠার উপর ভিত্তি করে দর দামের পরিষ্কার শ্রেনি বিন্যাস আছে , আগে সোনার ভরির অঙ্ক ছিল এখন বাজার রিয়াল এস্টেটের। আমার উছছশিক্ষিত ছাত্র তথা বন্ধুরা মহানন্দে তাদের প্রাপ্তির খবর জানায়।আবার খুশি হয় এই ভেবে যে তারা অত্যন্ত উদারপন্থী কারন ফ্ল্যাট এর মালিকানা তাদের স্ত্রীর নামে ! এবং মেয়েরাও আনন্দের সঙ্গে এই ব্যাবস্থায় তাদের ভবিষ্যৎ সুরক্ষিত হল ইত্যাদি ভেবে আনন্দে রয়েছেন।

আমার ধাক্কা লাগে। আমার ভাবতে কষ্ট হয় যে একটি মেয়ে স্বনির্ভর হলেও আজকের জুগে বিয়ে ছাড়া অসম্পূর্ণ ! এমন টা নয় যে আমি বিবাহের বিপক্ষে অথবা আমি আজীবন বিয়ে করবনা গোছের ব্রত নয়েছি! আমার একটাই প্রশ্ন, যদি আমার পছন্দের মনের মানুষটি পেতে আমার একটু দেরি হয়, অথবা আমি আমার চাকরি ক্ষেত্রে প্রতিষ্ঠিত হবার পর নেহাতি দেশ দেখার জন্য, একলা রাতে ইচ্ছেমত খাব এবং সিনেমা দেখব অথবা নেহাত এ ল্যাদ খেয়ে দেরি করি, তবে কেন সেটা কে বেনিয়ম বলে ধার্য করা হবে? আমার বান্ধবীদের ছেলে মেয়েরা ইস্কুলে গেলেও আমার যদি এখন একা একাই ভালো লাগে,  বিপুলা এ পৃথিবীকে জেনে বুঝে দেখতে দু ছাড় বছর পর ঘর বাধতে ইচ্ছে হয় তবে মশাই আপনাদের দুঃখ কিসের? আমি যদি আমার দ্রাবিড় উত্তাধিকার আমার গায়ের রঙে পেয়ে গর্বিত বোধ করি এবং আপনার ছেলেটি ঋত্বিক রোশন নাহলেও তাকে গ্রহন করে আমার জীবন “রউশান” করতে পারি, তবে কবে আপনারা বিপাশাদের পরদা ছেড়ে নিজের বাড়িতে সানন্দে নিজ অধিকারে স্থাপন করবেন বলুন তো? সমস্যা হল, রবি ঠাকুর আমাদের বসার  ঘরে  অবস্থান  করেন, নিরুপমা মাধ্যমিকের ষোল  নম্বর প্রশ্নে, এবং মা লক্ষি ঝাপি ঠাকুরঘরে । জীবন যাপন এ এখনও আমরা একটি কথার এ উপযুক্ত, শাস্তি গল্পের শেষ পঙক্তি। আর matrimony পঞ্জিক্রিত  পাত্র কুল, চিরকাল কলেজের হারমায়নির দাক্ষিণ্য না পাওয়ার “frustu” তা দয়া করে পাত্রির গাত্রবর্ণ এবং ডিগ্রিটির উপর ঝারবেন না, একটু স্বাভাবিক হন। ফেসবুকে মুখ ডোবান আর পাখির কাকলি যাদের নিত্যসঙ্গী, তাদের এ হেন “অ-প্রকিতিস্থ” হওয়া global warming এর থেকেও মগজাস্ত্রের উত্তাপ বৃদ্ধি করে, ভাবুন ভাবুন,ভাবা প্রাকটিস করুন! 

মন খারাপের মল্লার

কৈরালী বর্ষায় ভেজা দুপুরগুলো পুরনো চিঠির মতো। কারুকাজ করা বাক্সে বন্দি করে রাখতেই ভালো লাগে।মাঝে মাঝে উল্টে পাল্টে দেখব যখন তখন কি এক আধটা চ্যাপ্টা গোলাপ দেখতে পাব ?মনে হয় না। 

এই বৃষ্টিটাই যদি একটা খোলা বারান্দায় টিনের চালে তার তালবাদ্য শোনাত আমি বেশি খুশি হতাম। কেরালার বর্ষা তার রূপের গুমর যতই থাকুক না কেন , আমি এখনো কলকাতার প্যাচপ্যাচে ইলশেগুড়ি বা মুষলধারার দলে।  সেই কবে সাইকেল রাস্তার মাঝে কোচিং ফেরত দাড়িয়ে ঝুপ ঝুপ করে ভেজা, অথবা স্কুলের মাঠে হটাত বৃষ্টিতে যতটা সম্ভব আসতে হেটে ভিজে যাওয়া আমাকে এই অবেলায় নস্টালজিক করে দেয়। 

এই বর্ষায় ভালো লাগত সাথে যদি খিচুড়ী  আর ডিমভাজা আর  সাথে মায়ের বকুনি (টুপুর সারা বাড়িটা জলময় করে দিলি!!) ফাউ পাওয়া যেত।  আমাদের নন্দন কাননের বাড়ির সামনে একটা লম্বা বারান্দা ছিল।  যেহেতু সেখানকার নন্দনেরা  সংখ্যায় অতি  নগন্য এবং বই মুখো ছিল , নন্দিনিদের দেদার বৃষ্টিতে ভেজায় মানা ছিল না। 
  মজার ব্যাপার, বাবা আমাকে বৃষ্টিতে ভিজতে দেখলে কোনদিন বকেননি, কেন জানিনা মনে হয় আমার আপাত গম্ভীর বাবার মধ্যে কথাও একটা দুষ্টুমির জিন প্রছন্ন ছিল,যার প্রকাশ আমার মধ্যে দেখে উনি খুশি ই হতেন। এমন বর্ষায় সবাই বেপথে যায়, আমার সরস্বতী  বোনের  চোখের সামনে থেকে খাতার পাহাড় যেত সরে, চুপটি করে এসে দাড়াত বারান্দায়, ঠোটে এক চিলতে হাসি। ওদিকে কুন্ডু বাড়ির দোতলার বারান্দায় শান্ত শিষ্ট মনি, স্বাতীর চিত্কার, "টু-পু-র ভিজচিস!!" অথবা নিচের থেকে রিমা রেশমি, "বড়দিদি। .." সেসব ডাক দূর থেকে আমাকে আজও নবম শ্রেণীতে ফেরত পাঠায়! যাহ, হটাত উমাকাকিমার  কাশ্মীরি আলুর দমের জন্য মন তা হু হু করে উঠলো!! 

উপরের সবাইকে নিয়ে আমি একটি আস্ত বই লিখতে পারি। এর মধ্যে আমার আবহে থাকত কল্যাণ কাকুর উদাত্ত কন্ঠে গাওয়া রবি ঠাকুরের গান..অথবা মায়ের গলায় বৃষ্টি বৃষ্টি বৃষ্টি। এই সমস্ত বিচ্ছু স্মৃতি গুলো এখন আমার সাথে চু কিত্ কিত্ খেলছে।এই ভরা বাদরে ছুটেও কোত্থাও তাদের  ধরতে পাচ্ছিনা। শুধু জানলার বাইরে এক টুকরো পাহাড়ে  আমার শৈশবের মেঘদূত ভালোবেসে এসে দাড়ালো, এই মাত্র! 

P.S. with Poovar....

Weekends are usually very boring for me unless I have work in labs..normally I wake up late, sometime very late!! (can be at 1.00 clock say!),which is good in one way I don’t have to worry about the breakfast and lunch, which is really a tention for me on weekends as our canteen is closed! Normally I make a combo of that, say, a cup of coffee and dosa or aloo paratha..For the later stuff I have to shed a few hundred calories..Because the typical punjabi paratha is only available at “Sharmaji’s Dhaba”..near Trivandrum station. The official name of the shop is Sharma Dhaba ,shuddha shakahari khana ..now, the tagline is quite common here. All the north Indian shops transformed thenma s “Dhaba” and claims to provide shuddha shakahaari khana, but very few can be good for your platter! The first one I visited after reading a review in a website is located near station, but not the one that I am talking now! What I ended up is, with a huge parcel of sabzis, and parathas and I couldn’t eat even a total chapathi there!..then my labmates told me about this, my only pocket friendly week end lunch and dinner destination!

This Sunday was actually the second day of kerala monsoon, hence, it started showing a trailer of the rest of the season. But the shower stopped when I finished my lunch. Now sharmaji won’t provide tea or coffee so I have to go in another KTDC restaurant which is just a minutes walk. I finished that too.

 It was around 2 p.m.

Suddenly, the rebel inside my mind gave me a call. I stared at the sky and understood that today the sunset would be quite colorful! ( Well, well, I have mastered in the in this art of prediction of the quality of sunset visual just like a zulu prophet, tips is very simple, look at the sky and the time see, whether there would be a shower before or after, see the clouds and rest is off-course my tramp card, and I am not ready to tell you. Come to kerala, meet me , I will guide you then!!!)..There was only one the most ancient model of KTDC bus, with a broken window, “lorjhore” desi riders, and someone with paint has written on the front glass, to my surprise, in English, POOVAR!! Doyeli, my childhood friend and an amateur travel advisor for most of the Indian tourist destination, having a specialization on kerala tourism, once told me, Paramita, just visit Poover whenever you get time!!..And it clicked timely..I just asked one or two local guy the time it takes to reach Poover, someone said 1 hr some said two, checked in google its 35 km, so if not stuck by any calamity I can reach there definitely about 5 o clock.

And..the paramita, with a set of uncombed hair, sans lipstick n kajol, with a polythene pack full of jeera rice and kari..say, fifty bucks in the purse, boarded on the bus! People were staring at me as usual , this is not new for me now, they can’t imagine a woman with such a short hair being a localite, my cross bodied sling bag and English pronunciation often make them feel invariably a tourist ..can’t decide the country, mostly they end up with some afro-american origin of mine (west indies, latin America blab la)!!! I don’t mind you see, I am proud to be a colored skin, and after having an experience of working in ICRISAT, I feel very proud to be called a SAT people!

Anywayz, asked the conductor about Poover, first he can’t get the name and I came to know the pronunciation should be “pooaar”, a local boy of class 10-12 helped me to tell him the destination and I got a ticket of 26 Rs!! Dats it! Yes, this is the beauty of India you can travel like a Raja or a Faqir (A king or a begger)..and I preferred to be the second one after being here! Poover is actually the southern end point of kerala, a small fishermens’ village, famous for the Poover island where you can only reach through the spectacles of backwaters and it is situated exactly at the junction of where backwaters meets the Arabian sea!! This much of info is good enough to raise my curiosity. After a half an hour of bus ride the route enters the villages of kerala, which don’t know why always remind me of my native West Bengal. Is it that all villages will look the same if the vegetation is alike? The only and most important difference is that here the road is well built and maintained even in a remote village area too! Here too, like the villages of Bengal, huts are surrounded by mostly banana and coconut tree, I found one or two hibiscus trees, which invariably reminds me of my Maa’s small garden and a range of hibiscus plants.

Atlast at around 5.30 I reached poover. It is a small bus stop, where you get frequent buses to Trivandrum, Nagarcoil and Kovalam. As I was quite irritated with my Jhola full of food, I just asked a local shop that whether he can keep it for an hour, and with a big smile, he said, yes why not? (Even without checking what is there!). Don’t know why till now, my sincere dependence on the humility of keralites has not betrayed me till date (touch wood!). And I started walking through a road; it’s a green avenue a late post shower sunlight was shining on me. It ended in a small bridge and the sight just compelled me to stop. Wow!! it was over the back water filled with monsoon rain and the joining of two of them is worth a snap.

I just asked people where the boat trip starts. They told me most of the back water side, is occupied by a resort company and they conduct the boat ridings. I was not aware of how it would be actually is it that the back waters are there and may be another route is toward the sea beach. Well, I just requested and enquired about the charge, it was 1500 (good enough for me to take a decision to get back!) But as its me possessed with that ancient travelers spirit in my mind (Srikanta or Indranath? Later suits with my ideas actually, who are they well ask any bong will explain better). With all my acting skills I told him like a crying baby that I am  student and  a tourist came to see the poover, this is just too much for my pocket. The guy, with a very gentle smile replied, then madam come next year with a  group of 8-10 friends and you can share the money. This is a private service not a govt one! As if, Indian govt has gladly taken  the sole responsibility of the mantra to cover the travel experience of all students of Incredible India!! Now plan B! Suddenly An elderly couple around 50 age was approaching with the same aim it seemed, I greeted them saying hi, I’m Dr….(All my fellow holders of the prefix, make it a point to introduce yourself as Dr. ..this, God know why on the earth the opponent voice becomes polite suddenly and whatever research you do your lab they will either think you as a hair of Einstein, if not they thought of you a doctor!!) . I said them if they are Ok I can join them for the ride. They told me they are “gujrati CHe”..And with my little gujrati vocabulary I have succeeded to impress them ! The cost came down 300 Rs (Oh, the bust stop had an ATM, I forgot to tell you!). Yousee, mostly the plan B works, if not, think a bit, surely you will get a plan C instead!

It was almost 6.00 so we are all set to ready to explore the backwaters..it was a ride of one and half hour..I can only share some of the pics with you, hope it would be good enough for your visual pleasure, rest, is cant be expressed by words!! The backwater has a train of marshy jungle in both side, its evening and hundreds of birds are coming back to their home, they are chirping , playing at the branches!

I have a lot of complaints about my life as like all of you! But sometimes these are the moments for which I thank my independence and sheer luck..after a half an hour ride suddenly as if the screen in front of eyes get widen! I can hear the screams of the sea! And what a view! It was the time of high tide you can see the waves dancing, eager to meet the backwater!! But there is a shallow land divider between them. They are so eager to meet each other; every approaching wave is throwing some water towards the backwater trail with a determination to diminish the wall. We landed on the vast golden beach and it was a knee deep water, The boat man warned us that water level is rising as the sea is approaching may be at night this land border would be diminished and they will meet!!

There is an amazing resport at Poovar Island Resort which is quite famous and can be an ideal place to spend a night to see the heavenly beauty of sunset!

The two old couple who were very formal to each other except the wives’ one or two request of catching a photograph suddenly started giggling like a child , I asked them to pose so that I can take their photo in their camera..The wife seemed to be quite shy and conservative till now, suddenly get possessed with the soul of a teen. She was laughing loud, telling a lot of words in her mother tongue and was thanking her husband for the tour. Suddenly she has become a friend of mine , as if, jumping with me in the waves, and the old man smiling and telling me see, sometimes your camera and all technologies fall short in front of nature, It’s  your memory that makes things immortal. I was quite confused before this to get the right frame to cover the visuals , but then after hearing this, I refrain myself , for the first time in my life to take pictures!! There was another family , it seems a couple with their two kid and their parents, the daughter in law with a handy cam pleading her in laws to pose in Tamil, but they were shying like a newly wed! They were not talking but I can see the gratitude and happiness in their face which is priceless.

I always refer Kerala as is the most sought after place for honeymoon, but I should add one more line, you can plan this special honeymoon trip at any point of your age, even at your sixties with your loved ones!

There is not more to tell, don’t know why the couple was thanking me profusely saying, they were feeling very awkward as their family was feeling skeptical about this tour of two but I made it a D day for them. (God knows why always strangers shower me with compliments for being a great company!!). I was only thanking myself for my fatal trait of taking desperate decisions this time. And again it is proven for me, sometime morning could not show you the day, its you who make it worthwhile!

P.S. As usual like my most of my memorable days of life during journeys, My mobile charge is finished, keeping me half hearted and full in tension. But this time I have not forgotten to pick up the food packet from the shop!! 

Chamatkar chips...

I have started my story with visual delights, but now its time to tell you about an utter mouthwatering experience! we love chips and a number of fried snacks of Indian origin, right? Now tell me,how many of you have tasted banana chips, that too with five different flavours? What about jackfruit chips, which actually can turn a jackfruit hater like me into an ardent lover, and tapeoka chips? you can have all of them in the kerala chips shops. 

We all love “Halua” , quiet popular one is “Gajar ka Halua”..The only dish in Indian reel life moms make for their children!! Here , you can get atleast 6-7 types of fruit haluas, with different flavors..Its a bit spongy, exact analogy an be drawn with say 2% agarose gel!! (only visual and perceptive analog!! don't try to taste it)..those who are not familiar with this lab reagent, it would be like a bit rubbery kind of!! (sorry folks, agarose is the first thing that came in my mind after looking dat), but it tastes awesome, not very sweet, but sweet!! Another famous one is Maisoor Pak, a popular south Indian dish made with ghee, in kerala there are at least two shops were you can get the best mysoor pak of the world, I bet!!! (its always catchy to use larger reference frame, isn’t it?)..All are in a  very affordable range!! They will give you samples for taste in a fair amount! When I asked them about the storage time, the owner said, "dont worry you can carry it anywhere in the world!! means a fortnight atleast!Here's one representitive photograph for you ..

Chip stores of kerala...

The prelude...

The moment I pronounce the name Kerala, a lush greenery, vast blue ocean , waves dancing on the Malabar coast ..a mixed visual comes in my eyes. Some credit goes to Indigo airlines people, after a short nap suddenly when I opened up my eyes after hearing the landing announcement, my eyes stuck on the window! OMG! only trails of coconut tree, and a white bordered blue ocean, the border is dynamic, moving in its own rhythm..its Arabian Sea!! And yes, at that moment I felt happy with my decision of shifting to kerala from Hyderabad.

Its the third city I changed after leaving kolkata around five years ago. In the mean time I made myself accustomed with the fastlife of Delhi, then a bit slower pace of hyderabad and now its Thiruvananthapuram! A land of Anantha, almighty!

it was a movie Dashavatar, I have seen the “shayita Vishnu” Idol of Narayana. Don't know why I googled whether really an Idol of VIshnu like this is here i India , and I found the reference of Padmanavaswami temple,The Deity of Trivandrum. A few days after I received an interview call from here. Don't know why, I was sure I am going to come there. What would you tell this? A divine conspiracy? I don't know really! But somehow, I loved the temple. When I was approaching through the long corridors, with thousands of enlightened pillar by millions of Deepam, I felt like I am leaving one after another..my grievances, anger , sorrow..am gonna meet him, as if he is waiting here for me for thousands of years! As if I was here before, watching the spectacular sight of this palace hundreds of times before!

I watched, I was thrilled after seeing him, how long he is sleeping here with this sheer peace and joy? And why every time I see him, I drenched in tears inside. As if he knows every small bit of myself. I don't know what I feel about him , like father, like lover? like ..just an old friend? I am not a God fearing human. For me a temple is an epitome of thousands of years old Indian culture. But he made me feel heavy inside.

So , I have started my journey telling you about him.

Lets come back to this mortal world! Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is unlike other capitals , greener and peaceful. Roads are clean, people are humble and mind their own business mostly. The best thing is I can roam here alone , till late night, although the city sleeps much earlier around 9.30 p.m.,even if you are late, don’t worry, autowalas will charge double the meter, and take you safely to your destination. So for a self-contented loner , this city is good to live. Actually, in a word, i found it a healing place, a place to let you introduce with yourself.

I haven’t got the chance to visit much of its most visited 177 tourist places, except, Kovalam beach. I am planning to roam as much as possible, as much as your budget allows you in a month..

Will keep you telling on and on..what I loved here, why loved and what not..I am quite an accommodating person, you see, so new food wont be a problem.

It was absolutely wrong!

The first day I entered the canteen of my new institute, a strong smell of coconut oil surrounded me, followed me till my room in hostel and I started feeling like my hairs are absorbed in coconut oil, and like i am in an infinite ancient hair spa!! I just hated it!

They give me food, the traditional kerala thali, which looks like this

My Lunch at Canteen

It looks tasty, but don't know why first day that curry “Avial” , where I got some smell of ripen banana, was failed to impress me! But considering that this is a 25 Rs Thali, sambar containing different vegetables and rest of them told to be very healthy, I am now OK with it! (The extra Dahi is because I don't take “paparam”!!).

Now eventually I get to know, the curry, keep changing, but rest is same..and oh ! yes!! this fat rice, its at least four times thick of normal one. Gone are my days of luxury when I used to cook Basmati, that too with some special brand of long grain and rick aroma type!

Well, life is how you make it. Changes are always thrilling for me , good or bad whatever it may be! And if I get some story stuffs there , its good, how bad it might seems on that moment!

Well I have written a long five page memoir on my first day night at new apartment, I am going to post that a separate article, and , yes, it is written in bengali, so for some friends , I am really sorry!! Sometimes I become too passionate to my mother tongue that words showers like kerala rain on page!