Sepia times

 In recent times FB has come up with a new challenge that has everyone posting pictures in black and white- The B&W challenge had everyone using some app and changing the DP to that era.
Cleaning my parents apartment, is always a voyage on a time machine  for me - Strange how the people are gone and the objects remain- like that arm chair , once my grandmother's  favorite then my father's ! I recently remodeled my grandparents double bed, more out of sentiment than anything else. 
And then, this was Victoria Memorial in an original two colored snap. Of course it is now a fad to Prisma or Photoshop or play with an app to bring back the sepia days.

Among the many memorabilia , I discovered Dadu's MB certificates - Dadu was sauve, westernized and very social. The story goes that when he went to see my mother for the first time, he wanted fork and spoon saying that at home they used cutlery at the table, and my Didi actually had the table laid out accordingly. After marriage, when my father went to his "shoshur bari " for the first time, he was quite surprised to find a table laid out for a party. Didi said that she wanted to make him feel at home - to which Baba 's candid reply was, " Kanta / Chamoch? Ami to bheto Bangali - haath diye khai!"

Those who knew my Thakuma, say that I look like her. In fact, my father said I am like her- with her penchant for order , cleanliness and  saying things that are best left unsaid - But I have also inherited her love for travel, books and jewellery. And this photo reminded me of my P-Thakuma, her best friend and confidante.
Strange, how memories get confined in an old dilapidated leather box beneath layers of dust and soot ! But a peep and they tumble out like sunshine on a cloudy day..... And life goes on with its many challenges !!!!