Hey You !

 These earthen pots take me back to a time when we used to travel sleeper class.  It was almost summer and I was traveling from New Delhi to my ' sasural' in Bhagalpur.  B got 2 upper berth tickets, made me perch up on one, bought a matka filled with water and strictly told me not to come down. Especially as the train crossed UP and Bihar hinterlands.  Being young meant, more resilience, strong bladder and a lot of uncertainty about places unknown.  I don't remember if  at all I came down or not. But I remember watching passengers pulling the chain as their houses approached and the train halting every 5 minutes throughout Bihar.  And my hanky fell on the head of a sardarji and trying to retrieve it from his turban was as good as playing a game of Super Mario, and Bhaskar watched in exasperation mouthing Reshmi Rumaal is a signal!!! What will he think?  The matka was the saviour, providing cool water to douse my face with and to drink from.  ...

After days of having vegetarian food, our Bangali palate wanted something non vegetarian.  We heard the name as Le Meridian, but discovered that it's Le Meridan!!!  The place seemed upscale and nice till we ordered Chicken Hawaii!  We waited and watched as the chefs struggled with the chicken and the sauce. One of us was wise to order Achari murg and kaali daal, which arrived on time.  Ours was a case of Hawa Hawai!  And we noticed the chefs sporting a 'tiki' under the 'topi'!  Finally Ms Hawai appeared with a pineapple ring. Wasn't bad! But we decided to be less Adventurous and stuck to ice cream for dessert!   I wonder if we looked like these fish as we came out!  Our driver asked: Khana theek tha?  Me uncertainly : Ha.. Theek thak!  Another one: Nehi.. Bohot kharap!  Our driver sermonised: Khana Annapurna hain, kharap mat boliye!  We forgot we were in Kashi!   Godliness in every morsel you take. 

 As I was growing up, I could never quite fathom why everyone wanted a husband like him.  I prefered the other one, astute, a Politico and a ladies man.  With age the perspective changed.  I started appreciating loyalty and laidbackness. I kind of accepted that intoxication at times isn't all bad. It can open up the 3rd eye!  It helps to pass exams too!  And having a good sense of dressing is not the be all and end all in life.  A Trident is better than Kalashnikov.  And Paro probably had less of heartburn than Radha!  Har har Mahadev!

 Mountains and me remain poles apart. I agreed this time as I was made to feel guilty for leaving B for an all 'girls' trip!  Decided to try the track below which seemed rustic and steep by my standards. I trudged down baby steps, as the owner of the resort watched. The jovial gentleman watched and smiled and said 'Madaam very unfit. Climb up down, up down. I was like madam... But now up, down, up down and my knees fine! ' And as I huffed and puffed away, he cuts up a branch and gifts me a stick!  Bhaskar watched.  -Jaane na to kaake ki dilo!  Oi ta diye i petabe jokhon bujhbe!  -Achcha dhoro to lathi ta!  - Ekdom na, ami ki buro naki!!!!!  Eye roll!

  Now, it is a mother and son endeavour. We both dress up, even if there are no audience. I still read the much battered পাচালি, that I began with. I miss Baba the most today. I broke a tiny mirror this morning and for a second thought of the 7 years bad luck superstition. And I remembered Baba telling me of breaking a mirror and how on that day Ma came out of the coma after almost 20 days. And it's exactly 7 years that he is not present on this day!  And I wore yellow. Found this while cleaning up the almirah at the previous house where I stayed. A first buy by Bhaskar from Jaipur. And I didn't like it much. But age plays wonders, you  find something in the rejected corner, go nostalgic and wear it. And B obliged by taking a photo!

-Which is the most romantic city ? -Mine! -How cliched!  - Ei shohor jaane amar shob kichu! Cannot escape the memories that make a combined collage of love! -What if you have to choose another city?  - Paris! - Can't you be less predictable ? - Nah! I should have been there when young and when in love. Walk the cobbled pavements, drank wine , skated and soaked in the feeling ! Like Emily!  - You have no imagination! - Or maybe too much at 57! I am back to that bridge , watching the river and the boats and the men!  Valentine's Day is just a month away! :) 

  May each morning bring in the hues of happiness.  Life goes on despite....  TV news showed a group singing Ajeeb dastan hai yeh at Keventer's Darjeeling as Kanchenjungha glistened in the sun...  The task bar below flashed Omicron e 2 joner mrityu.  Life is all about a strange tale.  You live each day till the end.  To another 365 days.....