Durga Pujo 2018

I have never been the true blue Bong. And for all that is worth, I probably may not even know where from this phrase itself originated.


I have always prided myself to be the pseudo bong. And all my Bong-ness comes to the fore in all its glory in those 4-5 days of Durga Pujo. And in the past one year, one person has significantly added on to my Bong-ness, by entertaining my otherwise pseudo Bong-ness in equal measures. He has always maintained one thing though, A Bong's place is always Kolkata during Durga Pujo. Somehow this year, although we don't sit at the same place any more, I still expected to hear from him and I did! And so, when his earnest enquiry about my whereabouts came to the fore, I could sense, even in the words that he was typing, his sense of achievement and exhilaration, to know that this one fiercely pseudo Bong is also echoing his true blue Bong sentiments.


That's the effect this event has on me. Every year, there is always this inexplicable feel in the air. There is the innate feeling of good things, luck, and happiness in general.


And, therefore, goes without saying, that when you are forced to come to work on such days, your mind is everywhere but at work. And also doesn't help, when you are twinning with the goddess herself. Ah well, at least, one day has to be sartorially identical. Otherwise, what fun is there for the non resident pseudo Bong.


And so, sitting in the room, away from home, reminiscing about the fun and love filled days with the Man, I count the hours left in the day, and the hours until I can run away from this place.


Not to say, my mind is already somewhere on its own.


Ah. I miss my Man today.


This day last year, and even the years before that.


p.s. this year, it will be with the new people. the new people I will learn to call home. and with the person, I call home.

Day 0 : BongAlert

It is the day zero today.


Supposedly the day from when it is officially autumn in India. Alright, let me go around the bush a little. It is the day, when it is officially autumn in the eastern parts of the country, especially the erstwhile princely state of West Bengal.


Also, the day when it all begins for the Bongs, for the most awaited part of the whole year.


Every year, my man diligently adheres to the routine of getting up at what I call as the unearthly hour of the day, searching the radio waves for that one particular channel, and listening to that voice. This year, also it is the same. Undeterred. Unchanged.


I used to be an equal party to this diligent effort when I was still a kid, or a little child. Or at least when I was in school and still living with them. From the time I moved out from the house, this diligence also somehow slipped. I figured I had better things to attend to, sleep being the foremost in that list of things. And so, my man, still undeterred, would continue and then tell me all about his routine. And never did he make me gauge the disappointment in his voice that I have not continued. It was as if, he is doing my share of it as well.


This year too, wasn't looking to be very different. Till the better part of yesterday, I was not planning to start or revisit this routine. But somehow, something changed and I did plan to change the pattern for this year. So, before going to bed, I even cut short on my Netflix binging time, put down my phone and scheduled three back to back alarms for that unearthly hour.


Fast forward to this day, today, the alarm of course rang, unfailingly. And it is anyone's guess, as to how the events could have transpired. I snoozed the alarm, and also deleted the subsequent alarms. Sleep, wins again this time.


But, then this time IS different. Because, this time, I may not have gotten up at that appropriate time to listen to the voice, but I did listen to the voice. Over the course of the day, in instalments, courtesy YouTube and the headphones!


And yes! This year, the routine has been revisited.


And yes, the man has company!


#Mahalaya2018

Retrospect the Preemptive

you come alone and you leave alone.

i have often heard this precise words, quoted by many a persons, in many a situations, warranting serious and otherwise discussions, sometimes heartfelt sometimes not, sometimes casual sometimes forgotten, and the list goes on.

sometimes as a proud orator and believer of the freedom of speech.

and sometimes, just because they feel like saying, thoughtlessly, or maybe, more like not much thought being put into.

But, the point remains, this line or these arrangement of words have been used by one so many, in one so many occasions.

some may argue it is a cry out for help. and some may think that it is deep rooted in philosophy and with the right audience, they can go on discussing without end or maybe even stumble upon a new discovery.

but, keeping all this literary hoolaboo aside, when we just speak "English", this statement in its pure form of practicality and reality, holds true.

and therefore, in between the coming and the going, somewhere, when people lose the sight of this belief, maybe because of their visibility shrouded in the "hope" of someone being with them, albeit for a shorter period of time, but still, being with them, or maybe they think they can outsmart the omnipresent truth.

and the problems arise, when they decide to go with this lie or the more convenient and easy feel thing rather than the truth.

of course, patience is of the dire importance. and sometimes it needs more than simple patience. maybe that's what is called "growing up", or as some people quote "maturity".

and like all things important and necessary, patience and growing up is extremely hard earned. the process most arduous. but the hope is, the end result would be the most rewarding.

so where does this leave me?

maybe a bit more patience. after all, a reward is always the most desirable. i am definitely entitled for some mortal sins, now that i am going to be part of this mortal world for a few years, anyway, i might as well get down to all aspects of it. including that of self gratifying.

the only thing i need now is a me-time by the sea among the breeze.

p.s. dont try to read much through this.
p.p.s. dont try to read between the line or words.