The Stranger in the bus

I have been meaning to write a serious post on a very serious topic, but I am compelled to shelve it for the time being because it is raining cute guys on the Durgapur-Kolkata bus route.

Last to last week I met one on the SBSTC bus. Today I met another on the Volvo bus.

And here goes the whole story.

This afternoon, I boarded the bus and asked the first available uncle, "Is this the 3.30 bus?"

The grave Uncle nodded a yes. Fraction of a second later, I realized that he was standing at my seat.

As I nudged my way in, I had a fleeting side-glimpse of a good-looking face staring at me. He was my co-passenger and obviously Grave Uncle's son.

The good girl that I am, I wholly concentrated on arranging my luggage and did not for once glance at the handsome face still staring at me and my antics.


The bus eventually started.


Like a well-behaved and true Bhartiya Naari, I arranged myself, drank some water, took out a book and started reading.

Yes, I always carry a book for emergency sake.


I could feel he was fidgeting in his seat.

"Yaaarrrr, talk if you want to!" I exclaimed inwardly. We,girls, have these extra pair of in-built sensory system which tells us all!

I finished the book. Only a few pages were left anyways. It was "The Time Machine". Although it had made a good read at home, now, I was least bothered whether the Time Traveller came back or got lost for good.


After sometime.


"Errr, have we crossed Bardhaman?"

I tried to act cool. "Mmmm...Seems not yet" .

And looked out of the window to double-check. (As if I had any idea!)

Again silence.


"Do you...Kolkata...Durgapur.."

How long was it? Fifteen-twenty minutes?

"Sorry?" I sat up and paid attention.

"Is your home in Kolkata?"

"No, my hometown is Durgapur, but I stay in Kolkata", I responded.

"Ok...no..actually I can't keep quite while travelling...as if we all are in some Maun-vrat...so.."

"No no...It's okay"

Oh yes! I don't have annny problem in talking to cute guys! And if the cute guy is dying to talk to me, I definitely talk! I love you God!

"Where is your home?", I asked.

"My home too is in Durgapur. I study at Kolkata. In fact, I have completed my graduation a few days ago. Now preparing for MBA."

Whaaatttt??? I did a quick mental calculation. This guy is at least six years younger than me. Then why doesn't he look like? All my enthusiasm deflated like a pierced balloon. Dear God, did I tell you that I don't love you THAT much either?

"What do you do in Kolkata?", he asked.

"I work." His face clouded a bit.

"Okay....How long have you been working?"

"Six years...almost."

He looked crestfallen. I could see his brain cells doing the math I had done a few minutes before.

"You don't look like", he mused.

I felt like patting his back.

"Yes, Bachcha, yes. I understand. I am disappointed too!"

Ten minutes break at Shaktigarh. The perfect time to message three of your girlfriends and spread out the news that you have stumbled upon a younger, but a cute guy nonetheless, in this crisis period of scanty supply and deteriorating quality.

Break over. He returned. And so did a flood of messages. 

Yes. We girls are very helpful and prompt in moments of urgency.

Friend#1: Younger doesn't matter. Keep talking and get all the details.

Okay. One vote.

Friend#2: Uh Oh!

No vote. :(

Friend#3: Ah ha! I was about to call you, but won't now. Opportunities like these don't come everyday. Just forget age, weight and all related numbers and talk.

Two votes!

The message was loud and clear. Keep mining. You never know when you strike gold! ;)



So I talked.
And he talked too! Of his relationships.
Of his school days' "friend", his intermediate "friend", his college GIRLfriend with whom he is stable now (glad to know!).
Yes, I lost count and got confused in the middle. But being a very good listener, I clarified ALL my doubts and obtained very detailed information with pictorial evidence (Dumbo! his girlfriend's snap of course! Another sweet child.) as per the advice of my Friend#1.
Plus, I am a loser. My whole life I have been listening patiently and making other people's love stories.
I was born on this earth to become a successful agony aunt!
So I resigned to my fate and listened carefully to my new-found brother's exploits (I couldn't help but feel fraternal love. Sniff! Sniff!).

After sometime, I actually started enjoying myself.

Hearing about his career, his ambitions, his successes, his failures and giving him advice on various career and relationship (don't be surprised! I DO give very good relationship advice! Strange, huh?) aspects, I really felt like an elder sister. Or an eighty year old grandma.

But while talking to this stranger boy today, I took time to stand a while and look back to realize how long a journey I have traversed, how many milestones I have achieved and is yet to achieve, how much older(!!) and wiser(?) I have grown.

I felt like I have traveled light years.

To make a long story short, I spent three very good hours of my life on the bus, thanks to a stranger talkative boy.

And there's a happy ending too! He informed me specifically that he has two elder cousin-brothers who are perfectly available!

Dearest God! I love you the most!

"Point noted". I said to him. "If you handle my case successfully, I'll give you more assignments!"

My single, alive and kicking girlfriends! Are you listening?

Sedin dekha hoyechilo

     Brishti jinishta shadharonoto amar mondo lagey na. Kintu aajke taake ei oshomoye dekhe bheeshon matha gorom hoye jachhe. Karon ektu porei amake office berote hobe. Sokalbela bheeshon tarahuro. Jodio ei P.G. te bathroom sharing er somosya ta nei, tao ready hote giye nanabhabe thik deri hoye jay.
Tar opor amar bariwali bheeshon slow. Boyosko mohila. Baater somosya ache. Tai dule dule aste aste haaten.

To ei paa niye sokalbela rannaghore jawa keno bapu? Bisesh kore jokhon ranna korar lok ache?
Oi to oituku jolkhabar. Tao addhek din baashi thake.

"Piyaa! Joldi esho! Breakfast thanda hoye gelo!"

"Jachhi Jethima!" - Bolte bolte khaater payay darun hochot khelam.

"Uff!"

Dhuss! Aaj dintai kharap jabe!

Jolkhabar dekhe aro mathata gorom hoye gelo. Gotokal raatrer baashi rooti. Shokto hoye geche fridge-e rekhe.

"Oshima Di! Egulo kalke raater?"

"Hyan". Oshima Dir uttor ude gelo rannaghor theke.

"Keno? Maashe maashe takata to kom dichhi na. Sokalbela ki ektu fresh khabar o pawa jabe na?". Kaan diye tokhon aagun berochhe. Etoboro kothata mukh diye beriyei gelo seshmesh.

Jethima shuneo shunlenna. Ami jawar por amar gustir shostipujo hobe jani.

Care korlam na. Etogulo bochhore kon kothata gaaye maakhte hoy r kon kothata maakhte nei, seta sikhe gechi.

Konomote cha ta sesh kore nijer ghore chole elam. Bag ta bheeshon bhari hoyeche. Duto mota mota SAP-r boi bhetore. Haate aro duto plastic e mora. Plus chhata. Konomote sobkichu bogoldaba kore dour! Brishti ta ektu dhoreche.

***

Aaj ekta khali auto o pachhi na. Ei durjoge sobbai taratari office pouchhote chay. Akash edike goom hoye achhe. Jekono muhurte dhaalbe.

Bhogoban! Ekta khali auto pathiye dao pleaseeeee!

Bolte Bolte ekkhana auto eshe daralo. Oi stoppage-ei ekjon namlo. Ami toroghori dujon k topke autoy giye boshlam. Pechoner seat.

Baah! Bhogoban amar kothao shone? Mon e mon e khub chomotkrito holam. "Thankyou Bhogoban!"

Paasher lokta haa kore takiye ache keno?

Oh! Ami to daant ber kore haschhi! Amake pagol thaurechhe bhebe mone mone arektu hese nilam.

Jhomjhom kore brishti namlo.

"Joto hasi toto kanna.
Bole gechen 'some' Manna!"

Je pechoner seat ta peye du second agey moha anonde haschilam, thik sekhanei boshe chopchop kore bhijte thaklam.

Norbar chorbar upay nei. Kole ekta bishalakay bag, tar opor duto gabda boi. Chhatata bag e dhukiye felechi onekkhon. Eto maalpotro soriye ber korbar upay nei. Ber korleo dhora jabe na.

Brishti r hawar jhaptay totokhon ordhhek bhije gechi. Teriye dekhlam, paasher loktar mukhe mridu hasi. Mone hole thaas kore ekta chorr mari kaaner goray.

***

Pray ek jug por Karunamoyee eshe pouchalam. Autor baki lokjon hurmur kore neme gelo. Ami oto maalpotro niye lotorpotor korchi. Autowala kinchit birokto.

Baan kaandhe bag. Setake abar dhore na rakhle slide kore pore jachhe. Daan hate boi duto. Morte aajke abar salwaar-kameez porechi. 

Bhogoban odhna j keno baniyechilo?!! Oh na! Bhogoban to na! Manushe j odhna keno baniyechilo!

Bhabchi auto theke nambo kina. Naki chhata ta khulbo. Kon haate dhorbo? Tahole ki bhijei niy?

Hotobhaga autowala auto-ta k daar-o koriyeche ekkebare joler opor!

Hothat kore kaane elo - " You can come under my umbrella if you want."

Mukh tule takiye ekta sojore dhakka khelam.

Thik dekhchi to? Naki amari chokher bhul? Naki etoi despo hoye gechi j ei sokkalbela jege jege eisob dekhchi?

M&B theke uthe asha perfect TDH. Orthat tall, dark and handsome! Hasi hasi mukhe amar samne footpath e chhata dhore dariye achhe. Chokhe chhatar tolay ashar ahobaan!

Nijer ojaantei donto bikoshito!

"Oh! Thank you so much!"

Bag r boi niye, Oporwaala k oshonkho odrisso flying kiss chhunrte chhunrte chhatar tolay asroy nilam.

Dekhlam se pray puro chhatatai amar mathar opor dhoreche.

Chivalrous o abar? Ami ekhono prithibitei achi to?


Khanikkhon chup chap. DLF r SDF-er line duto r chaar pa duure.

Maaaaa! Ochena chheleder songe kotha bolte keno sekhaoni Maaaa? Schooleo to sekhayni!!

"Will you go to DLF?" Amar gontobbosthol r tar gontobbosthol eki ki na jante proshnota korei fellam.

Plus amar chhatar asroy tao dorkaar chilo porer auto te na otha obdhi.

"No. I'll go to Park Street. But don't worry. I'll help you in getting to your line."

Ei re! Bujhe geche! J ami chhatatei beshi interested. Ki lojja! Ki lojja!

Ekta boka boka hasi dilam.

Totokhone dekhi DLF er line e pouchhe gechi. Ami auto na pawa obdhi se chhata niye dariye roilo.

Tarpor, note gaachti murolo! Sediner por taake r konodin Karunamoyee te dekhini.

***

Bastob jeebone note gaachgulo erokom khonosthayee hoy! Ei jodi eta aaj ekta cinema ba serial hoto, tahole ki hoto?

Uff! Oporer oi loktar daant ber kora hasi ta ami r sojjo korte parchi na!!

Lost treasures

It is very very hot!

And I am afraid of weekends nowadays.

Saturday is the day for you to do all the household related work. Here's a list.

Washed my clothes? Check.
Done cleaning? Check.
Bought veggies and stuff? Check.
Picked up laundry? Check.

And I am not even looking at the heap of clothes lying on my bed crying out loud for ironing!

So now that almost everything is done, and I have watched enough TV, read enough books, checked out Cumberbatch enough on the net and tried every known way to amuse myself, I don't know what to do next.


No! Don't tell me to call up a friend and chat. I hate mobile phones!

Yes. They have their advantages. But the harm is far deeper. I think after the mobile phones came along, people have become more and more unattached. You don't want to visit your relatives? Call them once a month to show you care. Don't have time enough to visit a friend? Same way out. Don't want to face difficult questions? There's a phone! Aha!

Is that really the way to do it? Escaping? Making life easier by ignoring the unsavory part? And you always have an excuse ready. You called!

Never did we feel so distant from each other than we do now.

So, that option's out.

Mmmmm.....

Why not spend this surplus idle time in reminiscing childhood with you all?

I say, this is the most unproductive pastime possible, but it makes you happy.

This afternoon I was seated at a window in a bus with all my hair flying here and there and wishing badly I had a hairband. And then I remembered how I used to collect hairbands in my childhood.

I actually had a big collection of it!

There was a full white one with round white chrysanthemums on it. A plain pink one. Another purplish pink one with a purple bow on it. But it was too tight. Then there were several red bands with different coloured cloth flowers on them. They were bought from Lucknow. Right now I can recollect only the yellow, pink and violet flowers. There was a red broad band. I remember it vaguely. And my favourite one! A yellow band with red spots and a yellow butterfly on it. It was from Ceylon, a gift from my Masi.
As I grew, came Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and I collected quite a number of 'Kajol' bands. I bet almost everyone had one back then. White, gray, brown, green. Black was the most common one. Could be worn with all dresses.

Slowly I outgrew them and God knows where they are now! The hairbands sold today are not that interesting. Everything is sleek and understated nowadays. We had such elaboration in everything when we were kids!

Then I had this collection of stamps. I guess this is one of the most common childhood hobbies, but mine was a little different. I didn't collect old stamps. I only collected brand new ones. Freshly launched and unused. No. I never had any philatelic aspirations whatsoever. I simply loved the pictures, the colour and the freshness. My Dad had bought me a stamp book. He made it a point that whenever he went to the post-office, he inquired about any newly launched stamp and bought for me if any. The darling that he is, he always bought the whole series. I remember once he bought the Lion King series. If I remember correctly, there were three separate stamps in it with different pictures, but making a whole story together.

Then he bought me this stamp series on Madhubani painting. Internet was not so accessible in those days. But I remember searching books and articles to learn more about Madhubani art after I saw that stamp.

There were many more. Stamps on the life of V.Shantaram, on Dandi March (I may be wrong, but it was some march with Gandhiji leading the line) and many others. That reminds me, this time when I go home, I have to dig that book out. It is indeed a precious possession.

Oh! It's past ten! Dinner time!!
See? Once I sit chatting with you guys, I forget everything!
So tell me, what collections did you have when you were a child?