Pujor Lekha ~ Porbo 2

Continued from Pujor Lekha- Porbo 1

|| Saktigarh||

                Soptahante Kolkata theke bari phirchhi. Sokal chho-tar bus. Tai bus suddho lok besh ekghoom diye uthlo. Ashwin mash. Besh chorchore rode uthe geche ei sokal saare saat-tatei. Neel akaash, sada megh, guchchho guchchho shubhro kaashphool, digonto bistrito sobuj dhaaner khet. Weather- er emoni gun j panapukurer beguni ronga kochuripana dekheo mon bhalo hoye jay.

                Bishwakorma pujo geche kodin agei. Bangalir pujo prostuti ekhon jorkodome cholchhe. Kolkatar pujo mane bishaal ayojon. Maasher por mash theme planning; thakur r pandaler bayna sei kobe theke. Innovation stretched to its heights. Sei September-er shuru theke hoarding pore geche – “Kaw” Club-er theme naarishokti bondona, shilpi “Khaw Pal”; “Gaw” pollir pujor pandale ebare dekha jabe Banglar potsongskritir chhorachhori. Pandaler baansh bandha sesh. Ebaare kapor jorano r sajanor kaaj baaki.

                Pujote Kolkatay kokhonoi thakina. Sudhu chakrite join korbaar porpor-e ekbaar Panchamite thekechhilam. Bondhura mile onek raat porjonto ghurechhilam. Eisob alada alada theme er thakur r pandal sojja – dekhte besh lagey kintu. Photo tule tule sesh r hoyna. Sottie! Art ekei bole.

                Bangla khoborer channelguloy Maa Durgar chhobi diye pujor countdown shuru hoye giyechhe. Pre-pujo bhromon – orthaat kon onchole ki special pujo hochhe ebaar – taar jonno bisesh protibedon dekhano hochhe. Robbaarer kagojer maajher du-pata jure sudhu jutor bigyapon. Pochhonder model thik kore niye torighori dokaane jaan. Noile kopaale lomba line-e daarano ache. Echharao ache pujor special discount offer – fridge, tv, furniture, saree, goyna – sudhu kenar opekkha. Dorjir dokaane ekhon konoi bheer nei. Karon order neoa bondho hoye giyeche sei September-er shurutei. Ekhon sudhu jorkodome kaaj r delivery deoa. Jara hasslefree shopping korte ichchuk, taara bheer jomiyechhen shopping mall guloy.

                Bangalir pujo juto-jama-bag ei sesh noy. Intellectual Bangali jaater pujoy esob chharao ache gaan-kobita-golpo-boi. Pujor dine barite ekta pujo-sonkha na thakle, ba sokaalbelar shiulir gondher songe pujor ekta gaaner sur na mishe gele, thik jeno maan thakena.

                Ei bochhore sob e jeno olotpalot. Charidike eto oshaanti, maramaari, katakati. Sei kobe theke sunchi duniya ta naki ebochhorei roshatole jabe. Tobe taate pujor anonde bhaanta poreni ektuo. Maa Duggar honour e kodin nahoy amra sobai ektu maniye-guchhiyei nilam. Sobaar mone ektai kotha ekhon – “Pujota jaak. Tarpor nahoy dekha jabe!”

~*~

Continued to  Pujor lekha - porbo 3

Travelogue - Tajpur Trip - Part Four

Continued from Travelogue-Tajpur Trip-Part-Three

Morning. September 9, 2012. Tajpur.

We had a plan to see the sunrise. But nature was not willing to co-operate with us. So we slept blissfully (no that comfortably because the beds were not good) and woke up at around 8 am. 

It was the D-day!

Out came our (of course I am talking about us girls) colourful slippers and vibrant clothes. Sunglasses on, we marched towards the beach. This time a new one, the one we had wanted to explore the previous evening. 

After a long walk through the winding red path, we reached the main beach. The wide expanse of the sea and the beach welcomed us with open arms. It was cloudy with the sun bursting at frequent intervals. The water shimmered like silver. The horizon shone like the blade of a new sword. We had never before seen such a clean beach. It was virgin in the truest sense. Red crabs crawled all over and they quickly got into their holes as we walked towards them. The air was so fresh. There were fishing boats far into the sea. We all jumped into the water and simply went mad. We swam, we ran, we tried to drown each other, fought with each other, got drenched in the rain and did what not!

We were alive! And free!

~*~

Afternoon. September 9, 2012. Back to Kolkata.

The bane of being a software engineer is that you stop having a personal life. So whatever time you can snatch from in between your work, you have to learn to make the most of it. In management terms, you have to know to make optimum use of the minimum resources available.

Keeping this teaching in mind (which we have learnt over the many years of our professional lives), we left Tajpur with refreshed minds and happy but longing hearts. It was time to get back to the shackles. Our superfast driver must not have enjoyed the trip. He was in a great hurry to get back to the city. So he drove at 120 kilometres per hour. But we were in no mood to get back so soon.

Aish had to get back to her hostel. She bade us goodbye at Mecheda, especially to Gokul, for whom she had developed a special liking (She claims she had never before seen anything like him!).

The next part of our journey was unprecedented. Much against the wishes of Piyush, as a result of constant urging by Gokul and majority of votes in favour of him, we all ended up on a practically non-existent road in a very remote area in Bagnan. It was Gokul’s village.

Joyee had never been to such a village before. I had been when I was very young. And Gokul’s high spirits were contagious. So there were we walking along the sylvan paths amidst the verdant landscape. There were sprawling rice fields, ample tall trees, rose fields (!!!), ponds and curious villagers who scanned Joyee and me with their x-ray eyes. Gokul was a darling in getting us five big blooming roses for free! (I wanted to give him one of those right there, but he threatened me for attempting to ruin his reputation!) We were warmly welcomed at his home and offered lots of food of which we could eat only a small amount (we were already so full!). What else happened there, I better not tell here, because many people’s “reputation” and my dear life are at stake. So let’s just say that Gokul is a highly prospective groom (he is in search of a bride, if girls out there are interested) and currently is in great demand!

Since we did not want to keep our furious driver waiting, we left Gokul’s place early, with very happy hearts and continued our journey back to the city.

And thus ended, two days of short-lived freedom, leaving behind renewed vigour and wonderful memories.

P.S. - Just one week over and we are already planning for a new trip! Yoohoo!

~*~

Travelogue - Tajpur Trip - Part Three

Continued from Travelogue-Tajpur Trip-Part-Two

1.30 pm. Same day. Tajpur.

Yes! We had finally reached. The drive was wonderful. We were truly now in the midst of untainted natural beauty.

Dense shrubs and tall Casuarina (Jhau) trees surrounded us. A swarm of various coloured butterflies hovered around the yellow wild flowers. The red muddy path winded through the trees and vanished far into the sands.

We left our luggage at the hotel (Green Earth Resort) and bounded off to see the sea.

After crossing a small forest of Jhau trees and climbing the sand dune, we had a first look of the sea. Aaah! The open sea!

The only coconut water seller invited us to have a seat under the umbrellas. Gokul and Shiv sprinted towards the sea. Something had happened to them. Maybe it was the taste of freedom.

We girls didn’t have the intention to get wet that day. We had proper and elaborate plans for the next day. Piyush obviously didn’t like the rocky beach. He decided to stay under the umbrellas. Joyee, Aish and I followed the other two towards the waters. We could see Gokul and Shiv springing like grasshoppers in the sea. As we stood on the beach laughing at them, those two rogues came from nowhere and pulled Joyee and me into the water. It was no use shouting and cursing. We were pushed into the sea. I fell down, hurt my leg, got up, cursed Gokul profusely, and then surrendered haplessly. I was wet. And badly tanned because I had not cared to put on enough sunscreen.

Still cursing Gokul and the entire “Man”kind, I returned under the safe haven of the umbrella, where my deeply mortified soul was nursed with fresh coconut water.

After a while, our three musketeers came back and we returned to the hotel to have a very late lunch.

~*~

Evening. Same day. Tajpur.

We are true Bongs! After the heavy lunch of rice, sukto, daal, potoler torkari (curry), pomfret maachh (fish) and chaatni, we went for a bhaat ghoom (afternoon nap). When we woke up, it was almost dark outside.

Aish was still in deep slumber, most probably dreaming of cute guys in her university. (She’ll kill me for this!) The rest of us decided to explore the terrain.

Evening was slowly setting in. It was quiet everywhere. The butterflies had long gone home. The crickets had taken their place. The only electric light streaming out was from the hotels. There was no moon. The sky was cloudy. It looked like it would rain. The muddy red path was barely visible.

Being adventurous and stupid, none of us had remembered to carry a torch. Yet, we continued along the path. There were quite a few hotels around. Electricity was a problem. But they had generators. For basic amenities, there were small shops (“Gumti”), which were christened by the hoteliers as “Sob pawa jay dokaan” (shop where you get everything. Every pun intended!) We bought shampoo sachets and Thumbs Up at one such shop and thought it better to return to the hotel since it was very dark and threatened to rain.

Once at the hotel, it was time for some good solid adda. Aish had woken up from her sweet dreams. We ordered chicken pakoras and hot tea. The discussion started with confessions about crushes and true loves, where we told half-truths and lied to our hearts’ content. Then it veered to ghost stories which flourished in that ambience. It was raining hard. We were in the midst of a deep jungle. We did not know the very few people there. What more do you want for ghost stories? Joyee was already trying to curl between Aish and me. Somebody went and drew the curtains. Man! It was fearsome and lovely!

~*~

Continued To Travelogue-Tajpur Trip-Part-Four

 

Travelogue - Tajpur Trip - Part Two

Continued from Travelogue - Tajpur Trip - Part-One

 

9 am. Same day. Mecheda

“Madamji, how far have you got?”, I asked Aish over the phone.

“I am still at the station at my place. The train is one hour late.”

“Whatttt? We are already at Mecheda!!”

“One hour? Means you’ll come after two hours! OMG!”

“Girls!” Piyush and Gokul sneered together. I gave them another of my famous scorching looks.

“What will she do now? The train is late. Any other alternative?”, I bombarded Piyush with my questions.

“No. There is nothing else I guess.” He seemed a bit lost too. “Can she get a bus?”

“Can you get a bus?” I yelled into the phone.

“Bus? I don’t know. Okay, let me check and call you.”

“Fine. Shall we pack breakfast for you?”

“No. Leave it. It’ll be late for breakfast when I reach. I’ll call you back.”

We were now truly in a soup. There was still a long way to go.

The best therapy in troubled times is food. Hence we decided to chill for some time and have a proper breakfast.

Our guide for the day took us to a wayside restaurant called “The Park Point”. We decided to drop the “Point” immediately and stick with “The Park” (for those who don’t know, it is a five star hotel in Kolkata. Which means beyond our aukaat!). After all there were Facebook updates to be made!

It was quite a decent café. Six of us, including our driver Indrajeet, munched on bread, butter, luchi and alur torkari. Aish had confirmed she had boarded a bus. As per the instructions of our revered guide (respect!), I asked her to get down at Mechogram near Panskura, where we would pick her up. After having our round of morning tea, we resumed our journey after forty-five minutes. This time we were going back, towards Panskura.

~*~

Around 10 am. Same day. Mechogram

Aahh! There she is!

Aish had already spotted us in our red Scorpio and came with a big smiling face.

Thank God! All six finally in one car!

“Guys! Please get acquainted with each other”.  “And oblige me”, I added mentally.

“Yes yes! Get acquainted! Okay, we have got acquainted!” Gokul and his antics sent a ripple of laughter inside the car. This one had a very energetic and unbridled sense of humour, which he often wielded as a weapon to torture people and made them laugh till their jaws ached.

Unfortunately, that day I was his favourite target.

Gokul’s antics continued, well accompanied by Shiv, as the grave and taciturn Piyush guided our driver through unknown routes.

After sometime, we realized we were going in circles through villages. Normal people generally panic when there is a possibility of getting lost. We crazy people had a good laugh first. Then Ms. Cashier aka our Trip Organizer, Joyee, fished out a paper where she had neatly jotted down the intermediate stops.

“We have to go to the Bypass “, she declared.

“Is there a map saying how to go by this road to the bypass?, I asked.

“No.”

“Then put it away and ask that DaabKaku (a man who was selling green coconuts on the roadside) how to go to bypass.”

Instead, our Ms. Cashier invested the time in taking pictures of DaabKaku and several other Kakus (“Kaku” in Bengali means uncle) in the backdrop of rural Bengal.

But we had nothing to fear in the presence of our able Mr. Guide. He was there to steer us out of those rural paths. While, Mr. “Ice Breaker” Gokul busily checked out the girls’ schools and colleges in the consecutive villages and Mr. “Lazy Bug” Shiv lounged on the backseat of the car.

~*~

Continued To  Travelogue-Tajpur Trip-Part-Three

Travelogue - Tajpur Trip - Part One

One not-so-fine day

 

Joyee pulled a chair vigorously and collapsed into it at my cubicle. By the redness of her face, I guessed it was not just the effect of the hot sun and the broken roads. Some new khichdi must have pakao-ed in her project.

“Sue, will you go or not?”, she exploded.

Yes, Khichdi it is.

“Yes yes, I will!”, I exclaimed. “I just can’t take Kolkata anymore! I think I’ll do something drastic. Take drugs, kill somebody or go to jail.”

I being a highly imaginative person who tended to become reckless in moments of desperation was capable of making such statements.

“Excellent!” Joyee replied happily. The air-conditioning and my desperation must have soothed her a bit. “Neither can I. Chalo, let’s google. Where will we go?”

We opened West Bengal Tourism’s website.

“Mountains?”

“Mmm…so many of us won’t get leaves together.”

“Jungle?”

“Nope. Monsoon. Mosquitoes. Malaria.”

“Okay. Only option left. Sea.”

“Fine. But not Digha or Mandarmani.”

“Tajpur?”

“Fine. Tajpur it is.”

“By the way, where is it?”

~*~

September 8, 2012

Saturday. Kolkata.

4.30 am. The alarm rang. Still in sleep, I called up Shiv, the Late Latif. The phone kept ringing as expected.

5.30 am. Text from Joyee. “Car is late by 30 minutes. Will call you once in the car.” Nahiiiiiii.

My phone rang. Late Latif’s calling!!!

“Still sleeping?”

“Dude, I am not like you. I am ready already.”

“Oh is it? Good. They’ll be late. Gokul just called me.”

“That doesn’t mean you’ll go back to sleep. Move your lazy butt and get ready. If you are late, we’ll leave you and go away.” I threatened him, as I do most of the times.

In response, I only received a nasty laugh over the phone.

6.30 am. Will these people ever come? Shall I unpack and inform everybody that I’ll be in Kolkata this weekend? Shucks!! What beizzati!

6:45 am. Joyee’s calling. “Listen, we are near your place. You come at your pick-up stop.”

“Yippee! Coming in five minutes.”

7:00 am. Four of us safely in the car. Gokul, Joyee, Piyush (our friend and guide for those two days) and I. Next stop was at Shiv’s.

7:15 am. Jadavpur. Waiting for Shiv.

Joyee called up Shiv. “Dude, where are you? We are waiting for you.”

Shiv: “Yes yes, I am already out of my house.” I took the phone to cross-check. There was no background noise of vehicles. I felt like throttling him.

I: “Don’t lie. You haven’t yet left your house. Are you ready? When did I call you?” I was almost paranoid.

Joyee snatched the phone from me. “Fine, come quickly.”

“You better call up Aish and ask her to start off”, Joyee said to me.

Aish was our sixth member and we were to pick her up from Mecheda. I called her up and gave her the instructions.

“Why was the car so late?” I addressed the janta.

Gokul, who was responsible for arranging the car, replied, “Ummm…actually, the person who was supposed to give the car had said that already. You know what, we didn’t have a car booked till 10:30 last night.” He grinned shamelessly. All I could do was giving him a scorching look.

Thankfully, our Mr. Late Latif had arrived by then. After a collective round of verbal abuse, we finally started towards our destination for good.

~*~

  
Continued To Travelogue-Tajpur Trip-Part-Two