Mishtir Jogot ( World of Sweets)

                                  

 

   Hailing from the food capital of India has many added benefits. But being away from it and getting to experience a similar feel is quite thrilling.

    A place always pulsating with life and busy roads that are never devoid of the hubbub of man, trams, ambassador taxis, and the cry of the sellers to purchase their goods just flashes in front of my eyes like a short film.

   One thing that tops up the charts of this place is the variety of sweets. Which are unique in their quintessential way and are sure to let the smile on one’s face prevail and never let it fade away.

    Lanes of shops laden with trays of uniqueness and a queue of people to get their share is a regular sight to the natives but an interesting one for a traveler who sets foot on this sweet heaven.

    People normally associate “Potol” oh confused right so to spare you I’ll translate it and call it peer gourd. It’s a soft pointed vegetable with green stripes and is used in the creation of classic and yet original Bengali cooking. “Potol Posto” (Peer Gourd and the perfect blend of Posto- Poppy Seeds Paste” “Chingri ar Potoler Torkari” (Chingri- Prawns. A typical Bengali dish made with prawns and peer gourd) “AlooPotol” (A combination of peer gourd and potatoes cooked with a perfect blend of spices). The list is never-ending.

    Never did I wonder that a sweet made with “Potol” (Peer Gourd) could bring a whole lot of joy to a foodie. Soft and tender on the outside with a faded green hue with tons of sweetness. The real surprise is inside as a layer of thick mawa infused with pistachios nestles inside this soft and faded green covering. One bite and a burst of sweetness and delight just lightens up your mood urging you to grab another one and relish this happiness for as long as you want.

      

Being away and experiencing such unique sweets is what I live for as it somehow keeps me connected and in sync with the whole ethos of those lanes laden with uniqueness.

                                                                                                                 

         

                                                                                                            

                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                    

                                                                       
                                             

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                     

    

 

                                      

                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

A Naturalist's Concave..

 

    I’m not against the forces of nature. They all have a stipulated time to occur even though they are a bit irregular at times. But having nothing to worry and tax myself with at the present moment I have surrendered my mind and soul to be calmed by the pure balmy breeze of the world outside my window.

 

    For some days I’ve been keenly observing that the rain clouds seem to go a bit easy on us giving immense amount of dazzling sun to refill the diminished content of Vitamin D. The golden tinge seems to adorn the bluest of sky with fluffy white bales of cotton floating freely in its vast perimeter. Everything around feels so fresh, alive but most of all it seems   so exuberant these days.

 

     Having being truly mesmerized by the works of nature enthusiasts such as Ruskin Bond and William Wordsworth has given me an added boost or you can most aptly say an upper edge to appreciate the wonders and marvels of the green world by which I’m enwrapped with. Their works have enabled me to create precise observations which without a doubt is completely in sync with my stream of consciousness at the spur of the moment.

   

  I’m just a simple and happy soul who other than marveling the grandeur of nature also has to do occasional tasks to keep her cozy cone in tip top shape. If you seem to have the urge to pry into my source of solace its nothing grand and fancy but a small corner sheathed with glass and metal overlooking a powerhouse of fresh O_{2 .}

 

     As I sit on my easy chair and stretch my legs a faint streak of sunlight just peers from the cotton bails giving a soothing warm feeling on my toes. The gale outside seems to admire my curly locks as it ruffles them all over my face. I don’t seem to bother much but embrace it with a broad smile across my face.

 

    In cases of days of muddled weathers such as this there is nothing much an exuberant soul can do. If you want you can part ways with your earphones for a brief span and intercept nature’s orchestra starring the call of the peacocks, the bubbly chirrup of different unheard species of Aves and an awesome closing performance rendered by the buzz of the busy bees.

 

 

     I’m a nobody I tell you but if you have some doubts about my identity, I’ll let them prevail. All you need to do is condition your mind with the thought of a living eyewitness taking sips from her morning energizer of lemon juice infused with ginger ale and the perfect dash of honey who is making rough notes to be then compiled to update a scopia on the world wide web left to be interpreted by all of humankind.

  

 

Disney With A Twist

 

When most of us were young and fantasized about the magic of  Disney we would often jam to the tunes of some notable Disney movies. But now that we are older we are expected to delve into the depth of things and analyze them through the lens of an adult. It’s quite impossible to completely irradicate our childlike whims.

  The current ongoing pandemic situation could not be better as the box which was once considered to be an idiot  has now become smart, brainy, and surprisingly informative as it has now succeeded to attract a whole lot of enthusiastic audience to keep their eyesight fixated on the shimmering screen. We can’t help when the graph of death tolls and the rate of positivity soars. We are aware of the situation and the preventive protocols I hope so I shall spare you from the wraths of it.

   It truly is a Tale as old as time when we could go on to different places and see unbelievable sights, galavant in the sun and have the time of our life clicking selfies for Instagram stories, Facebook posts, or just a simple Whatsapp status. But now it is true as it can be as we have become prisoners in our own home trying to devise some in house means of entertainment. It's time to go digital for everything be it catching up with old friends or attending family events virtually.

Now I see the light it seems as if the fog has unveiled a brand new awakening as everything seems different and in this one moment all those days we spent daydreaming for some respite and living in blur seems to be getting a new dimension as now tiny vials of antidotes have arrived to save us from this misery administration of just two shots is sure to do us good. But now there is a twist the more u delay for your second jab the better it is as the warriors get more time to create a shield for us to combat accordingly what a perfect strategy.

Don’t worry but just go by the simple philosophy Hakuna Matata as it’s called. Wear your protector not with remorse but with happiness and take pride in every strut with your liquid life savior in your pocket, backpack bag, or purse. Take your jab not with the hope of dying but with the hope of survival and an added resistance. Don’t be foolish and lend an ear to a piece of information from some x y or z mediums but just abide by the protocols laid down by the health departments.

If we emerge victorious then there is a whole new world waiting to be explored with fantastic views and unbelievable sights without the presence of anyone to direct us as to where to go or even tell us No. Our actions are pretty simple and well-engrained in our minds. All we need to do is be the change to break this tormenting chain.

 

 

 

 

A Petrichor's Dream

 It all starts with the heralding of the foxy grey clouds followed by a strong gale. 

  Nature admirers have their eyesight fixated on the sky as they wait in anticipation of the watery rubies to fall on the heated earth. Some even track the time as a memorabilia or to document it with a hope of turning it into print. 

    Then comes the strong whiff of petrichor with a gleaming yet invisible smile a thought of joy races in the admirers mind. 

    The watery rubies fall like swords clashing against each other in the battlefield. 

  The surrounding outside can transpose one's mind to that of either Hogwarts or the moors of Baskerville Hall. 

  A balmy breeze blows outside as the electrifying aero show enthralls an interested lot of audience. 

     But there is one small cozy cone which finds solace in Rabindra Sangeet and timeless old classics. 

   The sound of the croaking frogs, quarrelling dogs gives a different feel to this turbulent night. 

    Gnawing hunger pangs don't seem to worry when one has the forces of nature to feast on. 

   But there are some who are staying past way their bed time either watching a cartoon or web series. Or maybe just losing track of time as the happy droplets cool their palms. 

   There is beauty and poise but all one needs is a fine tooth comb to bring it out into the limelight. The beauty and grandeur of petrichor remains unsung and that is A Petrichor's Dream.. 

Respite in Swinter

 After treating myself to a gourmet meal , comprising of leafy green spinach and tender meat, it was  time for me to sit and calm my mind ,  by watching  my favourite travel show.

    Snap.......  went the lights , with beads of salt trickling down my cheek , my mind was crippled . But my spirits were elevated though  with  the whiff of petrichor that tingled my bumblebee nose. 

       I perched on the ottoman close to the window and admired the joyous droplets crashing on the parched lawn .  The skyline split in two as the electrifying sparks of  pink and purple dawned the dark night . The cyclonic thunder reminded me of the roar of the supersonic Sukhoi and Rafale as they start their ignition .

       This marvellous blessing brought immense respite , cooling down the heated atmosphere .

         Mankind nestled in their cozy cones . Not a single soul was out there to witness  this  scintillating  spectrum  . Just one soul who was fantasized by this beauty kept on scribbling for her blog.

Eternal Radiance

   Dorning a smile with a pair of bifocal glasses  , wearing white along with a silver cascade of hair , you were an angel in my life,THAMMA.

  The ludo board too feels the abscence of the competitive gameplay we had before your siesta. 

  Pujo time is the thing I miss the most. Assisting you as your PA while you carried out your prayers from lighting  the inscence sticks to offering flowers. 

  Giving you eye drops is something which I will never forget "ek phota deebaa" lingers in my ears till date. 

  I can't seem to phathom as to how you could distinguish between a home cooked delicacy and that which was procurred from elsewhere. 

   Thamma you have given me immense love and instilled a shoal of values in me which has made me the girl I'm today .

    4pm ,now and then ,will have a different meaning altogether atleast for me. The way you used to refreshen yourself  flashes like a short documentary in front of my eyes. The whiff of ponds cold cream lingering in the air, as you gently massaged your hands and face giving yourself a radiant glow . Neatly parted hair , tied with black ribbon is not to be missed.  During our game of ludo there were times when I used to defeat you often. It was really difficult for you to accept sportingly. 

    At one point of time you have undergone a series of hardships. Raising a family of eight children single handed is a herculien task but not once did you crib nor did you allow any sorrow to seep into the family. Repeatedly you have forgiven our follies. Thamma, today's battle once again you have fought single handed. This time you emerged victorious and have defeated us all.You are my warrior princess. 

   And now that you have become another star in the constellation which looks upon me , I know ,you will always be by my side, guiding me in every step I take and giving me the much needed moral support and showers of blessings from above. 

   You have occupied a special place in my soul and will never fade away as long as I breathe. 

     May your soul rest in peace and may your enchanting smile light up the soul of the place you are in. 

    ~Your loving Ghoontoo (Xena) 

  

  

 

  

 

  

  

CARTE BLANCHE

 

   With total  lock down  ,  due  to  the  melodramatic  ushering  of  the   trouble  shooting  Corona,  life  has  now  become  a  roller  coaster  ride  . Nobody  was  even  prepared  for  this  eventuality. Mankind is duped.   

   But  I guess this  global  crisis  has  also  given  us  an opportunity  to break  free from  the  humdrum  of  life. It has stirred  and    given  us the  opportunity  of reawakening  and  even  rediscovering  ourselves. It  has  turned  us  into  famished  human  beings  longing  to quench the  thirst  of  our  long  lost  freedom .  Once   again  we  get  the  privilege  of  rediscovering  our  true  self .   Amidst  this  hullabaloo  let’s spare  a  moment  to salute those selfless  front line  warriors  who  have  already  sacrificed  their  freedom  for  the  sake  of  others.

      This  lock down  has  given  me the  perfect  opportunity  to  spend  more  time  with  my  family,   be   at  their  aid however   big  or    small it  may seem and listening  to  stories  of  the  bygone  era is something   that  I  cherish.    This long  unexpected  vacation  enabled  me   to  complete  my  unfinished  piece  of  work, jog  my  brain  down  the  memory  lane of  how  I lived  my  life  in  the  past  years   and  even  how  to create  a  new  demeanor  to  it  too.    It  has  allowed  me  to  connect  with  my  teachers  ,  friends  from  school as  well  as  high  school who either  live  in  town  or  ocean’s apart. Long exciting   conversation  with  them  either  via   zoom  or  be  it   a  simple  phone  call  makes  me  lose  track  of   the  time  spent  talking  about  those  days  full of  joy, laughter  and  mirth.

    This  present  is  not  wrapped  in  a shiny  or  a  fancy  paper  but  the  contents  of  it  have  enabled  me  to  crack  the  mystery  behind “Torith Sengupta’s ”murder and  even to return  back  to  the  grandeur of  Mussoorie’s much  famed  “ Landour Hill’’   and  relive  the  tales  of  a  man  who  recollects  the  time  of  fun and  frolic  he  had  with his  grandfather  and  friends when  he  was  a  young  lad.

     This present  has  allowed  me  to  feast  my eyes     on   the  lush green and  dense  vegetation  overlooking  my  room . I can  once  again  hear  the  psithurism  in  the  air ,  soak  in  petrichor in  a  complete  sense of  bliss  . My ears  can  intercept  the  chirps  of  unseen species  of aves accompanied by the  tap tapping  orchestra  of  the  crickets.

       Even though I’m making  the  most  of  this  joie de  vivre which I have got , I still long  and  wait  in  anticipation  to  apricate and even moon wake once again  after this global pandemic comes to a halt..... 

 

The   Game of  a Crown…

 

 

   Soft ,  spongy , sporting a crown  why have you descended  on our planet is my worry. Have you been created to fulfill a purpose or have  you secretly paved your way out from a research center  to promote the trend of bio terrorism is not my worry.

  I’m pretty sure that all of you are well versed with the pandemic so I shall spare you and not ruin your mood by reiterating the same narrative again.

     This soft spongy crown has totally compelled us to revert back to our ancient customs and traditions. Every young child’s enemy that is the glass of milk infused with turmeric has in today’s day and age become our best friend to boost our immunity. The beneficial ayurvedic mixes which were made by our grandparents have now become the good Samaritans in this hullabaloo. Yoga is now not just a trend    but a daily routine in our lives.

     Work from home has now become the new normal. The broadband providers are touching upon great  feats of profit as this has become a necessity. Immense offers are being curated and launched to attract customers like magnets but in reality how many of them actually provide the  essential service is my concern. Do these providers really do what they preach?  People like us become prey to these providers and end up paying extravagant amounts just for good connectivity  to say connected with family and friends who are miles apart.

   I often think about the mind of the classrooms at this point . Even though they are inanimate and are nothing other than a lump of wood they do feel the emptiness .  At one point of time they were filled with the exuberance of childlike innocence, powerful debates and never ending discussions. But now I ponder upon the fate of this classroom which is devoid of such exuberance and is compelled to be amidst a musty atmosphere . The benches are there but they too will tarnish and age with time .

   We as individuals take multiple oaths and make endless promises. But let’s ponder on as to how many of us actually adhere to the promise once made by us.  All of us are well aware of the trending tagline दो गज की दूरी,  मास्क है जरुरी (A distance of two feet and mask is important). This is for our own safety and protection to keep the tormenting crown at bay .

   But in our society there are a few muggins who think that wearing a mask is not essential and not cool  but to goof around with no face mask is acceptable . In this same community there re a few sensible people who understand the seriousness of this pandemic .  I feel happy when I see people who have up with the idea of designer masks  which are affordable, easy to make and can be a bit pricey sometimes.

     Wearing an enclosed suit can be a style statement or even a tool of mockery for some  but to think of those health workers who are tirelessly for hours enclosed in  these suits just gives me jitters . They apply all the possible methods of treatment to bring some respite to those innocent souls who have fallen as prey to the spongy crown . It our utmost duty to respect these warriors and also ensure that our folly doesn’t become their worry.

    All of us are praying for things to become normal once again  and are anticipating a not so distant miracle to take place . Till then we have to adhere to the guidelines and safety precautions and keep everyone safe  and even help people in need in our own thoughtful way and  ensuring nothing other than positivity flows in our veins.....

 

 

Bittersweet Secrets

  As I perch on the charpoy my eyes quickly fall on the dark grey clouds adorning the sky's blueness. 

      My spirits race with joy and my mind dreams and longs for another cool downpour to dissolve the unbearable heat that prevails. My soul longs  to get a whiff of the fragrant rain drenched soil. My ears  have now wiretapped the acoustic medley of a   few cricket , frogs  and different species of  aves singing in unison, creating an orchestric feel to  the silent unstirred air .

        As I allow my eyes  to cherish the blissful nature, my mind and soul gets crumpled to see the gigantic golden ball of fire reigning supreme in it's place of honour again. The happy clouds have now drifted away . The birds too have suddenly become nonvocal. 

           I can feel my spirit crying inside but I do know that it is still anticipating the  aura of the fresh cool droplets along with their pitter pattering when they descend .

       

Cocktail Hour

 No stir in the air no stir in the  jungle , but  as lush as it should be. 

   The rain last night has cooled down the heated atmosphere a bit, with beautiful spectrums of light dawning the night sky and has even given a fresh hue of green to the dry tanned jungle. 

      It is now noon, people are locked down in their respective homes due to the troubleshooting  microbe Corona.  The phones are buzzing and the broadband  connectivity  is  soaring  to  great feats as people have now resorted to the trend known as work from  home. 

      One might wonder what the younger generation is doing at this hour. Well what else would they be doing other than keeping a couple  of checks, on the number of likes received on  social  media. But among this group there are a few who are glued in finishing a pile of selective books, perhaps learning to cook  some of  mom's or even  dad's signature recipes. Some who are proud owners of musical instruments are even  trying their hand to work up on some fresh tunes or even  find a nearly perfect  melody. 

      With all the quadruped polluting resources nestled in their garages the air is in its purest form. The jungle life is now  bustling with chirping of  unique species of aves ,the usual  cawing of peacocks as the non-tarred road is free from the hassles of  life. Wisps of cotton from the silk cotton tree sail about in the air. 

       The sky is  adorned with a combination of  pure white and  foxy grey clouds. There is immense peace and  if one gazes the sky ,all the sorrows and pains that is clasped in onself is sure  to  float away. 

       The  balmy breeze outside is the "Pied Piper of Hamelin" who has hypnotised all the leaves among the branches to dance to its melody. The fauna  seems to be enjoying  the cool  tranquility. The  cuckoo bird and  the  cricket seem to be elevating the atmosphere  with their  melody.

     Well even  I prefer to  be anonymous, allowing  my eyes to  feast the beauty  of  enthralling  nature.